Fact or fiction?

Dean Koontz, Dark Rivers of the Heart   is a horror book with a difference.

The novel focuses on the relationship between several characters with their past lives being revealed in small chunks throughout the whole novel, leaving the reader confused and intrigued until the end.

With several ideas loosely based on true facts; satellites in the sky with an ability to monitor and destroy; undercover secret service teams acting on behalf of politicians and dealing with issues that would lead to normal governmental teams getting into major trouble and disrepute; the novel leaves the reader wondering what it actually happening within the World and whether in a few years there will be more issues like the ones described in the book leading to more families and individuals disappearing, knowing that the legal system would not be able to help them.

The story follows three main sets of characters and throughout keeps swapping between the characters giving an update on what they are doing and thinking. Written in third person it allows the reader to gain useful insight into the character thoughts and feelings, whilst also holding information back and allowing some of the characters to appear psychotic.

Overall, the novel is worth a read, although don't expect to be to scared, just maybe slightly confused.

An unknown entity scares readers in 'The Dark'

The Dark a novel by James Herbert, scares readers by using the darkness as a unknown entity.

The novel is very descriptive throughout, allowing the reader to visualise the events clearly for themselves and imagine that they are part of the novel. The introduction for the novel is in first person which allows the reader to gain a deeper insight into what the novel will be about and some understanding about the characters involved.

Having a paranormal feel throughout the novel gives the reader a sense of knowing that something bad is happening and that something is very wrong; although not fully been able to understand the novel until the very last couple of pages, when there is an overview of what has happened since the last event. This overview gives a neat ending to the novel allowing the reader to feel that good has been restored into a World of evil.

Another classic horror novel that keeps the readers attention right until the end, not giving the reader even an insight into what might happen but allowing the reader some slight hope that all will come right in the end.

Run away from everything in 'Run Fatboy Run'

Directed by David Schwimmer and staring Simon Pegg, Run Fatboy Run was released in 2007.

The film starts with a flashback to the lead characters wedding day and from then continues to use flashbacks to aid the films comedy element.

Throughout the film, Dennis runs away from all responsibilities until running becomes his only option to win his family back.

Of course, good overcomes bad in the film to leave with a happy ending, typical of comedy films.

The 'Da Vinci Code' not as good as the book

Released in 2006, and based on the Dan Brown novel, The Da Vinci Code gives a different view on what could be the Holy Grail.

The film starts off with a lot of action and for anyone who has read the book, there appears to be a lot more action in the film, than is portrayed in the novel, this of course helps to keep the viewer watching the film.

The film requires the audience to be able to watch and follow what is happening as there is two parts to the story happening all the time; both involve the hunt for the Holy Grail, but there is also the police involvement which adds to the action in the film.

The film has a lot of visual effects, keeping the audience wanting to watch, but also keeping the tension built up and in certain parts making the film seem slightly scarier than it is. Flashbacks also help this tension when characters remember things from the past, which happens a lot when Sophie is remembering her childhood with her grandfather.

Overall, the film is definitely worth a watch, but be prepared for it being a long film, and if you've read the book then don't expect it to be quite as good.

Classic "Gran Torino" is a must see for car fans

Gran Torino, released in 2008, is another film that is directed by and stars Clint Eastwood.

The film shows the relationship between different people and how different cultures struggle to get on when living in the same neighbourhood until something happens that makes them have to get along.

Starting with the loss of his wife, Eastwood plays the part of a war vetern who appears tough on the outside and does not even get along with his sons and families.

With a lot of gang violence the film keeps the audience waiting for the next occurence and although not much seems to happen in a fast amount of time, the film manages to keep the audiences attention, with a good script and good acting from Eastwood, depicting his character brilliantly.

Of course the film ends both happily and sadly for different characters with dissapointment for his family when Eastwood's prized 1972 Gran Torino gets left to his neighbours son.

"Wrong turn at Tahoe" is not as good as expected

Released in 2009, Wrong Turn at Tahoe" is a typical crime thriller.

When bad things happen to people, other people get involved leading to the deaths of character's friends and partners.

Throughout the film there are a few small flashbacks which show things that have happened that are important to the story. As well as these flashbacks, the film swaps from one set of characters to another sometimes without the audience even noticing. 

The film didn't do much to keep the attention of the audience and although there was a lot of violence, it didn't seem to be filmed in the right way. 

Good plot makes "Choose" worth watching

"Choose" takes a simple idea of making a choice and then adds more horror and gore.

With a dramatic opening scene, the film gets the audience's attention right from the start and shows them exactly what the whole film will be like.

Throughout the film there are links back to the death of the mother and although all the choices are made by different people with no connection to each other, they all get the daughter interested in solving the case.

The film ends on a slight cliffhanger and although everything is finalised for it, it is also left ready for the possibility of a sequel.

"Closer" seems very random

Relased in 2004 and staring Jude Law and Clive Owen, Closer shows the relationships between two couples.

Throughout the film there are changes in time, which do not sometimes always make complete sense, although it does finally seem to make sense in the end.

The film ends strangely, which is inkeeping with the rest of the film, which does get very strange at times.

Gadgets, gambling and DBS make for perfect Bond film

Casino Royale released in 2006, stars Daniel Craig as James Bond.

Opening with a typically good action scene, Casino Royale grabs the attention of the audience within the first 5 minutes.

With lots of people running around, shooting each other, gambling and drinking, it is a film for everyone. The action is constant so no-one will get bored watching it

"Derailed" keeps audience in suspense

Derailed released in 2005 and staring Clive Owen and Jenifer Aniston keep the audience guessing what will happen next.

The film is set around two business executives meeting on a train and then ending up having an affair, but all is not as it seems. With so many twists and turns the film shows how people really aren't as they seem.

With an affair, blackmail and murder all included in the film, it keeps the audience wondering what will happen and what could happen next, as well as been appealing for many different types of audience.

The film has a good ending, which of course sees good beating evil, but also has a sense of other characters knowing that everything is not quite as truthful as it seems.

Vampires suprise audience in Sweedish horror film

Let The Right One In takes a while to realise what is actually happening. 

Released in 2008 and directed by Thomas Alfredson, the film shows the relationship between a young, clever boy and a vampire.

The film is very dark with little in the way of bright colours. This brings a sense of darkness and the unknown to the film, which at certain points become a bit strange and does leave the viewer waiting for the next event to happen. At a couple of points within the film it is obvious to the audience what is about to happen next, but then something else happens to counter it.

Although some of the events are obvious, it is not always clear as to why they occur and the film ends without a clear message, leaving the audience to interpret the film slightly.

"It" is full of flashbacks

Based on the Stephen King novel, It captures the audiences' attention right from the start.

Released in 1990 as a tv series  and directed by Tommy Lee Wallace the film sees a group of children meet back together after more killings start happening years later.

The film is set in the present day, but flashbacks are a common feature allowing the audience to see what happened to the children that are now adults but are going to reunite to destroy the clown again.

It is definitely worth watching unless you don't like clowns and then it would probably be best not to watch it.

"Hidden" seems to be where the plot is

Hidden is a French psychological thriller that has English subtitles. 

Released in the UK in 2006, and directed by Michael Haneke, who also directed The Piano Teacher among many other things, the film seems to have very little in the way of storyline, plot and ending.

With a very strange start the film focuses on a family receiving video tapes that just show what they have been doing in their day to day life. These tapes are then wrapped in drawings, which seem to also scare the family.

There is no real ending to the film, which leaves the audience wondering who did actually send the video tapes and although the family stop receiving the tapes and drawings, nothing appears to have actually been solved.

A weird film, that doesn't seem to be a thriller. You do have to pay attention to the film though as it is all in subtitles.

Bruce Willis makes another good performance in 'Die Hard 4'

Released in 2007 and originally called Live Free or Die Hard showed the return of John McClane, played by Bruce Willis.

The film starts when McClane is told to escort a known hacker to FBI headquarters. From there McClane has to protect this hacker from been killed, which leads them to bonding quite well. The film shows a lot of emotion as well as the expected action. 

Another superb action movie with great scenes, helicopters been blown up, lorries been destroyed, and just lots of action.

'Dear John' is typical romantic film

Dear John released in 2010 and directed by Lasse Hallstrom, was based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks.

The film was a typical romantic film where the two young characters fell in love only to have something and then someone come between them. They are both typical kinds of characters that you would expect to find in any film of this kind.

The film appeared to start in the middle before going back to show the audience what he was actually thinking and what had happened before.

The title for the film comes from the letters that she sends as she always starts them with Dear John.

'Knowing' is mind blowing

Knowing released in 2009 and staring Nicolas Cage shows a young girl writing numbers down on a piece of paper which then is put into a time capsule for the next 50 years.

Directed by Alex Proyas; who also directed I Robot in 2004 along with several other films and some music videos; the film shows how 50 years later the sheet of numbers predicted all major disasters that happened within that period, apart from two disasters that are still to happen.


Throughout the film there are a lot of special effects, showing the disaster's that are yet to occur. Caleb, the young boy in the film also sees/ dreams things as well as knowing when something appears to be wrong. There are also 'voices' heard by several of the characters throughout the film, which the adults do not hear, all these add some suspense to what will happen.


The film centres around space and the end of the World, so for any sci-fi fans it is a must see. 

Ghosts cause crash in 'Wind Chill'

Wind Chill released in 2007 with Emily Blunt as the lead star is a story of two students who share a lift home which all goes wrong when the guy takes a detour off the highway.

The film has certain features like showing the time which give the viewer an insight into how the characters may be feeling and allowing them to think about how they would be feeling a different times if the viewer was in a similar situation, although both characters are not named throughout the film and the end credit show them as 'guy' and 'girl'.

Centered around an event that happened years ago, the characters keep seeing ghosts of people that died within the same situation, with the 'girl' having dreams about what had happened.

The film was directed by Gregory Jacobs, who also directed Criminal as well as been assistant director on all three of the Oceans films.

Triangle takes many levels to understand

Triangle, released in 2009, is a story about a group of passengers on board a yacht when a storm occurs, and what happens to the next.

The film, written and directed by Christopher Smith, who has directed Creep, Severance and Black Death, takes the viewer through a repeated cycle for most of the film, with the main character trying to stop things from happening over and over again.

Right from the beginning of the film there is a sense of tension and a lack of understanding by the viewer as to certain things that are happening, although they are explained throughout the film, with the majority of issues not been understood until the very end of the film.

The title triange comes from the name of the yacht that the group are sailing on.

The film is worth watching, but there is a lot of repition and it does get slightly weird at times, so you will need a good attention span to watch it. 

Teenage Fantasy Worth Reading

The Angel Experiment, the first in the Maximum Ride series by International bestselling thriller writer; James Patterson is definitly worth a read.

Having been in two minds whether this teenage fantasy novel would be too far fetched for anyone of the age of 12 I decided to give it a go. At first it does seem very unrealistic with the first chapter been the main character, Maximum Ride, having a dream, but it does get better.

Throughtout the book, there are several links forward where the Maximum tells the reader that she will explain later, although there is little clarity.

Having the novel written in different viewpoints may be confusing for younger readers, although it does work well, as the main character uses first person and speaks to the reader directly, involving them in the story, and allowing them to understand what and how the character is thinking and feeling. The other parts of the novel are written in third person narration and occur when the main character isn't present.

On a whole the novel is very idealistic, with all the characters ending up together to rescue Angel, who has been kidnapped. As well as been idealistic a lot of the story is predictable, although younger readers may not find that.

Overall, I would reccomend reading the novel, as it is different from a lot of things, but remeber to be aware that it is aimed at teenagers and not adults. 

Hi :)

Hi,

I've set up this blog to share my opinions on books, films and music.

Feel free to comment on any posts and let me know what you think about things.

Emy-lou x