Kevin Lucia's Blog, page 4

Text and Subtext 58:

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The Night Driver

9.

I nearly stopped and gasped for the second time in only thirty minutes when Gabe and I left Arcane Delights, debating on Henry’s Drive-In Cafe, or The Skylark Diner again for lunch (This time, Henry’s Drive-In won the day). There, stalking right before the store and into my path, was the nightmare driver – the old man who’d almost hit us yesterday. The old man I’d dreamed about last night, as he’d taken Gabe away from me. Right before I’d woken up to the sound of a car engine revving, and Gabe’s desperate attempts to breathe.

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Text and Subtext 57: Class of Nukem High

Watch it on Tubi.

The Night Driver

8.

The old man’s story about The Night Driver stuck with me throughout the morning, like a sliver lodged in the back of my brain. For the most part I was engaged with our sightseeing activities – breakfast at The Skylark Diner, where Gabe once again opted for blueberry pancakes; a visit to Raedeker Park Zoo, supposedly the second oldest zoo in New York State, and a quick walk up Boden Hill Trail, just above the zoo – but a small part of me kept mulling over the odd myth of the Night Driver, and the coincidence of that throaty engine waking me up right when Gabe was having an asthma attack, and the taillights pulling out of The Motor Lodge’s parking lot after the attack passed.

“What is it...a bad omen, or something?”

“Goodness, no. Quite the opposite, actually. People usually report good things following a visit from The Night Driver. Small things. Fortune that breaks their way.”

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Text and Subtext 56: The Burning

I’m not sure what’s crazier about this movie - the inventive kills, or the fact that Jason Alexander has a full head of hair, and is NOT annoying. Anyway, the tropes are all there: kids at a summer camp start getting picked off one by one. Somehow, however, this is better than the standard fare, and the ending has its own dash of orginality to it. Anyway - highly recommended, check it out.

The Night Driver

7.

Despite my nightmare, and the frightening interruption of our sleep with Gabe's asthma attack, we both slept soundly the rest of the night until my alarm went off at 8:00 AM the next day. Knowing Gabe would need his rest, I quickly shut my alarm off and quietly crept out of the bedroom, letting him sleep in. I carefully and quietly showered, got dressed and went out to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee.

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Text and Subtext 55: The Mutilator

The Mutilator - also titled Fall Break - is one of those movies which just dispenses with all the mystery right from the get-go and jumps feet first into the gore. A bunch of college kids go to close up a beach house for the year, and decide to have a party first. Soon enough, the killing ensues. There’s no attempt to hide the identity of the killer, and the movie plays out pretty much by the numbers. Still an entertaining diversion. Check it out.

The Night Driver

6.

After a quick debate between chin's Pizza and wings, Henry's Drive Inn Cafe, and the Skylark Diner, we chose the latter for dinner. It turned out to be the best choice that we could have made. The Skylark was one of those old fashioned diners it looked like a long silver trailer. On the inside, one length of the diner was red leather booths, the other a long counter with red cushioned stools patrons could sit on as they ate at the counter. I got an open faced turkey and gravy sandwich, while Gabe opted for breakfast for dinner with blueberry pancakes smothered in maple syrup. Our waitress – a young vivacious girl named Cassie – was friendly and accommodating, and chatted our ears off the entire time about all the sights we had to see while we were in Clifton Heights. All in all our dinner at the Skylark Diner was probably one of the best we've had in quite some time.

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Text and Subtext 54: The House on Sorrority Row

This is one of those movies I don’t want to say too much about, although the identity of the killer will become readily apparent soon enough. In any case, it’s a nice twist, and this a pretty standard “bad kids act badly and pay the price for acting badly.” In any case, this is one of those movies that’s better than it has any right to be. Check it out Tubi.

The Night Driver

By the time we parked in front of Bassler Memorial Library, crossed Main Street, and turned down Acer Street, the memory of the old man in the truck had faded slightly. Not gone away completely, no. I wouldn't soon forget the black malice I'd seen glimmering in the old man's eyes. But, I figured every small town had a guy like him. A misanthrope who had gotten bitter in old age and didn't like anybody or anything. I'd had the temerity to accuse him of bad driving, and he didn't seem like the type of person who took responsibility for anything he did, no matter how badly it inconvenienced others. That's all he was. A cranky old fuck who didn't think he had to adhere to the same rules as everyone else.

Those eyes, though.

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