The Watkins Book of Urban Legends by Gail De Vos Book Review

 Storyteller, librarian and former teacher, Gail De Vos has several books on folklore under her belt and this latest collection is required reading for those with an interest in urban legends.

Gail covers a multitude of areas, with sizeable portions of her book covering supernatural legends. By charting the evolution of stories which range from the chilling to the downright humorous, we can see how certain tales were altered as they were passed from one generation to the next, mixing the ancient with the modern. For me, one of the most fascinating parts covered the famous '27 Club' where famous musicians and singers passed way before their time, and there were several fascinating theories; some of which I'd heard and one which really caught my breath.

If haunted tunnels, highway ghosts, curses generated by social media and a good few stories that have influenced motion pictures.

The only section that disappointed me just a little concerns conspiracy theories: I did hope for more comprehensive coverage of conspiracy theories. That's just me being picky though. Overall, this is a fine collection, beautifully written and offering real value for multiple reads.

Perfect Days. Film Review

 Hiayama (Koji Yakusho) is a janitor, cleaning public toilets by day in Tokyo.

He’s a loner with hardly anything to say and has a passion for reading, photography and impeccable taste in music.

His nights are spent with his beloved books before turning in as part of preparation for a job he  does with pride, displaying a strong work ethic.

Right from the word go, Hiayama is someone I cared deeply about, with his outlook and appreciation for the simple things in life earning great admiration: sitting in a bar lovingly regarding a pint glass of water with the same reverence as a connoisseur of wine might look at the nectar before them , or taking the time to appreciate his surroundings. He’s a man wedded to routine; calm and friendly with warm glances towards his fellow citizens, but he is capable of not only opening up but being assertive when push comes to shove and these different sides to his character make him fully rounded.

Wenders’ film is full of the things that make life special, as well as a great sadness for words let unsaid and a growing realisation that Hirayama may be within reach of his soulmate but unlikely to ever meet. 

It’s a quiet masterpiece in my opinion, and a worthy addition to a filmography that contains so many wonderful films from a director with real heart and soul.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Film Review

 Have to admit I hadn't seen Tim Burton's original film since it played at cinemas 36 years ago, and took the opportunity to revisit a few days ago, in anticipation of  Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hitting the silver screen. Happy to report I still find the first film to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience and had an even better time with this new release. While I accept opinions that there may be a few too many plot points going on here, I really had no problems going with the flow. The presence of characters from the first film - Delia and Lydia are even more of a delight this time round - and new faces such as Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci as Delores score highly; the latter delivers a wonderfully physical turn and her entrance alone  may well be  worth the price of your ticket!

The man himself is driven by another memorable turn by Michael Keaton, introducing new tricks to his repertoire, while being just as obnoxious as ever and Ortega, for me, is an unqualified success as the sceptic who is forced to do a 360 as events make it clear her mom knows best.  A second viewing may possibly endear Dafoes' character to me even more and there's so much else to look forward to with regard to a repeat performance. Danny Elfman's score really captures both the tragic aspects of this story and the screwball comedy on offer here, while the use of 'MacArthur Park' and a spooky rendition of Harry Belafonte's 'Day-O' will both live long in the memory. It's also great to see Tim Burton continue his career-long admiration of the late, great director Mario Bava. The opening shot of the monochrome sequence is straight out of Black Sunday/Mask of Satan, and also pleased to catch both a namecheck and a scrapbook reference to my favourite Bava film. Do try to see this on the big screen, if circumstances permit. It's quite a ride!

Withered Hill by David Barnett. Book Review

 David Barnett's Withered Hill moves between the ultra hectic world of London and a secluded Lancashire village with the end result being a deeply unsettling tale that will appeal to lovers of horror fiction; particularly folk horror.

With nods to one of the UK's infamous 'unholy trinity' of films, Withered Hill is still very much its own beast, using different timelines and perspectives to construct a dark, foreboding account of what can happen when your past catches up with you. Sophie Wickham finds herself caught up in a nightmare that stretches back to her childhood and it's an absolute joy to encounter new characters placed in her path and grapple with plot twists, morality, mood and motivations along the way. Just when I thought I knew where the story was heading, something new came up to shred my expectations, which, for me, is the hallmark of a very fine book.

The traditional folk horror theme of merging the ancient and the modern works beautifully in Withered Hill, suggesting that 'the 'old ways' still hold sway in various locales which is both uplifting and chilling here. The titular village is so very well drawn; a place far removed from the pressures of everyday life, and it's characters equally so. Underneath its calm exterior lies a locale steeped in lore and barbarous practices that chill the spine; even more so as Barnett's powers as a writer induce the feeling that somewhere out there is a place that mirrors this setting.

Withered Hill is published by Canelo, and due for release on 23rd September 2024. Good to learn that Canelo have David signed up to write another folk horoor based book; title to be announced. This is an easy 5 star rating and a real pleasure to encounter a book that succeeds so very well within its chosen genre.

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas Book Review

 The second horror novel from this highly acclaimed author. Vampires of El Norte takes place during the Mexican-American war, and centres on the romance between Nena - daughter of a ranchero - and Nestor (a vaquero) who returns to his true love, following a long absence. As a historical romance, Vampires works very well indeed, taking a childhood friendship that blossoms into a love that's hard to deny, even in the face of testing circumstances. There's also a supernatural element to this story, which initially whetted my appetite. Although the titular vampires are not front and centre for much of the book, when they do appear, it's to devastating effect , and their presence is never too far away. 

The story is engaging, right from the word go, with strong characterisation, detailed backstories and vivid descriptions of the locale which capture a war-torn region mixed in with paranormal activity of a truly horrifying nature. There's also interesting commentary on colonialism and class, making this a book that provokes deep thought on many levels. Vampires of El Norte is tailor made for those who appreciate historical romances, with a delicious twist of otherwordly terrors. It's perfectly paced, but a read to be savoured with concentration and  reflection amply rewarded.

This paperback edition will be published in the UK 24th October  2024 published by Rebellion . Solaris Books Imprint.

A Glimmer In The Hollows by Lorna Selley Book Review

 A substantial debut from author Lorna Selley. The story takes place in Driftwood; a mountain town where 6 year old Olivia Garcia disappeared two decades earlier. Now, her babysitter for that fateful night must claw back unremembered fragments from her past in order to find her missing charge.

When a famous author turns up in the town, the stage is set for an investigation that is delicious to follow. Characterisation and backstories are beautifully written, along with vivid descriptions of the town and surrounding area. The story went into places I didn't expect and I applaud the author for this, mixing local legend with something else that has been here even longer.

No trigger warnings to report. This is a hugely promising start for a career that should go from strength to strength. If you like inspired writing, with a multitude of spooky moments and white knuckle tension, this may well be for you. 4 stars!

Longlegs. Film Review

 I went into this one knowing very little about its story, having avoided teasers/trailers and reviews. I was aware of 'early bird' comparisons with Silence of The Lambs via social media posts, and that Longlegs had been labelled '"he scariest film of the decade".  Did I find it scary? No. The only film that really scared me was my first viewing of The Exorcist which was shown on a double bill with Exorcist II at a local cinema. This was at the age of 17 when I had already seen a good number of films on the big screen. However, I did find Longlegs to be enormously unsettling, with a feeling of dread inhabiting every minute of the running time.

FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) is assigned to a case known as 'The Birthday Murders' and her tense, nervy character can be related to subconscious suppression of childhood memories. Harker possesses unreliable psychic abilities; an 'asset' that's all the more chilling when we realise just where her powers came from. Monroe delivers a terrific performance here, as does Nicholas Cage as a facially scarred instrument of pure evil.

The cinematography by Andres Arochi Tinajero is exceptional, working in tandem with a soundscape that's never less than completely unnerving.Together, they fully succeed in getting right under the skin and staying there. Director Osgood Perkins installed several moments of dark humour into this film, but at the 2 screenings I attended, not a single person laughed. Maybe we had temporarily forgotten how?

I will not go into any plot details for the benefit of those who can't get to a cinema and are awaiting a physical media release or streaming. What I will say is that Longlegs is certainly worthy of your most earnest attention and that multiple viewings are required to plumb its hidden depths and to better appreciate just what am achievement this is.