Eric Butler's Blog, page 35

Get Ready for the Massacre

My second novel, The Pope Lick Massacre is in the last stage of development. Waiting to hear back from a few Beta readers and from The Independent Book Review for the back cover quote. Hopefully, I'll have a release date for you in the next week or so. I wanted to share the front cover, and also share the two I ended up rejected. The designer put a lot of work into them but the one I selected really captures what I was going for. If you get the paperback, it really flows front to back. The first two are the rejected ones, although I did like the first one a lot. The last one was selected for its simplicity. Here is the blurb, describing the book. There are two types of people in Jefferson County: those who know the legend of the Pope Lick Monster and those who believe it. Before the night is over, Sam will have no choice but to join the believers. Since their mother’s death, Sam’s sole focus has been taking care of her younger brother, Kenny. Now Kenny’s Scout troop is missing, having never returned from the woods around Pope Lick. Sam gathers a group of friends to search for the boys and their Scout master. With each step, they get closer to discovering the scouts aren’t the only ones in the woods this night. I've worked hard trying to learn the ins and outs of self-publishing so I can bring these tales of terror to you. I appreciate all the wonderful support I've received since my first novel, The Shadow Within. Stay tuned for more information on The Pope Lick Massacre.

Ephraim Godwin and the Sins of the Past - Part 14 Chapters 37 & 38

THIRTY-SEVEN The carriage came to a sudden halt. Ephraim tumbled forward, landing on Zona. She snorted and absently rubbed at her face, but stayed asleep. Livingstone clutched his head, having struck the side rather fiercely. Ephraim pushed off, trying desperately to keep his hands on anything other than Zona. "Bloody hell," he growled as his hand landed squarely on her chest before he could come upright. The door opened and Inspector Kimbell stepped in. He glanced at Zona and after a moment, Livingstone moved to her side and helped her sit up. Her head rested on his shoulder as she began to snore lightly. Kimbell sat as Ephraim slid over to make space. "What have you gotten me into?" he asked as his glare moved from Ephraim to Livingstone and back. "Frankly, we were wondering the same thing," Ephraim said with a shrug. Livingstone offered a nod to share his agreement. "Is Ms. Whitlock alright?" "Just tired, long trip," Livingstone replied. "Well can she wake up?" Kimbell asked. "I reckon she's going to want to hear this." Livingstone gently shook her, paused and tried again. The only response was an increase in the volume of her snores. The three men stared at her a moment longer before Ephraim leaned forward and slapped her. Zona's eyes fluttered open and her hand went to her cheek. Ephraim looked out the window, trying his hardest to seem uninterested. Livingstone attempted to scowl at the man but his heart wasn't in it. "What...what is going on?" Zona asked, sitting up straight and moving away from the doctor's arm. Her hand was still pressed to her cheek and a stab of guilt pierced Ephraim. His cheeks flared red as Zona studied his face a moment. She nodded slightly. Enough that Ephraim was sure she knew exactly what happened, and would share her suspicions soon. "We've stopped," Ephraim offered as he motioned for the Inspector to speak. "I'm worried you've involved me in something neither I nor the police force is capable of helping with," he said. "And why is that?" she asked. "Devitt is dead and so is the man I sent to guard him." "Good lord," Livingstone said sighing into his fist. "As is Stanbury and his family," Ephraim said, filling in the silence. "That leaves only Mr. Roberts and Dr. Livingstone," Zona whispered. Although Ephraim was sure they both were also now on the list of people this Cook gentleman was trying to remove from the board. "Roberts?" "The man who was with Mr. Chattoway after his wife's murder," Zona said. "We must hurry back and find the man as soon as we can," Livingstone said. "Yes, unless..." Ephraim trailed off, wondering if now was the time for them to stop pursuing this. "Unless what?" Kimbell asked. Zona glared at Ephraim before speaking, "He is wondering if we might need to stop looking into this matter completely...to protect the doctor and me." "Well, he did say..." Ephraim replied as Livingstone spoke. "Poppycock, we've seen what he's capable of, and he will not stop until he has his revenge. He is simply trying to buy time for whatever fiendish plot he is trying to complete." "That's probably true," Ephraim said. "But what if it's not? What if there's a way to save you two. I think it a gamble worth exploring. Let the Inspector and I continue ahead, you two can be safe." Ephraim sighed as he studied their faces. He let out a long breath and turned his attention back to the window. He refused to feel guilty for thinking of their safety. His stomach knotted at the thought of what happened back at Stanbury's estate visiting either of them. "I'm not sure I understand what all this is, but we need to hurry. Businesses will be closing soon and that will make it harder to track down Roberts," Kimbell said as he waved at the other three. "Then I suggest we head straight to Chattoway's. We should find our man there," Zona said as Kimbell slipped out and rushed to the carriage he took to find them. THIRTY-EIGHT Chattoway stared at the grotesquely tall and pale man sitting in front of him. He knew better than to show his distaste since the man was a gold mine to him and his company's future. On his desk were the papers to four properties in and about London, and ten in Africa scattered up and down the coast all signed over to a Mr. Whitlock. More importantly, after Roberts' verification of the paperwork, the man was only asking for a fraction of their worth. Chattoway wondered if the man suffered from sunstroke with skin so fine. "I hope your man was able to verify what you needed for us to proceed?" Whitlock asked with a raised eyebrow. "Oh yes, just let me have Roberts get us a map, so we can hammer out the details," Chattoway said as he stood. He steadied himself on the desk's edge before waddling to the door. Ever since finding Mrs. Chattoway, he was finding it harder to make it through the day without a few drinks. It was the main reason he kept Roberts around as much; to keep him from making a dreadful mistake. "Ah, Roberts," Chattoway called out after opening the door, "can you bring the map we spoke of earlier?" He closed the door and started toward the desk. Pausing only long enough to offer Whitlock a drink and pouring his self one. Chattoway sat with a heaviness he was beginning to feel throughout his bones. It was as if stones were being piled upon him one by one. "Are you well?" Whitlock asked, concern sounding in his dry raspy voice. "Yes...yes," Chattoway said before frowning and staring at the amber liquid in his glass. "Well no actually. I lost my wife recently, in a most ghastly manner and it turns out I rather miss her." Chattoway glanced up and Whitlock offered a slight smile and nod, "My condolences." Mumbling thanks, Chattoway took a long drink before placing the glass on the desk. Roberts walked in, rolled paper in hand and stopped at the side of the desk. He nodded to both gentlemen and rolled out the map. "Here is the area you asked for," Roberts said hardly keeping the contempt from his voice. Chattoway glanced at him sharply, willing the man to keep quiet. "I am a man of vision," Whitlock said with a full smile. "Where you see trash, I envision a treasure trove of riches." Chattoway studied the pale giant in front of him once again. The man appeared uncomfortable in his skin, almost like someone wearing too large clothes for the first time. And while he was obviously an Englishman, his pale skin was quite unsettling to look at for long. Chattoway considered his empty glass and wondered if maybe he'd finally had too much. "Yes, well... I am happy to help you achieve your vision," Chattoway said forcing a sloppy smile to his lips. Roberts nodded after a moment, sudden awareness on his face that his words might be offensive to a potential customer. "I apologize, sir," Roberts offered, his apology more to the room than to either man. "I meant no insult. I just find the area distasteful at the moment." "None needed," Whitlock said his smile still wide. He leaned forward and pointed to five spots on the map. As his finger left a spot, Chattoway circled it with his quill dipped in fresh black ink. "Give me a moment and the papers will be complete," Roberts said taking the roll and stack of documents Whitlock brought with him. "How long has he been in your employ?" Whitlock asked after Roberts closed the door. "Ah...let me think," Chattoway said eyeing his glass and wondering how difficult it would be to get more. His legs seemed closer to jelly than meat at the moment. "Three years, I believe. He would be able to tell you for sure, but I expect I remember this correctly. He's a hard worker, and like his father very good uncovering rich opportunities. That man must have been part bloodhound in Africa." Whitlock's grip tightened on the chair's arms and Chattoway thought he could hear wood creaking, as if ready to crack. Impossible, the word floated through his alcohol fogged brain. He offered a smile and tried to focus on Whitlock's face but his vision blurred, and he slumped forward, his head banging on the desk. The door opened and Chattoway heard a gasp. "What happened?" Roberts asked as he moved toward the desk. "Too much drink I would wager. Do you have the papers?" Whitlock asked as he stood. Roberts placed them on the table and helped Chattoway sit back. Chattoway's vision came and went, showing him everything in front of him, before disappearing into the darkness. His heart pounded loudly, and he wondered if it was audible to the others. They reminded him of the stories he head of African drums, and the noise filled his ears. "Should I call a doctor?" Roberts wondered aloud. "There is no need," Whitlock said as he motioned to the door. A young man slipped into the room and Chattoway stared as he removed a dagger from his coat. The blade was a dark red color that pulsed with each drumbeat in his ears. "I think we shall help you both now that our business is resolved." *** The carriage came to a stop and Ephraim jumped down hoping to get away from the others' judgmental stares. As if I am the bad guy for worrying about their safety. Kimbell slid next to him as they marched up the stairs and knocked on the door. Waiting a moment, Kimbell knocked again before trying the doorknob. "Well?" Zona asked as she and Livingstone joined them on the top steps. "No one is answering but this door is open," Kimbell said, surprise in his voice. With a quick motion for one of the officers that traveled with him to join them, they entered Chattoway's home. The house was quiet and Ephraim strained trying to catch any sound. Zona slipped in front of the men and stalked down the darkening hall. "Didn't Chattoway have some servants to light the place up?" Livingstone asked as they quickly followed the young woman. "Maybe he let them go after Mrs. Chattoway's death," Kimbell answered. Ephraim kept his thoughts to himself, but his nose told him what happened. He could smell the gore and carnage out here, and he shuddered to think how bad it must be just beyond the doors Zona stood in front of. "Careful," he called out, knowing full well she would be anything but. The doors swung open and Zona screamed. Ephraim rushed ahead and pulled her to his chest, hiding her eyes from the butchery inside. Seeing the room, he was right to be afraid, but it was too late. There would be no turning back now.

April 5th 1926, the day a Legend was born.

This is Roger Corman. He may look like an accountant, engineer, or a dentist, but he, most likely, is responsible for some of your favorite movies. I know he is a big reason I love the cinema, and movies in general. He's also the reason, I understand not every movie can be perfect or have the polish of a big studio blockbuster, and to remember how little control movie makers have. Corman started in the movie business 3 days out of college. He went to Stanford...to become an engineer oddly enough, but as time passed he realized his passion was in movies. So after 3 days working at an engineer firm he quit and took a job as a messenger for 20th Century Fox. It was here that he began what can only be thought of as pure 100% hustling. As he did anything and everything he could to move up the ranks. Finally he made it to Story Analyst. [on his first job in the film industry, looking through material that might be turned into movies] I was a reader at 20th Century Fox, and I'd only been there a few months, and the story editor called me in and said: "Roger, you have never given a positive analysis of anything we've ever given you". And I said: "That's because I'm the youngest guy here and you give me all the rotten stuff. Give me something that's good and I'm perfectly willing to praise it". After a small break, traveling in Europe, he returned ready to become a screen writer and producer. One of his tricks early on was getting credits on different films, he would trade salary for producer credits, and then use those to pad his resume. As he gained more clout, he was able to sell a script. However, after seeing how different the final product was from the script he wrote, he decided he wanted more control. He took the little money he had and made another picture, acting as the producer. Using the profits from Monster from the Ocean Floor, he then made The Fast and the Furious. He used that picture to get a multi-picture deal with ARC, soon to be come AIP (American-International Pictures). Corman would become their star behind the camera and make AIP one of the most successful independent studios in cinematic history. "In science-fiction films, the monster should always be bigger than the leading lady." "I felt Jack Nicholson was brilliant from the time I met him. I enrolled in a method acting class, not to learn how to act, but to learn how to relate to actors. And that's where I met Jack. The thing that surprised me is that it took so long for him to be recognized." It was during this time that Corman learned how to make movies while finishing on time and under budget. During his 15 years at AIP, he directed 53 films. He filmed Little Shop of Horrors in 2 days and a night. But his masterpieces came in the 60s, when he started using his newfound skills to take on more ambitious projects. Corman began to adapt Edgar Allen Poe's stories, some in name only. It was here that he cast Vincent Price in many of those roles. The Raven, House of Usher, and the Pit and the Pendulum, and The Masque of the Red Death all meet with commercial and critical success, helping to cement Price as the king of horror. At the end of the 60s Corman became upset with AIP's practices of re-editing his pictures and left the studio. He retired from directing and set up his own production company, New World Picture. Here he would focus on producing and distributing the pictures he wanted to be made. And to do this he brought in and taught a large group of young, hungry talent. He taught them how to make a film from actors to writers to directors. And when those films were finished, it was on-time and rarely over budget. If they did well, he would offer them more work until they graduated to the bigger studios. If they couldn't grasp how to make a "Corman" film, they were let go and had to fend for themselves. Some of the people he helped, Jack Nicholson, William Shatner, Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Robert Deniro, Peter Bogdanovich, Jonathan Demme, Joe Dante, and Sandra Bullock. "The $100 and $200 million films are dominating the box office so much that there is no space, or very little space, for the independent films. Every now and then an independent film will come through and can do some business at the box office. So the genre is not completely dead, but it's been heavily damaged." "I've never made the film I wanted to make. No matter what happens, it never turns out exactly as I hoped." Roger Corman's influence on America cinema is almost incalculable and in 2009, the master of the B-movie received an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. His movies are still being made today, but no longer for the silver screen; most of the ones he's produced since the 2000s have been direct to video, on Scy-Fy, or Video on demand. If you haven't seen his movies many are available to watch on Amazon Prime, Vudu free, and tubitv.com. No matter the genre you are interested in, there is a Roger Corman version out there...and it will be wonderful in all its low-budget, B-movie glory. I started as a writer and then I became a writer-producer. I produced two films and I watched what the directors were doing and I simply said: "I can do that". So, I just took over on the third film that I produced and started directing. I watched the two directors and saw what they were doing. I looked to other films and studied them, the way the shots were laid out and so forth, and taught myself to direct.

Ephraim Godwin and the Sins of the Past - Part 13. Ch 35 & 36

THIRTY-FIVE Cook smiled as the carriage took them past the three would-be detectives. They passed mere feet from each other, but they neither sensed him nor recognized the boy at the reins. That forced his smile to widen. The truth of it all was extremely delicious. But that is for another day. Closing his eyes, Cook was well aware of how long the trip back to London would take, and he planned to replay the last hour, savoring every minute. *** Oringo bounced down and opened the door to the carriage, letting Cook out. He wore his crooked smile, well aware they were about to do some mischief. Cook fought the urge to reach out and ruffle his hair. The boy was close enough to the age his boy would have been. His heart ached at the thought, but he swallowed the pain down. He was ten feet away from scoring his first real revenge. Oh, there were plenty of men he'd killed on his journey to possessing Zachariah Whitlock's body that deserved punishment, but there were three men he held responsible for his village's massacre. One of those men was inside. Cook marveled at how pale his new body's skin was as he reached out and gripped the knocker before giving it three hard taps. He swept the hat from his head and held it in the crook of his arm. As the door opened, Cook smiled. "Yes," the butler asked. "Good day, I am Zachariah Whitlock, and I am here to speak with Mr. Stanbury," Cooks said staring at the man so intently he took a step back. The butler cleared his throat and studied Cook's attire a moment before deciding to err on the side of caution. He motioned Cook into the house and led him to a sitting room. "Please, make yourself comfortable," the butler said before giving a slight bow and hurrying away. A few minutes later a maid appeared and sat down a tray with a teapot, two cups, and a plate of assorted cookies and shortcakes. Cook nodded in approval and the maid slipped away, only pausing a few times to stare at Cook's height and almost transparent skin. The only drawback to this body, he thought with a shake of the head. There was no way to move around without every single person remembering who they saw. Of course, the amount of power, Whitlock's body could control made it all a moot point. Ten feet tall with four arms and this body would be worth every single sideways look it received. A chuckle slipped out as he visualized such a thing and a throat cleared from the doorway. Cook stood, turning slowly; hoping to savor this interaction. "I swear I recently spoke with a Whitlock, but it was a Ms. and nowhere as tall," Mr. Stanbury said as he stepped in the room and offered his hand. Cook gripped the hand, tentative at first as one might when picking up a viper. Stanbury didn't note the hesitation and after two quick pumps, let go and moved to the seat facing Cook's chair. He motioned for the man to sit before he took his seat. "Would you care for some tea?" Stanbury asked, pouring only after Cook's slight nod. "So what can I do for you man? This is a rather long trip from London for a social call." Cook smiled, taking the cup and sipping the hot liquid. He worried his throat would freeze, and he would be forced to carry on his revenge in silence. He practically trembled, being so close to the man. "If I am being honest, this trip is both business and pleasure," Cook said reaching out with his mind and slipping into Stanbury's mind. After a few seconds, Stanbuy's body stood, and he marched out of the room. He stalked through the house searching for one room in particular. After opening five doors, the last one was locked. He smiled in triumph and fished in his pocket. Removing the key, he unlocked it and slipped into the room. A fire provided most of the light, but streams of daylight snuck through multiple curtains pulled to on the far wall. He marched to the closest one and pulled them open. Across the way, he spotted Oringo and waved. The boy waved back and tipped his cap, the signal he was ready. Nodding, Stanbury's body turned to the enormous desk in front of the windows. It didn't take long for Stanbury's body to find the papers Cooks desperately needed. Cooks studied the man's signature before willing the body to pick up a pen and write. After four letters were written and numerous documents signed, Stanbury's body stood and started to march from the room. Cook's stopped it and flipped through the letters, before dropping one on the ground by the door and leaving. "Daddy," a young girl's voice pierced the silence and Stanbury's body cringed. "Ah, there you are dear," Cook forced the words from Stanbury's mouth. He knelt and put his hand on her shoulder. "Be a dear and run outside. There's a young man standing by a new carriage. He has a trick to show you...unlike anything you've ever seen." The girl clapped her hands and scampered to the door and slipped out without looking back. Cooks relished Stanbury's voice screaming in the head they shared; calling for his little girl to come back, to run away, anything other than to go to the young man. Cooks closed his eyes, imagining Stanbury's face as if he faced him and whispered. "Now let's go find the rest of your family and visit upon them the fury you all deserve." Cooks glided up the stairs, scarcely containing his enjoyment as the man who rightfully owned this body whimpered in the darkness. *** The carriage arrived in London with time to spare. Cooks slipped down and motioned for Oringo to grab the birdcage strapped to the back. It was still earlier enough, and they had plenty to do before the three meddling detectives returned to try to stop him. THIRTY-SIX Ephraim stood in the doorway, frozen to the spot. The hallway was soaked in blood. Three bodies lay about, like toys a young child tossed aside. He quickly identified the butler, a maid, and what seemed to be a stable hand. Although for the life of him, he couldn't understand why that man would be in the entry hall. Taking a deep breath, Ephraim forced himself to take a step forward. As soon as that food landed, he was commanding the other to move. He didn't notice Livingstone or Zona until his seventh step. "This is no place for a woman," he whispered, aware she neither cared nor asked for his opinion, but he felt it necessary to give. He still woke up in a sweat most nights, remembering the atrocities he witnessed over there; many of which paled in comparison to the damage done to these three bodies. "This is no place for anyone," Livingstone said, kneeling next to the maid. "Someone has removed her skin." The words were barely out before Livingstone vomited again. He wiped his lips with a handkerchief and stood. His legs shook and wobbled and Ephraim moved to catch him if need be. "I'd harbor a guess that all three have been relieved of their skin, Doctor," Zona said marching down the hall before arriving at a larger open space. Her shriek hastened the men to her side, and she buried her face into Ephraim's chest. "Dear God," Livingstone said in a hushed tone. Ephraim stared at a young boy, no more than three, hanging from the banister his intestines the rope. "I fear God is no longer in this place," Ephraim remarked as he slipped free of Zona and sprang up the stairs. Once at the top, he hesitated before gripping the boy's insides and pulling him up. He laid the body on the carpet and tried to close its eyes. But every time he removed his fingers, they sprang open, staring at Ephraim. A hand fell on his shoulder and Ephraim shocked, stumbled back and almost slipped in the muck spread on the carpet. Zona and Livingstone stood off to the side, and Ephraim tried to hide his embarrassment by stomping by them. The carpet squished with blood and gore with each step he took closer to the end of the hallway. A door lay partially open, and Ephraim caught a glimpse of a man slumped against the bed frame. Ephraim pushed open the door and stepped in. A woman lay on the bed, her head twisted around and looking up at the ceiling. She wore no clothes, and Ephraim's stomach rolled as he slid closer and the damage to her body became evident. He slipped a blanket over her, hiding her from sight as Zona and Livingstone entered. "Don't ask," he said as he stepped away from the woman. He didn't want to explain to Zona what he expected was done to the poor woman. Best if she never knew, and it had no bearing on their case. "Is he...alive?" Zona asked as Livingstone rushed to Stanbury. He blinked a few times and opened his mouth. Zona gasped a few teeth, and strings of blood slipped out. "His pulse is weak but steady," Livingstone said before digging in his bag and pulling out a bottle and needle. "Cooks wanted me to warn you," Stanbury said, his voice shredded and dull. "It will only get worse if you continue. He is giving you a chance to leave it alone. Even you Doctor." Stanbury's arm shook as he lifted it to point at Livingstone. "He said your part to play can be forgiven but only if you step away," Stanbury said beginning to weep as the words tumbled out. "If only I had that chance, he took everything...made me do terrible things...my family." Zona stared at the man, covering her mouth with her hand. Her eyes were so wide, Ephraim worried some type of permanent damage may be done. Ephraim gestured with his head to gain Livingstone's attention, and at that moment Stanbury acted. He grabbed the needle and drove it into his eye, pushing until the metal cylinder wedged in the socket. His mouth hung open and the man's body slumped with the finality of death. Zona's mouth opened to scream but instead, her eyes rolled up, and she slumped to the carpet. Ephraim had no explanation of how they made their way to the carriage or finding the liquid he sloshed all over the floor of the house, only that Livingstone said it was flammable. He wouldn't be able to tell Zona why they left the lit candle there to burn the place down. It just seemed like the right thing to do. He stared at her resting face, as the carriage sought out all the bumps, and he wondered if maybe they should take Cooks' offer.

You're bored, I get it...

Today is going to be lighter than usual. I'm finishing up my second novel, The Pope Lick Massacre and time has been tight...even in this government-sponsored lockdown. I have to layout the paperback and kindle versions, get a blurb that works (you can learn about that process here if you're interested or bored), work with my wonderful designer to get a cover that screams "massacre", and entertain a houseful of family that usually isn't here 24-7. So I want to share a short film I was introduced to in a fan site on Facebook when I was advertising my first novel, The Shadow Within...still available to order on Kindle if you're really bored and want to read a scary book. It's only 2:44 long so if you like to be creeped out, I think it delivers. The other thing I want to share is a list of Netflix codes. It opens up your search and may even introduce you to things you didn't know was on the site. Branch out and look for something new and interesting. The only catch? The codes only work on the computer. You need to have the following in the browser: https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/ and after the last slash, you enter the code number. Doesn't work on the app but I'm sure you can search using the word combination next to the code to get it to pull up. Worst case you can search on your computer to tag some new things to watch later on the TV. Below are the codes I've found... See you Wednesday with the next part to the Ephraim Godwin story and maybe with a new cover to share...

Ephraim Godwin and the Sins of the Past part 12 - chapters 32-34

THIRTY-TWO Ephraim reached out and caught the arm of a boy as he ran by the three. The boy pulled up, trying to free himself from Ephraim's grip. "Easy, lad," Ephraim said producing a tanner. The boy froze, his eyes locked on the coin. Ephraim released his hold now that he had the boy's attention. "I need you to go to Station House 6 and deliver a message to Inspector Kimbell. Can you do that?" The boy nodded and held out his hand. Ephraim produced a pad from his coat pocket and scribbled down a message before handing the paper and coin to the boy. "Now, I've told the inspector to double that coin if you can get this message there quickly, so no stops." The boy nodded and rushed off. Ephraim's gaze followed him until he turned the corner. "Well, hopefully, the good Inspector will send someone to guard Devitt while we are gone. I also informed him we were headed to the country in case something happens." Zona nodded and waived to her driver who pulled the carriage over to them. She showed the man the directions Devitt had shared and once the man nodded, the three entered the carriage. "So, Ephraim spoke of a dream," Livingstone said once the carriage started rolling. "Yes, a very telling dream. If my brother was still alive, I believe we would know everything now, but alas we are held back by my meager knowledge," Zona said offering a sad smile. "I highly doubt that," Ephraim said as he leaned forward. "But is there a way to find out more or are we stuck with what we witnessed?" Zona nodded, "I think so, but it is dangerous without a proper link." Livingstone leaned back and wondered aloud, "Did you not create a link with Ephraim?" Zona's cheeks colored as she offered a slight nod. Ephraim let loose a loud sigh and joined Livingstone with his back to the bench. "Yes...but it is too new, too unformed to be a sure thing. I'd say we have a fifty-fifty chance." Livingstone nodded and glanced at Ephraim. When their eyes met, Livingstone gestured toward Zona with his head. Ephraim glared at the man before turning his attention to Zona. "To whom is the danger?" "The anchor, which would be you in this case. If anything happened to me than you, as the anchor, would bear the consequence." "Well then, make sure nothing happens, and we will be right as rain," Ephraim said with an encouraging smile, although his insides squirmed with worry. "Is it something we can do on the ride up to Stanbury's?" Livingstone asked. Zona nodded, and reached out to take Ephraim's hand. The heat from her palm radiated through her glove and flowed into Ephraim, traveling through his hand, up his arm, and to his chest. He stared at her unblinking eyes and waited for some explanation. His worry and unease melted away after a moment, and she released his hand. "There, that should help," she said so quietly, it may have been to herself. "If I appear to be in distress, you must allow me to continue until five minutes have passed. Anything after that will affect...the anchor." Livingstone produced his pocket watch and flipped it open. He nodded to the two and sat back. Ephraim sighed and studied Zona as her eyes closed. The carriage rocked over every bump and hole in the road, but she showed no signs of movement save her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The carriage continued in silence until Ephraim believed he could take no more and opened his mouth to question Zona. As his lips parted, every hair on his body began to rise. Static energy covered him head to toe, and Ephraim wondered if he was beginning to glow from the charge. A small gasp left Zona and his attention returned to her face. He prayed this not only worked but that they both remained safe. THIRTY-THREE Zona sat in a field of wildflowers. Her head pounded from the journey, and she wondered how successful she might be if the pain didn't subside soon. She closed her eyes and laid back in the tall, colorful field. She remembered visiting a field like this as a little girl; her brother leading her through the forest to the flowers, so they could enjoy the lovely spring weather. Her heart ached at the thought of her brother, and she found herself wishing for his return again. Truth be told, this wasn't the first time her brother had died, but for some unknown reason, it seemed to be the last. The pounding in her head subsided enough, so she sat back up. "Hello, little flower," a voice said behind her. A smile split her face as she spun around, leaping to her feet. Her brother stood a few feet away, and she raced towards him, arms outstretched. As she reached him, she moved to offer a hug but stumbled through his figure. Unable to regain her balance in time, she tumbled to the ground. Rolling over, she offered her brother a glare. "You could have warned me," she said as she stood, dusting off imaginary dirt. "True, but you should have known," he said with a stern voice. He held her stare for a moment, before looking away and letting her win the stare down. She let out a huff and stepped to his shimmery outline. "I guess I just got overwhelmed. I've missed you," she said, tentatively reaching out. Her hand met his form but traveled through with no resistance. "And I, you, little flower, but we have little time," Zachariah said his voice becoming thin and reedy. "I've been holding my form here, waiting in hopes you would attempt to contact me, but my strength is weakening since I am no longer tethered to a physical form." "What?" Zona asked, surprised to hear this news. "They stole your body, but how were they able to sever your spiritual binding?" "A power greater than anything we've ever faced is loose, and it has deemed my interference as dangerous, and so I was removed from the board. But that is our advantage because in truth you've always held the power between the pair of us." Zona shook her head and opened her mouth to protest. Zachariah placed his finger over her lips, somehow able to stop before passing through her face. A spark of energy popped from his form to her lips, and she yelped in surprise. "I have always found my strength in you, my anchor," Zachariah said with a sad smile. "As you now must find in yours." Zona's cheeks colored as she wondered if Zachariah knew who she chose for that task. As she stared at her brother, she noticed his form begin to shimmer and fade. He was no longer solid looking, but a more phantom or ghost from a Dickens's tale. "What is happening?" she cried, stepping closer. Shaking his head, Zachariah sighed before speaking. "It is as I feared. I have been too long away from my body. I am making the trip to the other side. We may still speak from time to time if the circle is right and you learn to channel better." "But I have not gained the answer I seek. What are we facing?" Zachariah's form was no longer visible, but his voice hung on the wind as it blew through the flowers and around Zona's body. "You are well aware of what you face. You saw the dark god crawl from the earth and enter the African in the name of vengeance. But it's not vengeance the dark one wants, no it wants something it hasn't had for centuries. It wants control of our world, and to do so it will start with the souls it fears the most. This dark god is from a time before the light and will plunge us back to the darkness if possible. You must stop him, and to do that you must stop me." The last word, whispered by the breeze, sent a shiver down Zona's back. Whatever does he mean? *** Ephraim stared at Zona. She had been mostly quiet the entire time, a few groans and mumbled words but nothing concerning. Livingstone exchanged a glance with him at first but since then, the two men only studied Zona. The hairs on his body began to relax almost instantly, and as the time passed, the warm feeling of connection he had with her faded. He hoped that meant nothing, but he couldn't be sure. As the last strand of warmth left his body, Zona's eyes opened. She blinked a few times and leaned forward. "Any issues while I was away?" she asked with a grin. Livingstone shook his head. Ephraim shrugged, "You were away?" Livingstone snorted and rolled his eyes so Zona could see. "Terribly droll, but we need to make a plan. Were you able to learn anything?" Zona frowned before shaking her head. "Nothing we didn't already know. He was weak from waiting and was only able to speak of what Ephraim and I dreamt of. Although..." She trailed off and turned her attention to the window. For a moment Ephraim waited, allowing the tension to build. Finally, he could wait no more. "And?" he demanded. Zona swung her head back, staring at the two men. "He ended our time with the statement, 'you must stop him, and to do that you must stop me'; which makes no sense as he faded from our world at the end of our time together." THIRTY-FOUR The carriage pulled to a stop and Ephraim hurried out, his back aching from the long ride. He didn't understand much of Zona's story, so he figured it best to remain quiet and wait. All would be made clear at some point he hoped. Until then, they still needed to protect Stanbury and his family. Ephraim held out his hand and helped Zona from the carriage before Livingstone followed. He held his doctor's bag, in case they were too late. The three turned their attention to the house. Zona gasped, and Livingstone glanced at Ephraim to gauge his reaction. Ephraim thought about stepping forward and stopped, frozen in place. The house was enormous, the biggest house he'd seen in London or the surrounding area not owned by the Royal family. The drive circled in front of the property, and around a magnificent water fountain. The driver had stopped on the edge of the road before the turn to the property. "Why did you stop here?" Livingstone called out to the man. "'Orses refused to move," he said in a shaky voice. His forearms shook from the effort of keeping the horses from running away. "I see," Ephraim said his attention still on the fountain. It appeared carved from marble and the shiny white stone was smudged with dark blotches all over. The figure was of a man, but instead of legs, this person had tentacles flowing out from the waist. In his hands was a baby which he held to the heavens, and his face was etched in such a way to convey utter despair. "This seems like an odd statue for the country." Livingstone nodded his agreement and the two men moved towards the fountain. Zona followed a step back, muttering something in a language Ephraim did not recognize. As they moved closer, it became clear the smudges were blood, fresh enough to still be running in places. "Are we too late?" Ephraim whispered, hurrying the last few steps. In the water floated a young woman. Her body bloated and deformed. Ephraim reached to pull her out when Zona grabbed his shoulder pulling him away. "Don't" she hissed and motioned for the doctor to move back as well. She stepped to the side of the well and picked up a walking stick lying in the grass. She slipped the end under the woman's waist and braced the stick on the marble side. Zona pushed on her end until the stick flipped the woman over. Ephraim's stomach rolled as he stared at the swollen, misshapen face of a woman. The skin was black and blue, and her lips were three times the normal size. Her eyes were swollen shut, and a long jagged scratch went from her hairline to her chin. It was no larger than one a house cat might make, but the angry red color of the wound seemed to pulse in the daylight. A large hole, in the middle of her breasts, appeared to be made by something exploding out from her body. "How..." Livingstone asked without finishing the question. He stared at the damage and glanced at Ephraim with a look of true disbelief. "I've seen something like this once, but it was in Africa years ago. A man fell into a pit of vipers, and after multiple bites, his body swelled until almost bursting." "And that is why I stopped you," Zona said dropping the stick. The tip smoldered where it touched the body. "She was killed with a dark magic. We will need to be very careful. Whoever did this just needed to scratch her to get this effect." Zona turned to the house and marched forward. Ephraim stood still for a moment before rushing to join her. Livingstone followed behind with a huff. "Exactly what did that, if I may ask?" Ephraim said as he slid next to Zona. "I won't know for sure until I see it but a weapon has been cursed with dark magic. It is a blade that houses the soul of a wicked man; a man so vile that a mere scratch of the weapon can cause the victim to die in such a horrible way. Such an act requires a few things, a person strong in magic, the soul of the corrupt, and a deity willing to grant such power to a mortal. It comes at a heavy price. I just wonder what it might be," Zona said as she marched up the stairs. The front door stood open and Zona took a step back, bumping into Ephraim as he moved to see inside the house. Livingstone muttered something unintelligent before turning to the side and vomiting. Ephraim's stomach tightened as he stared at a level of violence he hadn't witnessed since returning from the war. © 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved

The virus is spreading, now what?

Well, it's been a week since I shared a few comedy and horror films by Kevin Smith to watch during the beginning of the quarantine, or social distancing. But now we have to get serious as it seems we are facing more downtime and a spread of the virus through the world. We need to be ready for the worst and the best way to do that is by studying some what-if scenarios. This week I am focusing on one story told three times, in three very different decades. I am also giving you a bonus movie in the end, just because. While I wish I had more time to watch movies to suggest for you to view or avoid, I've been busy finishing up the edit on my second novel and it is eating up all my free time. I hope to have some news about that by the week's end. For now, let's dive into this week's must-watch movies so we can survive the coming apocalypse. The story used as the basis for the three pictures in today's suggested viewing is I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. The idea of the book is a man, Robert Neville, may be the last living man on Earth after a plague turns everyone else into nocturnal blood thirsty monsters. During the day he hunts them, and at night he hides as they try to locate and destroy him. While a great idea, and cutting edge for 1954. But honestly, when I tried to read it in the 1990s, I found it to be a slog of a read. Which I hate to admit is how I find everything this so-called horror genius has ever written. Most of the time I finish his books with a shrug. Most likely since I am going back to his works instead of having the pleasure of reading as they are released. Now three major films have been made using I Am Legend as the blueprint. Each has its flaws but all three can be entertaining on different levels. The first movie is 1964's The Last Man on Earth. It stars Vincent Price so already it is ahead of the curve. The IMDB description states: "When a disease turns all of humanity into the living dead, the last man on earth becomes a reluctant vampire hunter." Of the three movies, this follows the book the closest. Which is funny since it is the only one to change the main character's name, moving from Robert Neville to Robert Morgan. Some interesting notes on this movie. It is the only one of the three where Matheson co-wrote the screenplay. Which is why it most likely stays true to the original novel. Originally planned as a Hammer Horror picture, it was passed over and sent to an American producer who made the film in Italy. Vincent Price is the only actor in the movie speaking his own English, all the others are dubbed. While the creatures are vampires, they move more like the zombies soon to be featured in Romero's Night of the Living Dead and other popular zombie movies of the 70s and 80s. While this movie was filmed in black and white (my preferred version) they later went back and released colorized versions. You can watch this for free on Amazon Prime and several other streaming services. The second film based on I Am Legend is The Omega Man released in 1971. It stars Charlton Heston as Dr. Robert Neville. IMDB's description for the film: Due to an experimental vaccine, Dr. Robert Neville is the only survivor of an apocalyptic war waged with biological weapons. The plague caused by the war has killed everyone else except for a few hundred deformed, nocturnal people calling themselves "The Family". The "Family" members are sensitive to light and come out during the night to try and stop Neville who they view as the last remnants of a dead world. Some interesting notes on this movie. This movie is far removed from the original material that Matteson says he wasn't bothered by it at all. The screenwriters went heavy with 70s counter-culture and antiwar imagery. The plague that causes the end of the world was unleashed by germ warfare as the result of a border war between China and Russia. This movie contains more survivors and has Neville join up with a group trying to battle the "Family" and although controversial for the 70s, Heston's begins a love affair with an African American woman. If you want to check this one out it will from time to time pop up on Prime for free but right now no one is streaming this 70's cult classic. You can catch it on Amazon Video for $1.99 to rent or $5.99 to own. The third and last film shares the name of the original novel, I Am Legend came out in 2007 and starred Will Smith as Dr Robert Neville. IMDB states: Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure in this post-apocalyptic action thriller. And while this one moves back to the original material, it is not entirely true to the story. The transformed monsters are infected humans, and while they have light sensitivity and feed on blood they are not traditional vampires. The whole movie, Neville is trying to cure them. Some interesting notes on this movie. Will Smith grew so enamored of his canine co-star, Abbey, that he tried to adopt her when filming was finished, but the dog's trainer could not be persuaded to give her up. Most of the movie has no underlying score. The score was used minimally to highlight Neville's solitude. Although the creatures are referred to as "Dark Seekers", during this movie, if watched with the subtitles on DVD, they are called "Hemocytes". This movie can be rented for $3.99 or purchased for $9.99 on Amazon video but when I looked for the trailer, it appears someone put it on youtube for free...not sure how long that will last but you can always give it a look if interested. Bonus movie is The Cabin in the Woods. I don't want to ruin the fun twist so I will simply put the trailer here and tell you it's free to stream on Amazon Prime and Hulu and stars Chris Hemsworth.

Ephraim Godwin and the Sins of the Past - Part 11 Chapters 30-31

THIRTY The carriage raced towards Livingstone's residence. The sun still slumbered but the darkness was slowly fading to a light gray. Ephraim wondered if the driver was hitting every pothole on purpose. He gritted his teeth as he observed Zona sway with no obvious annoyance to the hard ride. "It won't do to yell at the help," Zona said, a sly smile on her lips. Shaking his head, Ephraim realized he needed to be careful of his thoughts around the woman if this continued. For now, he simply said, "Lucky guess." Zona's laughter filled the carriage as they came to a stop. She reached out and placed her hand on Ephraim's forearm, "We don't have any time to waste. While you retrieve the Doctor, I will head over and secure Mr. Stanbury." Ephraim nodded and slipped from the carriage. He hoped it would be as easy as she made it out to be. Just pop in, grab Livingstone at this ungodly hour, and meet Zona at Stanbury's...all before some homicidal African completed his mad plans for revenge. He crossed the walk and as he began to climb the stairs a flash of white off to his right caught his attention. He stepped back and stared at the mouth to the alleyway. Ephraim continued to study the dark opening but after a few moments, shook his head and continued to Livingstone's door. Three loud bangs with the knocker announced his visit, and moments later the door opened. A tiny man stood in the doorway and blinked at Ephraim. As the silence stretched Ephraim cleared his throat. "Ephraim Godwin to see Dr. Livingstone," he finally said. The man nodded and ushered him into the hallway. He led Ephraim down the hall and opened another door, motioning for Ephraim to enter. Ephraim stepped into the largest library he'd ever seen. A fire roared against one wall and a row of tall, thin windows covered the entire wall opposite the door. Every open space was used as shelves for Livingstone's books. Grabbing a random volume, Ephraim moved to the fireplace and sat on one of the chairs. His stomach grumbled, and he wondered if Livingstone would be up for stopping to grab some food before heading to Stanbury's. He was sure Zona would understand. Ephraim wondered if distance dampened the connection or if she still heard his thoughts. He shuddered, still uncomfortable with anyone poking around his head unsupervised. Unsupervised? You mean at all, of course...the thought brought out a chuckle. The door opened and Livingstone stepped in the room with a tray. He placed it on the table next to Ephraim and sat in the other chair. "What brings you here so early?" Livingstone said as he stifled a yawn. He appeared to have just woken up and barely had time to dress for visitors. "Well...this is going to sound peculiar but Zona and I had a dream," Ephraim said waiting for the shoe to drop. "A dream?" Livingstone echoed as he began to pour tea. Ephraim took the glass with a nod of thanks and grabbed a scone from the tray. "Yes, a dream and well, all I am sure of is whatever that scoundrel Cook is up to is scary. Zona understood it better than I did, so I will just say we have to protect those men and stop Cook no matter what." Ephraim bit into the scone and chewed in silence. Livingstone studied the fire and sipped his tea. *** Zona stepped from the carriage and hurried to the front door. She rang the bell and waited, glancing over her shoulders every so often. The feeling of unseen eyes watching her weighed heavily on her shoulders. The dream was more than a history lesson. It was a warning.Zona shuddered at the thought. A warning she was not prepared for. If only her brother still lived. She shook her head, might as well wish this evil away as much good it will do. The door opened and Zona turned her attention back front. A gasp slipped out of her mouth as she stared at John Roberts. "Whatever are you doing here at such a dreadful hour?" Roberts asked as he stepped past Zona. "I could ask you the same thing," Zona replied as she followed him down the stairs. "Business never rests, and Chattoway wants to strike while the irons are hot." He tipped his hat and turned to leave but Zona slid in front of him. "Before you go, you need to understand you are in danger," Zona said studying Robert's face. "The man who killed your...well, Ms. Chattoway and my brother may very well have you on his list as well." "I doubt that," Roberts replied stepping to the left to move around Zona, who slid the same direction and put her hand up. "Listen, foolish man...your father started this all and you are the last living relative. That means you are a target." Robert's face paled, and he bent close with teeth barred, "Now listen to me, you will keep your wild speculation and downright lies to yourself if you know what's good for you." He pushed past her, stomping away until a handsome pulled up, and he climbed in. Zona stared at it until it disappeared down the way. *** Cook darted back into the alley as Ephraim Godwin stared in his direction. He shook his head, cursing under his breath. This body betrayed him with every step. He still struggled with his newfound length and the accursed pale skin that seemed to shine in the moonlight, and burn to a crisp in the sun. Cook sighed and turned heel. He wondered what had Godwin up so early. Not only up but racing to the good Doctor's house. Closing his eyes, he started to push out with his mind. He had mastered this with his old body, but he was still figuring out how to control the beast's magic in this new one. Sighing, he sensed the wisps of smoke, almost like tentacles slipping across the air currents, searching for their prey. This body, for all its disadvantages, was made for such activities. He marveled at how strong the link was, something he'd never experienced in his old body. In the past when he tried to control the gifts from the well, it was a fight, a power struggle. Now, he played an instrument, and with the correct notes, he would play a symphony. He simply needed to practice, gain strength, and confidence and then the path of vengeance would be traveled on swiftly. He smiled as the tentacle slipped past Ephraim's hat, hair, and into his scalp. While controlling a body Cook experienced everything the man felt, thought, or did. Cook leaned forward, eager to take control of Godwin but a jolt of electricity surged through his senses. He stumbled back and lost his balance, falling to the soaking wet alleyway. "What just happened?" His extremities tingled when he tried to stand. While jolts of electricity flowed throughout his body. His teeth hummed and sparked when they met. Cook was sure his new body would be strong enough to take over another, living or not. He had done it dozens of times with his old one...although it did wear it out to the point of failure. No, this was different. This time when he entered he met something new, something unique. He closed his eyes, replaying the tentacles piercing the veil of Godwin's mind and then running into a wall. Some type of shield that closed his mind to the manipulative powers Cook's possessed. Cook's growled in frustration. He was here to kill Livingstone, and remove him from the board. But when Godwin appeared, Cook thought fortune smiled upon him. Two birds with one stone, but alas he could not pierce the veil today and exited the alleyway. Turning to the left, he hurried down the street away from Godwin and this new conundrum. THIRTY-ONE Ephraim rang the bell at Stanbury's residence. Surprise bloomed on his face when Zona opened the door. "Did you two enjoy your breakfast?" she asked, reaching out and dusting crumbs off Ephraim's jacket. He colored slightly, cleared his throat, and entered the house. "You realize you addle the poor boy," Livingstone said as he tipped his hat and followed her inside. "Stanbury's already gone, grabbed the family and run to a place they have in a hamlet outside of London. However, Mr. Devitt is here and has some interesting information." "At this hour?" Livingstone said turning his questioning eyes to Zona. She only offered a shrug and directed Ephraim to the correct room. He found Devitt, hunched over a piece of parchment that he frantically wrote on. Ephraim shared a glance with Livingstone who raised his brow in question. Zona slid between the two men and stood next to Devitt. He continued to scribble on the parchment, even after Zona placed a hand on his shoulder. "He's giving us directions to a shortcut to Stanbury's country estates," Zona said with a smile. A smile that gave Ephraim suspicions that all was not on the up and up. "What did you do?" he asked Zona, stepping over to study Devitt closer. He showed no reaction that a man was close to his face. Even less as Ephraim moved his face so close the tips of their noses touched. The man never looked up or stopped writing. Ephraim reached out, his hand shaking, and pressed a finger to the man's cheek. No reaction, so shrugging, Ephraim increased the force, and still nothing. He pulled away and turned to Livingstone. "Diagnosis Doctor?" Ephraim asked, Livingstone studied the man in front of them and frowned. "This man is in a state of hypnosis." Both men turned to Zona who smiled. "Well, it seemed the quickest way to get what we wanted. He was already upset I came upon Mr. Roberts and almost refused to see me altogether. Now we get what we want, and he won't be upset." "Until we wake him, that is," Ephraim said with a heavy sigh. Devitt finished writing and sat back. Zona took the paper and handed it to Livingstone. She moved around the table and faced Devitt's blank stare. "Before that, I have a question," Zona said, her voice moving with a sway. "Did anything happen that you failed to mention in Africa?" Devitt bit his bottom lip, beads of sweat popped on his forehead. His body quivered from the force needed to stop from answering the request and then suddenly he grew still. He blinked three times and his glazed over eyes focused on Ephraim's face. "You were an Army man...you remember how it was," Devitt whispered. "We had our orders, and even if we wanted to stop...well you understand how one's blood gets up." "What did you do, man?" Livingstone growled his cheeks flush with anger. "They were children mostly...but some were riper than others. Some would have been of marriage age in many colonies except for their black skin. Those savages wanted our touch, welcomed it..." Devitt's voice trailed off and the room was silent for a moment. Livingstone, shaking in rage, took a step forward his hand flexing around his cane. Ephraim put out his hand and stopped Livingstone. "While I agree with you good Doctor, we can't touch this man and as much as it pains me, we must protect him from the fate he so richly deserves." Devitt shuddered, each word spoken striking like a well-aimed punch. Tears flowed from his eyes, as he repeatedly mouthed a sorrowful apology. "He will pay for his sins...it is not our place to judge," Zona said softly; her hands each resting on her companions' backs. "Yes...very well, so now what?" "Now we tell Kimbell to send a man over here to watch Devitt, and we are off to the countryside to see if we can stop a family from being massacred," Ephraim said before storming out of the room. © 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved

And now you're quarantined...

Are you person of the 90s? Meaning, of course, did you spend any of your teenage years or 20s in 1990-99? If so there's a good chance you are a fan of Kevin Smith. And if you are a fan of Kevin Smith and the world he created, I have some suggestions for you to pass your quarantined time with. Of course, I could just list the movies based in NJ and say watch these but what's the fun in introducing you to movies you already know and love? If you only know Kevin Smith from what he's doing on the internet or his work with the televised DC universe then you need to expand your horizon and take a step back in time. Clerks, Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Clerks 2 are all apart of his New Jersey universe...Kevin Smith was doing Marvel before Marvel even had a movie worth watching. Throw in some of his bigger budget films and you could add Jersey Girl, Zack and Miri, and Cop Out and he's directed a lot of comedies...some with heart and others mostly fart jokes. But Smith became disillusioned with how studios made movies and he decided to go back to making movies as he did before, without all the money but with more of the control, and with actors he enjoyed working with - apparently, he's not a fan of Bruce Willis who made Cop Out a nightmare production. Not only had he decided to go independent, but he also went away from his comic roots. He tried to get Red State made in 2007 right after Zack and Miri but Miramax passed stating it was too dark and unsettling to find an audience. And it is unlike anything Kevin Smith had done up to that point. So here's the problem, you can't see it. It is streaming nowhere and if you want it on DVD or Blu-ray it's gonna cost you. Maybe you can find it at a video rental like Family Video but most likely you will have to wait for it to make it's way back to Prime or Netflix. Once it does. I'll let you know on my Facebook page. So here I can only offer you a sample with the trailer... The next movie Smith does is a few years later, after filming his podcast with Jason Mewes on location in Ireland and Australia - you can find those streaming if you are interested in hearing stories of previous films, and what they are up to at the time. But Kevin Smith decided to stay in the horror genre for his next movie, Tusk. I struggle with this one because it might be less horror than just a bunch of bizarre events leading to a horrible ending, but that's the great thing about horror...it covers a lot of different topics. So what is Tusk about? Boiled down to its essence...it's about a guy who likes walruses and how he tries to physically and mentally change people into one. In all honesty, I'd say you can pass on it but there are some great performances by Justin Long, Michael Parks, Haley Joel Osment, and Johnny Depp (if you can figure out who he is). You can stream it on Netflix... So now that you've decided to skip Tusk and can't watch Red State, we can get to the next couple of movies I've gotten on here to share. But first a little back story... So if you are familiar with the NJ universe, please be patient while I inform the uninformed about the two knuckleheads in every single film, Jay and Silent Bob. On the left is Jay, played by Jason Mewes, and the right you have Silent Bob, played by Director Kevin Smith. They smoke and deal pot, and hang out in front of the Quicky Mart. Jay is loud, obnoxious, and in your face, while Silent Bob is...well, silent. He is a man of facial expressions and later emojis on his I-Phone. Introduced mainly as comic relief to the main comic storyline, these 2 characters are featured in every movie that falls into the NJ universe and even a few things that don't (both characters have been on Degrassi and the CW's Flash). Not only do they pop up in the movies, but they have also evolved to central figures in Kevin Smith's movie universe. Now while they are great characters, many think it's because Kevin is doing this to distract his friend Jason, who has a drug addiction problem. Clean and sober now, there was a time when he was heading to jail with no way to bounce back in acting. Lucky for him his buddy is a podcaster and director and kept giving him work to keep him out of trouble. This leads us to the first movie suggestion. If you are a fan and have seen Clerks-Mallrats-Chasing Amy-Dogma-Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back-Clerks 2, then you catch the newest adventure in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019). On its own, the movie is okay with some funny moments but seen as a companion piece to the whole universe, it's an Easter Egg hunt galore. I almost paid for this movie multiple times since its release, but you can see it for free if you have Amazon Prime. The next movie is a fun what-if comedy of errors with many of the characters playing versions of themselves. Madness in the Method is directed and stars Jason Mewes as he struggles to make his way through Hollywood. Typecast as the stoner guy, Mewes is desperate to prove not only is he a good actor but he is a leading man (side note - Kevin Smith wanted to cast Mewes as Green Arrow in a movie years ago but the studio didn't see it). This movie is pretty fun, and also has a ton of cameos and Easter eggs if you are a fan of his previous work. Unlike Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, you don't have to have a history with the characters to get the joke and enjoy the movie as a whole. Mewes does what his character set out to do in the movie, show he can lead a movie. Bonus watch if you have hoopla for streaming or want to pay $5.99 on Amazon streaming, then get Clerks animated. A very short run series on ABC, it has voice work by the original cast and is super funny.

Ephraim Godwin and the Sins of the Past Part 10 - Chapters 28 & 29

TWENTY-EIGHT Cook was still getting used to his new body. Only a few hours had passed but his sense of proportion was off. Cook's original body was rather gi...