M.R. Gott's Blog, page 39

Hell Notes Untreed Reads Sale

Thanks to Hell Notes for supporting Untreed's Halloween Sale.  This month all Horror is 30%-40% off.

Movies For Halloween Part II The Kids

Let's face it kids are everywhere.  It's as though their a product of the desire for coitus or nookie.  Knowing Halloween is not the most kid friendly holiday I thought I could be of some assistance. 

Beatlejuice:  This a classic for all ages and showed the world the style of Tim Burton

Ghost Busters:  As a kid it was a compelling drama.  Now I wonder how I missed all the jokes, It's true... this man has no dick.

Coraline:  This fable from Henry Selick the director of Nightmare Before Christmas and from the novel by Neil Gaiman is a movie that honestly all ages can appreciate. It is a marvel.  Fair warning the novel by Gaiman is significantly darker. 

Untreed Bestseller For October On Sale Now 30% off

Army of Darkness Castle Defense

Lat night I completely lost track of time playing Army of Darkness Castle Defense.  The game is incredibly addicting.  With the the music sounds and dialogue of the film interlaced into the game play fans will knowingly smirk often.  Even when you fail a mission you get to keep your points to level up and purchase new skills.  The game is currently free for I-Pad and I-Phone.  If you have any interest check it out.  I was skeptical at first and am now recommending it. 

Day 3: It's always nice when the classics are as good as you had remembered...

Movies for Halloween

For the Month of October I will be trying to give you some unique suggestions for viewing material.  To me Halloween movies don't need to be scary, but have a high energy and uniquely spooky atheistic.

Dead and Breakfast.  This is a straightforward zombie musical, with a rapping cowboy narrator and David Caradine.  If you are not interested now you never will be.

Hatchet.  Adam Green's Hatchet has the energy and style of a Scooby Doo episode within the trappings of an 80's slasher film. 

Innocent Blood.  John Landis' horror comedy follow up An American Werewolf in London.  While it is not a clear classic, it is a fast paced enjoyable romp.  Of particular note are the romance elements at play in an age of True Blood and Twilight.  Watch the first 15 minutes here. 
 

Day 2: Some horror fun with Eliot from ET, William from Almost Famous, and that creepy dude (Michael Shannon) from Boardwalk Empire

More From Reed Rothchild

Reed's Epic Halloween Extravaganza Part III: This time shit gets real (and as usual i make a lot of boner and boobie jokes...)

A good friend of mine runs a terrific film blog, Reed Rothchild's Movies and other Epic Stuff Blog.  I encourage you to check out his Halloween coverage.  You will find some great new films and probally re-discover some old classics.  Click the little bugger below to check it out. 


His first review this year is

Offspring

Overview;
Retired Lawman George Peters a survivor of Offspring is called upon to help hunt down the feral cannibals that escaped from him over a decade ago as children, and its a race against time.  The "family" decide to hunt David Halbard, his wife Amy and newborn Melissa.  To complicate matters Amy's old friend Claire and her son Luke are up for the weekend seeking refuge in their rural home from an abusive spouse. 

"Two of them perched on the counter by the sink.  Squatting, staring at her, eyes unnaturally bright.  Their dangling arms covered in blood.Children.While Nancy (her daughter) lay naked on the butcher-block table." 
 Review;Jack Ketchum's sequel to Off Season, Offspring deviates little from the original in format and style.  A reader of the first will immediately recognize familiar beats and be able to predict the setting of the final scenes.  Despite this Offspring is still an entrancing read.  This is due to Ketchum's undeniable talent.  Part of his predictability comes from being unpredictable.  The simplest and most inescapable rule of a Jack Ketchum book is that there are no limits and anything, or nothing can happen.  Jack Ketchum's style is a straight forward, never shirking narrative.  Each event in the novel is written clearly and simply.  This allows the reader to truly judge each action for him/herself.  The novel is broken into three perspectives.  The cannibal family, the hunted and law enforcement's response.  Ketchum creates tension from giving his readers more information than his characters.  The cannibals are fleshed out human characters that Ketchum ensures are never deserving of the readers sympathy.  Each cannibal has a distinct personality, dreams and motives.  This gives the horde of killers unique attributes and keeps the readers surprised and the simple plot from becoming dull.  The hunted consist entirely of average sympathetic people that you either resemble or know someone who does.  One of the novels strengths is that none of the characters are overly strong and heroic, nor foolish and weak.  Readers searching for a strong bad ass maternal protagonist will find two in Amy and Claire.  George Peters a sheriff and survivor of Off Season unofficially leads the search and rescue mission.  George knows what is going to happen and he knows how to stop it, it is only a matter of learning where he needs to go. 
In the end; Offspring is without a doubt a retread for Ketchum over familiar territory.  While he does not add anything new to the town of Dead River, he never detracts from the original.  Those who enjoyed the original will find much of the same.  Those unfamiliar with Off Season are in for an incredibly shock.  Offspring is a worthy sequel, but never surpasses the original.   Extra note, a film version of Offspring was recently released that is never good, or bad and this is its flaw.  A sequel written by Jack Ketchum and directed by Lucky Mckee titled The Woman was recently completed.   

Something Wall Mart This Way Comes

From season eight of South Park comes the most frightening Halloween episode ever.  Click the image to watch...but you have been warned.