Reading
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The Ritual by Adam Nevill. Largely influenced by movies,
The Ritual reminded me in the first half of
The Descend and
The Blairwitch Project and in the second half of
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The result is claustrophobic, unsettling and clever. I'll be reading more of Adam Nevill's books.
Watching
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Under The Dome (episodes 1 - 3).
Stephen King's novels are usually too long for me (especially
Under The Dome with its 1,088 pages) but I can proudly say I've seen every film adaptation of his work except for a rare Bollywood adaptation.
Under The Dome announces itself positively in the first episode, but then declines in quality due to the stereotypical characters and their unnatural reactions. King repeats himself and he has been a cliché of his own work since years. Meanwhile, he knows how to intrigue and build up suspense and there hasn't been a dull moment in
Under The Dome since the beginning. By the way, did you see that limited collector's edition of
Under The Dome? It's already on my wish list just for the packaging. Check it out
here and tell me you don't want this.
*
Dexter season 8 (episodes 1 - 3). It's getting a little silly and repetitive, ins't it? But it's still the perfect TV series to unwind after a long day. And I love the twist at the end of the first episode.
*
Passion. Brian de Palma goes back to his roots with this remake of the French film
Crime d'amour / Love Crime by Alain Corneau. Passion may be over the top trashy and unbelievable, but I can't deny I had lots of fun with this story full of mystery, sex and murder. With Noomi Rapace and Rachel McAdams.
*
The Burning. Gilles hadn't seen
The Burning yet, so it was a good excuse to rediscover one of the better slasher movies of the 80s. Sometimes a little silly, sometimes delightfully suspenseful. The famous scene where half of the cast gets slashed in a matter of seconds is still memorable and surprising after so many years.
*
The Brass Teapot. The teapot from the title is a magical object that sprouts money every time someone around it is hurt.When a white trash couple steals the brass teapot, things get out of hand. Several twists keep this movie fresh and funny.
*
I Think We're Alone Now. Does this title ring a (musical) bell? Then chances are you're a child of the 80s and that you'll enjoy this documentary about the stalkers of former pop icon Tiffany. It's funny to see how these men are convinced they're meant to be with their idol. But it's also sad, because they're so lonely and unhappy.
*
The Purge. For twelve hours a year all crime is legalized, including murder. A couple (Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey) with two children barricades themselves into their home, hoping to make it through the Purge alive. Then a stranger comes knocking on their door, asking for help. The beginning of
The Purge is wonderfully suspenseful and promising; the second half is just flat. A film with a lot of potential that just doesn't bring it home.
*
Komodo vs. Cobra. Yes, I watch this kind of stuff... And I like it too. Monstrous animals are cool, especially komodos. Who cares about bad CGI, story and acting, when there's a giant komodo eating people? And you know what's worse? This was a re-watch. First time was in a hotel room in Ostend ten years ago.
*
World War Z. It's like Steven Spielberg's
War Of The Worlds, but with zombies. After a memorable and heart-pounding opening, the movie succeeds in keeping its pace and originality up until the third act. From then on
World War Z is still clever, just slower and more like many other zombie movies. An alternate, grimmer ending exists and I would have preferred that one.
*
Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father. This documentary started as a message to a young boy whose father had been murdered by the woman that is now raising him. Whereas the documentary was fait-divers in nature, it brought to light criminal legislation flaws and succeeded in realizing necessary changes. There's also a book about the same subject:
Dance With The Devil: A Memoir Of Murder And Loss.
*
American Gigolo. This is one of those movies that defined my youth. Still fascinating and not aged a bit.
Listening to
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Alela Diane. The ideal background music for an afternoon of blogging in bed. My boyfriend's presence,
scented candles, and my favorite drink (Tao) make the scene complete.
What are you reading, watching and listening to lately?
