Drawing Vampires by Chris Hart

Chris Hart has made a career out of drawing instruction books.  His latest, Drawing Vampires, follows the things-that-go-bump-in-the-night craze that has seemed to capture the attention of marketers more than the youth but whatev.   Anyone learning to draw knows that you must start with the basics and that is exactly where this books begins.  The first chapter begins with heads, then moves to full bodys poses, and goes to lady vampires.  From there the book covers other vampires, ghosts, ghouls, and creatures.

The book is attractive and will lure younger and older art enthusiasts.  Perfect for the holiday don’t miss this intro to drawing all dressed up for Halloween!

Supernatural Season 1 by Eric Kripke

Did you ever see Are You Afraid of the Dark? Did you grow up on Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark?  Then OMG is this series for you.  Sam and Dean Winchester are brothers with an unusal side job, they hunt ghosts and demons and just about anything that goes bump in the night.  Fueled by the incident of their

Dean Winchester

mother dying at the hands of a demon, the seek revenge on the thing that tore their family apart.  Each episode the brothers encounter some supernatural event and a hot girl that seems to be ties up in it somehow.  As trite as that may sound, the formula works.

The over arching story is that Sam and Dean along with their Father (who comes and goes) are seeking the demon that killed their mother.  They get close but

Sam Winchester

the problem with hunting demons is that they can take over any persons body.  There is tension in the family because Sam went off to college abondoning Dean and his Father.  However, after a few close calls and saved lives most is forgiven.

The show is a fast paced thriller that sucks the viewer into the story.  Definitely worth checking out (your local library should be able to get it for you).

Death’s Shadow by Darren Shan

In the latest addition to the Demonata series, Bec is left behind in Carcery Vale to keep her safe while Bernabus, Grubbs, and Kernel are off exploring clues about the demon invasion, but when Lord Loss hears of her vulnerable position, werewolves, demons, and zombies are set forth to get hold of this important piece of the Kah-Gash.

Excerpt: As the once-human beasts advance, I try draining magic from the air but there’s virtually nothing to tap into. In my own time, these creatures would have been simple to deal with. Here, it’s going to be difficult. The lead werewolf snaps at the female. With a howl, she leaps. I unleash the spell as she jumps. It’s a choking spell. If it doesn’t work, I won’t know much about it – she’ll be on me in a second, and I’m defenseless.

The Invasion by Oliver Hirschbiegel

They’re heeere! Aliens that is. The Invasion is the newest in a long line of remakes of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers (originally a book of the same title by Jack Finney). The film is well done, well acted, and well…kinda boring.

The premise is that an alien life is invading earth by taking control of the humans. I can’t remember how this is handled in the original film, but in the ‘78 remake when you go to sleep a plant-like life form takes over your body. This version has the alien mind control spread like a flu. In a rather disgusting scene some infected hotel workers are draining the contents of their noses into the coffee pots and serving it to their guests. Like all the other movies, you can tell someone has been infected by their lack of emotions (above pic shows Kidman surrounded by zombie-like people, perhaps they are watching this movie).

One departure from the book and other movies that I particularly liked was the underlying notion that maybe the aliens made us better. While under alien control the world had come to complete peace. Since everyone was connected there were no wars or ill-will. I think the point was that humans are defined by their emotions but…is that a good thing? Ultimately the movie was predictable (comes with the remake territory) and didn’t have anything new to add except for higher paid actors.

Come Fygures Come Shadowes by Richard Matheson

Richard Matheson, author of I Am Legend, weaves the a story of the occult and spiritualism in the early 1900’s New York. Claire has been familiar with the spiritual side of life since she was a child, she calls it “the Fear”. Her Mother, Morna, is a working psychic medium and holds seances in her home. Morna’s dream is for Claire to follow in her footsteps, and she has Claire lead the seances, however, to no avail. Claire is unwilling to let her self be overtaken by the spirits. After several unsuccessful attempts it would seem that something has found its way through…

This is a great story that really captures the fervor of Spiritualism in the early 1900’s. Plus the book is actually creepy, it’s a far way from The Exorcist but it’ll give you chills!

I Know Who Killed Me by Chris Sivertson

Lindsay Lohan’s career has seen all sorts of ups and downs.  Unfortunately, you can not get much lower than this.  I know who killed me is the story of a girl who has been abducted, tortured, and left for dead.  As she wakes in the hospital she has no idea who anyone is and is convinced that she is someone else.  The doctor’s think she has amnesia but it could be much more than they think. 

I can’t say this movie is predictable because you would need to have some elements of foreshadowing in order to predict what was coming.  Lindsay’s two roles in the movie could have displayed her dynamic acting ability, however, it showcased the opposite.  I have to say she worked well as a pre-teen for Disney, but today her best work is in the tabloids.  Terrible, terrible movie! 

Cloverfield by Matt Reeves

With out spoiling too much, I have too say Cloverfield is a very creative film. The premise is that something has attacked the city and some people at a party who have a video camera film the chaos as it unfolds. Basically it is as if Godzilla was shot from one of the little bystanders on the street. The graphics are incredible and very believable and the point of view approach keeps the viewers in the dark as much as the characters in the film. WARNING: it has been reported that this movie cause motion sickness, it is no lie, someone in my theater threw up (I know I just had to tell you).

Dark Water by Walter Salles

A woman (Jennifer Connelly, Labyrinth) going through a divorce is searching for an apartment for her and her daughter. She finds one in a run down apartment building in a not so great neighborhood. Though not ideal, Dahlia can not deny the low price. From the very beginning there is a presence in the apartment building and when Dahlia’s daughter makes a new friend that know one else can see, the troubles starts.

While the story is just OK, the direction is where this movie shines.  Walter Salles is master of detail and he creates a mood with his actors, Dark Water is no exception.  The movie has to be experienced from beginning to end, I recommend a comfy couch and a dark dark room.

Dark Water is a very dark movie, all the colors are drab and washed out giving the effect of dreary water all around you. A great movie to watch on a rainy night! The movie was directed by Walter Salles (Motorcycle Diaries) and was based on the novel Honogurai Mizu No Soko Kara by Koji Suzuki (author of the Ring).

The Dreaming Volume 2 by Queenie Chan

 

In the second volume of The Dreaming Jeanie and Amber are slowly learning some of the secrets behind the school’s history and discovering some new ones. For instance, what is the deal with the creepy paintings that are hung around the school? Miss Anu, the school’s newest teacher seems to have some answers but is very reluctant to share. After the body of the vanished girl is found Amber becomes ill and finds it hard to even get out of bed. Strange things are happening at the school and Jeanie is trying to figure them out before it is too late. But too late for what?

 

Queenie Chan was born in 1980 and grew up in
Australia. She got her break into manga when Tokyopop began accepting submissions from international authors.

The Dreaming Volume 1 by Queenie Chan

 

This is not your typical manga. First of all it was not written by a Japanese author. Second, it is not based in Japan. Fans of manga will tell you this is virtually unheard of. The Dreaming is a horror story about a set of twins, Jeanie and Amber, that due to family circumstances are sent to an Australian boarding school. The boarding school has a history though; over the years eleven girls have vanished from the school into the surrounding forest. The vice-princpal is very strange woman who fears twins and the girls must lie to be accepted into school. Jeanie and Amber are nervous but are quickly accepted into a group of friends. After a séance/party strange happenings occur. One of the girls has fallen ill and the twins are disturbed by the exact same nightmares. Then it happens, another vanishing. Who is behind these disappearances? Why is the Vice-principal so afraid of twins? What is the story behind the forest that surrounds the school? Check this manga out to find the answers.

Queenie Chan was born in 1980 and grew up in Australia. She got her break into manga when Tokyopop began accepting submissions from international authors.