What I watched: The Haunting of Bly Manor, currently on NetFlix. It is based on The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, and takes an updated, current look at Regency/gothic mystery/horror genre. I found it to be less than horrifically scary, and instead, more horrifically sad. The show is the opposite of gore horror, and spends much time building tension, but there are no jump scares. Ultimately, there are few happy endings, and the last scene is a tear-jerker.
Here are a few trailers/clips:
What I read:
Dark Tarot, book 35 in Christine Feehan’s Dark series. While formulaic, I like them, and this one had more interesting circumstances, involving a tarot deck as a guide on the world-wide adventure. Also, apparently book videos are now a thing:
I also read Comfort Me With Apples, by Catherynne M. Valente. It is marketed as a horror/thriller genre offering, but I found it to be more annoying than scary. It ends up being a biblical allegory for a portion of the creation story. Not my favorite, and quite short in length.
What I listened to this week: Telquist – Taste; Mellah – Nada; and Bayuk, Andreas Vey – Arms of Who.
So, dearest DeadSplinterites, how’s it going? What have you watched, read, or listened to? Have you been entertained, or are you entertaining? What is going on in your world? Please check in, tell us how you are, and share what you are up to!
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I like Valente, I didn’t realize she had a new book out, so thanks. 🙂
It was very well reviewed by everyone but me. Not my genre jam, but I am glad that I could tip you off to the new book!
What I watched: Devs on Hulu. It was a pretty good miniseries, although very reminiscent of Alex Garland’s film Ex Machina, which tells me he doesn’t have much depth in his writing and directing. However I would recommend it.
What I read: I’m sandbagging for next week.
What I listened to: Another stop on my journey though some of the best engineered albums of all time – Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass’s album Whipped Cream and Other Delights. Fun fact about the album cover: the model, Dolores Erickson, was actually covered mostly in shaving cream because the whipped cream couldn’t hold up under the lights. There was also cotton batting around the base. They used whipped cream on her head and the hand that she’s licking. Also, she was three months’ pregnant at the time. Anyway, this album is incredible.
My parents had this and several other Herb Alpert LPs. I wonder where they are now, I’d like to have them.
Same here – I was just thinking that I remember this album from my childhood.
At the suggestion of @HammerZeitgeist, I watched Red Notice. It was entertaining & I love when Ryan Reynolds plays the Dead Pool type sarcastic character.
Been really enjoying Bloodywood, I posted one of the songs on Lemmy metal day…
Youngest daughter came back early from school for Thanksgiving & to go to a play with my wife this weekend. That makes the whole house feel more like a home again.
The Haunting of Hill House had the jump scares. It was pretty fun.
I’m reading one of the Kathy Reichs “Bones” series. It’s okay if you suspend disbelief. What’s the functional equivalent of a coroner doing traipsing all over Canada with two detectives chasing down a baby murderer? Plus, she awkwardly shoehorns some historical cases in as background, just to show you how knowledgeable she is. On the plus side, I can read it only on weekends without losing the plot. I dunno. I’ll probably read the three I bought at a thrift store and then be done with them.
I watched Zombieland: Double Tap. It was pretty funny until it wasn’t. Something about sequels that have stupid endings — or maybe not stupid, but just blah. Still worth the watch if you liked the first one.
Aww, I love the Temperance Brennan books. They’re good stories, and at least the science is mostly accurate!
I didn’t think Bly Manor was scary either, but it was a good watch. And it was nice to see Rahul Kohli from iZombie.
Didn’t get much reading done this week, too busy. Last night I watched episode 1 of the new season of The Great. I love this show, it’s so witty and has a wonderful cast, Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Sacha Dhawan, Adam Godley, and Douglas Hodge. Not historically accurate, but highly entertaining.
I love this show. I didn’t know it had started again. Thanks Hannibal!
S2 came out last night. I’m forcing myself to not binge it all today.
i watched the fable : the hitman that doesnt kill
going by the trailer and the blurble….i was expecting action comedy
and i think its sposed to be… but..well..the first half is some surprisingly brutal murdering and crime stuff…including sexual assault and creepy peeping tom shit paired with over the top hammy acting in places and straight in others…the latter half leans more towards action comedy…tho still mostly missing the comedy mark for me…
its a bizarre twisted movie that i did not altogether enjoy being unable to unsee
Watched Blood Red Sky and was pleasantly surprised. It’s a German horror film about terrorists and a vampire on a passenger plane. It was refreshing to see a regular person come to the conclusion that there’s a vampire on the plane without any hesitation. I rolled my eyes at the premise that motherhood instincts can override vampiric ones. Other than that and the kid who just doesn’t fucking listen and constantly puts himself in danger à la Carl from The Walking Dead, I enjoyed it a lot.
I also watched the first two episodes of Cowboy Bebop and The Wheel of Time. The former is great! The latter is so so. I can’t stand the prissy main young guy. He’s all about throwing tantrums and questioning authority in the stupidest moments. The fact that his three friends get with the new program immediately says a lot about his failure to think critically.
I watched Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings last night and it was very enjoyable. I got a little bored during all the fighting, but it worked well as a movie. Had a great best friends dynamic and good humor, too. I did get annoyed that yet again there was a love story with a late 50s actor and a mid 30s actress.
I rewatched The Holiday (from 2006) as well. I recalled not really liking that movie but overall thinking it was okay, but I couldn’t remember the reasons. Yeah turns out it was Cameron Diaz’s horribly written character *wah wah I’m not a real woman, I don’t cry* etc etc plus all the *fancy snob from LA stereotypes.* Luckily, Jude Law could have chemistry with anyone, so their scenes together are usually okay. I don’t blame Cameron Diaz for working with what she had, it was just lazy stupid writing. Also, what the fuck happens after New Years Eve? The plot wraps nothing up.