Something Lovecraftian from my book Walking Before Dawn- The Man By The Sea

 

He stands before the depths

Staring at the crossroads ahead

Deciding what bed to lay

To his right, the teeth of leviathan

Glistening in the murky underbelly of existence

To his left, only dismay and destruction

The great chasm lies ahead

Decisions at hand

His path is his path

He must face reality

Yes or no

North or south

Left or right

Good or evil

Around any corner could be salvation

Alone

Waiting to be captured

His heart pounds

Pulling toward the despair

But, his head

His eyes

Feel one with leviathan’s lair

Should he venture into the unknown?

Does he have a choice?

Standing on deck

Searching for the clarity

The answers

An empty soul being taken against his will

The sun sets

Tears fall

Is his last breath near?

The unquiet battle rages on

Turmoil grows

The voices cry out

Screams and laughter haunt his mind

His lifeless shell stands alone

The sea?

He steps toward the destruction and dismay

His last whisper

Goodbye my friend

Leviathan mourns

From Walking Before Dawn

Exorcist Chronicles (2013)

Every once in a while I am drawn to flicks for some unknown reason. It could be the premise or it could be the look, honestly, at times, I just enjoy some randomness. Today was a prime example of that. While I spent a good bit of time reflecting on Lovecraft and was in that type of mood, I decided to watch something in a very different vein. My selection for the evening is the 2013 British flick, Exorcist Chronicles.

Plot/ Across the world, demonic possessions are on the increase. Two specialists are brought in and uncover a dark and terrifying worldwide plot.

OK, I was due for a bad one, and I definitely found it here. While this flick sounded like a great premise and looked like it would have potential (and it did), the overall product in this found footage entry fell short. Yes, this was definitely a low budget attempt, and I kept that in mind throughout, but some of it was just discordant. As with most low budget flicks, it suffers from uneven acting, poor dialogue, terrible sound quality and incoherent editing. Sure, those flaws are expected, but when these are found in a found footage setting, it comes across as very laughable. Now, this movie is not all bad, and did have some redeeming qualities, such as an ample amount of nudity and boob action, but honestly, that could only raise it up a small notch. In the end, I was somewhat entertained and I have seen worse, but I really cannot recommend this to anyone that is searching for a good movie. If you like no-budget indie flicks, you may enjoy it as I did, but be warned.

Happy Birthday H.P. Lovecraft

Today was an interesting day. While my class was going over some practice solder boards prior to building their fiber optic voice link, I was reminded that it was H.P. Lovecraft’s birthday. Next to Edgar Allan Poe, Lovecraft is one of my biggest influences in my creative process and is a literary genius. While some of the adaptations of his movies have not been great, his influence can be seen all over horror cinema.

During the viewing of The Thing (2011) for my last review, I was reminded of that influence, as many of the creatures depicted in that film had many Lovecraftian traits. Honestly, I would prefer the aliens in this world being more Reptilian than Lovecraftian, as we would have a chance against the Reptilians.

Of course, the realm of Cthulhu is one of many different paths, and the ancients of the mythos are some of the most interesting ever created. But, were they created, or did they come from some lost part of history? Could Cthulhu be the ancients legends talk about from Planet X? Yes, that may be a stretch, but the fact that the Necronomicon made its first modern appearance in the works of Lovecraft, may be an insight to some other power and understanding at work.

Sure, I am speculating with this thought, but there is truly so much that we do not understand with history and science, that links are sometimes ignored that should be seen differently.

Now I can move onto one other topic that came up in class, a recent UFO sighting near Pittsburgh. One of my students captured an interesting red glowing orb moving erratically in the sky on Sunday night and captured a couple of images. While there is not a ton of detail, the fact that these sightings are on a semi-regular basis, does add some evidential proof. Couple that with the fact that this is a student at an aviation school, and the notion of a mistaken craft identity can be somewhat dismissed as well.

While the idea of UFOs and H.P. Lovecraft may be somewhat unrelated to most observers, to me, both have origins that lie at the heart of what is most likely Forbidden History.   

The Thing (2011)

I have been on an alien / UFO kick this weekend and for the most part kept it to documentaries. Between Ancient Aliens, UFO Files and some interesting biblical stuff that connects the topic, I have burnt up Direct TV on the subject. That was until earlier tonight when the 2011 prequel of The Thing was on…

Plot/ Deep below the Arctic ice, scientists discover an alien spacecraft and the remains of the occupant. The scientists cut it out of the ice and take it back to their camp. Unfortunately, as the ice melts, the creature reanimates and the terror begins.

I have stayed clear of this flick for some time, as I was a huge fan of the first remake from John Carpenter. But, having been in an alien type mood, I decided to venture into this prequel. Now I understand why. On its own merits there are some interesting facets to this flick that make it entertaining, unfortunately, in comparison to the earlier masterpiece it is overshadowed. The creature design is awesome, I just wish they would have stayed away from so much of the CGI, Yes, they are interesting, but still CGI dampens some of it. The acting is solid, storyline interesting, and atmosphere is ok; as I said entertaining in its own right. The problem is that much of the premise is shared from the Carpenter classic and there is nothing new in this flick to make it very memorable on its own. Yes, this one is entertaining and has some moments of tension, Is it perfect, no, but it is interesting to watch, especially if you know little of the Carpenter flick from 1982. 

Parasomnia (2008)

I was walking through Family Video last night and wanted to find some interesting movies for the weekend. With my creative endeavors somewhat on hold as I decide what to work on next, I can always find clarity inside the dark depths of horror and here in my blog. While walking around, I decided upon the 2008 flick Parasomnia to help take some time away over the weekend.

Plot/ Laura Baxter is a young woman suffering from parasomnia, or a condition which she sleeps her life away. Once she escapes from her hospital prison, she discovers something more sinister on the horizon.

Not knowing much about this flick, I have to admit that it was nothing that I expected when I picked it up. This interesting, and somewhat demented love story has a lot of potential. Sure, it is somewhat cliché in it overall story, the intriguing visuals help bring something different to the screen. Yes, it is a bit incoherent and some of the acting is uneven, but there is strangeness to this flick that makes it work. On top of that, Jeffrey Combs makes an appearance, something that is always fun. In the end, this is far from a cohesive low-budget flick, but it is not terrible; it does have some entertaining moments. Yes, it has some shortcomings, but I have watched a lot worse.

The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh (2012)

While I was fighting with the computer and internet service trying to post an article to Steelers101.com, I decided to kick back and absorb something that is hopefully somewhat haunting. Although, after watching Ancient Aliens early, a UFO flick would work. In the end, I decided on the 2012 entry The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh.

Plot/ An antiques collector inherits a house from his estranged mother only to discover that she had been living in a shrine devoted to a mysterious cult. Soon, he comes to suspect that his mother's oppressive spirit still lingers within her home and is using items in the house to contact him with an urgent message.

This was a difficult flick to review. Not because it was terrible, Hell, it was good. Yet, there was something holding it back. Maybe it was the short length or maybe the lack of characters; I just cannot put my finger on it. This movie was good, featuring brilliant sets, a haunting atmosphere, and an interesting story line. Unfortunately, it does not fully reach its potential. In the end, this debut flick from Rue Morgue Magazine editor & President Rodrigo Gudino is interesting and relatively entertaining. Yes, there are flaws with pacing and sound, but I have seen worse. 

The Island (2005)

Today at work, we were discussing the New World Order and the theory that they have clone farms out there to ensure the ultra-elite can live longer than the common man. The extinction of the common person is, after all, the thought behind Agenda 21 and the Eugenics being pushed by many of the rich. Honestly, have you thought about why the super-rich gravitate toward big pharmaceutical companies and push their experimental vaccinations on everyone but themselves?  You should! With that in mind, I decided to revisit the 2005 flick, The Island!

Plot/ A man goes on the run after he discovers that he is actually a "harvestable being", and is being kept as a source of replacement parts, along with others, in a Utopian facility.

Sometimes movies must sit a while before they truly take hold and for me this is one of those. While I enjoyed it during its initial release, I find it more interesting today as technology increases, as this could be a true reality for the NWO elite. There is a lot to like in the movie, the performances are solid, the imagery works and there is a lot of action. Sure, there are some plot holes and some of the pacing may be off, but that does little to bring the flick down. In the end, this is an entertaining Sci-Fi / Action flick that presents an interesting look at a reality that could ultimately exist. If you have not seen it, check it out. 

Pandemic (2009)

After taking a couple days off for skating with the four daughters (although, not a fan of blades) and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason opener, it was time to get back to the blog. At this point, I have a couple movies to be caught up on. The first one I watched while working on my deer antler dream catcher for the Westmoreland County Fair is the 2009 outbreak flick, Pandemic.

Plot/ a virus that strikes a New Mexico county and the local veterinarian who is caught in the middle. With a very quick response time to the infected county after a call was made to the Center Of Disease Control, the presence of the U.S. military has the locals thinking conspiracy theory. The vet must pair up with an eccentric rancher who has ideas of his own of what the government is up to, so they can expose the threat and save humanity.

Definitely, this flick seemed to promote one idea and deliver another. Sure, I did not expect an all-out zombie fest, or even anything zombie related, but I did expect a little bit of action to go along with the storyline. Unfortunately, nothing ever develops in a manner to make it interesting. Yes, there may be some underlining reality about the military interaction, but that was even lost in the slow, deliberate pacing that made this dialogue (albeit poor) driven drama uninteresting. There were some decent parts, but even those are hard to remember as the entire movie was a bit of a turn-off. In the end, there are a lot of better outbreak movies, and ones that will at least offer a glimpse of believable tension. Stay away!

Twixt (2011)

During a trip through Family Video, I saw a flick that caught my eye, but it was out. I hate when that happens. Incredibly, while I had never heard of the flick before, it started popping up everywhere through the week; at Target, on Demand, everywhere. Finally, I went in today at it was there. That flick is the 2011 surrealistic thriller Twixt.

Plot/ A writer with a declining career arrives in a small town as part of his book tour and gets caught up in a murder mystery involving a young girl. That night in a dream, a mysterious young ghost named V. approaches him. He's unsure of her connection to the murder in the town, but is grateful for the story being handed to him. Ultimately, he is led to the truth of the story, surprised to find that the ending has more to do with his own life than he could ever have anticipated.

After watching this one it is easy to see that it will be an extremely polarizing flick for viewers. Coming from cinema icon Francis Ford Coppola, this movie is nothing like his masterpieces from early in his career and if you are expecting that, you will be disappointed. This surrealistic journey into darkness is both atmospheric and dark. Most of the cinematography and color decisions are amazing, the acting is solid, and it is extremely visual with a soundscape that matches perfectly. Sure some of the storyline is a bit incoherent and the script is all over the place, but it works because it makes you pay attention and think. In the end, this movie is definitely not for everyone as the surrealism takes you more toward Mulholland Drive than the Godfather, but it is an entertaining movie to watch if you like that style of movie. 

Bait (2012)

Creature features are always somewhat challenging. Sometimes you hit a homerun and sometime you suffer through some miserable CGI-fest that you wish would end. Over the weekend, I grabbed a couple of creature features, the first being Legend Has It and the second, the 2012 entry Bait.

Plot/ A freak tsunami traps shoppers at a coastal Australian supermarket inside the building - along with a 12-foot Great White Shark.

Shark flicks are often a mixed bag, some are enjoyable and well, some are dreadful. This one fell somewhere on the positive side of those entries. While the storyline did have more depth than many films in the genre, it did have some of the cliché moments that cause problems. The acting was decent; the plot ok, the real surprise was the characterization that was a lot better than what usually comes with low-budget creature features. Of course, there is the typical unbelievably horrendous CGI effects that just come across in a way that does drag the flick down. Honestly, take away the CGI and this would have been one of the most entertaining shark flicks in some time. In the end, this movie was entertaining and did provide a solid piece to open Shark Week here at the house, is it perfect, no… But, it is worth watching if you love the creature features that usually litter Shark Week. 

Legend Has It (2009)

For every no budget indie flicks that works, there are some that are questionable. That is definitely the case with my latest selection, the 2009 horror entry Legend Has It.

Plot/ When a group of young filmmakers set out to create a documentary about the brutally horrific "Hutchins Murders," they discover why some legends are better left alone!

I am all for no-budget independent horror flicks and am open for the inherent flaws that come with that genre. However, there are times where some of flaws become too overwhelming. This is one of those flicks that has potential, but some of it, while low budget could have simply been much better. In all, there were some positives. The story and some of the effects work. However, the uneven acting, the make-up and the weapons used by the killer is just way too over the top. In the end, there are many other flicks that make more sense than this one. Unless you love no-budget indie flicks, stay away. 

Armynel (2012)

Every once in a while, I stumble upon an indie flick that looks intriguing and I have to grab them. That happened today as I was using one of my last free move coupons from Family Video. That movie was the 2012 indie flick Armynel.

Plot/ When suppressed memories of an abusive childhood begin to surface, a door is opened that was better left closed.

When I saw this one, I really did not know what to expect. From Midnight Releasing, this is one of the best low-budget indie flicks to come out of their catalog. It featured solid acting, great cinematography and imagery, and enough atmospheres to make it work. The storyline was interesting and entertaining. Yes, there could have been some more gore and it could have had a longer run time, but those are just minor details that could have taken this flick even higher.  Of course, the subtle Edgar Allan Poe references do tug on my heart and give it some bonus points… In the end, this thriller is what makes watching independent flicks enjoyable and this one should be seen. Check it out!

Dressed to Kill (1980)

After taking a few days off to work on some different prospects, it was time to jump back into some reviews. To me, it is often a challenge to find something fun and intriguing to watch, as much of today’s horror is so uninspired or rehashed, there is always hope though. In the end, I decided to take a trip back a few decades and watch the classic thriller Dressed to Kill from 1980.

Plot/ A mysterious, tall blonde woman, wearing dark sunglasses murders one of a psychiatrist's patients, and now she goes after the high-priced call girl who witnessed the murder.

I remember when this one originally came out and the stir it caused with some of the erotic elements that were littered throughout. Today, many of these elements are still visible as the film aged extremely well. While many say this is a Hitchcock rip-off, and there are some similarities, I feel an overwhelming nod to the classic giallo’s of Argento. The stylistic camera angles, the lack of dialogue with an atmospheric score, and some artistic uses of blood and camera effects make this extremely enjoyable. More importantly, the acting, characters and storyline really work together. In the end, this is clearly one of the better thrillers from the 1980s, and a movie that must be seen.