Saturday is Horror Day #204 - The Angry Black Girl and her Monster

 The Angry Black Girl and her Monster

Vicaria (Laya DeLeon Hayes) is a brilliant young girl who lives a difficult life in a poor and tough area of town. Violence and drugs are common. Vicaria has lost family members to death, and she is tired of it. She has a reputation for being typical, usually because she knows more than the teacher. After the death of her brother, Chris (Edem Atsu-Swanzy), Vicaria decides that enough is enough. She believes that death is a disease, and as such can be cured. It's up to her to find that cure.

Chris left behind a pregnant girlfriend Aisha (Reilly Brooke Stith), and a grieving father (Chad L. 

Coleman). Vicaria studies hard to figure out a way to cure death, and she believes she has found the answer. Now she has to implement it. But she hasn't taken into account how long her brother has been dead, and that seems to be a game changer.

This movie is an updated urban version of Frankenstein. Vicaria's desire to conquer death is largely motivated by the circumstances in which she lives, and by the family she is slowly losing to death. Vicaria is played brilliantly by Laya DeLeon Hayes, and the supporting cast is great. I thought the film had a very interesting premise, and while I wanted Vicaria to succeed, I knew it couldn't end well. 

I would have liked to see more of her relationship with her brother Chris, as this relationship lies at the heart of the film. But all we have is his dead body in the opening scene, with an angry Vicaria standing over it. Denzel Whitaker as the local drug dealer Kango was very good, although by the end I couldn't hate him anymore. Her father was loving, but flawed as well, a weakness that Kango exploited.  All in all, I thought it was interesting, perhaps not perfect, but certainly entertaining. I'll give this film 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #109 - Final Destination 3

 Final Destination 3

End of the year, time for graduating seniors to blow off steam before becoming adults. What better way to do that than at an amusement fair just for them? Wendy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is chronicling the night's events with the use of her trusty camera. Everyone is having a great time, when some of them decide to go on the rollercoaster. Wendy is reluctant, but agrees to come for the sake of her boyfriend, Ian (Kris Lemche). But she refuses to sit up front, so ends up at the back, with Ian's friend Kevin (Ryan Merriman). Ian asks Kevin to look out for Wendy for the duration of the ride, and he reluctantly agrees.

Just before the ride is about to start, Wendy has a terrifying vision involving the rollercoaster and the 

gruesome deaths of her friends. That is the final straw for her and she screams to be let off. The ride operators try to hustle her away before she can alarm the other patrons, and some of her friends get off as well, but when Ian tries, they refuse to allow any more people to exit. And just as predicted, the ride goes horribly wrong.

The school is devastated, of course, and Wendy finds herself alone and scared, thinking something is wrong with her. When Kevin comes to her with the story of Flight 180, and the class of French students who were killed both on and off the plane, she doesn't listen. Not until more of the survivors of the rollercoaster tragedy begin to die. Is this a repeat of what happened then? If so, who will die next, and is there any way to predict how, so they can prevent the death? Or is Death inevitable?

Once again, we find a single person's premonition of violent death at the heart of this movie. This time there is no plane involved, but a fair. The accidents are every bit as outlandish and gruesome as the first two films. And that is the heart of why people watch them. Not for the plot, which is barebones at best, but for the gorefest that takes place on the screen. No lack of blood in this movie for sure.

But the overriding question is why is this happening? Why do certain people get premonitions? And if they end up dead anyway, what's the point of having a premonition? There is a certain supernatural feel, as if some entity or other is at work here, orchestrating these happenings. Maybe Death itself, if you believe in the Grim Reaper? If so, there are no answers here. But there is one more film. Maybe they'll wrap it all up there. I'll give this film 3.5 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #107 - Final Destination

 Final Destination

Alex Browning (Devon Sawa) is going to Paris with a group of classmates, including his best friend Tod (Chad Donella). As they settle themselves onto the plane, Alex has a vision that unfolds before him, which ends in an explosion which destroys the plane and kills everyone. A panic-stricken Alex tries to warn everyone to get off the plane, but only ends up getting himself and a few of the students ejected from the plane, and one of the teachers accompanying them. The students are upset with Alex, watching the plane they were meant to be on take off without them...until it suddenly explodes before their very eyes, killing everyone on board. Now the question is, how did he know?

People are upset with Alex for what they perceive as his foreknowledge of the fatal event. The FBI are 

even called in, and they question everyone, especially Alex. He insists he wasn't on drugs, he just saw a vision, but the agents are skeptical.  Tod's father doesn't want his son around Alex, to Alex's dismay. But he gets a warning in the form of a piece of paper with Tod's name, rather than a vision, and he hurries to his friend's home, but he is too late.

Everyone is giving Alex a wide berth now, except for Clear (Ali Larter). She shows up to Tod's house the same night as Alex, having felt something through him, as if they are connected somehow. One of the surviving students, Carter (Kerr Smith) has never been a friend, but he is openly combative now and tries to fight Alex at every turn. But Alex only wants to figure out what's going on and save everybody. Is death pre-ordained? Or is there a pattern, and if you figure it out, you can change it and avoid death?

I found this to be an interesting watch, even if Alex's theories didn't always make sense, and some of the accidents seemed really farfetched. But even so, it was entertaining, although if you are looking for answers, you won't find them here. Luckily, this is just the first film in the series. It remains to be seen how good the others are. But I did like this, so I'll give it 4 Stars and look forward to the next one.

Book Review: Bleach, Vol 55 by Tite Kubo

 

Bleach, Vol 55         

Author: Tite Kubo

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: February 5, 2013

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Supernatural/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Hollows are beginning to disappear at an alarming rate. This is especially bad news to those in the Soul Society who monitor such things because of the delicate balance that exists between the Soul Society and the World of the Living. Should this balance be disrupted, well, the result would not be pretty. And Kurotsuchi has an idea who is responsible for this imbalance.

It’s Yuki’s first day on the job but he’s very tired, having been too worried to get much sleep the night before. He is yelled at by Shino, who tells him he has nothing to fear while she’s around and to pull his act together! They travel to Karakura Town to begin making their rounds. Yuki is dismayed that they are patrolling separately, especially when he runs into his first Hollows! And oh dear, they’ve got Shino on the ground, unconscious. What’s a new guy to do? Luckily for him, the Deputy Soul Reaper arrives to save the day!

Yuki awakens a day later to learn he missed the battle. While Ichigo is trying to get the new Soul Reaper out of his bed, other people assemble – Orihime, Chad, Uryu and some guy named Ebern. Ebern? Who the heck is that? Ichigo realizes this new guy, who he believes to be an Arrancar, has come on account of him so he decides to handle him quickly. Except Ebern is not an Arrancar, not at all. And what he is is surprising.

Meanwhile a situation is developing in the Rukongai. Entire villages of people are disappearing.  Even as the Soul Reapers investigate, Captain General Yamamoto is visited by a contingent who have come to declare war! Even as he faces them down, Ebern taunts Ichigo to use his bankai and defeat him. However when Ichigo does as he wishes, Ebern seems frustrated that Ichigo’s bankai doesn’t disappear. What does that even mean? He departs in a huff, leaving a confused Ichigo.

Tragedy strikes the Soul Society with the death of one of their own, although the Captain General is safe. Yuki receives the news and relays it to Ichigo and the others. Suddenly, Ichigo spots something hurtling toward the earth and hastens to catch it, only to discover it is none other than Nel! Hueco Mundo has been attacked!  Naturally, Ichigo feels the need to help, as do Chad and Orihime, and even Kiskue. But Uryu has to sit this one out because he cannot conscience saving Hollows.

There is a new villain on the scene, and he has subordinates who seem to be as evil and crazy as he is!  They call themselves the Vandenreich, the Invisible  Empire… and the most surprising thing about them is that they are an army of Quincies! Now Soul Society and Hueco Mundo and the World of the Living are all in danger. These guys have a trick up their sleeves – they don’t just seal the Soul Reapers’ bankais – they can steal them! How does that even work? And why does Ichigo seem immune to that? Will Ichigo once again be the key to everyone’s survival?

I’m reminded of that old saying – be careful what you wish for. I wished for the end of the Fullbring arc and the arrival of the new arc. Well, it’s here, and I have a feeling we’re in for a bumpy ride!

 

 

Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #45 (10.3)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

Still coping with the death of their parents, Chan and Evan take the children to say good-bye. See how everyone is doing in this week's chapter of Super Trooper. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Super Trooper #45 (10.3)

Although he dreaded it, Chan thought that his brother and sisters had taken the private viewing of their parents very well, all things considered. Even Madhu. Although Chan had originally decided to leave her at home, he’d changed his mind after talking to the branch manager of the savings and loan where he worked, who was very understanding of his situation. She told him that Madhu needed closure too, or she would never stop looking for her parents. That made sense. He’d discussed the matter with Evan, and in the end, they’d taken all three children to the funeral home.  

The funeral director, Mr. Waverly, had been very helpful and sympathetic. He had talked about death in terms young people could understand before taking them into a small salon, where their parents were. They almost seemed to be resting. Chan  told them how much Maa and Pita had loved them all, and how they had made plans that if something happened to them, Chan would take care of them and be their guardian.

 Everyone was given time to say their good-byes. Laksha maintained a stoic silence while gazing at the two coffins, while Kamal looked away and rubbed at his eyes when he thought no one was watching. Madhu was the enigma among them. She seemed to accept the idea that her parents weren’t sleeping, they were gone and they were in a happier place now.  But Chan wasn’t sure how much she truly understood. She put up a fuss when it was time to leave, kicked her feet and cried, then exhausted herself and fell asleep in Chan’s arms. Afterward, they bought hamburgers from a fast food restaurant, and Evan drove them to the park, where they sat at a picnic table and ate while they discussed the changes that were going to take place.

“Where’d you say we’re going to live?” Kamal scratched his head, giving the two men what seemed like a suspicious glance. Chan chalked it up to his confusion about what was going on. “In your apartment?” He wrinkled his nose at the idea.

“No, our apartment is too small for all of us. We thought we would come to live with you at your house,” Chan explained. “That way, things will stay the same for you, as much as possible. Don’t you think that would be a good idea?” He glanced between Kamal and Laskha, seeking a sign of acceptance from them. “Wouldn’t you rather stay in your own room, in your own bed?”

When Laksha nodded, Chan felt relieved. To be honest, though, he hadn’t expected any trouble from her. She was very mature for her age. He hoped Kamal would be as understanding.

“Yeah,” Kamal said. He fell silent for a moment. “Will we have to call you pita now?” Chan’s heart ached for the pain he felt in his brother’s voice.

Chan shook his head firmly. “No. I’m still your brother Chan. The brother who is going to take care of you all, that’s the only difference.”

“Chan is still Chan,” Laksha quickly interjected. She held Madhu on her lap. The little girl had nibbled at her food after her brief nap but said little. Chan wondered what she was thinking, but he had no idea. At least she didn’t seem upset, not that he could see.

“Does this mean we don’t have to school?” Kamal asked, almost hopefully.

“Don’t be silly,” Laksha replied before Chan could answer.

“I can stay home with Madhu,” Kamal volunteered. “She can’t stay home alone.”

“She won’t be alone, don’t worry. But speaking of school, I think maybe I’ll keep you home for a couple of days. I’ll call your school tomorrow.”

That idea seemed to mollify Kamal somewhat.

Chan turned to Evan. “Maybe we should pick up a few things for tonight and then tomorrow we can decide what we’re bringing and what we’re not?”

“Good idea,” Evan agreed.

He would have to talk to Mandy and see if she was available for babysitting during the day. If not, maybe she knew somebody who was. So many adjustments to make. He was glad they would have the next couple of days to begin to adjust to the way things were now.

Hopefully, the worst was behind them now.

 to be continued

Now see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

Carol Pedroso