Winnie Jean Howard's Blog, page 23

TV Show Review: Ash vs. Evil Dead

I’ve been VERY antsy to review the new Starz series, Ash vs. Evil Dead, and this is the week it hit my schedule. YAY! Whether you’re familiar with the Evil Dead movies or not–and how could you not know about Bruce Campbell and his evil book–watch the trailer below to find out where this TV series starts 30 years later.

I have to say I nearly wet my pants when I saw the advertisement for Ash vs. Evil Dead on Starz, and even better that Bruce Campbell was returning as Ash. I stopped everything I was doing and set the DVR.

Certain things happen to a gal like me–devoted horror movie fan since the age of six–after watching a horror movie about a guy who cuts off his own hand with a chainsaw and then uses that chainsaw to fight evil. Without going into too much detail, I’ve been in love with Ash Williams ever since I saw the Evil Dead 2 movie.

Ash has aged 30 years physically in the series, but his mentality hasn’t. You see from the start that he’s as goofy as you’d expect a guy with his history to be. That made me fall in love with him all over again. Now add in an amazing cast that includes Lucy Lawless, a mysterious stranger looking for Ash; his sidekicks, Ray Santiago and Dana DeLorenzo; and Jill Marie Jones, a cop out to arrest Ash for the chaos she’s sure he’s responsible for. They all fit well together and make every episode a dose of evil magic.

I can’t tell you what I don’t like about this series because there is nothing. The shows are a mix of bloody gore and side-splitting hilarity. They’ve kept true to the movies with old school FX that is amazing! Each episode is a half-hour that goes by in the blink of an eye, cliche but true because it is just that good! You’re afraid to look away from the screen for even a second because you might miss something. The list of things I love about Ash vs. Evil Dead goes on and on.

Thank you, Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, for bringing Evil Dead back as a TV show instead of a fourth movie! This new show is brilliantly done!

My Rating: 10 out of 5 Bloody Brains

Please leave zombie movie suggestions in the comments.
I prefer movies rated below a 4 on IMDB.

Movie Review: Contracted Phase I & II

This week is a double header. I’m reviewing Contracted and Contracted Phase II. Here’s what the movies are about:

In phase I, “A young girl contracts what she thinks is a sexually-transmitted disease – but is actually something much worse. “

In phase II “Riley searches for a cure to the virus that took over Samantha before it consumes him and the entire world.”

I watched these movies back to back and am glad I did because they view like watching one long movie. My guess is Eric England shot enough of one movie to make it two. No complaint about that. I enjoyed them both and was glad I watched them together.

The story line is okay, a little better in phase 2 than phase 1. There are sub-plot that keep your interest, which is more than A LOT of low-budget horror movies deliver.

What did I hate about these movies? The acting is decent, but the characters are dumb. While watching Phase I, I was annoyed more often than not, that characters were glossing over the drastic change in the main character as her disease progressed. The other problem was a lack of cringe factor. What I mean is…if a character pulls off fingernails, I better be disgusted and ready to jump out of my skin. I wasn’t. The disease takes a huge turn at the end that I have mixed feelings about. Won’t say anymore, don’t want to spoil it.

Still, the movies kept my interest. No checking email half way through. I liked all the characters in both movies. A lot of the make up was done well. If Eric England does a phase 3, I’d watch it.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 Bloody Brains

Please leave zombie movie suggestions in the comments.
I prefer movies rated below a 4 on IMDB.

TV Series Review: Fear the Walking Dead

This week I’m finally providing my opinion of Fear the Walking Dead. In case you haven’t heard, here’s what it’s about:

“What did the world look like as it was transforming into the horrifying apocalypse depicted in “The Walking Dead”? This spin-off set in Los Angeles, following new characters as they face the beginning of the end of the world, will answer that question.”

It’s been months since I watched the first season, twice. I needed to digest the series and decide if my opinion would change. Now I’ll confess, I didn’t like it. I wanted to, I had such high hopes, but watching the series twice didn’t help like I’d hoped. Frankly, the show bored me. There was so much they could have shown about the start of an apocalypse, instead they followed the most boring family in the world. Plus, the characters made stupid decisions that dragged the story line and really irritated me.

Shortly after viewing the season for the first time, I read 5 Big Problems with ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ in Forbes. This article hits all the problems right on the zombie’s head and caves in its skull with one whack. Still, I worried it swayed my opinion, so I gave Fear the Walking Dead another chance.

My main issue with this show is all the chaos they left out. I wanted to see the fear of what was happening spread across Los Angeles. I wanted to see the characters make horrific decisions based on their fears. I wanted to see fear as contagious as the zombie virus. Instead, this show was like watching a zombie apocalypse through rose colored glasses.

I will watch season 2, but this show has a lot of work to do to keep me as a viewer.

My Rating: 1.5 out of 5 Bloody Brains

Please leave zombie movie suggestions in the comments.
I prefer movies rated below a 4 on IMDB.

Paleo Vanilla Cake for One

Before you read any further, this is an almost autoimmune paleo recipe for people on a VERY limited diet like mine. It makes a small serving, which is great for those of us who are the only ones with autoimmune issue in the house. I consider my cake in the picture to be 4 servings because it is VERY filling due to the coconut flour.

I’m learning to substitute bizarre foods and in this case have learned that acorn squash is a GREAT substitute for pumpkin or applesauce, which are both foods on my no-no list. Acorn squash is just flavorless and sweet enough to work well in baked goods. I was surprised when I originally tried using it to make cookies that turned out amazing. I’ll share that recipe another week.

Also, before you read the ingredients, this has an egg in it. The verdict is out on me and eggs, other than I sneak 1 or 2 in during the month and seem to tolerate them.

You’ll want to use a decent mixer on the ingredients below. I find the one in the picture to be the easiest way to ensure the acorn squash is well pulverized during the mixing process.

3 TBS coconut flour

3 TBS acorn squash

2 TBS coconut oil

2 TBS honey

1 egg

1/2 TSP gluten free vanilla

1/2 TSP gluten free baking powder (optional)

1. Mix all ingredients well with a mixer. If you leave out the baking soda the cake will be denser, obviously, but still edible.

2. Place ingredients in a coconut oil greased coffee mug or 4×4 baking dish like the one in the picture.

3. Place in the microwave for 2 1/2 minutes at normal heat.

4. Let cool, then frost with your favorite paleo frosting, or just eat it.

Movie Review: The Revenant

This week I’m reviewing The Revenant, the new release directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Considering what the main character, Hugh Glass, goes through, it is an undead movie of sorts. In case you haven’t heard, here’s what it’s about:

“A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.”

Hugh Glass’s story of being left for dead after a bear attack is a favorite of mine, so I couldn’t miss this one in the theater. Richard Harris also stared in the version, Man in the Wilderness, back in 1971, and as much as I love Richard Harris, this is a much better movie.

I read that this film had the most challenging film shoots in the history of cinema. While you watch you get that feeling. This film takes you back to the early 1800s and keeps you in the moments of a much rougher existence. The movie was filmed in only natural light, and the darkness of most scenes plays with your emotions. You’ll have a hard time sitting still in your seat at times, especially during the famous bear attack that was most excellent.

I personally think that Tom Hardy as John Fitzgerald was better in his performance than DiCaprio. Hardy, in character shows the worst side of man’s self-centeredness. I do have to give DiCaprio kudos for having so few lines, yet he provokes so much emotion throughout the movie. I’m so glad Hardy, as well as DiCaprio have been nominated for Oscars for their performances. They deserve awards!

Since I like to keep my reviews short and I’m nearing a page, go read ‘The Revenant’: Film review on CNN’s website if you want to know more. It’s a fascinating article on the history of Hugh Glass and the making of the movie.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this movie!! It is one of the darkest HORROR movies I’ve seen in a long time. Yes, as far as I’m concerned and based on the horrible things the characters do, this movie qualifies for the horror genre. See The Reverant in the theater and bring lots of Kleenex too!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Bloody Brains

Please leave zombie movie suggestions in the comments.
I prefer movies rated below a 4 on IMDB.

Movie Review: Summer of Blood

This week’s review is Summer of Blood, and this review won’t be pretty. Here’s what it’s about:

“Erik Sparrow is one of the lucky ones. He’s got a good job. He’s in a stable relationship. He lives in one of the greatest cities in the world. Does he deserve it? Probably not. He’s not too bright. He’s not very attractive. He’s not at all ambitious. He’s chubby and he’s always complaining. And when his girlfriend Jody proposes to him, he doesn’t even have the good sense to accept her offer. He’ll never find a woman like this again. Instead, Erik bumbles his way around the issue, offering one excuse after another for not getting married. When Jody dumps him and starts seeing an old flame from college, Erik tries to win her back. When he fails, he attempts to date other women, but the results are disastrous. Erik’s starts falling apart. His job grows more unfulfilling. He becomes obsessed with a kinky co-worker who has no interest in him. He becomes riddled with despair. One night, Erik meets an enigmatic stranger named Gavin who asks him, “Do you want to die?” Erik shrugs and says, …”

If you managed to read through that description, you might understand why I hated this film so much. The main character is even more annoying than the description leads on. And where the heck is the vampire reference, ’cause this was a vampire movie in case you didn’t get it.

Taking a breath.

It may just be me that was so disgusted by the movie. Probably because the character was a cross between George Costanza and Woody Allen, which made my skin crawl just thinking about that cross again. I’m even a fan of both, but these two should NEVER have been merged into any character let alone a vampire. The main character even gets turned into a vampire and becomes a Don Juan, but he’s still not happy.

There seems to be a move toward making schlubs main characters and I sure hope this is a short fad. I for one will be avoiding these character in the future.

Only watch this movie if you’re wanting a little, I mean A LOT of misery.

My Rating: 1 out of 5 Bloody Brains

Please leave zombie movie suggestions in the comments.
I prefer movies rated below a 4 on IMDB.

Kiwi Lime Sorbet

Life seriously sucks these days. I went off my autoimmune paleo diet a bit during the holidays and I’m still hurting. No desserts after all the cheating has been the hardest thing to eliminate from my diet again. Kiwi Lime Sorbet is one thing I can eat about 1/2 a cup of and be really satisfied. I think it’s the sourness I like best, so be careful when you make this. This is also very easy to make, put in small containers, and take out of the freezer when the cravings hit.

8 well-rippened kiwis

6 TBS honey

1 or 2 limes, juiced (You will pucker with 2.)

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender.

2. Pour into prepared ice cream maker.

3. Process until thick, about 40 minutes.

4. Place in one or more containers and freeze.

Movie Review: Extinction

This week’s review is Extinction: The G.M.O. Chronicles, an older zombie movie released back in 2011 that stood out as one to watch on Netflix. Here’s what it’s about:

“The remaining survivors of pan-global epidemic face a race against time to find a cure before they succumb to its zombie-inducing effects. Holed up in an abandoned military base, Tom and his fellow survivors, their numbers dwindling with each successive day, desperately search for a way of stopping the outbreak and returning their lives to normal. Unfortunately for them, it soon becomes clear that the virus has mutated, turning those affected into rabid, cannibalistic creatures. Can Tom and his friends find a way to stop the seemingly inevitable, or are they doomed to a grisly fate?”

Extinction: The G.M.O. Chronicles is an okay zombie movie. It had its moments. It kept my attention. I didn’t hate the main character. Problem was it dragged in more places than not. I guess what I’m saying is if the makers of this movie were on a reality TV competition, they’d be safe to move on to the week.

Note my odd rating below. Well, it’s because I didn’t like it enough to give it a 3, but felt it needed a little more love than a 2.5. Am I saying, don’t watch it? No, but I’m also not recommending this one either. I’ll leave it at that.

My Rating: 2.85 out of 5 Bloody Brains

Please leave zombie movie suggestions in the comments.
I prefer movies rated below a 4 on IMDB.

Movie Review: Amigo Undead

I’ve given myself a 2016 goal of blogging at least once a week and I’m going to try to do a zombie movie (or some other horror movie) review every Tuesday. I’m back with an undead, but not so much zombie, movie review. It’s Amigo Undead and it’s a FANTASTIC first selection. Here’s what it’s about:

” Amigo Undead is the story of Kevin Ostrowski as he attempts to reconcile with his estranged, underachieving brother Norm on a camping trip. They’re accompanied by several of Norm’s unusual friends. When one of these friends dies accidentally, the decision is made to bury him out in the desert with some very unforeseen supernatural consequences. “

Amigo Undead is a very good horror comedy, a thing that’s not easy to come by. The acting is good, it has a great storyline, and I laughed…a lot. My favorite thing about the movie is its likable characters. I enjoyed it so much, I’d pay to see this one at a horror film festival. And by the way, it’s won a few film festival awards.

Since I’m the queen of the short paragraph review, but I really believe this movie needs more attention, go watch the trailer. It’s pretty good and I bet it will entice you to want to watch Amigo Undead. Seriously, people should be talking more about this movie!

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Bloody Brains

Please leave zombie movie suggestions in the comments.
I prefer movies rated below a 4 on IMDB.

Coconut Flour Blueberry Muffins

I recently discovered a long list of foods I can’t eat that also makes it nearly impossible to make baked goods I can eat and enjoy, key word enjoy. But that’s not going to stop me for getting a little creative. A week ago I came up with this Coconut Flour Blueberry Muffin recipe that is quite tasty. They are gluten, soy, corn, dairy, and refined sugar free. You can make muffins with this recipe or a cake. Didn’t try bread because the dough is a lot dense and might not bake well.

2 1/2 C coconut flour

3/4 TSP salt

1 1/2 TSP baking soda

1 1/4 C honey

2 C almond coconut milk

12 eggs

1/2 C coconut oil melted

5 TSP almond extract

1 TSP vanilla

1 C almond slivers

2 1/2 C blueberries

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Sift together dry ingredients in large bowl.

3. In separate smaller bowl, wisk together honey, milk, eggs, oil, almond extract, vanilla.

4. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients.

5. Fold in blueberries and almonds.

6. Place batter in muffin cups. There is enough batter to make 12 muffins and 1 cake in a 13×9 baking ban.

6. Bake muffins 20-25 minutes OR cake for 45 minutes or until done.

ENJOY! I ate mine and shared with the dogs in less than a week, this was so good!