Darkfall (Group Read - November 2010)

[Jaice]

I enjoyed this one (gave it 4/5 stars). I was a bit worried that I would be put off by the heavy emphasis on the supernatural (Voodoo, specifically), but Koontz handled it well and his research into the topic was evident. It was the typical chase thriller with the supremely evil antagonist against the transcendently good protagonist, but with a strong supernatural twist. There were the two detectives (the man being a sap and the woman being a damaged iron maiden with a soft interior) who fall in love, like in Dragon Tears. I didn't really get the suspense or terror from the supernatural evil in this story, like I did with those in The Taking, Winter Moon, or Phantoms. Overall, it was a bit campy and predictable, but an enjoyable read overall.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I haven't read Darkfall yet :-)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I hope this book isn't anything like the movie Darkness Falls - I didn't like that movie :-) It's been a long time since I saw it (when it was in theaters) - all I can remember is I didn't like it and I think there is a lighthouse in the movie. I like lighthouses, but I still didn't like Darkness Falls.

[Jaice]

Dustin wrote: "I hope this book isn't anything like the movie Darkness Falls - I didn't like that movie :-) It's been a long time since I saw it (when it was in theaters) - all I can remember is I didn't like it ..."

No, it isn't. Wasn't Darkness Falls the one with Anna Paquin in it, where she moves into like a haunted house with her family?

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Wasn't Darkness Falls the one with Anna Paquin in it, where she moves into like a haunted house with her family? "

I don't think Anna Paquin was in this one. It was in theaters in 2003:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkness...

There is also an X-files episode called "Darkness Falls" - it's the one about the green glowing bugs :-)

[Jaice]

Dustin wrote: "...I don't think Anna Paquin was in this one. It was in theaters in 2003:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkness..."

Oh, yes, the tooth fairy one. That should tell you what I thought of it--it is entirely forgettable. I recall the lighthouse scene now, where the lead protagonist ran up to the top of the lighthouse to escape the evil tooth fairy and dispel it with the powerful light on top, because it was repulsed by light.

[Jenna]

The girl from Buffy is in Darkness Falls...Anya from Buffy lol. It freaked me out at first i must admit, i dont like the dark alot and if i wa soutside in the dark and heard that noise, prolly wig out lol

[Carol]

Emma Caulfield...I always wonder what happens to some of the people who star in series that are no longer on the air, and what they move on to. The tooth fairy sounds so innocuous...Koontz has a touch of the diabolical in his mind, I think.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Since this is chosen as one of two November Group Reads, I'm getting it from the Library on audio - Hope it's a good one.

[Maicie]

I gave this one 3 stars. I was about halfway through when I realized I had read it before.


****spoiler****
I enjoyed the voodoo spin but wanted to kick the righteous cop into the hell pit. The characters were a tad too cliche for my taste.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Currently reading & enjoying :-)


Darkfall by Dean Koontz

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

From the inside cover of Darkfall:

STRANGE DAYS

Winter gripped the city. Terror gripped it, too. They found four corpses in four days, each more hideous than the last

STRANGE NIGHTS

At first the cops thought they were dealing with a psychopath.
But soon they heard eerie sounds in the ventilation system -
and saw unearthly silver eyes in the snow-slashed night.

FINAL HOURS

In a city paralyzed by a blizzard, something watches, something stalks...


DARKFALL

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

"I owe special thanks to Mr. Owen West for giving me the opportunity to publish this variation on a theme under my by-line."
-Dean Koontz

[Jenna]

Dustin Crazy wrote: ""I owe special thanks to Mr. Owen West for giving me the opportunity to publish this variation on a theme under my by-line."
-Dean Koontz"

Thats a nice shout out isnt it :)

[Jenna]

Carol wrote: "Emma Caulfield...I always wonder what happens to some of the people who star in series that are no longer on the air, and what they move on to. The tooth fairy sounds so innocuous...Koontz has a t..."

lol. too true. hmm im not sure what happened too all the buffy main-ie..let me go investigate.

[Jenna]

Since Buffy Ended (since 2003-4):
THey had a poll which ones of these needed help in their career.....star next to ones they said needed it..on ign and should do the new movie (though none want too because Whedons not involved)

Emma Caufield: done 4 tv movies,on tv shows Gigantic and Life, unexpected, has appeared on 4 other tv series,also been in a few movies this year i havent ever heard of including Why am I Doing This?, Confined, Timer and Removal.**

Nicholas Brenden: he did the voice for the video game Chaos Bleeds, and the voice for the animated mini series of buffy ,was on Kitchen Confidential the tv show,then did 2 tv movies,played on tv series American Dragon (never heard of),then appeared briefly on 3 tv shows,and has been playing on Criminal Minds and Private practice, (which way to go because everything before these last 2 tv series was corny)**

Amber Benson: since Buffy she has acted in and directed/helped write several indie films ive only seen a couple she did Chance with james Marsters which was ok, and Strictly Sexual which was horrible (takes too many hoochie roles, shes better then that), she appeared on an episode of Supernatural,shes done the voice for Chaos bleeds, appeared on Cold Case,The Inside, 4 tv movies, coming up in two movies (small ones i think)**

Alyson Hannigan: Everyone knows shes done American Wedding and American Pie, she also stars on How I met Your Mother a hit tv series (though i like her better as willow, not as comedy), she also did the video game, and animated series, one episode of King of the Hill,was on Veronica Mars, did a couple tv movies,and is working on American Pie 4. Her career is doing wonderfully.

Sarah Michelle Gellar:Grudge 1 and 2, and I know what you did last summer, The Return(Flopped, but i liked it), Scooby DO 1 &2 (which was a horrible role),Southland Tales (noones heard of, it flopped),3 other indie-ish films that horribly flopped, Veronika Decides to Die (which I saw and im about 50/50 on whether i like it),she did cartoon voices for Robot CHicken (really? after Buffy) and is now working on The Wonderful Maladys (movie?) ****

Marc Blucus: Actually hasnt done that bad..but even though hes been working on films such as...They, Sunshine State,Prey for Rock and ROll,Thr3e, and a bunch of other movies, he still doesnt really have that big a name..but congrats Marc youve been busy!

Anthony Stewart Head: he has been busy in the UK! Hes done the video and animated series, done over 6 tv movies, and several other short films, or documentaries, hes stared for a time in 13 tv series, including a big role in Merlyn, he was also in Sweeny Todd as a walk on, hes working on playing DUncan in a MAcbeth movie they are making, and in a movie for 2011 called the great ghost rescue. also he was the dad in Imagine me and You one of my favorite Lesbian movies :)

Eliza Dushku:she did True Calling for a while, voice over for a few video games including Wet, a couple tv or short films,then starred in teh short lived series Dollhouse, now working on a tv series called big bang theory and rumored to be in the new Ghostbusters :)**

Michelle Trancheberg:staring in Eurotrip, playing on Six Feet Under, also appeared on House, Criminal INtent, Robot Chicken, 17 again, currently on Mercy the tv series, and has appeared as a character on Gossip girl on and off for a couple years,now working on a movie called Kids in America **

David Boreanz(sp?) : He stars on Bones currently (love it), hes also done a couple video game voices and tv shorts,and 8 small movies ive never heard of..he'd get stars if he wasnt on Bones.

James Marsters: did Chaos Bleeds, the appeared on Angel off and on till show close, has appeared on about 11 tv series only a couple more then once, though starring in part on Smallville for a while,hes got a movie 3 Inches coming out, Rumored to be in the Dragon Ballz movie in pre-production, and just did the voice for a completed yet not released Dc Universe movie. He also tours with or without his band hes working but *** they d like to see more..

Kristine Sutherland (joyce): since buffy she appeared on 2 tv series one for one episode the other 3, since then nothing.

Did i forget anyone important? lol.

[Jenna]

I like Darkfall so far, its interesting. Ill comment more as i progress in it.

[Jenna]

Pg 45 **************Contains Spoilers************

Her coolness, the distance she put between herself and everyone else, made her a challenge that no male could resist. But that wasn't what intrigued him, either...

[Jenna]

Pg 45

"..not the slightest hint that she was anything more then the cold and forbidding Amazon that she impersonated..."

[Carol]

Jenna, thanks for spending time on gathering a 'Where are they now?' critique. As for Amber Benson, you didn't mention her lucrative writing career, which I suppose takes away from the time to be more active in the film industry. Also, Michelle's last name is Trachtenberg, and David's is Boreanaz.

I think Michelle is cute as a bug's ear...whatever that means...and have to admit that I didn't watch Buffy for the first two years it was on. I only watched it when a friend came over and requested I put it on and I did so to be polite...that episode was 'Ted', about Joyce's (robot) boyfriend, played by John Ritter...so I watched another episode later (alone) and got hooked, because it wasn't what I thought it was (evil and demented) and the good guys were really good (kind of like Dean Koontz' characters).

[Jenna]

Carol wrote: "Jenna, thanks for spending time on gathering a 'Where are they now?' critique. As for Amber Benson, you didn't mention her lucrative writing career, which I suppose takes away from the time to be ..."

I realized after I posted I spelled the name wrong, thats what i get for copy and pasting from a website..that didnt know how to spell lol. And yes you are right, I didnt mention Bensons writing career. I should have. Loved her writing of the 3 comics. :)

Interesting episode to start on lol. I started the end of season 2, but bought 1 and quickly caught up haha. I like Tedd it was an interesting episode. I am not sure i can pick a fav episode. hmm. ?

Ur welcome for gathering took a while but hey why not?

[Carol]

I loved seeing all my favorite characters in one place, and knowing what they were up to now...

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I did finish reading Darkfall last month, but never came back to comment. I gave the book 3 stars - I'd give it 3 1/2 if halves were available. There were some good scary parts, but it's not among my favorites.

On being afraid of the dark:
"Wasn't she almost twelve years old? And wasn't twelve too old to fear the dark?"
-Darkfall, Prologue, section 1

No. Twelve is not too old to be afraid of the dark - I am still afraid of the dark - I'm especially scared of dark basements and when I have to turn off the lights and go upstairs I have always run as quickly up the stairs as possible so the dark or whatever is in the dark does not get me. I listened to Darkfall walking home late at night on audiobook - it was a bit creepy at times.

Holy men tell us life is a mystery.
They embrace that concept happily.
But some mysteries bite and bark
and come to get you in the dark.
-THE BOOK OF COUNTED SORROWS
(as quoted in Darkfall, intro to Part One)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I think the audiobook is narrated by the same person who did Lightning. This one also has that phone conversation "special effect".