15 Fave Freaky Fictions

And by "fictions," I mean "books" but, you know, #alliteration. Here are 15 of my fave scary reads (so far), in order of publication date bc the idea of trying to rank them makes me feel faint. They're linked to their Goodreads pages, where you'll find buy links so you can check out pricing at your purveyor of choice, if you're so inclined. Publishers' book blurbs are in purple italics; my thoughts follow.

Review: Suburban Hell by Maureen Kilmer

Dig that groovy cover, y'all!
(But please ignore my thumb.)

Suburban Hell by Maureen Kilmer 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars*
*3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

About the book:

A Chicago cul-de-sac is about to get a new neighbor...of the demonic kind.

Amy Foster considers herself lucky. After she left the city and moved to the suburbs, she found her place quickly with neighbors Liz, Jess, and Melissa, snarking together from the outskirts of the PTA crowd. One night during their monthly wine get-together, the crew concoct a plan for a clubhouse She Shed in Liz’s backyard—a space for just them, no spouses or kids allowed.

But the night after they christen the She Shed, things start to feel . . . off. They didn’t expect Liz’s little home-improvement project to release a demonic force that turns their quiet enclave into something out of a nightmare. And that’s before the homeowners’ association gets wind of it.

Even the calmest moms can’t justify the strange burn marks, self-moving dolls, and horrible smells surrounding their possessed friend, Liz. Together, Amy, Jess, and Melissa must fight the evil spirit to save Liz and the neighborhood . . . before the suburbs go completely to hell.

*    *    *

Spook Out! Day 11 ~ Fright Night (2011)

IMDb Says...

"When a nice new neighbor moves in next door, Charley discovers that he is an ancient vampire who preys on the community. Can he save his neighborhood from the creature with the help of the famous "vampire killer," Peter Vincent?"

I Say...
^Correct, and also, this is a remake of the 1985 film of the same name (which I love).

Horror Type...
Vampires, Comedic Horror

Main Players...

Anton Yelchin (RIP) as Charley Brewster (He's So Cool)

Colin Farrell as Jerry (Brutish Vampire)

David Tennant as Peter Vincent (Reluctant Slayer)

I liked...

• the things they opted to keep from the original movie (Jerry's chomping on apples, "You're so cool, Brewster!", the nightclub scene btw Amy & Jerry, are some)
• the things that were different from the original (the pacing and intensity were fast and high throughout the movie, some really great LOL moments, that Charley's mom was more involved)
• that it had me holding my breath more than once for all the dramatic tension
• the pathos of a pivotal moment btw Charley and former bff "Evil Ed"
• how at one point, Jerry circumvents traditional vampire rules to spectacular effect
• Chris Sarandon's cameo ~ he originated the role of Jerry Dandrige in '85 and here appears as Jay Dee (geddit, geddit???), a hapless motorist (who's still hot af, RAWR)
• the final confrontation, which is just as special as in the OG flick

The Meh...

• Jerry's weird little monologue when he pops over to "borrow" a six-pack of beer (I mean, arguably, it reveals Jerry's character and predatory nature, but the writing was just weird to me)
• this Jerry can be charming but often isn't--he's more of a brutish thug than seducer, as OG Jerry was (though he was still formidable, his elegance notwithstanding)
• this Amy (who seems a lot more savvy than the 1985 Amy) doesn't get to choose something important, the way OG Amy did, she's forced into it (bc, again, this Jerry's a thug)

Would I recommend it...?

I surely would! This is another re-watch for me and, in some ways, I almost find this a better film than the OG because it's a bit less camp, more action-packed, and allows the mom to figure more prominently and be heroic (which teen flicks don't often do). BUT I do prefer the OG Jerry to this one.

Miscellany...

Learning there'd be a remake made me feel uneasy and annoyed--I deemed it just another cash grab and prepared myself to hate it (though, for some reason, I don't take issue with song covers, the way I do with movie and TV remakes). Then I read some article about the folks who worked on the 2011 film, including Colin Farrell, who spoke of loving the OG Fright Night, having grown up with it themselves, and feeling honor-bound to do it justice. And I unclenched and thought maybe it'd be OK. And it was!

Ratings...

My Grade: A-

Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=72%, Audience Score=59%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched Fright Night (2011) on Amazon (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)

Check it out on IMDb

Learn more about it on Wikipedia (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes Day 11 of

Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...

IF YOU DARE

Spook Out! Day 11 ~ Little Monsters (2019)

Hulu Says...
"A film dedicated to all the kindergarten teachers who motivate children to learn, instill them with confidence and stop them from being devoured by zombies."

I Say...
Man-child is surprised by zombie uprising while on a field trip with a group of five-year-olds and the baddest, ukulele-playing Kindergarten teacher Down Under.

Horror Type...
Comedic Horror, Zombies

Main Players...
Lupita Nyong'o as Miss Caroline (BAMF Teacher)
Alexander England as Dave (Man-child)
Josh Gad as Teddy McGiggle (Lewd, Crude, and Socially Unacceptable Kids' Show Host)

I liked...

• Dave's character development--to me, it seemed natural and genuine, and I like the Dave who emerges in the third act
• Miss Caroline's integrity and determination to protect her charges from the zombie horde (which I'm pretty sure was not in her job-description) while doing everything she could to make the kids feel safe
• how Miss Caroline shed the sweetness-and-light persona (which is a true facet of her character) to wield a rake and a shovel, respectively, with deadly force when necessary
• that, somehow, in addition to being a zombie movie, this is a feel-good romantic comedy...a Zom-Rom-Com!

The Meh...

• about the first 20 minutes are a pretty straightforward exposition of Dave's hot-mess-life which, while interesting enough to watch, fails to give any hints as to how a zombie apocalypse is brewing
• one of the ways Miss Caroline teaches the kids is through music. It becomes apparent that the zombie horde, amazingly, is still capable of responding to her singing--but this realization doesn't go anywhere meaningful. I thought it such an interesting idea for this kind of film that I was disappointed they didn't develop it further
• I've got a feeling that "One-two-three, eyes on me!" will be my ear-worm for at least a week

Would I recommend it...?

Yes, it's a good time with a pretty satisfying resolution. It's light enough for folks who don't dig hardcore horror to enjoy (though there are some quick flashes of gory violence, as can be expected). Hardcore horror fans of a mind to be charmed may get a kick out of it as well.

Miscellany...

Can Lupita Nyong'o be my teacher? Please? I'll wash up before dinner without being told and eat ALL my veggies, I promise!!! (Seriously, she's fabulous in this.)

Ratings...

My Grade: B+
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=84%, Audience Score=100% 

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched Little Monsters on Hulu 

Little Monsters' IMDb Page

Little Monsters' Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes day 11 of

Spook Out! Day 8 ~ Grabbers (2012)

Hulu Says...
"In this comic sci-fi thriller, the inhabitants of a small island discover they must get drunk in order to survive an invasion of bloodsucking aliens."

I Say...
^That executive summary is spot on, and if none of that appeals to you on any level, then I just don't think we can be friends.

Horror Type...
Comedic Horror, Monster Movie, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Indie

Main Players...
Richard Coyle as Garda Ciarán O'Shea (Lush)
Ruth Bradley as Garda Lisa Nolan (Teetotaller)
Russell Tovey as Dr Smith (Wiseass Marine Ecologist)

I liked...

• the island-off-the-Irish-coast setting--it's gorgeous, folks, and I've already gushed about how much I heart the sea
• straightforward, well-paced, creature-feature plot
• the bristley, bouncy chemistry between O'Shea and Nolan
• the monster(s)--good mix of CGI and practical effects, IMO, and the full-grown mac daddy of the creatures is genuinely freaky
• the quirky locals & how they band together when the chips (and tentacles) are down

The Meh...

• it's standard movie length (1 hour, 34 minutes) but I think it could've simmered just a little longer to give the romance between the two leads some room to breathe
• I'm really ticked at myself for not having any popcorn around when I watched this, it's the sort of flick that demands it (and a bigger screen than my laptop). But that's not the movie's fault 

Would I recommend it...?
Heck yeah, I'd recommend this Irish romp! If you liked Shaun of the Dead and/or Slither, I think there's a good chance you'll dig Grabbers. But be sure you've got popcorn! (And I reckon some Guinness wouldn't go amiss. You know. Just in case.)

Miscellany...

• Richard Coyle's a fine-looking fella whom I luuuuurved in the hilarious Britcom Coupling. (Oh, Geoffrey...)
• Russell Tovey co-starred in the original (British) version of Being Human (both Being Human and Coupling are eminently binge-worthy)

Ratings...

My Grade: A
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=72%, Audience Score=51%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched Grabbers on Hulu (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other host sites)

Grabbers' IMDb Page

Grabbers' Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

And just 'cause I heart it so danged much, here's just a wee bit of a teaser...

This concludes day 8 of

Spook Out! Day 2 ~ Behind the Mask: the Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)

Amazon Says...
"The next great psycho horror slasher has given a documentary crew exclusive access to his life as he plans his reign of terror over the sleepy town of Glen Echo."

I Say...
Dopey twits don't think through implausible opportunity to film the exploits of a serial-killer-in-the-making. (To my great delight.)

Horror Type...
Comedic horror, black comedy, mockumentary.

Main Players...
Nathan Baesel as Leslie Vernon / Leslie Mancuso (He's the serial killer? Really?)
Angela Goethals as Taylor Gentry (Curiously Naive Journalist)
Kate Lang Johnson as Kelly (Leslie's Dream "Survivor Girl")

I liked...

• the earnestness with which the documentary film crew approaches this study of a wannabe murderer
• the boyish enthusiasm of said wannabe and how he eagerly explains Serial Killer Practicum 101 to the crew
• the deliciously dry gruesomeness of this Christopher-Guest-style mockumentary
• that Scott Wilson, the actor who played the wise and kindly Hershel Greene on The Walking Dead, here portrays a retired serial killer who serves as affable mentor to Leslie Vernon (Hah!)
• that everybody's favorite striped-shirt-wearing nightmare, Robert Englund, plays the wise and kindly psychiatrist who treated young Leslie and has a bad feeling about all this...
• how in the third act things smoothly shift from mockumentary to straight-up horror movie

The Meh...
I honestly can't think of one thing about Behind the Mask: the Rise of Leslie Vernon that chaffed my chaps, although I can't help being critical of a film crew who considers the moral implications of standing by while some guy slices and dices others only after he's already started doing it. Comedic-horror flicks are my catnip, so I really just heart this one. (SPOILER ALERT: More so, probs, than the expendable-guy-in-the-movie who literally got his heart handed to him after it was pulled from his chest.)

Would I recommend it...?

Heck yes, I would! I'm already looking forward to watching it again!

Miscellany...

Freaking Hershel Greene! A retired serial killer! (Double Hah!!)

Ratings...

My Grade: A
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=76%, Audience Score=75%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched Behind the Mask: the Rise of Leslie Vernon on Amazon (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other host sites)

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon's IMDb Page

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes Day 2 of...