Tag: Thriller

Shirley is not Jesting in this Biopic

Shirley Movie PosterBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Available on VOD
Spoiler Alert

Literary enthusiasts are encouraged to seek out Josephine Decker’s cinematic look into the mirror darkly of Shirley Jackson’s life. This mystery novelist is best known for her horror fiction, namely The Haunting of Hill House. In an amusing twist, this movie is an adaptation of Susan Scarf Merrell‘s novel which examines the life of this author. To have two degrees of separation in this examination of Jackson’s life is reality bending.

In the biopic simply titled Shirley, everything we learn is through the eyes of a fictional couple who stayed with her. Newlyweds Fred (Logan Lerman) and Rose (Odessa Young) witness the turnabout of a happy 50s Americana. They are the perfect foil when comparing them to Jackson and Hyman. By their invitation, they moved in with the author and professor only to witness a teardown of life. As young and glossimer eyed as they are, Fred and Rose want to stay together.

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Come Visit Dark Horse Comics’ Spy Island April 1st!

Dark Horse Comics Spy Island Comic Book CoverBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Dark Horse Comics
On sale April 1st, 2020

Spoiler Alert

When writer Chelsea Cain and illustrator Lia Miternique of Image Comics’ Man-Eaters fame reunites to bring more thrillers to life, all fans need to know it’s going to be good. Spy Island is heading to a second print run, and I’m seeing shades of classic James Bond in the preview. When this piece of land is located at one of the tips which define The Bermuda Triangle, anything can happen!

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The Invisible Man. Can You See Right Through Me?

The Invisible Man Movie PosterBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Even though Universal’s Dark Universe plans are no more, it won’t stop me from seeking out The Invisible Man. Leigh Whannell‘s take with the classic H.G. Wells story goes into new places. His modern day discourse even hints at a greater terror–about those methods where stalking comes easy in this digital age. This writer-director is in fine form, adding elements of a possible ghost. How he approached making this tale modern is far more innovative than the Insidious series.

However, we all know that this tale is more of a science fiction tale and the revelation of Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen who barely gets enough screen time for a reason) as a brilliant optics engineer says it all. He’s created an invisible cloaking technology and put it in the form of a suit. It’s the ultimate in espionage, as long as the wearer doesn’t make a stupid move to reveal him or herself.

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The Days of Future Past with Terminator: Dark Fate

Terminator: Dark Fate reveals a new threat, an AI with an ominous name of Legion.

Terminator: Dark Fate Movie PosterThe meaning behind Terminator: Dark Fate may well on how destiny can’t be changed. Sarah Connor tried to keep her young son John safe and in the future, the elder version reprogrammed a T-800 to prevent his death. When Skynet can mess with the past by sending a bunch of robot assassins to various moments in time, the inevitable has to happen and the question has to be asked, do they go Back to the Future?

A lot of questions are raised in light of the grander picture. Time travel stories are always going to be a head scratcher because of the effects of Schrödinger’s cat in the timeline. Robert Zemeckis’ film (and Legends of Tomorrow) explains that alternate time-lines can be shut down so long the heroes act fast enough before the effects become permanent. That way, only one continuity exists. James Cameron (who’s taking far too long to make sequels to Avatar) returned to his seminal creation to say everything we saw that he wasn’t involved in is all alternate universe material.

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Ezra Daniel’s Sci-Fi Upgrade Soul gets a Digital Facelift!

Ezra DanielEzra Claytan Daniels‘ digital comic Upgrade Soul is literally getting an upgrade. This version of the 3D comic will relaunch on October 25th with the more content. The original release was never complete. When considering how often the graphics engine has improved over time, perhaps the effects will truly leap at readers. The ‘free’ version offers chapter one for all to read, and for the remainder of October, the entire digital comic can be unlocked for $6.99 USD. On November 1, the price will increase by $1.

The haunting soundtrack from Alexis Gideon gives the reading experience a unique pleasure. The compositions truly add to the atmosphere because it’s in sync with the narrative. FPE Records vinyl release makes for a terrific side-journey for those nights when all folks want is a little ambience for the Halloween season. If you like the music from Goblin, then this album is for you! Two versions are available for purchase: a regular black and a limited edition run on translucent orange, with red markings and a signed print by Daniels. Of the latter, only 100 copies will be released worldwide.

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Twilight Zone’s past the Golden Years, It’s Silver!

Ezra Daniel
Preorder on Amazon USA hereEzra Daniel

2019 marks the 60th anniversary of The Twilight Zone’s debut on CBS. Shot entirely in iconic black and white, the trailblazing anthology series aired from 1959 to 1964 and changed the history of television with its clever twist endings and sharp social criticism. The Twilight Zone was the brainchild of Rod Serling, the show’s ambitious and sharply dressed tour guide, whom the entertainment business had once regarded as the “Angry Young Man” of Television.

This October, Humanoids, the publisher of some of the world’s most iconic and groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy graphic novels, will celebrate The Twilight Zone’s 60th Anniversary with the publication of internationally acclaimed cartoonist Koren Shadmi’s dazzling biography Twilight Man: Rod Serling & The Birth of Television.

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