BLACK SUMMER – A husband and wife are separated from their child, when
she is taken from a military checkpoint, to the stadium. Her husband quickly
transforms into a zombie, forcing the (now single) mother to endure the
deadliest summer of the zombie apocalypse. Created by Karl Schaefer and John
Hyams, Netflix released 8 episodes of Black Summer in April 2019. Early
accounts make it seem more than likely the show will return for a 2nd
season. Famous horror author Stephen King showered the show with praise: “Showrunners
could learn a lot from this”. Frenetically
driven by a hyper plot and breakneck pace, the story arc doles out tidbits of
characterization, interspersed between grisly carnage. Highly recommended!
Read them all: The Costumer, The Merchandiser, Vivified, Behind the Walls, Hallowmas & Midwinter. #weirdfiction #darkfantasy #horrorfiction #scifi #postapocalypticfiction
Saturday, April 27, 2019
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum (1980)
The Bourne Identity by Robert LudlumMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum (1980)
Plagued with amnesia, Jason Bourne must uncover his remarkable abilities, and his true identity. All while being chased by an assassin who wants him dead.
https://chadschimke.blogspot.com/2019...
View all my reviews
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Unexpected feat Hopping Down the Bunny Trail
The Gospel According to Mark by Jorge Luis Borges
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE PDF EBOOK
The Gospel According to Mark by Jorge Luis Borges PDF
The Gospel According to Mark by Jorge Luis Borges PDF
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK SHORT STORY REVIEW
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK SHORT STORY REVIEW - This is an extremely short story, at
barely two pages in length. I find a relationship in that the further an author
pushes into experimental form, the shorter a story needs to be, to keep readers
engaged in the story arc. Similar to “Father’s Great Escape”, “The Gospel
According to Mark” (by Jorge Luis Borges) succeeds as such. Because the author
gets in and gets out, quickly. This avoids any possibility of allowing readers spotting
the upcoming twist ending (which I won’t give away here). Thus, when an aimless
medical student goes to stay at a ranch, he becomes trapped indoors by a flood.
Alongside an illiterate farm family, that works the land as ranch hands. They
are in awe of the young man because he reads passages to them from an old notated
family Bible. In the final sequence, the father asks
him if Christ let Himself be killed to save all men. The young man says, “Yes,
to save everyone from Hell.” They mock him, spit on him and shove him, into the
back part of the house. The girl weeps (he
has had sex with the ranch hand’s daughter but vows to deny it) because she knows what’s waiting for him, on the other side
of the door. The story
touches on themes of crucifixion (with several deliberate references to Christ,
it’s no coincidence), salvation and earthly pleasures. I feel that the author
is also sending a clear message about class. Specifically (I imagine), the
treatment of common laborers in relation to the upper echelon, in Latin
America, if not as a comment on the world at large.
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
The Passion of the
Christ - This isn’t a horror film in the truest sense of the word. Yet,
the crucifixion of Christ is a saga of the supernatural. To some it’s the gospel
truth, while to others, it’s myth and superstition. Angels, the devil, death, the son of God and
his resurrection are elements of this gory tale. When the movie was originally
released, critics said the violence detracted from the message. I don’t think a
story about the aftermath of a crucifixion could be portrayed any other way. In
order to be reborn, you have to die first.
Friday, April 19, 2019
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming (1953)
Casino Royale by Ian FlemingMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
CASINO ROYALE - The first book in a series, which spawned a franchise, is Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale. James Bond, secret agent 007, targets a communist paymaster, LeChiffre, under the Soviet murder organization named SMERSH. A game of baccarat, white hot lovers, a dapper dashing gentleman, a femme fatale, some brutish torture and a double crossing twist ending … rise and fall in this suspenseful spy thriller. The introduction and resolution occur outside the casino; otherwise the characters inhabit a world of sumptuous elegance amidst lurking danger in Royale-les-Eaux. The casino is set in a fictional seaside resort off the coast and beaches of Brittany. Fleming’s vivid descriptions are effortless, no doubt firmly rooted in the years he spent as a foreign correspondent in Europe. His expert command of French and English references are admirable, leaps and bounds above mediocre fare of the spy/ thriller idiom.
View all my reviews
Saturday, April 13, 2019
TALES FOR THE CAMP FIRE
From the editor of Morbid Curiosity
magazine, Loren Rhoads, comes Tales for
the Camp Fire, a new charity anthology of short stories. Through these
pages roam werewolves, serial killers, a handful of ghosts, plenty of zombies,
Cthulhu cultists, mad scientists, and a pair of conjoined twins. Find inside this book 24 amazing horror stories
(including a new one by Chad Schimke, ‘Vivified’) written by northern
California authors. Profits will be donated to the North Valley Community
Foundation's wildfire relief fund. Good horror and a great cause… Read Tales for the Camp Fire today!
Available for pre-order now, with a
release date set for May 2nd.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
The Nine Wrong Answers by John Dickson Carr (1952)
The Nine Wrong Answers by John Dickson CarrMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Nine Wrong Answers by John Dickson Carr (1952)
An imposter is framed for murder - where the reader matches wits with the author to dispel the ‘wrong answers’ – and conceals the murderer. The Nine Wrong Answers by John Dickson Carr uses an ingenious device, footnotes that proceed through the novel, to arrive at the final chapter titled ‘The Nine Right Answers’. Evidence builds along the way but the protagonist is outguessed at every turn. Carr is a classic mystery writer, if you are inclined to read a whodunit, don’t miss this opportunity!
https://chadschimke.blogspot.com/2019...
The Nine Wrong Answers
View all my reviews
Saturday, April 6, 2019
TOP DARK FANTASY FILMS
TOP DARK FANTASY FILMS - This is a subjective collection of best films:
with overtones of medievalism, magic and myths. I am particularly fond of those
featuring sword and sorcery elements. But originality and action are prized
above all else. If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, or are awaiting the upcoming
Wheel of Time, do yourself a favor and check out these Top Dark Fantasy Films.
The Seventh Seal (1957)
A knight plays chess with the embodiment of death who is
coming for his life.
Marketa Lazarová (1967)
Knights kidnap a lord’s daughter, forcing her to become a mistress
to one of them, against her will.
Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Jason embarks on a quest in search of the Golden Fleece
assisted by Hercules and Acastus.
Wizards (1977)
In a post-apocalyptic world, two opposing wizards battle, pitted
between magic and technology.
Hawk the Slayer (1980)
A warrior wields a magic sword he can control with his mind,
on a quest to avenge his father’s death.
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Perseus, son of Zeus, is destined to marry Andromeda. But as
long as the satyr is alive, no one will wed her.
Excalibur (1981)
King Arthur assembles Merlin and the Knights of the
Roundtable in Camelot around his magic sword.
Dragonslayer (1981)
A wizard’s apprentice faces danger as he tries to defeat a
dragon terrorizing a medieval kingdom.
Dark Crystal (1982)
The last survivor of his race seeks the Dark Crystal, a
powerful gem capable of balancing the universe.
Conan The Barbarian (1982)
When an enslaved orphan’s village is destroyed, he is forced
to push The Wheel of Pain.
The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982)
A mercenary with a three-bladed sword helps a princess foil a
tyrant.
Krull (1983)
A prince goes on a quest to save his betrothed from evil
aliens, in this sci-fi/ fantasy mashup.
Conquest (1983)
A hero and barbarian must defeat a witch in this horror/fantasy
hybrid.
The Neverending Story (1984)
A land of fantasy is threated by a destroying darkness which
can only be stopped by a human child.
The 13th Warrior (1999)
An exiled noble joins a group of Vikings, becoming the 13th
warrior, in this original flick with overtones of horror.
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
The daughter of a murdering sadist is drawn into a magical world of mythical beings.
Related post:
https://www.chadschimke.com/2019/06/top-science-fiction-movies.html
https://www.chadschimke.com/2019/04/top-dark-fantasy-films.html
https://www.chadschimke.com/2017/02/top-horror-movie-franchises.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)












































