Saturday is Horror Day #219 - The Prowler(1981)

 The Prowler(1981)

At the end of World War II, many soldiers came home to find the women they loved had sent them Dear John letters, ending their relationship. In the town of Avalon Bay, after the war was over, a young couple are brutally murdered by a man with a pitchfork, and their murders go unsolved.

Thirty-five years, the teens in Avalon Bay are holding their annual graduation dance. But the joyful event is married when a prowler is reported to be in the community. They are told to stay at the school and not to leave until the man is caught. But a killer is on the loose in Avalon Bay and he wears the fatigues of a US World War II soldier....

This film is definitely a product of the 80s, as evidenced by the writing, the acting, and the production values. It has a couple of names I recognized, such as Farley Granger and Lawrence Tierney, but most of the cast is unknown to me. I like Farley Granger in Rope, an Alfred Hitchcock film based on the story of Leopold and Lobe, but I fear he is wasted here.

I confess to being confused by the motivation of the soldier/killer here. If he was jilted 35 years ago, why come at these teens so long after the fact? Did he keep his original pitchfork or what? I will admit that some of the scares are effective and I did jump a time or two. But the film is uneven, and those moments did not sustain my interest. Luckily, it's only about an hour and a half long. I'll give this film 2 Tars.

Saturday is Horror Day #87 - The Banana Splits Movie

 The Banana Splits Movie

Harley (Finlay Wojtak-Hissong) loves the Banana Splits more than anything. So when his mother presents him with tickets to attend a live taping of the show as a birthday present, he is over the moon happy. He requests a classmate go with him. Zoe (Maria Nash) wouldn't call herself a friend of Harley's, thinks he is weird, but her mother says she has to go, so she has no choice. Harley's mother goes also, as well as Harley's father Mitch (Steve Lund) and his half-brother Austin (Romeo Carere). Also in the audience are a couple of would-be influencers, and a stage father who is intent on getting his daughter into show business via the Banana Splits. At the show, it's announced that people with special tickets will be allowed private time with the Splits after the taping. Harley's family don't have the right tickets. But after Austin starts flirting with one of the members of the staff, Paige (Naledi Majola), she adds them to the list.

But all is not as it appears to be. For one thing, the new network exec, Andy (Daniel Fox) has decided to cancel the show, making this the last episode. But that only triggers a reprisal on the part of his cast, who are all animatronics, other than sidekick Stevie (Richard White), who spends most of his time being drunk. The Banana Splits have their own agenda, and it isn't gonna be pretty.

I was skeptical when I saw the trailer for this film, wondering how a preview for a kids movie got onto a horror movie disk. But this is not kid's movie, make no mistake about that. It's a virtual gore fest. However, saying that, unless you just want to watch some assholes get what's coming to them (and some innocents who don't deserve it), there is little to commend this film. I am really surprised that Hanna Barbara allowed them to make this film, but they probably figured it was their last chance to make money off the franchise. Watch it for the blood and gore, watch it for the revenge, but don't go looking for a good movie. I'll give it 1.5 Stars.

Book Review: Skip Beat! Vol 2 by Yoshiki Nakamura

 

Skip Beat! Vol 2      

Author: Yoshiki Nakamura

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: September 5, 2006

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Shojo Manga//200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

 

Kyoko’s audition for LME has failed, so she finds another day job instead.  She feels like a loser, which is bad enough, and then she sees Sho in a cosmetics commercial on TV, reminding her of why she wants to succeed in show business. Then just by coincidence a large bus pulls into the place where she works, and who should step out of the bus but Sho himself? Kyoko is terrified he’ll see her and realize her failure, but he doesn’t even recognize her (in all fairness she did get an expensive makeover after selling her Sho memorabilia).  Rather than release her anger at Sho, however, she pretends to be a number one fan, to throw him off the track, even speaking the words he longs to hear.

Meanwhile, the head of LME, Lory, is intrigued by what he has seen of Kyoko, and sets the stage for her return. At least he hopes she’ll return. Ren Tsuruga does not hope so, since he dislikes her reason for wanting to exceed in show business. But Lory sees something in her and wants to fan that spark into a flame. And go back she does, determined to succeed. Which is how she ends up in LME’s new section – the Love Me Section. Not quite what she was hoping for, but hey, it’s a foot in the door. Work her way up from the bottom? In this case, she’s starting from the basement! And she has to do anything that is requested of her, no matter how silly or menial or demeaning. How well she does will be reflected in the points she is given for her job. And if she earns enough points, she can become a proper part of the agency. What does it matter that she has to wear a bright hot pink uniform with Love Me written on back and front, and that people who see her are laughing at her? He who laughs last laughs best, after all.

Kyoko runs into LME actress Ruriko Matsunai, who wishes to make a request of her, which Kyoko agrees to. Unknown to her, Lory is hoping that by putting Ruriko into a film with Ren,  Ren can help to cure some of her bad habits. Such as lack of punctuality. And demanding to be pampered. Ruriko has had a special umbrella made for some outdoor scenes (costing a day of delay waiting for the umbrella). She wants Kyoko to carry it for her. Kyoko, thinking the actress is allergic to UV rays, is determined to be her white knight and help keep her safe. She ends up carrying the actress up a hill toward the shooting set and injuring herself in the process. Can that be Ren Tsuruga to the rescue? Le gasp!

When Ruriko displays her usual bratty behavior and refuses to work, the director gets Kyoko to step in for her, despite her injury. And suddenly Ruriko is worried that she may actually lose her role to someone she refers to as a hyena. Could this be Kyoko’s big break?

I can’t say enough good things about this series and love it to death. Kyoko is such an interesting character, and certainly not perfect. You could definitely say she has issues, chief among them Sho Fuwa. But she has integrity and she takes pride in her work, and goes above and beyond the call of duty.  And she has a very big heart. How can you not hope she gets the final laugh at Sho? Lory is quite the character, a man of a million costumes and quirks, but he has a good heart and good instincts about people.

Another great volume, looking forward to the next.

Book Review: Skip Beat! Vol 1 by Yoshiki Nakamura

 

Skip Beat! Vol 1       

Author: Yoshiki Nakamura

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: July 5, 2006

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Shojo Manga/Supernatural/184 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

 

Kyoko and Sho have known each other since they were children, practically raised together. So when Sho, pursuing his dreams of stardom by moving to Tokyo, asks Kyoko to go with him, how can she say no? Forgoing high school, the sixteen-year-old gets a job and works hard to support them both, while Sho works at becoming a famous musician. Kyoko remains in the background as he grows in popularity, and has to endure hearing other girls talk about Sho and the things they wish they could do with him. But Kyoko knows that when he isn’t on tour, it’s her he comes home to.

Until one day she overhears Sho and his manager talking about her, and she learns that she is only a housemaid to Sho! Angry and hurt, she confronts him, but he doesn’t even seem to care. How could she have been so blind? He taunts her by saying that if she wants to get revenge on him, she should go into show business and become better than him.

Revenge is on!

Kyoko hasn’t got the faintest idea of how to become a celebrity, and has no particular talent. But that doesn’t stop her. Selling the Sho merchandise she has accumulated, she gets a complete makeover, turning from brunette to blonde. Then she goes to one of the two top talent agencies, the one that isn’t Sho’s but is home to his biggest rival, Ren Tsuruga. Ren is far above Sho, which has always griped the selfish singer to no end.

No talent? No problem! Kyoko is sure that sheer determination and spunk will get her where she wants to go! She is so focused, she is downright scary!

I am actually re-reading this series, and I totally love it! The only minor complaint I have about the artwork is that everyone has really weirdly pointy chins. But in the scheme of things I can forgive that as it’s a really good manga. Kyoko is a strong female character, but she is far from perfect, although she is rather naïve. At heart, she’s a very good girl, but Sho has hurt her, and there is a very thin line between love and hate. In this first volume, we meet some of the people who will become pivotal to Kyoko in the future, including the eccentric head of L.M.E. Talent Agency, Lorry. Also Ren Tsuruga and Kanae Kotonami.

Kyoko learns that guts will only get her so far. She has to develop whatever talents she possesses in order to succeed with her chosen revenge on Sho. In the process, she may just find who she truly is. On to the next volume!

Virtual Book Tour: Revenge

Please welcome author J.A. Jackson, who is here to tell us about her new release, Revenge. J.A. is awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

Revenge

by J.A. Jackson

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GENRE: Romantic Suspense

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BLURB:

Last time, in J. A. Jackson’s steamy, romantic thriller Lovers, Players and The Seducer, the storm came…and went.

Back then, Nicholas La Cour played a very dangerous game of cat and mouse; one in which he involved his childhood friends, Kienan Egan and Quinn Rolandis. Even worse, he put his own sister, Lacey La Cour, right in the middle of that storm.

Everyone got swept away in the torrent of greed, lust and ruthless ambition. All except two ratchet lovers…

Another storm is coming, but the two ratchet lovers survive it? Find out in Jackson’s anticipated sequel, Lovers, Players The Seducer, Book II The Revenge Game. Winner takes all.

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EXCERPT:

A half hour later Maëlle squatted at a swarm of mosquitoes and shifted the fishing pole case from one shoulder to the other.  The bag was light and didn’t smell as bad or feel as slimy as the dead fish Paul and Bruno were carrying. She turned and headed between the trees that laid just behind the cabin.

Maëlle stopped abruptly and Paul almost ran into her.

“What’s wrong Maëlle? Why did you stop?”

Paul’s eyes followed hers and noticed the Mercedes parked in the driveway.

Bruno quickly caught up with them. “Looks like we have company. Were you two expecting company?”

“No,” Paul and Maëlle said together.

“Well, that’s an awfully expensive car. Whoever it is has a few dollars to rub together,” Bruno said.

“Or a great expense account,” Maëlle added.

Bruno took the lead. “Come on, you two, let’s go over and say howdy,” he said, carrying a load of fish. “Maybe the sight of all these dead fish will frighten them away.”

Paul playfully gave Maëlle’s shoulder a nudge as they walked over together.

All at once Bruno yelled.  “Good evening, you in the car. Can I help you?”

The car door opened.

“Hey Bruno?”

“Hamelin?” Bruno laughed out. “Boy, I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Maëlle looked up at Paul. “Who’s Hamelin?”

 “I guess you’re about to meet my dad’s nephew Hamelin Scott,” Paul said bluntly almost sharply.

For a moment Maëlle could have sworn she saw a flash of something pass across Paul’s face.  She didn’t have long to ponder it as Hamelin closed the distance between them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

J.A. Jackson is the pseudonym for an author, who loves to write deliciously sultry adult romantic, suspenseful, entertaining novels with a unique twist. She lives in an enchanted little house she calls home in the Northern California foothills.

She spent over ten years working in the non-profit sector where she wrote grants, press releases and contributed many stories to their newsletter. She was their Newsletter editor for over ten years. She loves growing roses, a good pot of hot tea, chocolate, magical stories, suspense stories, ghost stories, and reading Jane Austen again and again in her past time.

https://www.amazon.com/author/jajackson

http://jerreeceannjackson.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Jerreece-Ann-Jackson/204377496289139?ref=hl

https://twitter.com/jerreece

Lovers, Players & The Seducer   - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MCEGUQA

When a Taker Dreams http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01288VA7I

Mistress of Desire & The Orchid Lover http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ND6HV3C

Grand Hotel  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CLF7JU6

A Geek, an Angel & the Deceiver  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Q6ICH2

The Proposition (A Geek, An Angel) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BE6EQT0

BUY LINK FOR REVENGE:   https://www.amazon.com/Lovers-Players-Seducer-Book-Revenge-ebook/dp/B01LWDHYJR/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1476539204&sr=8-2&keywords=J.+A.+Jackson+revenge

The book is on sale for $0.99 during the tour.

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  a Rafflecopter giveaway