I understand there’s a certain something in the air, certain anger about the elites (the Epstein class), racial divisions, gender issues, and so on. So it’s no surprise that this boiling acrimony is going to…

This is not a horror novel that’s going to fill you with icy knives of dread or cause you to fundamentally question the nature of human existence. But it is a pretty fun read. The…

Perhaps I’ve mentioned my idea that modern films can experiment with more ethereal themes and plots because the producers know viewers can find answers to their burning questions by going on the web and reading…

The issue of authors using AI to design a book cover is a hot one. I should get one thing out in the open right off: My view on AI training and its use in…

I was dimly intrigued when I stumbled across this film on Amazon. It looked like a forgotten 80s suspense film set in a hospital. From the description, I thought it might be no more gruesome…

I mentioned this book when I was about halfway through it and said that I was enjoying it. Now that I’ve finished it, what’s the verdict? Meh. The general plot is straightforward. Someone is recreating…

Why do I watch movies like “Morgan: Killer Doll”? It’s obvious from the outset that it’s low-budget schlock.  And yet these films continually draw me in. Is it some kind of sickness on my part?…

So I recently started a movie viewing session planning on watching a movie recommended by a friend, only to find it wasn’t available in my region. After screaming in rage for several minutes, I randomly…

This is kind of a rarity. I’m reviewing this book about seven years after having read it. Why? Because I think it’s one of the greatest horror novels ever, and I realized I never left…

I’ll say this upfront. “The Super” has one of the creepiest introductory sequences I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, it doesn’t maintain that mood for the rest of the film. In that creepy intro, a woman caring…

“Good Neighbors” was just a random film I pulled off Amazon Prime. It turned out to be quite enjoyable. Billed as a thriller, it’s really more of a dark comedy. The plot centers around three…

An interesting sub-theme of horror and crime movies is “rebellious kids.” These are films that capitalize on the idea that kids—particularly young boys—are not charming moppets but sadistic death machines. (I’m reminded of a great…

I’ve read several of Claire’s books (“Unmasked” is a favorite) and always appreciate her solid, no-frills writing. Her stories usually bring to mind the best of 80s schlocko horror cinema: a bit of sleaze, a…

A common fantasy of teenagers is the death of their parents. It’s a kind of traumatic split they seem to yearn for. And it’s frequently mentioned in fiction – think of Harry Potter, or the…

This was a short story I discovered in one of the free book promotions I often take part in. It’s one of the best-written tales I’ve found via such a method. As a result, I…