Page & Screen Pairings: For the Zombie Newb

Warm Bodies is the clever, funny, sweet and, yes, undead retelling of Romeo and Juliet. I know some of you aren't super into zombies (say whaaaaaat?!) and that's exactly why I'd recommend it as a movie and/or book (preferably both). It's a zombie story for zombie-haters. If upon reading/watching it, you discover that zombies are your thing, here are a some other introductory zombie reads that will fuel your need for some BRRAAAIIIIINNNSSS.

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks: This book is the perfect survival guide for all your zombie woes. Fully illustrated and exhaustively comprehensive, covering everything from zombie behavior and physiology to defense tactics, weaponry and basic survival skills. This book is a must-have for any zombie aficionado.

Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S.G. Browne: Breathers is a dark comedy with surprisingly touching moments and enough gore to please all zombie fans. It's the zombie rom-com that will make you want more of zombie rom-coms.

Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen: This is my favourite zombie-based series. If scares and zombies aren’t your thing, that’s okay, this book is the perfect introductory to both. The first in a series, it screams with LOL moments and tons of cinematic action. Trust me, our feisty narrator Sarah won’t allow you to regret a thing.



So, what do you think of my matches? Have you seen this movie or read any of these books? Are there any books/movies you'd like to have recommendations for? I want this to be an interactive feature so tell me what books/movies you'd like to see paired. As always, leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Audiobook Review: The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

Title: The Ocean At The End Of The Lane
Author(s): Neil Gaiman
Genre(s): Fantasy, Horror, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: William Morrow Books / June 18, 2013
Series: Stand Alone

“I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled. I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I took joy in the things that made me happy.” -Unnamed Narrator

Case Study

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what. (synopsis from Goodreads) 

The Game's Afoot 

Neil Gaiman is a legend in the literary world. His books are all smart, beautifully written and full of wonder. The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is no exception. Admittedly, I've only read one other book by Gaiman, American Gods, and it's a very different sort of story than this one. I wasn't really sure what to expect from his YA, but it definitely wasn't this. Ocean might be a story written for kids, but it's undoubtedly one that's meant more for adults. There's a sadness and isolation to the book that goes hand in hand with the narrator's loss of innocence, with the pain of growing up.

Like in most of Gaiman's other works, magic touches everything in Ocean. And like the background mythology, the magic here is old. There's a quietness, a subtlety to it which lends to the story's very dream-like quality. It also helps that Gaiman narrated the audiobook, so the story is read as it was meant to be read. The narration was like poetry, smooth and rhythmic, lulling the listening deeper and deeper into the story. Gaiman is a wordsmith like no other. His words are so simple yet effective, stimulating to every one of the senses. And the story easily flows from one event to the next, the moments ebbing and flowing like the soft breeze over a gentle sea. 

One of the coolest things about this book was the presence of such strong female figures, taken in the form of the Hempstock women. I really loved the mother/maiden/crone dynamic between them. Honestly, they were the ones that drew me in and they were the ones that kept me riveted to the page. I guess the only thing that really threw me was the ending. I read this book over a week ago and now that I've had time to digest it, I still don't know what to think. It raised more questions than answers and lacked and overall feeling of completeness. These are just a few of the questions I still have: Did the boy take away anything at all from his experience? If not, what was the point? Was he worth Lettie's existence? Lettie thought so, but I'm not so sure.

Despite my reservations about the ending, I was really impressed by Ocean. It's a story unlike any other---dark, terrifying and wonderful---one that's beautifully written and superbly spoken by the man, the master, Neil Gaiman.

Summary Prognosis

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is an exquisite story written by the master of wordsmiths, Neil Gaiman. This book is about the power of childhood and adulthood and loss all rolled into one frighteningly magical journey through one man's memory. It will stimulate both your senses and your mind and leave you wanting more. In a word, it's simply beautiful.
 

Rating: ★★★★

Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible  
Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

Audiobook Review: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Title: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
Author(s): Holly Black
Genre(s): Horror, Paranormal, Vampires, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: Little Brown Books for Young Readers / September 3, 2013
Series: Stand Alone

“We all wind up drawn to what we're afraid of, drawn to try to find a way to make ourselves safe from a thing by crawling inside of it, by loving it, by becoming it.” -Tana

Case Study

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave. 

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

First, I'd like to thank my awesomesauce book club for picking this book. Secondly, I'd like to thank Holly Black for making me fall in love with vampires again. Seriously. This book rocks!  

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a richly imagined story and Black doesn't skimp on the macabre details, the scintillating danger or the gore. In this world, vampirism is a disease, of sorts, one that can be overcome after 88 agonizing days of bloodlust. Those who are bitten are placed in Coldtowns to mingle with the infected and the undead. The problem is: once you've gone to Coldtown, it's nearly impossible to leave. Black takes classic horror and blends it with modern elements to create something that feels simultaneously familiar yet still so different. And if that's not enough, rejoice in the fact that this is a love triangle free zone! PROGRESS!

What really stuck with me was how Black made vampires scary again. These vampires are of the ruthless variety --- callous, mysterious and cruel --- they are to be feared as well as admired, and no scene illustrates that better than the opening one. Black doesn't hold back when it comes to bloody violence and the audio narration really added a little something extra to the book's creepiness. That coupled with unique death quotes at the start of each chapter, it's bound to give you the chills. The story is richly layered, giving us glimpses into multiple POV's as well as past events.

Coldtown also introduces us to some really dynamic characters, like the protagonist, Tana. Tana is the type of heroine you want to root for because she's perfectly imperfect and loyal to a fault. She's not a girl who just stands by and lets life happen. She's all about action, despite the consequences. She doesn't need to be saved, in fact, she's frequently the one doing the saving. Then there's Gavriel, beautiful, dangerous, undead Gavriel. Gavriel is a monster through and through and Black doesn't ever let you forget that. He's an old soul, centuries old, and crazy to boot. Can I just say how much I shipped Gavriel and Tana's romance! It makes sense given their tragic backgrounds and mutual understanding of what mercy is. They are bonded by tragedy, both having suffered and endured. They each struggle with inner demons and that makes them a great match.

I like how Tana kept her resolved at the end, despite the ease and lure that beckoned to her. It would've been so convenient for her to give in, but she didn't, and her strength is part of why I loved her. The ending was a bang which matched the rest of the story's intensity so well. It was quite open-ended and though part of me is pleased that this is a stand alone, the other part of me wishes to see where these characters take us next. A little adventure, a little horror and a little road trip, this book has a little of everything. Coldtown is a breath of fresh air in an, otherwise, overdone genre. First Gone Girl and now there's this. I think it's safe to say I trust my book club implicitly in choosing some really fantastic reads!

Summary Prognosis 

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown reminded me of why I loved vampire books in the first place. It's a fresh story, macabre, horrifying and equal parts enthralling. I loved the story, I loved the characters and I loved the dark mystery behind it all. And if you have the chance to listen to the audio version, I highly recommend it because the narration and the production value ups the ante on the story's creepiness. This book is sure to top my list of favourites this year, of that I have NO doubt. 

Rating: ★★★★★

Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

Retro Review: Lights Out by R.L. Stine

Title: Lights Out

Author(s): R.L. Stine

Genre(s): Horror, Young Adult

Publisher/Date: Simon Pulse / July 1, 1991

Series: Fear Street (Book #12)

Caution: Spoilers ahead!

Case Study

The trouble at Camp Nightwing begins with frightening acts of vandalism. After each incident, a red feather is left behind—a signature of the culprit. Camp Nightwing is on its last leg and with each incident, comes one step closer to closing its doors forever. Then, suddenly, one of the counselors is dead! An “accident" say the police. But Holly knows better--and she knows she's next! Between deadly sabotage she must also contend with ex-friends, potential boyfriends and jealous counselors. Will Holly survive the summer at Camp Nightwing or will it be lights out for her forever?

The Game’s Afoot

I’ve been a HUGE R.L. Stine fan ever since I was a kid, so when I found out the ladies at Forever Young Adult were going to revisit the Fear Street series, I decided to get in on the action. Lights Out was always my favourite book in the Fear Street saga so, naturally, it was my go-to pick for the re-read. I tried to remain cognizant of the fact that this book was written for children 20+ years ago, just to keep my expectations in check. 

Opening Scare: "Dear Chief, Here I am at Camp Nightwing, just as I promised. The other counselors are already here--and the lucky campers are arriving tomorrow. Everything looks cool so far. Don't worry about a thing, Chief. I'll make them pay. Every single one of them. Just as I promised you."

The Crime Scene: Camp Nightwing

"Holly looked at the trees looming at the edge of the campfire. Now that it was dark, the woods no longer appeared to be friendly and inviting, but instead seemed only to be full of dark, menacing shapes."

The Suspects: Just about everyone

Could it be Thea’s crush John? Why is he suddenly acting so cold toward Thea—what’s he hiding? Or is it Geri, Holly’s ex-BFF? She’s spiteful, mean and the bona fide Queen B of Camp Nightwing. We never really learn why her and Holly had a falling out, but is it enough to kill for? And then there’s Geri’s home-girl, Debra. This tough senior counselor is experienced in boating, crafts and making Holly’s life a living hell. Does she have it in for Holly, too? Doubtful since she gets killed. Or could it be the camp’s resident prankster, Kit? He has it BAD for Geri and pretty much goes along with anything she says/does. There’s also mysterious loner dude, Sandy. He seems nice… almost too nice. And then there’s Mick. At first he’s hot for Holly but after some blatant rejection, could he be out for revenge?

The Clichés: Absent Adults

Whereas in most of these books, adults are conveniently absent or in on it, they’re present in the form of Holly’s lovable Uncle Bill and the police. Only they’re too busy to listen to Holly’s concerns. As things escalate, they start to view her warnings as the ravings of a paranoid city girl. Go figure.

Whodunnit: It’s Mick!

Just kidding! 

It’s actually Sandy. Sweet, kind Sandy. BOOM. Mick was just a red-herring. As it turns out, Sandy’s little brother died the previous year in a boating accident under the supervision of Debra. As payback for their negligence, Sandy starts sabotaging the camp and bumps off Debra in the process. Revenge is usually the motivating factor in Fear Street. Sandy’s plot to destroy Camp Nightwing doesn’t initially include hurting Holly, however, when her sleuthing gets too close for comfort, he has no choice but to try and eliminate her. Fortunately, Mick arrived in the nick of time to save the day!

Bonus Points: Cliffhangers + Murderous Confessions

I have to give my man, Stine, some serious bonus points for ending just about every chapter on a cliffhanger. THIS is what kept me going now and as child! I also really appreciated the murderer’s letters to “Chief.” In a big twist, you come to learn that Chief is actually Sandy’s dead little brother which really bumps up the psycho factor just a notch.

Closing Line: "He put his arm around her, and they wandered happily up the path to their cabins."

Summary Prognosis

I always hesitate when it comes to revisiting old favourites because I’m afraid that all appeal they once held will be lost, forever tainting any fond memories I may have had. But, ultimately, I’m glad I read Lights Out because I discovered something---sometimes it’s worth taking a stroll down memory lane. This book took me back to simpler times where reading simple books was enough. I expect a whole lot more out of what I read now, whereas then, all it took was a little mystery and a lot of mayhem to keep me turning the page. To some extent, I feel like a bit of a druggie when it comes to books—I’m always searching for my next big fix. Even when I find one, the euphoria I feel afterward doesn’t last very long. Call me jaded, but it’s a rare thing to find myself satiated en total by a book/book series. As a kid, this was not the case. Almost everything I read I found super enjoyable and I felt contented in that way readers do for a long time. So if revisiting Fear Street has done anything for me, it has reminded me of why I loved reading (and still do) in the first place. Overall, I’d say the book set out to do exactly what it needed to—it’s simple, creepy, effective and fun—everything you expected from R.L. Stine. In this case, a re-visit = a RAGING SUCCESS!

Rating: ★★★★

Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

Double, Double, Toil & Trouble!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Combining both a passion for all things bookish with an obsessive love of list-making, this rad meme was born. I decided to do a variation on this week's TTT, still Halloween-themed, of course! I am an avid fan of the horror genre (and trivia), I thought it might be fun to list out some horror films you might not know were actually books.

Let's see if there are any surprises, eh!

Poltergeist (Tobe Hooper) based on Poltergeist (James Kahn) - There is a reason the movie made my list of favourite grim, grinning ghosts. It's one of the more terrifying ghost stories ever told so you know the bookish version has got to be just as haunt-worthy!

Rosemary's Baby (Roman Polanski) based on Rosemary's Baby (Ira Levin) -  I hate creepy children and this story is pretty much the reason why. The movie was released one year after the book was published and I do have to commend Polanski for remaining faithful to the source material.

The Birds (Alfred Hitchcock) based on The Birds and Other Stories (Daphne du Maurier) - Hitchcock was known for adapting scary books to the silver screen. His idea for The Birds came from a collection of short stories by du Maurier, one of them aptly titled, The Birds.

Black Christmas (Bob Clark) based on Black Christmas (Lee Hays) - It's hard to know this movie was based on a book, especially since the book has been long out of print. Where the novel delves more into the psychology of the characters, the movie versions do just as good a job detailing the murder and mayhem behind it all.

The Ring (Gore Verbinski) based on Ringu (Kôji Suzuki) - Most of us probably know that The Ring is an American remake of a Japanese horror film. What you probably don't know is that it's based on a book and its author, Suzuki, actually wrote the screenplay to both movie versions.

The Fog (John Carpenter) based on The Fog (Dennis Etchinson) - The Fog is one of Carpenter's scarier movies and it's no surprise when the source material is just as scary. This book was part of a series of novelizations of 80's horror films written by Dennis Etchison.

The Blob (Chuck Russell) based on The Blob (David Bischoff) - While it's not very common knowledge that The Blob we've all probably seen is actually a remake, it's a little known fact that the movie is actually based on a book of the same name. While events in the story correlate more to the movie's sequel, in the end, isn't it all the same? When it comes to murderous goo, you just can't win.

Alien (Ridley Scott) based on Alien (Alan Dean Foster) - Alien was one of the scariest movies (and video games) I'd ever seen. Foster's novels are some of the more popular screen adaptations (Terminator: Salvation, The Chronicles of Riddick) but I'd say Alien was his best! He even wrote books that correspond to the first three Alien films!

Friday the 13th (Sean Cunningham) based on Friday the 13th (Simon Hawke) - This movie is a cult classic and epitomizes everything we know about slasher films. Well teenagers beware because Jason Voorhees is just as deadly in these low key novelizations too!

The Exorcist (William Friedkin) based on The Exorcist (William Peter Blatty) - As much as I hate creepy kids, possession is what really freaks me out. Filmed during what many call "the golden age of horror films," this movie remains the scariest movie I've ever seen. And why wouldn't it be when it's based off a staple in the bookish community. Book and movie alike, it's a classic in the horror world.



Let's get scared! Did you know that any of these movies were based on books? Are there any that surprised you? What are some of your favourite books/films in the horror genre?

Cover Reveal: The Harlem Hellfighters by Max Brooks

Max Brooks' World War Z:An Oral History of the Zombie War is one of my favourite novels of all time, and while I've made no secret of my disdain for the movie adaptation (blasphemy!), I will happily gobble up anything else that's written by him (zombie-themed or not).

The Harlem Hellfighters: A Graphic Novel is slated for release in April 2014. The 369th Infantry (of which the Harlem infantry in WWZ is loosely based off of) was an African-American regiment from Harlem and one of the most decorated regiments during WWI. Brooks shares their obscure tale.

Illustrated by Canaan White.

Audiobook Mini Reviews: Midnight by Dean Koontiz & Inferno by Dan Brown

Title: Midnight
Author(s): Dean Koontz
Genre(s): Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Publisher/Date: Berkley Publishing / January 1, 1989
Series: Stand Alone

The citizens of Moonlight Cove are changing. Some are losing touch with their deepest emotions. Others are surrendering to their wildest urges. And the few who remain unchanged are absolutely terrified—if not brutally murdered in the dead of night. Enter the shocking world of Moonlight Cove, where four unlikely survivors confront the darkest realms of human nature... (synopsis from Goodreads)

Summary Prognosis

I've never read anything by Dean Koontz before so I wasn't really sure what to expect when I purchased this audiobook. Murder, monsters, mayhem---well, that's right up my alley, I'd thought. Unfortunately for Koontz, my first impression left me with the shivers (and not the good kind). My qualms lie more with Koontz's writing style than with the plot which is a shame because this is a story with some serious potential.

As far as the concept goes, I thought it was pretty fantastic. I thought the creatures' lack of empathy to be quite chilling. But I had a hard time connecting with most of the characters save for Harry (the disabled war veteran) and Moose (his dog). Generally, I thought the writing was repetitive and the story, dated. There's an abundance of archaic technological and historical references which really showed the book's age. Little did I realize Midnight was published in 1989. Koontz also has a tendency to repeat the same minute details over and over and over again, causing no shortage of frustration on my end. 

Midnight started off with a bang and the ending had a lot promise, but alas, all the build-up was for naught. Like the rest of the book, it lacked the real scare-factor that I was looking for. J. Charles was a decent reader and the audio production itself was well done. Overall, I could see this story being adapted for TV and, in the right hands (here's to looking at you Guillermo del Toro!), I think it could be brilliant.

Rating: ★★½

Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

Title: Inferno
Author(s): Dan Brown
Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Thriller
Publisher/Date: Doubleday / May 14, 2013
Series: Robert Langdon (Book #4)

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno. Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Summary Prognosis

Generally speaking, I'm a fan of Dan Brown's work, particularly the Robert Langdon Series. Sure, Brown's books are predictable. Yes, they're a tad formulaic, however, for me, it's a formula that works so I can overlook all that. I loved the first two books in this series; however, because I was let down by the third, I picked up Inferno bearing some caution. Though it didn't quite live up to Angels & Demons or The DaVinci Code, overall, I found it to be more enjoyable than The Lost Symbol.

Before you go and pick up this book, there's one thing you should know: it's heavy on the history and lacking in action. But if you're like me and enjoy historical fiction, it shouldn't really be a problem. Though it can sometimes read like a giant info dump, Inferno touches on several subjects of interest: Dante Alighieri, the literary masterpiece Inferno, Florence and overpopulation. What? Yes. Overpopulation. I know it sounds a bit out of place but the relevancy behind it is both effective and befitting. In other words, Brown makes it work and in doing so, raises some chilling questions.

You don't really need to read the other books in the series to be able to follow Inferno, although,  some familiar patterns become apparent (i.e. - the supposed good guy who ends up being bad). I did like how Brown structured this book differently than the others, using Langdon's amnesia as a means by which to tell the story. It was unexpected and a nice twist. As a reader, I really liked Paul Michael's performance and would happily listen to him narrate again. Inferno was a likeable book, though I'd hardly rank it as one of Brown's best works to date. If you enjoy books heavy on history or like books dealing with this subject matter, I recommend it.

Rating: ★★★

Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

Movie Review: The Purge by James DeMonaco

Title: The Purge
Director(s): James DeMonaco
Genre(s): Horror, Thriller
Rating: R
Release Date (USA): June 7, 2013

"Look I know that this is difficult to understand at your age, but tonight allows people a release for all the hatred, and violence, and aggression that they keep up inside them." -James Sandin

What if, for one night each year, you could commit any crime without fear of reprisal? What would you do? Commit robbery? Extortion? Rape? How about murder?

This is America circa 2022---wracked with overpopulation, high unemployment and brutal crime. In an effort to save the country, the U.S. government sanctions "The Purge," an annual 12-hour period where any and all criminal acts become legal, unpunishable by the law. And you know what? It works. As a direct result of this purge, crime rates are down and unemployment falls below 1%. But not everyone chooses to participate in this violent free-for-all. When an unexpected encounter with a stranger threatens the safety of the Sandin family, James (Ethan Hawke) and Mary (Lena Headey) must decide if violence really is the way or be forced to face the deadly consequences.

Remember the time I talked about the most disturbing films ever? Yeah. If I had to add to that list now, The Purge would be near the top. In fact, it vaguely reminded me of one of the other movies that made that list. The Purge is somewhat reminiscant of Stephen King's The Mist in that it explores the darker side of the human condition and poses some seriously disturbing questions. And like The Mist, the answers we find are profoundly unsettling. Surprisingly, it's not the violence that makes this movie an uneasy one to watch. Was it there? Sure. But it's no more violent than other movies I've seen recently. Instead, it's the opportunity for violence and the unpredictability of man that keeps it so uncertain and edgy. You're left looking to your neighbor and wondering, given the same situation, what would they do?

Watching The Purge was an experience in and of itself. It's gripping, intense and the second-by-second tension kept me on the edge of my seat (quite literally!). My anxiety levels were through the roof and I'm talking that nails-digging-into-my-palms kind of intense. The action steadily builds into a frighteningly violent crescendo. The movie's pacing is quick and the height of the action is much shorter than one would initially expect, however, it'es nough to get the point across effectively. Any longer and they would've gone overboard. And let me just say, I'm super glad they didn't take that route because, honestly, I'm not sure I could've handled much more. Creepy as it was overall, the film gets somewhat campy towards the finale which left many a viewer displeased. But I thought it was a rather brilliant way to end such an intense movie and was relieved to find those cheesy, albeit brief, moments..

As for the characters, some are hollow but I didn't mind because the people who really mattered were top-notch. Lena Headey and Ethan Hawke shone in their respective roles as Mrs. and Mr. Sandin, but Rhys Wakefield as the villainous leader (credited as "polite stranger") was the one who really stole the show. Like in most movies, you expect the villain to be psychotic---savage in appearance, crazy in demeanor, poor in intellect and speech. Wakefield was anything but. He's well-groomed, rich and seemingly well-educated making his detached savagery all the more brutal and unexpected. Some of the characters, the children namely, are familiar cliches and a bit of the dialogue borders on silly, but I found them easily overlooked when compared to the bigger picture.

Though I thought The Purge was commendable, due to its profoundly disturbing nature, I don't feel right giving it any sort of starred rating. And though it's not particularly scary, it's a gripping and effective thriller. It'll leave you thinking and wondering and fearfully hoping that this isn't what the world is coming to. This movie explores several philosophical musings such as are we a violent species by nature and are humans inherently evil? The answers aren't easy ones to come by and the social commentary is somewhat depressing. It's also one of those rare movies that isn't for the faint of heart. And while I'm really glad I watched it, I'll probably never own or view it again. I'm a huge fan of horror and it takes a lot to leave me reeling, and this movie, it definitely achieved that.


Rating: UNRATED


Watch It: This movie is currently out in theatres
Discuss It:  IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
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