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.

Ghost Camera by Darcy Coates Book Review

 An abandoned camera found in a lighthouse forms the basis for Darcy Coates' Ghost Camera; a compelling novella which explores the concept that the line between the living and the dead is wafer thin.

While I feel a little more of the characters' backstories would have been nice, the story certainly delivers multiple chills down the spine along the way.

A camera which captures spirits on film makes for a delightfully unsettling read, with echoes of Hideo Nakata's Ringu, taking us on a journey full of flourishes that will almost certainly prompt glances over your shoulder.

At 118 pages, this is a fast, punchy read and the good news is the inclusion of several short stories, some containing nods to M R James, William Hope Hodgson and Lovecraft., mixed in with refreshing author invention.

My own particular favourite concerns a plane crash and the subsequent desperate fight for survival but in truth, every story here has considerable merit.

Highly recommended!

Raven Hill by Jools G. King. Book Review

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Raven Hill is a deliciously entertaining addition to the booming genre of Folk Horror, initially following the troubled relationship of Nate and Miranda who are soon to discover that these tempestuous times will prove to be the very least of their problems.The characters are beautifully drawn, and inspired either a genuine sense of caring or extreme revulsion from this reader.The book is very well paced, moving along at a fair clip but finding time to focus on characterisation and locale; the latter blending the ancient and the modern as the very best Folk Horror should do.It's a well constructed plot too, using an idea of a wandering band of colourful characters to search for rogue witches who made the diabolical leap from white magic to black.Moderate horror, with nothing that's really extreme, and a real page turner.

4 stars out of five.