Odd Thomas (2013)

Every once in a while there are movies that seem to pop up around every corner, and you cannot rid yourself of them until you watch them. This week I experienced one of those movies, Odd Thomas. Now after some thought, here is the review.

Plot/ In a California desert town, a short-order cook with clairvoyant abilities encounters a mysterious man with a link to dark, threatening forces.

Having never read any of the Odd Thomas books, I have no idea whether or not the adaptation stayed true to the book. Thus, I am basing this review on what came across my screen. With that in mind, there was an entertaining factor to this film, although there was definitely a feeling that something was missing. Sure, the characters were interesting and there were some decent effects (especially for CGI), but there was definitely something holding it back from reaching its full potential. That could be a lack of character development, uneven acting, or some plot holes that opened because of my lack of knowledge on the source material. In the end, this movie was at least entertaining. While it was far from perfect, it least it had enough to keep my attention.

Phantoms (1998)

 

 

I had a long day. Not because of a hangover or anything like that, I spent three hours breaking ice in my mother’s driveway, to get the van free from the abyss. You know, gravel and sleet really do not mix. I know I should have retrieved it earlier when Bren got back, but, the snow continued on and off (and I am lazy). Fortunately, after trying some different methods, I was able to finish everything and get the van out. To wind down, I decided to watch something wintery, Phantoms from 1998.

 

 

Plot/ In the peaceful town of Snowfield, Colorado something evil has wiped out the community. Now, it's up to a group of people to stop it, or at least get out of Snowfield alive.

 

 

This film caught my eye with the wintery theme and I was surprised by it. This has to be one of the better Dean Koontz adaptations I have watched. This flick had a lot to like, solid scripting penned by Koontz himself, sound acting, good cinematography, and a haunting atmosphere that really fit the storyline. While the special effects were good, the creature was a bit anti-climactic as they strayed from what was written in the original novel. There were really only a few noticeable flaws to point out with sound quality and some uneven pacing.  In the end, this is a solid and entertaining horror flick that fits perfect in the cold of winter. If you enjoy Koontz, you definitely must check this one out.

 

 

Servants of Twilight (1991)

After spending most of the past couple of days dealing with a family medical issue, it was nice to get back to something interesting; diving into a late-night movie on FearNet. My evening selection was the 1991 adaption of Dean Kootz's Servants of Twilight, a book I read more than a few yars ago and a subject that always makes me smile.

Plot/ Based on the novel by Dean R. Koontz, this action packed thriller features Bruce Greenwood as a private detective hired to protect a little boy from a fanatical religious cult that believe he is the antichrist fortold in the book of Revelations.

Having read the book years ago, I was pleasantly surprised by the movie. Yes, it does vary from the original literary workm but it does work and is a pretty good thriller (although, I may be biased because I love movie that deal with the antichrist). In all, I would have loved to have seen the movie done with a larger budget, the material is definitely better than the cash spent (which is usually the case with movies based on Koontz's work). That being said, there are some great moments that are tense and draw you in. The script, acting and cinematography are solid and the movie comes off decently for an adaptation. It makes a great addition to any horror collection and is a especially worth watching for free on FearNet.