Tag: Paranormal

Fan Expo Vancouver 2023 Convention Report

There was lots to enjoy at Fan Expo Vancouver 2023, and in this introduction, we go explore the paranormal themed events in greater detail.

20230218 103211When the local fandom communities want to be heard, they’ll certainly roar at Fan Expo Vancouver 2023 (FXV). That’s what Vice-President Andrew Moyes wants to hear, and he was at the show to make sure it goes off without a hitch. He’s been with the company for over 10 years to help deliver this experience all over North America, and their primary goal is to deliver community driven events. “These aren’t travelling circuses,” this organiser said, “We are delighted by the support we received from the fandom community in Vancouver. It shows our fans have faith in what we are delivering.”

Regarding this and Portland’s show happening the same weekend, he said it was done to synergize the two, so no fan will feel left out. Part of it also had to do with the dates the State-side convention centre had open. Moyes put forth the answer to his own question, “Do I think it’s going to happen all the time? Not necessarily. But when those opportunities present themselves, it helps us elevate the experience for all to enjoy.”

Continue reading “Fan Expo Vancouver 2023 Convention Report”

Netflix’s We Have A Ghost is All About When Spirit Communications Go Awry

To hear someone say We Have a Ghost is the reason why the cat and mouse chase is on in this Netflix movie. The question is who can contain it?

We Have a GhostNetflix has been pumping out a lot of paranormal themed programming lately. And to say, “I ain’t afraid of no ghost,” because We Have A Ghost (who happens to be more comical than scary) suggests this distributor wants a hit for everyone to enjoy. Although this pet project by writer/director Christopher Landon doesn’t have the same vibe as Ghostbusters, what’s presented follows that formula from Casper.

When the Presley family moves into an old home and a member discovers it’s haunted by a phantom, he isn’t running. Fulton (Niles Finch) and his older brother Kevin (Jahi Winston) are opposites, and as for whom this entity attaches itself to is with the youngest. He eventually names the spirit Earnest (David Harbour), since all the clues propose that was his identity prior to death. As for why he’s stuck in this plane of existence, the mystery slowly unfolds to suggest he was murdered. That backstory doesn’t reveal itself well until much later in this very long movie. 

Continue reading “Netflix’s We Have A Ghost is All About When Spirit Communications Go Awry”

Can Goonya Monster Succeed With What’s Good From Its Predecessor?

Part of Goonya Monster’s odd ppeal includes making the player avatars frequently fall. This party video game is loose continuation of the Goonya Fighter franchise.

Goonya MonsterOn Steam, PlayStation 5
and Nintendo Switch

Goonya Monster is a party video game which is a loose continuation of the Goonya Fighter franchise. This series first debuted back in 2019 by Japanese developer Mutan, and I rather enjoyed that earlier release more. The mechanics are similar. And in what got me curious about this sequel is the paranormal theme. The idea of having to shoot possessed individuals to destroy in order to collect their spirit orbs to purify at what, I assume is the “Well of Souls,” seems like a good enough premise.

The co-op part means working with friends or the AI to continue gathering these balls, and beyond that, there are very little side scenarios to try out during my time with this product. Sadly, I got bored after a while. Also, players need to be subscribed to an online service on their respective console in order to participate. I suggest having the audio turned off, as portions of the dialogue get grating because of its repetitiveness. Goonyan is perhaps the most annoying because, well, he’s a cat who often finishes each line by saying, “Nyamo!”

Continue reading “Can Goonya Monster Succeed With What’s Good From Its Predecessor?”

Studio Laika’s Coraline and Paranorman are Back in Glorious 4K Steelbook Editions! And Future Release News

These collectable Steelbook releases of Coraline and Paranorman are certainly worth the upgrade from a display standpoint.

Studio Laika's Coraline Steelbook Inside CoverAnyone wanting to ditch their Studio Laika Blu-ray collection will find the collectable Steelbook releases of Coraline and Paranorman worth the upgrade. This ultra high-definition release by Shout! Factory have a lot of fantastic artwork to admire. Not only do fans have a beautiful display piece which César Moreno and Kevin Tong crafted that honours the spirit of each film, but also love the expanded Dolby ATMOS soundscape.

In this remastered edition, Dolby Vision is used to enhance the detail. For example, Coraline’s hair is even more defined than I remember, and the colour palette is exquisite. When examining this work up close, all those textures are even more realistic. That’s moreso because of the sets than the characters. In Paranorman, the transparency effects used on the ghosts are more pronounced. Also, I wanted to see if I can notice where the digital effects overlaps with the stop-motion. It’s tough to spot!

In this package, the mini-essay that’s included reminds fans why the movies from this Portland, Oregon studio are special. The talents behind each work put their heart and soul to these animatronics, and to spend years animating a few minutes per day is better explained with the bonus material that’s on the included Blu-ray disc, which is basically the past release. I’m glad that two versions are offered since I can trade in my old discs for some other titles, and I’ll be upgrading my collection for sure!

Continue reading “Studio Laika’s Coraline and Paranorman are Back in Glorious 4K Steelbook Editions! And Future Release News”

It’s 7AM. Are You Ready to Play The Haunting Paper Ghost Stories 7PM?

Paper Ghost Stories 7PM is certainly worth playing on All Hallows’s Eve for the essential experience.

Paper Ghost Stories 7PMAvailable for Xbox and Steam (PC)
* 50% discount this Halloween

The clock is ticking in Paper Ghost Stories 7PM, a short playable visual novel by Cellar Vault Games. At the time of this posting, it’s 7AM, and will you have time to try this game before it runs out? This teaser to a larger product scheduled to release next year reveals a very promising product, and I’ll be keeping my sights on news for when Third Eye Open has a street date.

As its name implies, paper theatre it played sometimes on stage with a huge extravgent set, and a varient also includes shadow puppet, where paper cutouts with clear colour transparent bits are projected upon a large screen. When pared with a supernatural tale, the scarier moments have an unprecedented aesthetic which genuinely throws itself at you!

What makes these games unique are its approach to rendering its characters. They’re two dimensional images where you see the front and back, and they’re animated in a three dimensional space. The artistic style is very appropriate to the world it’s emulating, and if that isn’t terrific enough, the soft scares are perfect for today. This early release for Halloween weekend nicely plays with that concept. Here, you play three characters (Wen, Lun and Ming) who’ll have to figure out what the new tenants are up to! Most of the interaction is through making conversation, and choosing how you want to respond. Plus, there’s also a bit of running around.

Continue reading “It’s 7AM. Are You Ready to Play The Haunting Paper Ghost Stories 7PM?”

%d bloggers like this: