Velma - a short horror film by Scarlet Moreno

 

Poor lonely Velma is looking for that special someone. She has no problem meeting handsome charming men, but although they all seem to be smitten with her, for some reason, they never stick around past the first date.

Is Velma just too picky or does she get rejected every time? Is there some dark secret going on when she closes that bedroom door? Is she destined to live her life in loneliness? 

These are the questions that ran through my head as I settled in to watch this film.

Tonight could be the night she has longed for and I found myself rooting for her right up to the very end.

This tongue-in-cheek short horror film was a surprising delight. If you have a dark sense of humor pay Velma a visit. 

Arriving on VOD on March 26

 

Sawney Bone by Leo Darke

 From the 17th century and Scottish cannibal Sawney Bean's reign of terror to the 20th century and a runaway child hiding in an ominous cave, two destinies become entwined and an evil course is set.

Mild-mannered Jack Breen works in a video shop in Bristol, living out a dull, uncomplicated existence. But Jack has no clue as to how complicated his life is about to become when a menacing figure walks in asking for "the sickest film you've got."

Bane, proprietor of the horror-themed pub The Slaughter Inn, has an obsession with darkness, death—and Jack himself. As their lives become intertwined, Bane's tormenting of Jack becomes increasingly dangerous. When the evil reaches out to touch his friends with horrific results, he's determined to put a stop to it, no matter the cost. Jack’s final conflict with Bane results in a disturbing journey deeper into the darkness within himself as he takes a bus ride down the Sawney Bean trail right into hell. You've got your ticket, now take your seat, the Maniacal Mystery Tour’s about to begin.

A 101 Ways to Hell novel set in the 1990s, Sawney Bone is by Leo Darke, the infamous author of Lucifer Sam and Pandemonium.

Jack works in a video store, lives with a roommate named Dennis, loves horror movies, and has some serious repressed memories that are about to rip his life apart. When a stranger approaches Jack in the store one day in search of the "sickest" film he's got, Jack thinks it must be some sort of prank at first. Relieved when the man finally leaves, he still finds himself compelled to check out a pub the stranger has mentioned. Enlisting his friends to go with him they find this weird club to be complete with horror décor, a horrific sounding band, and genuine convicted murderers. This visit sets off a chain of events that will drag Jack and his friends into some dark and deadly consequences.

There are a lot of characters in this book, some that amused me, some that disgusted me, a few that I hoped would survive, and a couple whose deaths would have filled me with glee. This is a dark and disturbing read in all the right ways. The ever-increasing danger and gradual reveal of secrets kept me glued to the pages.

My thanks to Grinning Skull Press

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Alfred Hitchcock's Tales of the Supernatural and the Fantastic

 Drawn from the pages of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, this collection of more than thirty stories features the talents of Lawrence Block, Rob Kanter, Patricia Moyes, Chet Williamson, Taylor McCafferty, and George Chesbro.

I've been collecting these old anthologies for a while now. They are out of print but you can usually find used copies in decent condition still floating around. I have too many to count but have only read a few. I think this is my third.

This is a huge volume of stories at over 400 pages.

There are some classics included by Poe and H.G. Wells but I more enjoyed the stories that were new to me. One of the few stories that had enough bite to creep me out was The Balancing Man by Charles Ardai in which a young boy follows his big brother to a mysterious red barn where he sees something unforgettable.

I also loved Roughing It by Michael Beres, probably because I have had some unusual experiences in the great outdoors myself. I found this story quite sinister from the start when a large and luxurious motor home takes over the space next to a tent where a married couple are trying to enjoy some peace and quiet while camping out. 

Some stories are more humorous, including one where a ghost still shows up for work every day. They are all pretty tame compared to today's standards, but most were entertaining. A few fell flat and a couple I just skimmed because they didn't interest me. If you are looking for subtle chills and mild thrills this may be for you.

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Of All Things Sacred by Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev

 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

A prophet has arrived in the small mountain town of Red Tree, California, bringing with him a revival. Repenting of sins. Healings. Exorcisms. Speaking in tongues. Visions. Prophecies.

Something big is happening in Red Tree, something so transformative the small town can barely contain it. And Iron King's mother is the Prophet's most committed follower, even though Iron's father isn't totally on board.

Any doubts the townspeople have that the Prophet was anointed by God evaporate when a man who questions his integrity is struck by lightning on the church steps. Unreproachable, the Prophet's stature—and his control over the souls in his care—grows along with the size of his church, despite whispered rumors and his increasingly strange prophecies.

Until Iron falls in love with a girl and realizes that between God and Satan, between truth and deception, lies a great contradiction. And a horrific terror.

After a great start with an intriguing and gory prologue this turned into an unexpected disappointment, considering it was labeled as horror.

A self-proclaimed prophet arrives in a small town and soon has everyone speaking in tongues and believing that everything from wearing jeans to owning a TV is a sin.

The prophet himself is just hiding behind religion as a front for molesting teenage girls.

The book could have been cut by half if all the bible passages were removed. They did not contribute to the story or help the flow, they merely increased the length.

The teenage characters seemed strangely innocent for their years, lacking basic knowledge.

The author doesn't know how the morning after pill works and doesn't know the difference between plan B and abortion.

For some reason, the letter L was omitted at the end of every word that should have ended with two instead of one, making it very distracting. 

This is not a book I can recommend personally, although others have enjoyed it so perhaps you will too.