My Thoughts On. . .

Illusion (Dark Musicals Book 5)

It’s been a while since I read any of Laura DeLuca’s work, the last time being the final book of the original “Dark Musicals” series.

The first Dark Musicals are a clever play on genres. Think of a murder-mystery-whodunnit based around the theme of well known theatrical productions; in particular, “Phantom of the Opera”, “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street”, “Jekyll and Hyde”, and “A Christmas Carol”.

What makes them more appealing is that each story follows the lives of two high school sweethearts, Rebecca and Justyn as they meet, fall in love, and grow into accomplished performers in their own right. Of course, being a murder-mystery series, their life’s course is rather eventful – and entertaining – to say the least, and helps you involve yourself with the characters from the outset.

(I would recommend you try those earlier stories before delving into “Illusions”, as it will allow you to appreciate what this couple have been through together, and how they’ve ended up where they are.)

Now to the current book.

Rebecca and Justyn are married. Not only are they Broadway stars in their own right, but their eight-year old son, Erik, is a musical savant with prodigious talent. When they are invited to perform their new show, “Phantom Returns”, in Australia, Erik joins them, using the occasion to make his professional debut.

Alas, the rose-tinted tides of fate begin to stir, throwing up warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored. For one, Erik suffers a nightmare – something far more powerful and profound than a simple bad dream. In it, he is snatched away from his mother and father. A premonition perhaps?

Lo and behold, the family arrives in Australia to find a young boy has gone missing. What’s more, the bodies of women who have been strangled to death are turning up in one place after another. Putting these events down to unhappy coincidence, the Hope-Patko family forge ahead, determined that the show must go on.

And it does, in the face of increasing danger that I won’t reveal in detail here. After all, you need to read the story yourselves. Suffice to say, you’ll be glad you did, for DeLuca skillfully entwines the lives of Broadway’s favorite couple into the exploits of the characters they play: betrayal and misunderstanding; sabotage and threats; revelations and tragedy. It’s all there, and more, in an adventure that also weaves YOU into the plot and holds you there until the final curtain falls.

An entertaining and enjoyable romp across the boards. Don’t miss it.

Unbreakable

I first saw Unbreakable, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, over ten years ago and thought I’d treat myself again. The story is rather compelling, and revolves around the lives of two men: David Dunn (Bruce Willis), a down-on-his-luck married man from Philadelphia who, returning from a job interview in New York, becomes the sole survivor of a devastating train crash; and Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), a rather obsessive, comic book oriented individual suffering from a condition that makes his bones as fragile as glass, who contacts David and offers him a rather wacky explanation as to why it is he survived.

The thing is, as far out as Elijah’s theories are, they might just be right!

What we get is a superbly presented buildup, where a modest, self-depreciating guy comes to a gradual realization that – yes – he is different from other people. So different, that what he can do, what he can achieve, are feats well beyond what might be thought of as “normal”.

And the great thing about this M. Night Shyamalan film is, we’re not inundated by your usual crop of flashy, overly confident super heroes wearing figure-hugging suits. Oh no, our guy hides his identity by slipping on a plain green poncho.

However, I jump the gun a little, for the story arc is superbly crafted, tugging you along on the slow slide toward an inevitable revelation. Then, just when you think you can relax, you get an extra twist regarding a sickening link between the disaster that started it all and Elijah himself.

An excellent film that – despite its subject matter – is hauntingly believable. Treat yourself and see it as soon as you can (and definitely before “Split” and “Glass”)

This Week's Reviews Of. . .

Gilded Cage

In Gilded Cage, we are introduced to two British families living in an alternate timeline where society has become divided between those in the minority, who are magically skilled, and the vast majority who aren’t.

The thing is, the ‘Skilled’ retain all the rights and privileges and rule the country with an iron fist. The powerless serve them, and are not granted full citizenship until they complete ten years enforced labor in one of the many ‘slavetowns’ dotted throughout the country . . . IF they survive ten years, that is, for the rules are there to be bent, broken, and twisted to serve the ruling elite as they see fit.

In place for centuries, the ‘system’ is corrupt, inhumane, and unfair. It has to end.

The people want change. The Skilled, however, have every intention of keeping things the way they are.

Or do they?

As pressure grows in a boiling cauldron of dissatisfaction and dissent, it’s obvious something’s got to give. Secrets are uncovered. Schemes are plotted. Promises made and broken. Yes, hope and betrayal go hand in hand. You need to pick a side. But the consequences of choosing the wrong one could be disastrous.

“Gilded Cage” – a superbly written tale of magical misadventure that will have you rooting for the underdogs from the outset.

The Equalizer 2

Hailing as I do from the UK, I grew up with Edward Woodward’s portrayal of the original Equalizer. A guy who evens the score for those in desperate need of help, but who don’t have the resources or skills to manage themselves.

When the newer version came out, starring Denzel Washington, I was a little apprehensive of what we were going to get. No need to worry there, though! I was pleasantly surprised, and enjoyed his portrayal of Robert McCall in a more up to date setting.

Now to the sequel.

 I desperately wanted to enjoy it. I really did. However, I found my enjoyment spoilt by the fact that things got a little ridiculous. It misses the “believability” factor the first film captured so well. Yes, we’re talking about a work of fiction here. The portrayal of primitive justice meted out to much deserving bad guys. But the idea of a group of highly trained mercenaries running around a town – abandoned temporarily – during a storm, who kill anyone in their way to get at McCall . . . I don’t know. It just stretched it little too far to retain the credibility that the first film managed to achieve.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s great fun. Denzel delivers a robust performance that starts pulling you in the moment the action starts, But . . . well, you’d have to watch it for yourself to see what I mean. The film lets him down.

My Thoughts on. . .

Time’s Convert

Our story is a cleverly woven account detailing those events taking place after the “All Souls” trilogy.

Matthew and Diana are now happily married and coming to terms with the responsibilities of bringing up two “bright born” children. Children who aren’t averse to demonstrating on numerous occasions how special they are. The Congregation aren’t too happy about that, of course, so as you can imagine, both Matthew and Diana have to field quite a bit of unwanted attention and interference.

Regardless, our story doesn’t only revolve around them. 

By far the largest part of the narrative details the trials and tribulations of Matthew’s vampire son, Marcus Whitmore, someone who became part of the extended de Clermont family in the 18^th Century.

Marcus has witnessed both deprivation and bounty during his life. He’s been a normal, everyday boy; a beating post for a drunken, abusive human father; a murderer; a runaway; a soldier; a revolutionary; an aristocrat; and a doctor. Nothing has truly captured his spirit . . . until he falls in love with a human woman, Phoebe Taylor.

That’s when things get really complicated!

Marcus believes he’s found his soul mate. A person he wants to be with forever. But forever doesn’t last that long when you’re a fragile human with threescore years and ten in front of you.

Time . . . time is an ever flowing effusion that we all crave. It deserves to be venerated. Cherished. But how to do that when most humans rush through life with a vulgarity that demeans the gift they were given?

Marcus and Phoebe are about to find out.

Time’s Convert. A thoroughly charming story that is as intelligent as it is captivating, highlighting what happens when tradition clashes with change, and how much true love can endure when you’ve found “the one”.

Death Wish

Older boys like me will remember the original Death Wish film from 1974 in which Charles Bronson played Paul Kersey, a mild-mannered architect who becomes a vigilante after his wife is murdered and his daughter sexually assaulted during a home invasion by local hoods.

As nowadays, the film was attacked at the time for its portrayal of vigilantism. However, it ‘touched’ a nerve of the public in the United States who were facing soaring crime rates, and because of this, went on to spawn a number of sequels.

Cut to 2018 and the inevitable remake, this time with Bruce Willis playing the title role.

Now, Paul Kersey is a trauma surgeon in Chicago. A self-controlled and quiet man, he lives at home with his wife and their daughter, Jordan who will soon be going away to college. In this installment, a restaurant valet – and local criminal – spots how affluent the Kersey family is. He overhears their plans to go out one night in the forthcoming week and seizes on the idea of relieving them of some of their wealth in a hassle-free, risk-free endeavor. As he retrieves the family’s car, he obtains their home address from the car’s satnav. Job done?

Unfortunately not. Cue the night of the break-in. Paul is unexpectedly called in to work, leaving his wife, Lucy and their daughter at home. As in the original film, the hoods break in and Lucy is killed. Jordan is assaulted and left in a coma.

It portrays this in such a way that it gets your blood boiling, and before you know it, you’re cheering for the good guy turned bad, who becomes something of a Grim Reaper in a hoodie. Clever! Because the film also takes a stab at how easy it is to get a licensed gun if you’re willing to flout a few regulations, and how much mayhem can be caused by one man on a mission . . . law or not.

Let’s be clear. While the 2018 version isn’t as good as the original, it’s still and action packed, ball-busting, Eli Roth vengeance flick that entertains on many levels. It’s good fun. Just remember to take it as it is

Review Time!

Catalyst

After discovering that she’s really and elf from another dimension and being sent to Russia to deal with an outbreak of deadly mythical creatures, Solstice Winters is trying to settle back into her humdrum everyday life as a photojournalist for “The Spiritualist”.

The thing is, as the Echo drifts ever closer to Earth, sightings and outbreaks of paranormal activity are on the increase and Solstice’s skills are in demand. Her latest case – for instance – involves the disappearance of a mummy from the local museum. A disappearance that just so happens to coincide with a glut of dead bodies and missing persons reports.

It’s up to Solstice to find the connection.

However, her efforts are hampered by the repeated appearance of an amped-up version of the Grim Reaper, and entity that goes all out to cleave her it two with a stunning variety of devilish blades.

Are these events connected? If so, who might be behind it all?

One thing’s for sure, humdrum is a word that doesn’t appear in Solstice’s dictionary.

You have to try this series out. “Catalyst” is an action packed, fast paced read for those in dire need of a fantasy fix! Great fun.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

I’ve never read the Archie comic books, “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” upon which the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was based. Neither did I pay attention to the TV version that came out in the late 1990s . . . though I did see enough to know that she’s a witch – spooky that – and that she lived with two five hundred year old aunts, Zelda and Hilda.

This latest Netflix series harkens more to the comic book version, but is much, much darker than anything before. Sabrina Spellman (played by Kiernan Shipka), is a half-human/half-witch who, on her sixteenth birthday, must make a choice. Renounce her powers and live among the humans – in which case she will age and die, or, she can embrace the Dark Lord and harness the full might locked away in her bloodline, and the immortality that goes with it.

The thing is, she’s a charming, friendly girl, struggling to reconcile her dual nature while contending with the evil forces threatening to claim her. And therein lies the premise of a rather entertaining show. I was reminded of the style employed by Stranger things and – to a lesser degree – Lemony Snickets – A Series of Unfortunate Events.

One minute you’re tinkering along enjoying the everyday affairs of normal teenagers in love/making friends, and all the warm-hearted good humor of life, and the next . . . POW! You get your throat ripped out with a blatantly evil and brutally gruesome scene. And there’s plenty of that to go round, ramming home the fact that THIS is the existence Sabrina has to contend with.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I’d take to it. Some of the characters are charmingly sweet. Sickeningly so. Others are annoyingly conceited. But as you adjust to the mood each character contributes to the overall concoction, you begin to appreciate what the producer has done. Provided something that is bewitchingly beautiful and wickedly macabre. And it really is dark... you’ll see.

It's a State of Mind

This Week's Reviews of Some Exceptional Men

Black Water

The recruiting campaigns for the Royal Marines state quite categorically that 99.9% of those considering a career in the Corps need not apply. It’s not an idle boast or a slogan designed to deter the wary. It’s a simple statement of fact regarding the resilience of character required of those willing to submit themselves to the hardest basic training in existence, as aspirants really are reaching out for something that will distinguish them as the best of the best. And in “Black Water” by Don Camsell, we see exactly why this is so. As one of the infamous “men in black’ of the SBS, he has completed countless missions on behalf of Queen and country over the years, and epitomizes the sterling standards expected of those band of brothers who are – without doubt – among the world’s most elite soldiers.

While thoroughly entertaining, Camsell’s account is also an informative, thoughtful and often provocative journey down memory lane. His candidness regarding the trials and tribulations facing Special Forces operatives also help us appreciate why enduring such rigors on a daily basis instills that unique quality known as “the state of mind.”

An outstanding read.

They Shall Not Grow Old

To mark the centenary of the ending of the First World War, award winning director Peter Jackson presents a truly outstanding portrayal of life in the trenches. To help, he restored original archive footage more than 100 years old – in some cases adding color – to bring out what life was like in Britain during the outbreak of war; the attitude of the men who responded to the call to fight for their country; and what conditions were like once they got there.

A truly amazing and moving production, you get to see and hear from those who took part; listen to them as they explain how they felt; explore their attitudes – toward one another and their enemy – and how they managed to endure.

Most striking of all? Their incredible humility in the face of great danger. If you only see one thing during the year, watch this!

This Weeks Review Of...

Seventh Decimate

It was an immense treat to immerse myself in a new novel by one of my favorite authors, this time set in a world where war – cruel and terrible – has governed life for centuries.

But war is always bitter, and all the more so when armies are strengthened by sorcerers who can wield the Decimates of fire, wind, pestilence, earthquake, drought and lightning to rain death upon their enemies. Or at least they used to until someone or something stripped the land of magic, leaving its armies defenseless.

Prince Bifalt, eldest son of the Bellegerin king, is privately elated by such a turn of events, for he detests all forms of enchantment. Without it, however, the kingdom and its citizens will wither and die. As such, Bifalt is sent on a quest in search of a place of legend: the repository. A storehouse of all the knowledge – both magical and mundane – that has ever existed, in an effort to turn back the ravages wrought against his people.

The thing is, nobody in the land knows where such a place might be – or if it exists at all.

One thing’s for sure, the prince – a hard-headed, short tempered man – is in for a shock, for he is but a pawn in a much larger game of strategy than he could ever imagine.

The Seventh Decimate is an excellent adventure. Involving complex characters and superb story-telling, the master of the slow burn returns, weaving a world of mystery and intrigue that you won’t want to leave.

I can’t wait for the next installment.

Bird Box

An unknown force decimates the world’s population. Only, you never get to see it. If you did, you’d wind up like everybody else: dead!

A clever premise that keeps you hanging from beginning to end, for the closest you’ll get to discovering exactly what this malevolent force is, will be by watching other people’s reactions to it.

In the story, Sandra Bullock plays Malorie Hayes, a woman with two children desperate to find a place of safety. The thing is, to reach such a place, they have to traverse unknown forests and navigate treacherous rivers whilst blindfolded. If they dare take a peek, it could be their last. Thankfully, birds give warning of the entities presence, but only at the last second – so you have to stay sharp.

As you can imagine, their journey is fraught with danger and things don’t go to plan, and you really do find yourself caught up in their nightmare.

I can’t say more as I don’t want to give away the slightest hint of what transpires. Try it, it’s well worth the risk.

My Review of Paperclip & The Handmaid’s Tale

Paperclip

I think it was only a month or so ago that I mentioned I liked to be surprised. You know, it’s like those occasions you sit down to watch a film or read a book and it ends up taking you unexpected places that please you no end?

Well, in “Paperclip” I experienced another one of those out-of-the-blue- moments that I thoroughly enjoyed. (Who would have thought?)

Carlie and Mickey are different from other children. They know things. Things they shouldn’t. A bit of a pain when they can’t exactly broadcast the fact without being thought of as weird or one sandwich short of a full picnic. Each tries to cope in their own way. Alas, people “like them” appear to act as a lodestone to others who are different. And that’s not always a good thing.

Based on a real life project, Paperclip is a clever paranormal psychological thriller, involving government conspiracies; national security at the highest level; Nazi scientists living under false identities; and killer stalkers with a penchant for being it the right place at the wrong time.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is well constructed, engages you from the beginning, and adopts a pace that allows you to become involved in Carlie and Mickey’s lives as they try to make sense of why things keep happening to them.

Oh, and who’s the mysterious cowboy with a brute of a dog?

Make the effort to find out, you’ll be glad you did.

The Handmaid’s Tale (Seasons 1 & 2)

This TV series based on the 1985 Margaret Attwood novel of the same name is bound to divide opinion. Set in a dystopian near future, the world is suffering. Fertility rates among humans have dropped dramatically due to sexually transmitted disease and environmental pollution. Events are set in motion that lead to a second American civil war, resulting in the emergence of “Gilead”, a totalitarian theonomic government hungry for power and influence. Gilead’s society is hierarchical, aggressive and wholly militarized, and under the umbrella of resetting a proper balance, forces a new regime upon its citizens.

In a nutshell, only men retain any degree of autonomy, albeit controlled by the state. And women? They lose all their rights as individuals and are not allowed to read or write, open their own bank accounts, drive a car, etc. Nor can they hold position like doctors, scientists, or police officers. Basically, they become nothing more than property divided into various social classes: Wives – (the infertile spouse of a commander) is the highest status a woman can have, and they are expected to run households under the strict guidance of their husbands; Marthas are infertile housekeepers and cooks; Aunts (also infertile – you get the gist?) train and oversee the handmaidens; Econowives are lower-class fertile women who have a degree of freedom the Marthas and Aunts, etc, don’t have. In the series, they live under constant fear and are totally subservient to all the rules and regulations. And well they should be. At the drop of a hat, they can be forced into servitude as a handmaiden, and their spouses disposed of. And if they have children? Well, they are farmed out to “families” of commanders.

You’re starting to see how things are now, eh?

If anyone breaks the law? Men are executed, or, if powerful and influential enough, expected to submit to the biblical precept of “an eye for an eye”. In a woman’s case, if they aren’t executed outright, they’re sent to the colonies, where they’re worked to death clearing toxic waste.

With me so far?

Now we come to the handmaids. Distinguished by their red robes, the handmaids are supposedly afforded a place of great honor in Gilead, as they’re the only women who are fertile. Yeah right! (Strange how the econowives are overlooked?)

Basically, all they are there for is to produce children to repopulate Gilead asap. And how – pray tell – is this wonderful idea applied? I’ll tell you. They are raped on a regular basis by their male masters, who, if they are married, expect their wives to take part! (Oh yes). Even more infuriating, they try to ritualize the whole sordid affair by making out it is a solemn and sacred duty for everyone taking part.

Having grasped the basic concept of the way things are, we come to the actual series.

The story follows the life of June Osborne (Elizabeth Moss) who, before the world turns upside down, lives a happy life with her husband and child. In a series of flashback, we see the events that led to the rise of Gilead: Behind the scenes maneuvering to get the “right” men into positions of power; unrest; rioting; the implementation of martial law; an act of terrorism that eradicates the government . . . Ta-dah . . .Hello Gilead!

Unfortunately for June, neither she nor her husband pay attention to how serious things are getting and they leave it far too late to try and flee the former United States to Canada. They are caught, her husband is shot, her child is taken into care (for adoption to a commander’s family) and when it’s discovered she is fertile . . . THAT’s when her nightmare really begins.

She undergoes a brutal form of conditioning in an attempt to make her become subservient and compliant enough “to serve” her state. She is now property, and is no longer known by her given name. What she did before doesn’t matter. Her qualifications are irrelevant. She becomes Offred (literally, Of Fred) the name of her assigned commander (Fred Waterford) and his wife Serena Joy. If she steps out of line or says the wrong thing, she can expect to be beaten, tortured . . . or worse. And it really does get worse for those who retain the spark of defiance.

As you watch this series, you really feel for June’s plight, and that of a society so easily manipulated into giving up their rights to a bunch of egotistical, power-hungry autocrats whose only agenda is to look out for themselves. Nowhere is this displayed more poignantly, than when a handmaid gives birth. (I won’t explain here, you’ll see for yourself if you watch the series – but if you do, rest assured, it will enrage you).

It’s shocking, repulsive, heartrending, alarming. And so thoroughly mesmerizing, you can’t help but get sucked into the mire that is her life. I can honestly say, I’ve never wanted to reach into a screen and throttle the *******s on the other side so much as when I was watching this. My poor wife who suggested we watch this together needed to apply ice-packs to my brow on a regular basis to cool me down. (And a gag. I do admit, I cussed . . . a lot!)

Powerful stuff. And kudos to the team who dared to make it.

(For a more in depth review, see my January article for Amazing Stories)