Book Review - The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

The Big Sleep

Raymond Chandler made the right choice in utilizing a euphemism for death to title his book. The Big Sleep is full of the stuff: back-stabbings, murder, poison, seduction - and it makes the novel pulpier than Florida's Natural orange juice. Chandler's influential noir novel manages a spiraling plot and quirky, vulnerable characters into a small package, one that has shown up in many mystery novels in one form or another.

One of the most endearing qualities of the novel is, of course, the heroic Philip Marlowe, a private dick (unlike some other hard-boiled detectives like Spade, specializing in the former part of the phrase rather than the latter) who is called into General Sternwood's exorbitantly rich mansion to explore a blackmailing scheme that has been plaguing the family. Marlowe's job comes first, and though he has a few mysterious qualities to his lifestyle, the private eye is more morally refined than other detectives in novels of this nature. Chandler makes it clear that Marlowe is not out for money in the case, nor is he in it to be a babe magnet for Sternwood's daughters, Carmen and Vivian. He turns these vices down, instead opting for the more professional side to being a detective, and it's easier for the reader to relate to a character who operates under the assumption that police work should be done by ethical people rather than shady underhanded tactics.

The plot of The Big Sleep is a fairly encompassing view of a big city that has been riddled with crime. Pornography rings, murders, illegal gambling, prohibitive drinking, breaking and entering - all of these are rules that were made to be broken for characters in the novel. Most of these crimes happen during the course of the plot in one way or another, and they help to distract and confuse Marlowe from the larger criminal activity. In truth, the reader rarely knows where The Big Sleep is going; is it about blackmail, something larger? Chandler weaves the ideas together well towards the end of the novel, but the disjointed feel from the strangely-connected developments might throw some readers off the case.

But Chandler's plot has an undeniable attraction, perhaps because of the contradictory feeling that the characters are both full of depth and impermanent. Each character plays a minimal but integral role in this game that Marlowe unravels, and though the characters gain a unique personality in a short amount of time, their presence is always cloaked in a bit of intrigue, as though one should not get too attached to someone who might not be there in the next chapter. It's this uncertainty that keeps the reader pushing forward.

Slash to the Point: Chandler's novel is a fast-paced read, and his legendary protagonist stands the test of time as an honorable but professional detective. The Big Sleep is full of beautiful imagery set behind a backdrop of seedy crime, and it's perfect for a rainy day, where everything has a tinge of cleanness and an ugliness behind it.

New paranormal-themed column?

I'd like to try a new weekly column called Paranormal Pulse. This column would fall on Wednesday, the only day that I don't really have a regular post for.

Paranormal Pulse would be a column of write-ins from readers. It would feature one story a week from someone who has had experience with the paranormal; this can encompass a number of things, such as ghosts, supernatural visions, past lives, psychic readings, cryptid sightings, or extrasensory perceptions. I would pick an essay for each week.

These should be factual and not made up, but I would hold you to your word. Proof of the event would be ideal, although that is obviously not prevalent. Would you be up to sharing your experiences? I won't start the column until I get solid responses.

Doom Metal Destitution #3: The AHAB Edition

Ahab is a doom metal band that takes their influence from nautical stories; Moby Dick, the torment of the ocean, the crash and fall of the waves, and the watery graves that many sailors have found.Ahab have thick sounds, often incorporating atmospheric sounds and very processional, slow beats. A depth can be found in this music, full of literary lyrics and philosophical musing.

The Call of the Wretched Sea (2006, Napalm Records)

The Oath [Re-issue] (2007, Deviant Records)

The Divinity of Oceans (2009, Napalm Records)

Viewer Vomit #3 will be BLOOD AND BLACK LACE!

Still having a bit of trouble getting participation for these Viewer Vomit posts. Last time we had zero (ZERO!) participation, so it was just little ol' me posting my own opinion on The Devil's Backbone.

This month, I've decided to go with Blood and Black Lace for review. Here's how it works: you get the movie, review it, and post to your blog. Then, on the due date or even before (April 29), leave me a comment with a link to the review. I'll link back to you when my review of Blood and Black Lace goes live on 4/29, and we all celebrate our vast and differing opinions. Get the drift? I also accept old reviews, so if you've got 'em, send 'em in!

If you can, give me a shout if you're contemplating participating in this so I can have a rough estimate of what to look for. Due date is April 29, so get vomiting (in a metaphorical sense; please don't scan your vomit and send to me).

Movie Review - The Road

The Road

Cormac McCarthy's 2006 post-apocalyptic novel struck readers with its compelling characters, genre-defying characteristics, and an adherence to a green movement that had been steadily building during the decade. Heavily lauded, McCarthy's tale about two survivors of an environmental apocalypse was quickly picked up for a film adaptation starring Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee. The translation from film to screen wouldn't be easy, especially with only a handful of major characters, but director John Hillcoat attempted to craft an atmospheric and emotional film out of McCarthy's strong novel.

I haven't read the novel, which is an atrocity considering the praise and promotion it received (and me being an English major and all), so it's difficult for me to comment on how well the adaptation sticks to the original. However, it's evident that screenplay writer Joe Penhall spent a great deal of time with McCarthy's characters, and the vivid depiction of their personalities is strong in The Road. Mortensen plays the normally-stoic man (unnamed) well, and when the mental breakdowns take their toll, the rage expressed along with his Neanderthal appearance generate all kinds of chills.

The chemistry between Man and Boy is complex and deep, a link between audience and character that only comes with attention to detail that The Road is able to weave. There's a lack of characters which makes it easy for Hillcoat to spend a good deal of time fleshing out the interactions between father and son, and the various terrifying rigors that they go through on-screen cement that bond as Mortensen's character ponders the good and bad of the new world.

The scenery is what you'd expect from a title of this sort, all overcast skies and muddy fields with burnt-out or crumbling foundations. Rain is almost a constant, and so are falling trees. The environmental aspect is carried through the film, but only as a sort of subplot that keeps the cause of the apocalypse a mystery. Instead, survival and human chaos are the main themes of The Road, and the morality of the man and boy is at stake in each human encounter; they must question cannibalism, the art of sharing, and the integrity of each individual they come across, and it creates a sustained suspension that rarely stops.

Flashbacks add some color and backstory, but they generally come accompanied by frail voice-overs from Mortensen. Compared to the rest of the script, these narratives seem unnecessary and out of place, acting as more of a failsafe plan in case viewers found it difficult to understand the events on-screen. Instead, simply letting the flashbacks stand on their own would have been more powerful.

If there's one place The Road falls, it's with its conclusion. A convenient family happens upon the boy at an opportune time; it seems they've been following the two for a while, and finally decided to intervene. Strangely enough, they didn't think it important to help before the man died. Unfortunately, the fantastical and hopeful nature of this finale belies the grim theme of much of The Road, and it's difficult to believe. It's an optimistic and humane end, but people rarely are depicted this way in the film.

Slash to the Point: The Road is an emotional adventure through a Hobbesian world, complete with poignant ideas and startling human characteristics. Driven by two compelling and intimate characters, the film guides us through an apocalyptic setting with no anchor, only a road that seems dangerous and, at times, unsettlingly bleak.

The Road on Rotten Tomatoes

The Evil Ad #26

Guinness always has some great holiday marketing, but nothing compares to the advertisements the beer company has released for the Halloween season. Sit down, hoist a brew, and take a look back at some memorable posters and ads for the dark Irish beverage of choice.

 

 

Attack of the Pod People #1: a horror podcast

Please enjoy this first podcast from me, Ryne Barber, and my friend Drew Warner, as we discuss the film Killer View AKA Snuffed; the new zombie game Dead Island; talks of Stephen King writing an upcoming Walking Dead episode; the upcoming Scream 4 release; and the new $125 million budget for the upcoming World War Z film adaptation. And come back for more soon!

Horror Horizon - March 29

Notable DVD releases for the coming Tuesday. Selections are subject to Blu-Ray release as well.

Black Swan

"A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet BLACK SWAN stars Natalie Portman as Nina a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company (Mila Kunis). A Fox Searchlight Pictures release by visionary director Darren Aronofsky (THE WRESTLER) BLACK SWAN takes a thrilling and at times terrifying journey through the psyche of a young ballerina whose starring role as the Swan Queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect."

Scream [Blu-Ray]

"After a series of mysterious deaths befalls their small town, an offbeat group of friends led by Sidney Prescott (Campbell) become the target of a masked killer in this smash-hit 'clever thriller' (The Washington Post) that launched the Scream franchise and breathed new life into the horror genre."

Scream 2 [Blu-Ray]

"Away at college, Sidney Prescott (Campbell) thought she’d finally put the shocking murders that shattered her life behind her… until a copycat killer begins acting out a real-life sequel. Now as history repeats itself, ambitious reporter Gale Weathers (Cox), deputy Dewey (Arquette) and other Scream survivors find themselves trapped in a terrifyingly clever plotline where no one is safe – or beyond suspicion – in this 'delicious, diabolical and fun' (Rolling Stone) sequel." 

Scream 3 [Blu-Ray]

"While Sidney Prescott (Campbell) lives in safely guarded seclusion, bodies begin dropping around the Hollywood set of Stab 3, the latest movie based on the gruesome Woodsboro killings. The escalating terror finally brings Sidney out of hiding, drawing her and the other survivors once again into an insidious game of horror movie mayhem that’s a 'suspenseful, clever and very entertaining' (NBC-TV) installment in the wildly popular Scream franchise."

Soylent Green [Blu-Ray]

"In an apocalyptic future after the head of the company that makes a much needed source of food called Soylent Green is murdered a detective tries to uncover the reason for the murder and discovers the secret ingredient of Soylent Green."

 The Resident

"Juliet (Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby), a beautiful doctor, has found the perfect New York apartment to start a new life after separating from her husband. It's got spacious rooms, a spectacular view, and a handy, handsome landlord. But there are secrets behind every wall and terror in every room as Juliet gets the unnerving feeling that she is not alone. She is being watched. She is being stalked. And no one is safe when she discovers the relentless horror on her doorstep. But how do you stop an evil that you can't see...until it's too late? Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Grey's Anatomy) and screen legend Christopher Lee (The Lord of the Rings) costar in this pulse-pounding shocker from famed horror studio Hammer Films (Let Me In)."

Teen Wolf [Blu-Ray]

"Teen discovers that puberty for him means he turns into a werewolf. One of the beneficial side effects is that it also turns him into a top-notch basketball player. But will his notoriety cost him his friends and can he find true love?"

Inferno [Blu-Ray]

"A young woman stumbles upon a mysterious diary that reveals the secrets of `The Three Mothers` and unleashes a nightmare world of demonic evil. As the unstoppable horror spreads from Rome to New York City, this unholy trinity must be stopped before the world is submerged in the blood of the innocent. Written and directed by Dario Argento, INFERNO is considered to be the sequel to his classic SUSPIRIA."

Dogtooth [Blu-Ray]

"Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, Dogtooth is a darkly surreal look at three teenagers confined to an isolated country estate and kept under strict rule and regimen by their parents - an alternately hilarious and nightmarish experiment of manipulation and oppression. Winner of the Un Certain Regard prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival."

The Terror [Blu-Ray]

"A cult classic from the master of the B-movie himself, director Roger Corman, available for the first time in thrilling High Definition Blu-Ray! In one of his first-ever roles, a young Jack Nicholson stars as Lt. Andre Duvalier, a soldier in Napoleon s army in 19th century France, separated from his regiment. He awakens on a beach to the sight of a strange woman who leads him to the gothic, towering castle that serves as home to eerie Baron Von Leppe (Boris Karloff). But, as Duvalier soon discovers, nothing is what it seems in this ghastly, haunted mansion of death! This underground favorite was made in classic Roger Corman fashion, making the most of his resources to bring yet another film to life on a minimal budget for his producers at American International Pictures. AIP was a small, independent studio that specialized in low-budget teensploitation films, and Corman was one of their main men. Here, he squeezed extra mileage out of not only previously-used sets, but also actors and crew from two of his other recently-completed films (The Raven, The Haunted Palace). Short on time himself (there were more movies to be made!), Corman left it to a few of the aspiring directors within his crew (among them, Jack Hill, a young Francis Coppola, and even Jack Nicholson taking a turn behind the camera for a few scenes) to help see the film to completion. The Terror would go on to become a drive-in favorite and late-night TV staple, also appearing under the titles The Terror, Lady Of The Shadows and The Castle of Terror. Meanwhile, Roger Corman would go on to inspire an entire generation of film-makers, including many like Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich, James Cameron, Ron Howard, Martin Scorcese and John Sayles--who worked under him while honing their skills."

Dementia 13 [Blu-Ray]

"Future film-making legend Francis Ford Coppola makes his big-screen directorial debut with this cult horror classic, available for the first time in spectacular High-Definition Blu-Ray. Following the abrupt death of her husband from a heart attack, the scheming Louise Haloran (Luanda Anders) travels to her in-laws estate in Ireland, only to find herself trapped in a creepy, decrepit castle with her ex-husband s demented family. Upon arrival, she is introduced to a pair of maladjusted brothers (William Campbell, Bart Patton) and a distraught mother-in-law (Eithne Dunn), still grieving for the daughter she lost in a drowning accident many years earlier. When a mysterious axe-wielding psychopath enters the fray, leaving blood-spattered corpses in his wake, the family s doctor (Patrick Magee) takes it upon himself to try to get to the bottom of things--before it s too late! The making of Dementia 13, meanwhile, is a tale unto itself. An aspiring film-maker fresh out of UCLA, Coppola found work under the tutelage of B-movie legend Roger Corman, doing sound, editing and various other tasks. After finishing a film called The Young Racers under budget, Corman opted to use the leftover funds to finance a low-budget thriller to cash in on the success of Alfred Hitchcock s Psycho. Coppola quickly delivered a script to Corman s liking, promising plenty of nudity and gore. Corman gave him the green light. Despite the meager budget, Coppola made the most of his resources, re-purposing both sets and actors from The Young Racers, while employing the sort of creative lighting, camera angles, and storytelling that reveals an early glimpse at the great filmmaking that would follow with such titles as Apocalypse Now and The Godfather trilogy."

Prowl

"Amber dreams of escaping her small town existence and persuades her friends to accompany her to find an apartment in the big city. When their transportation breaks down, she and her friends gratefully accept a ride in the back of a semi. But when the driver refuses to stop and they discover the cargo is hundreds of cartons of blood, they panic. Their panic turns to terror when the truck disgorges them into a dark, abandoned warehouse where bloodthirsty creatures learn to hunt human prey, which, the friends realize, is what they now are…"

Husk

"When a murder of crows smash into their car windshield, a group of young friends are forced to abandon the vehicle, leaving them stranded beside a desolate cornfield. Hidden deep within the cornfield they find a crumbling farmhouse – but they soon discover that instead of a sanctuary, the house is actually the center of a terrifying supernatural ritual that they are about to become a part of…"

Embodiment of Evil [Blu-Ray]

"After serving a 40-year prison term, Coffin Joe is finally released from the Mental Heath wing of the Sao Paulo State Penitentiary. Back on the streets, the sadistic undertaker is set upon fulfilling the goal which sent him to jail in the first place: find a woman who can give him the perfect child. Accompanied by his faithful servant, the humpbacked Bruno, Coffin Joe leaves behind a trail of horror and is haunted by ghostly visions and the spirits of his past victims. This is the third film of the 'Coffin Joe Trilogy' which began with the classic At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul (1964) and This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse(1967). Synapse Films is proud to present Embodiment of Evil in a beautiful high-definition transfer created from the original camera negative with amazing 5.1 surround sound. Bonus Features include Theatrical Trailer, Footage of the Fantasia Film Festival North American Premiere and Making of Featurette." 

Dead Awake

"What if a stranger held the key to the darkest moment of your life? Dylan (Nick Stahl) is haunted by his past. While searching for answers, he befriends a mysterious woman (Rose McGowan) and is reunited with an old love (Amy Smart) who seem to raise more questions than they answer. Now on the brink of madness, Dylan is transformed by supernatural forces and discovers that no one is who they seem."

Afterlife {No IMDB)

"Interviews with Dr. Raymond Moody and Dr. Jeffrey Long are intercut with testimonials from people who have come back from the other side following near-death experiences in this compelling documentary that draws on scientific research and actual case studies to explore what actually happens after we die."

Beneath the Dark

"A dark road, a sleepy driver, a motel looming out of the night. Writer-director Chad Feehan takes those classic thriller elements and weaves a disturbing and compelling tale of love and the nightmare grip of ghosts from our past. Josh Stewart ('The Curious Case of Benjamin Button') and Jamie-Lynn Sigler ('The Sopranos) deliver intense performances as a young couple who take refuge in a roadside motel. Soon, the couple has crossed paths with a mysterious desk clerk and his sultry blond wife, as well as a stranger who is somehow privy to their most closely guarded secrets. Like a love story by way of 'The Twilight Zone,' 'Beneath the Dark' touches your heart even as it chills your blood."

Scar 3D [Blu-Ray]

 "Local town legend says that Bishop used to stash teenage prisoners in the basement of his morgue, keeping them tied up in cabinets meant for dead bodies. He would cut, scar, and torture his unsuspecting victims and then show them the damage to their own bodies with a small mirror. When Joan, one of Bishop's young teenage victims, freed herself and killed Bishop, his reign of terror was thought to have ended. But when Joan returns to her hometown for the first time in 16 years to see her niece be crowned Prom Queen, the past eerily begins to repeat itself. Includes 2 pairs glasses."

Fatal Secrets

"An attractive woman enlists the help of her two best friends to confront a charming man with a secret background who has pushed her to the breaking point. The women underestimate the consequences when they take matters into their own hands as their opponent forces them into a desperate situation, and everyone pays a price." 

Smash Cut

"After his latest film is met with horrible reviews, Able Whitman sets out to prove the critics wrong by finding inspiration in his cast and crew. Sometimes great art requires great sacrifice- and the director always gets final cut!" 

Zombie Women of Satan

"Skye is helped / hindered by bizarre freakshow burlesque troupe Flesharama who get caught up in her quest, as they are attacked left, right and centre by a vicious gang of marauding sexy zombie women and the crazy Zander family who created them !!"

Bleading Lady (No IMDB)

"Don is a chauffeur and a movie buff who takes his job seriously very seriously. When his latest assignment takes him to the set of a low-budget horror film, he s overjoyed to learn he ll be driving Riversa Red his favorite B-movie Scream Queen. While driving his beloved idol, Don assumes the role of bodyguard and turns fiercely protective, especially after learning that Riversa has a stalker. Hell-bent on protecting his queen and fueled by paranoid fantasies, Don s usual temper tantrums go to fatal extremes. Soon he proves to be not only Riversa s biggest fan, but her worst nightmare as well." 

Movie Review - Killer View

Killer View (AKA Snuffed)

The opening of Killer View features gritty home-video camera shots, screaming victims, and corny one-liners from the torturer who films the whole charade. It seems as though Killer View will be another one of those low-budget serial killer knockoffs more worried about how to make the viewer squeamish than generating any sort of entertaining plot device. But as the film begins to shift away from the snuff film opening and interview the serial killer known as "Ben Franklin" (Noah Key), the juxtapositions between the responses Franklin gives to his questions and the footage of murder that makes its way into the documentary adds a layer of character to Franklin's chilling persona.

Killer View is shot as a documentary by a budding journalist who decides to target a known serial killer who hasn't been caught by the authorities. The way journalist Martin Monahan (Martin Moakler) finds this killer isn't really known, and it seems to belie the idea behind who a serial killer is; one wouldn't expect a killer to actively engage in the public with information that he really was a serial killer, but somehow news of Ferguson's activities trickles down the grapevine to Moakler. Killer View lets us know off the bat that the footage we're seeing has been sent to the police department anonymously; but the completed feeling of the documentary, with music, footage edits, and a distinguished thematic movement, belies the idea behind found footage.

It's obvious where the film is headed, and spoiler alert for anyone who can't see it coming: the journalist winds up dead after doing something he shouldn't have with the killer. But along the way, Killer View offers up some disturbing scenarios that flesh out Franklin as a character and attempt to humanize him in ways other than just being a serial killer. Monahan asks questions that stem from how Frranklin is different from a hired killer to if Franklin ever dreamed of a family. Existential questions are the main attraction to Franklin, who normally answers with a cold and calculated precision; actor Gallagher excels with his ability to portray a hick with feeling, a man who enjoys a nice brewski while burning a victim but would never want to bring a child into this world because there are "people like me in it." There's a sense that Franklin knows what he's doing is amoral, and there's both a tendency to blame it on others (basically saying that his customers are just as bad, if not worse, because they use their riches to watch people being murdered) and to recognize it as an integral part of the world, which adds a lot of depth to Franklin's code of ethics. He has one, but just a sliver.

The snuff scenes are tastefully done as well; there's no visceral torture depicted other than psychological mind games, and what is shown is the terror in the faces of those that are being killed. It's difficult to identify with the victims too much, because knowing them is not really an integral part of the film. Instead, these vignettes serve as a means of contrasting Franklin's character, highlighting the division in his character.

Unfortunately, Killer View ends with a dissatisfying conclusion; for one, we know what's going to happen to the journalist, and it comes as no surprise. But the film also wants to extend the documentary a little bit further, opting to include an interview with a detective specializing in serial killers. This tacky ending does little to enhance Franklin's image, and it feels misplaced, even unnecessary, considering it comes as a finale to Franklin's story.

And if the film has one major flaw, it's the conventionality with which it portrays Franklin as a serial killer. His motives, his actions, his ideas on life, are all well-researched, but they don't differ vastly from many serial killers. One could argue it's a way of creating a realistically sound documentary; it also makes for a more generic character in Franklin, and though his narrative is interesting, it's not a shocking example of how a serial killer thinks.

Slash to the Point: Killer View captures the documentary feel well, and the home-video shots work to extend this experience. However, the documentary aspect falls short with perfect editing and sound, and it indicates that the documentary footage was completed after the journalist died. There's torture here, but it's probably not going to disturb the common horror viewer too much. Instead, the most gratifying aspect is the mindset of the killer, who struggles with what he does and the kind of world that asks him to do it while gladly showcasing his talents on a snuff film. It's existential, it's personal, yet it's somewhat trite, a feeling which runs throughout the film.

Death Metal Debauchery #18: The ROTTEN SOUND Edition

Rotten Sound play aggressive grindcore that often overlaps into death metal. Their songs are generally short and full of blasts, with repetitive riffs and fast growls, but their later music (including the recently released Cursed) has tended towards mix of fast and slow tempos, some blistering and others taking a downbeat approach. They've been around since 1993, and have released 10 albums not including various splits.

Under Pressure (1997, Repulse Records)

Drain (1999, Repulse Records)

8 Hours of Lobotomy (2001, MCR Company)

Murderworks (2002, Deathvomit Records)

Seeds of Hate/Crap (2002, Cudgel Vertrieb)

From Crust 'Til Grind (2003, Necropolis Records)

Exit (2005, Spinefarm Records)

Cycles (2008, Spinefarm Records)

Napalm (2010, Relapse Records)

Cursed (2011, Relapse Records)

Book Review - Killing Floor by Lee Child

Killing Floor

Lee Child introduced his vagabond-detective Jack Reacher in Killing Floor, a lengthy novel set in a small Georgia town run by corrupt cops and an organization commandeering an almost perfect counterfeiting operation. Killing Floor finds Reacher roped into the case after his brother is mysteriously murdered there, and working with a few choice officials who he knows are trustworthy, Reacher investigates the dirty side of the town in order to unearth the master plan.

Killing Floor Child's first novel, and a late start for the writer. But it's evident from his prose that Child is well-studied in the mystery department. Reacher's narration is full of short, choppy sentences that remind of noir narratives, or police reports - short, to the point, but detailed in a matter-of-fact style that emphasizes Reacher's dedication to observation. It's never difficult to fall into a "reading groove" with Killing Floor, as Reacher's voice is immediately likable and familiar.

But though Reacher finds an immediate hold in the reader, he seems a little too flawless as a character. It's evident quickly in the story that Reacher is sort of the stand-out man, an indubitable strength that cannot be stopped once he's on the case. Because of this, there's rarely a time the reader doubts Reacher's ability to pull off a risky stunt; he capably does the job with finesse, and there's a point where the reader almost wishes to see a hostage's head blown off to show a weakness in Reacher's ability to stop the villains. It's a bit morbid, but Reacher never feels truly realistic; it's almost as though he's a robot trained to do this work no matter what, and even if he does relate his doubts to us, there's a lack of suspense because we know it'll all work out for him.

Killing Floor has an elaborate counterfeiting plot, full of intrigue and confusion, and this is what warrants such a long novel. The length isn't exaggerated by unnecessary digressions or subplots; it is there to divulge the menorah-like counterfeiting scheme that inevitably tallies up murders along the way. Child also incorporates a romance for Reacher that creates some of the most human moments for Reacher; love and a life outside of criminal activity, and the idea behind settling down or traveling the countryside, give depth to Reacher that is missing from the more action-oriented sections, and Child maintains a good balance between plot development and relations with Reacher's girlfriend and others in the town.

Child leaves Reacher open for more characterization, which allows for subsequent novels. We find Reacher traveling on, meaning he can encounter more drama along the way. He also has a mysterious past, and his actions hint that he's done this sort of work before, which allow prequels as well. Overall, Child leaves a lot of growth for Reacher's character, something readers like to see in mystery series.

Slash to the Point: Killing Floor is a very strong start for Child's fiction career; a character like Reacher is a trove of emotional exploration, and the intricate plot bodes well for future stories involving Reacher. Though the character is somewhat of a macho man with little to stop him, it seems as though later novels could test Reacher in varying limits; instead, Killing Floor acts as a way to establish a long-running character, the hardboiled detective who lets very little stand in his way. 

The Evil Ad #26

 

I'm not exactly sure how these ads were used, although I do know that these spooky cheese pulls for Pizza Hut were used during a 2005 ad campaign that focused on attracting customers with art, Halloween, and pizza. I can find three different cheese pulls featuring intricate ghost face patterns; if there are any more, please let me know. If someone can shed some light on the idea behind these (including the steep price tags!), leave a comment below so I can add more detail. A very intriguing concept, and one I'd love to see implemented with other companies as well; Halloween art and product placement go together like candy in kids' stomachs!

Still accepting Viewer Vomits

Submit your links to reviews of The Devil's Backbone!

Viewer Vomit #2: The Devil's Backbone

Welcome to the second edition of Viewer Vomit, a film club which compiles reader reviews along with my own review of a horror movie that I chose. This month, you picked The Devil's Backbone as the film selection - hopefully, others will join in with links to reviews and I won't be the only one making a fool of myself. Oh wait, it's the Internet...

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my take on the film, and I encourage you to join in by sending me a link to your own review of The Devil's Backbone.

The Devil's Backbone

It's the Spanish Civil War, a bloody battle between the Nationalists and the Republicans in Spain. A boy named Carlos (Fernando Tielve) is brought to an orphanage set up to house boys whose fathers have been killed in the fighting. Left alone without his tutor, Carlos is not welcomed by most of the boys, who have become bitter during their stay. Jaime (Íñigo Garcés) bullies Carlos on his first day; abusive Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega) makes it known that he wants little to do with helping the children. But one tenant of the orphanage expresses an interest in Carlos: a dead orphan who reaches out to Carlos, saying, "Many of you will die."

Though the ghost story seems the focal point of Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone, it is really just a subplot that enlivens the story of human frailty and vengeance on display in the film. Del Toro focuses on the character study of the boys, both to highlight the atrocities of war by showing children who have been displaced during the fighting and to act as a bond between the young during a time of civil unrest. The characterization among the boys is strongest when their conflicts bubble to the top; their leader, Carlos, manages to form a group from them who can battle their way through explosions and abusive captors, and del Toro captures the emotion behind this by fleshing out the orphans with extra screen time and a care for giving them powerful backstories.

It is Jaime who holds the key to The Devil's Backbone, having witnessed the death of the ghost that predicts the deaths of the boys. His story comes late in the plot, after we've already seen the misery that Jacinto inflicts on the orphanage, and so it takes some of the power out it, but it is just one of the may disturbing vignettes in The Devil's Backbone that depict Jacinto as the fantasma the film describes in its opening - someone living who feels dead, who is like a blurred photograph image, a prince without a kingdom.

Cinematography-wise, this is a del Toro film through and through. Gloomy Spanish haciendas, dark stone hallways filled with eerie crevasses, and dimly lit back rooms with odd supernatural glows all make an appearance here. Having seen Pan's Labyrinth first, I recognized the common motifs of del Toro's films: the broken man fueled by rage, a devastating civil war that is scarier than the supernatural of the film, the young who find a way to tip the scales and live through the threats. Like his later movie, del Toro combines all of these elements together, never creating just a ghost story but one that speaks to the human in us before we become a ghost.

However, the image of the ghost that Carlos sees comes early, and though it is decidedly creepy because of its peeling face and streaming head wound, it's apparent early in the film, at least to the audience, that the apparition means no harm to Carlos but is instead an omen or warning of coming danger. It takes away some of the terror from an otherwise very moody film; filled with an emotional dread, the weight of The Devil's Backbone could have made ghostly encounters much more suspenseful, but the viewer's knowledge of the truth about the ghost makes these sequences less eerie than they could have been.

But the most impacting scene in the film has little to do with ghosts or those born with a devil's backbone; instead, it is the catastrophic explosion in the orphanage that rips the bonds we've had with the characters apart. We find harrowing shots of the dead, pierced with shrapnel - men, women, children (and mostly children), all dead from Jacinto's jealous attack. Del Toro's sweeping shots and the ringing soundtrack make this a standout scene, and one that keeps the viewer on edge and yearns to see justice meted out to Jacinto. As stated before, the supernatural is secondary to the character studies del Toro focuses on, and even though Jacinto is a terrible man, there are conflicting emotions about his character because of his nature as a fantasma.

Slash to the Point: The Devil's Backbone captures the viewer not because of its supernatural phenomena but because of its human horror, an idea that Guillermo del Toro is always willing to depict. A strong character development and a sense of foreboding leads to the awesome conclusion, a moving and poignant tale of justice served in a time where it seemed most men had a devil's backbone; but the strength in the film is its ability to show us that time has not changed this condition, and humanity still retains this mutated mean streak.

The Devil's Backbone on Rotten Tomatoes

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Viewer Vomits!
None so far =(