M.R. Gott's Blog, page 9
August 18, 2013
Horror Authors’ Bookshelves: Dana Fredsti
Dana Fredsti on her collection:
"My bookshelves are an eclectic mix of books (more or less arranged by genres, authors, and sometimes themes) and stuff. “Stuff” can range from old dolls to photos, seaglass (LOTS of seaglass) in shells, jars, antique teacups and ashtrays; little cat figurines; knives; hand-made cards from my best friend, a collection of pewter Vikings that my dad collected from the Smithsonian Institute collection… lots of stuff. As much as I love books (and the house is filled with them; not only on shelves, but also in stacks under tables and wherever we can fit them), I prefer the aesthetic of books and “stuff” together."
Click the image to jump over to Ravenous Monster to check out her collection.
"My bookshelves are an eclectic mix of books (more or less arranged by genres, authors, and sometimes themes) and stuff. “Stuff” can range from old dolls to photos, seaglass (LOTS of seaglass) in shells, jars, antique teacups and ashtrays; little cat figurines; knives; hand-made cards from my best friend, a collection of pewter Vikings that my dad collected from the Smithsonian Institute collection… lots of stuff. As much as I love books (and the house is filled with them; not only on shelves, but also in stacks under tables and wherever we can fit them), I prefer the aesthetic of books and “stuff” together."Click the image to jump over to Ravenous Monster to check out her collection.
August 16, 2013
Kick Ass 2 Review
I was intrigued by the original Kick Ass, but not quite a fan after seeing it initially. After a second viewing I was better able to appreciate the odd sensibilities of the flick and the drastic tonal shifts.
If you enjoyed Kick Ass, I can't imagine you hating Kick Ass 2. Like the original it is genuinely sincere in its emotional content. It is still infused with a crazy energy and well shot, however where it is significantly worse than the original are a few plot elements used (rather lazily in my opinion) to connect the second and third acts.
The movie also is a tad more reserved with the violent content, nothing that happens is close to as brutal as the original, hell The Wolverine has a much higher on screen body count. That doesn't mean we're anywhere near gaining a PG-13, but it made the film a bit more fun for me. A gang rape was among the content cut from Millar's original book.
The cast is stellar in all areas and perfectly cast, though be aware Jim Carey has little more than a cameo. Donald Faison (Turk from Scrubs) also shows up as Doctor Gravity and is perfect with the little he has to do. Aaron Taylor Johnson and Chloe Grace Mortez are as kick ass as last time, but John Leguizamo feels wasted with the very little he has to do.
So in the end you've got a damn fine little film that would have been great if the plot was just a bit tighter.
If you enjoyed Kick Ass, I can't imagine you hating Kick Ass 2. Like the original it is genuinely sincere in its emotional content. It is still infused with a crazy energy and well shot, however where it is significantly worse than the original are a few plot elements used (rather lazily in my opinion) to connect the second and third acts.
The movie also is a tad more reserved with the violent content, nothing that happens is close to as brutal as the original, hell The Wolverine has a much higher on screen body count. That doesn't mean we're anywhere near gaining a PG-13, but it made the film a bit more fun for me. A gang rape was among the content cut from Millar's original book.
The cast is stellar in all areas and perfectly cast, though be aware Jim Carey has little more than a cameo. Donald Faison (Turk from Scrubs) also shows up as Doctor Gravity and is perfect with the little he has to do. Aaron Taylor Johnson and Chloe Grace Mortez are as kick ass as last time, but John Leguizamo feels wasted with the very little he has to do.
So in the end you've got a damn fine little film that would have been great if the plot was just a bit tighter.
August 14, 2013
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters Review
Meh, that's really all there is to say about Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters. The movie is neither really bad or good. It totters in mediocrity. Renner and Arterton play essentially the same bad ass unshakable character. The screen play and direction never moves beyond adequate, until to tell if this is a serious or tongue in cheek ride. With such wild ideas and setups for this to be blase makes me appreciate the real cult classics so much more. That shit can't be faked.
August 4, 2013
Fatale Book Three: West of Hell Graphic Novel Review
I'm a big fan of Brubaker and Phillips noir horror hybrid series Fatale. Click either image to see how the third graphic novel collection stands up to the rest of their work.
July 30, 2013
X Files Season 10 Issue #2
This issue starts very promising, and very strong. The art is great, and the characters are instantly recognizable. And in this a single panel ended my enjoyment of this new series. The Lone Gunmen are resurrected, in a total fuck you to the series. Jump the Shark is one of my favorite episodes, and their deaths are a noble sacrifice and a great moment in the series. And they died on screen as well...Bringing them back, and making Mulder aware of their Witness relocation sucks, oh and on the last page they bring back The Cigarette Smoking man. This series had so much promise before going to utter shit.
July 28, 2013
American Mary
Jen and Sylvia Soska are fucking brilliant, and American Mary is an intriguingly original genre entry that is more art flick than many people are probably willing to give it credit for. I went into this film knowing almost nothing about it and rented it because it was there, and couldn't find anything else at the time that was screaming out to me.
Katharine Isabelle (from Freddy vs Jason and the criminally under seen Ginger Snaps) gives an amazing performance as Mary Mason, a medical student who after having her entire world view perverted tries to find a place for herself in the world, with the skills she has. She becomes involved in the world of modification after a chance meeting with Beatress Johnson as played by with gentle nuance by Tristan Risk. This represents one of American Mary’s greatest strengths, the developed supporting cast around Mary. If you are a can of Croenberg’s classic body horror flicks, this is a natural successor. Why not try a little art flick in your horror? You might be glad you did.
Antoine Dode, interviewed by me at Ravenous Monster
This one is pretty cool in my mind, as I have been a huge Crow fan since my Dad told me I couldn't see the movie. (In his defense I was in 5th grade) Click either image to read the full interview.
Were you a fan of The Crow franchise before your work on The Crow Curare? If so which incarnation or elements struck you the most?I think I was 16 when I saw The Crow. I loved the Alex Proyas movie with Brandon Lee straight away. I went to see it twice at the theatre. The comic was released in France after the huge success of the film.Working as an artist on a Crow story written by James O’Barr is a dream come true. Actually, the first comic I did, Armelle et l'Oiseau (Armelle and the Bird), which was inspired a lot by The Crow. That’s not the same kind of story. It’s more like a kind of fairytale; it’s about a little girl who loses her mom, and ends up befriending a strange bird.
How did you come to work on The Crow Curare?
What happened is I met the artist Miran Kim in Anougleme a few years ago (during the biggest comic convention in France). She used to do some Crow covers in the late 90s (she also painted that amazing variant cover for the first issue of Curare). I told her I was planning to do some Crow fan art, and she suggested that I send some to James O'Barr. I was crazy lucky because...
July 27, 2013
Messenger Edward Lee
Overview;
A demon takes over a post office, leaving unsuspecting victims with a surprise when they open their packages. A little bit of Hell has just come to earth.Would you like to become someone else? Well, someone else is about to become you. He will share your heart and your mind, he will seep into your body, he will feel all your ecstacy...And then he will take you on a slaughterfest.Occult rites. Ritualistic murder.You have become possessed.
But not by a ghost.
Not by a demon.
It's something much worse.Just as God has a messenger, so does the devil, and that messenger is here, now, in your town. He has a message to send...The Messenger.A diabolical novel of ultimate erotic horror...Review;Edward Lee’s Messenger combines the classic gory excesses that Lee is known for, a small town murder mystery and the investigation of cult activity. Overall this is a solid horror novel. The mystery elements are well developed, leading logically from one clue to the next. The cast populating the small town of Danelleton, Florida is overall well drawn, but the few characters that are not are the novel’s major weakness.
While Lee never gets as much credit as he should for character development, this novel has far too many fodder characters who are introduced and slaughtered within a single chapter. While the intent seems to be the ratcheting of tension for our main players, knowing what they are being threatened with, Lee shows his monsters too much and they lose some of their bite. (Think Freddy in his first flick to the campy figure he became.) These chapters seem like filler, and I feel this would have been a much stronger work at a shorter length. The narrative centers around widow Jane Ryan, as she works through the evil around her, and Lee even manages to create a nice romantic subplot for her, she was strong enough to carry the book without fodder victims. The supernatural and mystery elements were well conceived and introduced. The book’s climax was solid and fulfilling as well, with a nice series of well-earned reveals. In the End;
Messenger has all the elements I like in my horror fiction; A cult, a supernatural entity, brutal splatter, a strong well drawn lead, and Lee’s signature bravado. However the fodder chapters/characters really killed the momentum. This is a strong novel, that feels like it could have been more.
A demon takes over a post office, leaving unsuspecting victims with a surprise when they open their packages. A little bit of Hell has just come to earth.Would you like to become someone else? Well, someone else is about to become you. He will share your heart and your mind, he will seep into your body, he will feel all your ecstacy...And then he will take you on a slaughterfest.Occult rites. Ritualistic murder.You have become possessed.But not by a ghost.
Not by a demon.
It's something much worse.Just as God has a messenger, so does the devil, and that messenger is here, now, in your town. He has a message to send...The Messenger.A diabolical novel of ultimate erotic horror...Review;Edward Lee’s Messenger combines the classic gory excesses that Lee is known for, a small town murder mystery and the investigation of cult activity. Overall this is a solid horror novel. The mystery elements are well developed, leading logically from one clue to the next. The cast populating the small town of Danelleton, Florida is overall well drawn, but the few characters that are not are the novel’s major weakness.
While Lee never gets as much credit as he should for character development, this novel has far too many fodder characters who are introduced and slaughtered within a single chapter. While the intent seems to be the ratcheting of tension for our main players, knowing what they are being threatened with, Lee shows his monsters too much and they lose some of their bite. (Think Freddy in his first flick to the campy figure he became.) These chapters seem like filler, and I feel this would have been a much stronger work at a shorter length. The narrative centers around widow Jane Ryan, as she works through the evil around her, and Lee even manages to create a nice romantic subplot for her, she was strong enough to carry the book without fodder victims. The supernatural and mystery elements were well conceived and introduced. The book’s climax was solid and fulfilling as well, with a nice series of well-earned reveals. In the End;Messenger has all the elements I like in my horror fiction; A cult, a supernatural entity, brutal splatter, a strong well drawn lead, and Lee’s signature bravado. However the fodder chapters/characters really killed the momentum. This is a strong novel, that feels like it could have been more.
July 25, 2013
The Crow: Curare #2 Review
The Crow: Curare #2
Written by James O’Barr
Illustrated by Antoine Dodé
Colored by Antoine Dodé
Lettered by Shawn Lee
IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 24, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised at how strong an issue The Crow Curare #1 was, and was pretty eager to pick up the second issue in this three book arc.
The second book gives readers an extensive background on Detective Salk and shows us exactly how the man broke down, both professionally and personally. The scenes with his family are particularly strong. They perfectly contrast where he is both physically and emotionally compared to his wife and children.
We also see Carrie's abduction, though not the man who took her. The initial kidnapping from a playground is a haunting work of minimalism. Dode's art images capture this perfectly. They are the type of pages that make me want to buy a second copy to get them framed.
While it was nice to get a fully fleshed out background on Salk, the book leaves off at nearly the same point as the first. One month later I still don't know whats going to happen next. Readers are treated to the emergence of the Crow though..
Overall this is a strong book, that feels like a bit of a let down because it doesn't advance the plot very much, and because the first issue was nearly flawless. Dode's mesmerizing images though make this book a must buy, as it works almost like a tone poem. I am very curious to see how this is all wrapped up in the last issue.
Written by James O’Barr
Illustrated by Antoine Dodé
Colored by Antoine Dodé
Lettered by Shawn Lee
IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 24, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised at how strong an issue The Crow Curare #1 was, and was pretty eager to pick up the second issue in this three book arc.
The second book gives readers an extensive background on Detective Salk and shows us exactly how the man broke down, both professionally and personally. The scenes with his family are particularly strong. They perfectly contrast where he is both physically and emotionally compared to his wife and children.
We also see Carrie's abduction, though not the man who took her. The initial kidnapping from a playground is a haunting work of minimalism. Dode's art images capture this perfectly. They are the type of pages that make me want to buy a second copy to get them framed.
While it was nice to get a fully fleshed out background on Salk, the book leaves off at nearly the same point as the first. One month later I still don't know whats going to happen next. Readers are treated to the emergence of the Crow though..
Overall this is a strong book, that feels like a bit of a let down because it doesn't advance the plot very much, and because the first issue was nearly flawless. Dode's mesmerizing images though make this book a must buy, as it works almost like a tone poem. I am very curious to see how this is all wrapped up in the last issue.
July 24, 2013
Army of Darkness vs Hack/Slash #1
Army of Darkness vs Hack/Slash #1 written by Time Seeley and drawn by Daniel Leister begins a six issue arc that picks up directly Hack/Slash's end (spoilers are present) and references the current Army of Darkness run at Dynamite.
Putting Ash and Cassie Hack together is going to seem like a gimmick, and it is. But that doesn't mean its still not fun. Much like Tim Seeley's Hack/Slash Re-Animator or Chuckey cross over his talent is impossible to miss. Seeley crafts a solid premise and writes Ash as well as he did Herbert West, capturing the rhythm of Campbell's performance.
Daniel Leister's art captures the actions heavy movement well, allowing the reader to easily follow blow as it transpires, and has two very fun splash pages.
In the end this isn't the greatest horror comic (though much more violent than the teen rating would suggest) but for fans of these characters its a solid read, and I'll be looking forward to the next issue.
Click here for more on Ash and Cassie and how awesome they are.
Putting Ash and Cassie Hack together is going to seem like a gimmick, and it is. But that doesn't mean its still not fun. Much like Tim Seeley's Hack/Slash Re-Animator or Chuckey cross over his talent is impossible to miss. Seeley crafts a solid premise and writes Ash as well as he did Herbert West, capturing the rhythm of Campbell's performance.
Daniel Leister's art captures the actions heavy movement well, allowing the reader to easily follow blow as it transpires, and has two very fun splash pages.
In the end this isn't the greatest horror comic (though much more violent than the teen rating would suggest) but for fans of these characters its a solid read, and I'll be looking forward to the next issue.
Click here for more on Ash and Cassie and how awesome they are.
