S.P. Oldham's Blog, page 44
August 25, 2018
Review - Night of the Hunter - 1955
It has been a while but I am finally continuing my perusal of the films listed in Wednesday Lee Friday’s ’15 Black and White Movies That Are Scary as Hell,’ posted on ScreenRant on 2oth August 2016. Find it here: https://screenrant.com/scariest-black-and-white-horror-movies-ever-all-time/
As usual I am watching these films out of order, so to speak. Today I chose No 2 on the list, Night of the Hunter released in 1955 andstarring Robert Mitchum, the only film to be directed by actor Charles Laughton.
SPOILERS THROUGHOUT
Favourite quotes:
“Salvation is a last-minute business”
“It’s a hard world for little things,”
“My soul is humble when I see the way little ones accept their lot,”
The film moves fast, imparting the story in bite-sized scenes which is surprisingly effective. It manages to do a good job of ‘show don’t tell’ even in these brief takes, which moves the story along quickly. Essentially, a would-be Preacher weds Willa, a newly widowed young woman with two children, in the belief that the children can lead him to the whereabouts of ten thousand dollars. The Preacher knew the children’s father in jail, which is how he came to learn of the existence of the money. Willa is genuinely innocent and knows nothing about it, believing the money to be at the bottom of the river. However, because of a promise forced upon them by their father before he was taken, the children know different. The Preacher intends to get the information out of them by any means necessary.
Mitchum plays the Preacher of course. His character can quote whole passages of the bible verbatim and tells convincing, lively stories to illustrate ‘God’s word.’ However, he is undoubtedly psychopathic, believes he is literally hearing God and acting on his orders, even when those orders include murder. In the Preacher’s mind, the end justifies the means. It doesn’t take long to see the evil beneath the apparently benign surface. It is surprising how we are so unwilling to accept something is wrong, and how readily we will accept assurances otherwise. The film shows this well I think,
The children singing ‘Hing, Hang, Hung’ at Pearl and John after their father is hanged, illustrates the cruelty of children but for me, it also acts as a balance against the evil of the Preacher. Yes, children can be brutal, unkind and hurtful but it is an innocent kind of cruelty, compared to the utter corruption of the Preacher, which is something altogether darker.
Mitchum is sinister, good at being a bully in such a casual manner, the way he dominates the young widow, Willa, played by Shelley Winters, making her preach to others in the town so fervently, making her desperate, even making her take the blame for her dead husband’s actions. She comes to believe that the Preacher was sent by God for the salvation of her soul.
I found it a bit far-fetched that a woman (Rachel Cooper, played by Lillian Gish) just takes in stray children without even reporting it to authorities. At least, that is what I thought at first. But then I wondered…
This film has more depth than might at first appear. There seems to be a theme of mental health issues throughout. As well as the Preacher’s psychopathy (is he also a narcissist?) it also shows the vulnerable mental state of Willa and how easily she was brainwashed; the rigid mental state of Icey Spoon (an apt name for her character,) so steeped in the fervour of her religion; the troubled Uncle Billy, who seems to care about the children, but who, despite his promises to the boy that he can come to him in times of trouble, proves to be weak and untrue when the time comes. He is a drinker, perhaps an alcoholic, mourning the long-time loss of his sweetheart. Even when he, a keen fisherman, sees the dead body of their mother in the water, he is too weak and afraid to do anything about it and resorts instead to the bottle.
Then there is Rachel Cooper, who unquestioningly took the children in. She is also suffering emotionally, whereby her need to nurture waifs and strays without recourse to the authorities seems entirely justified to her. As she herself says, “I am a strong tree with branches for many birds. I’m good for something in this old world and I know it, too.” This was in response to a question enquiring about her ‘own son’ whom she hasn’t seen in a long time. She more or less tells us that the children she takes in are a replacement for her own child. She confirms this later in the film.
Then we have the girl, Ruby. A young teen, she believes she has fallen in love with the Preacher, is devastated when he is caught and blames the woman who took her in for his predicament, because it was she who shot him and kept him in her barn until the police arrived.
Obviously, there is the disturbed mental state of the boy John, the main protagonist alongside the Preacher. From the very beginning, John (and Pearl) are witnesses to events a child should not have to see. His father rushes in, wounded and bleeding having just carried out a robbery in which he killed two people, the police hard on his heels. The children see him thrown to the ground and handcuffed, something which has a profound effect on John, perhaps more so than on his much younger sibling, Pearl. Towards the end of the film, John witnesses the same thing happening to the Preacher. In his young mind it seems he is confusing the Preacher with his father momentarily. He reveals the whereabouts of the money when he beats the Preacher’s back with the doll, the notes falling out in the process. The boy declares that the money is ‘too much’ and that they don’t want it. The police see the money but say nothing.
It could be argued that if you scratch beneath the surface, this film is a look at the fragility of the human mind and human emotions, and in my opinion it does that well, without going into depth. Rather than examining it too closely, it simply presents us with the evidence and trusts that we can work it out for ourselves. If we can’t, well then it is still a good film about an evil Preacher, even if you only take it at face value.
This is NOT horror by any stretch of the imagination, not even ‘old-fashioned’ horror. It is more like a crime story, or a twisted tale of murder and is in fact billed as a thriller, loosely based on a real-life crime.
There is some good imagery, in particular the menacing silhouette of the Preacher on the children’s bedroom wall, and especially the oddly tranquil scene depicting the dead body of their mother, deep in the river, her hair trailing in the current like the weeds. I thought this was very effective and actually stands out as being the most vivid, most striking part of the entire film.
Some great lines and good actors, moody scenes and clever imagery, I can see why this is number 2 on the list. With such a great title, it could really have been a chilling film. It is a title that fits well, yet it is almost as if it belongs to the wrong film, too. This is a ‘quality’ movie, one which I enjoyed watching. Is it scary? No, categorically not. What it is, is thought provoking, interesting and very watchable.
August 19, 2018
Agent Wolf: Rise of Anubis - My Review
Agent Wolf is an intelligently written book, the story built around Jack, an unfortunate character who has had more than his fair share of knocks in life.
Set in the future, Jack is a survivor of a cataclysmic event which wipes out his home town, leaving him without family, a home and a sense of purpose. Eventually, through a series of events which see him pursue a variety of careers, he ends up as a crime scene photographer, in effect.
I love how the author, David Green, has built on the everyday use of current technology, making it better, more widespread and more efficient in the future – I suspect that a lot of his ideas are actually not that far from being realised, in fact. He manages to incorporate this into the storyline without becoming too heavy on the techno-speak.
The reason for Jack’s transition into a mythical creature (I don’t want to give anything away here, although the title should be a big clue!) is well explained and is a vital element of the plot.
This transformation is explained in scientific terms, with a convincing back-story to substantiate it, rather than in supernatural or ‘magical’ terms, though once turned, Jack has all the attributes the creature is classically endowed with. The emphasis remains on the logical rather than the magical throughout. He ends up using these new-found and surprising skills to trace a suspected serial killer and another villain of a far more terrifying nature. I don’t want to give any more of the plot away than that, though I do want to say that I like Daisy, who to me is a very interesting character with lots of potential.
It is fair to say that this book is a mix of spy novel, fantasy adventure and crime thriller all in one. I enjoyed the author’s dry and subtle humour. It is very well written, with a unique twist on the origins of a well-known creature and a believable plotline and setting, despite the fantastical nature of it all. There is plenty of scope for a sequel and for a whole wealth of fantastical, mythological creatures yet to come to life and pose a challenge for Vanguard!
Wakeful Children/Hag's Breath - Limited Offer!
Until midnight GMT on Sunday 26th August, for every paperback purchase of Wakeful Children: A Collection of Horror and Supernatural Tales, claim a free download of Hag's Breath: A Collection of Witchcraft and Wickedness absolutely free! Proof of purchase required.
Offer in no way associated with Troubador or Facebook. To claim your free download, please pm me (S P Oldham) directly along with your proof of purchase.
Wakeful Children is available from Troubador direct online, from any good online bookstore including Amazon or you can order from your local book seller.
https://www.troubador.co.uk/…/poetry-shor…/wakeful-children/
https://solostinwords.com/home/hags-breath
August 11, 2018
Brutal Truths Available Now
Pleased to announce that Brutal Truths, Book 3 in the Mindless Trilogy, is now available for purchase on kindle.
Brutal Truths on So Lost in Words - Links, Blurb and More
August 6, 2018
Troubador/Amazon
For those of you who like the feel of a 'real' book in your hands, don't forget Wakeful Children is available in paperback from Troubador, Amazon and all good book stores! Reviews are very much appreciated too! Hope you enjoy x
August 2, 2018
Brutal Truths
Finally sent out the ARC copies for the last book in the Mindless Trilogy today, Brutal Truths. Now for the hardest part of all - sitting back and waiting for feedback...
July 23, 2018
Mindless Trilogy Book 3 - Brutal Truths
Almost completed the first draft of the last in the Mindless Trilogy. The book is called Brutal Truths. I thought I would give you a sneak preview of the cover (first time I've shared it) and the blurb as it stands at the moment. The cover is a done deal, but thoughts on the blurb would be welcome. Thank you.
Brutal Truths – Mindless Trilogy Book 3 – The Blurb
The zombies are still out there, a constant threat,Thinkers pose an even greater danger and survival is the order of the day; in some ways, nothing much has changed for Lavender and Carson. Yet everything is changing, too. Lavender knows it in her heart, though she works hard to stop her mind from accepting it.
She has little choice but to face up to reality when they unwittingly fall in with a small group of survivors; a motley collection of teenagers and their erstwhile youth leader, Joel. Taking an instant dislike to the man, it is not long before Lavender and Carson move on, though this time, they are taking something of Joel’s with them.
Something Joel wants back.
Something Lavender is determined not to give him.
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away; except Lavender doesn’t much believe in God and if she's got to go down, she's damn well going to go down fighting...
Cover credit: SelfPubBookCovers.com/ JTLDes1gn5
July 14, 2018
David Green - Interview - First Guest Author
Very pleased and privileged to be the first Guest Author on David Green's website! David is the author of werewolf fantasy novel Agent Wolf: The Rise of Anubis. Click the link to read my interview and to find out more about David and his writing.
Thank you David Green Author.
For the interview, click here: http://www.greenhouse.me.uk/
July 10, 2018
The Speculative Fiction Showcase - Interview
Thank you to Jessica Rydill of The Speculative Fiction Showcase for interviewing me. Very much enjoyed your questions. Everyone please feel free to read , share, comment and question. Thank you! The Speculative Fiction Showcase
July 8, 2018
Reanimated Writers - Apocalyptic Beginnings
Reanimated Writers on So Lost in Words
Click the link to find out more about THE APOCALYPTIC BEGINNINGS BOX SET - ZOMBIES... SURVIVAL... TERROR!
Thrilled to share the news for all you zompoc lovers to enjoy. Pre-order now at a reduced price for a limited time. There's plenty here to get your teeth into...
