Charles W Jones

American Fright Fest (2018) was one of those movies that I figured, I’d start watching and if it got dumb, I’d turn it off. I have to tell you it wasn’t one of those after all. It starts out with a bang and continues the momentum throughout. The gore level is exceptional and the effects are spot on with an eclectic array of kills. I wasn’t sure how the acting was gonna be based on the type of film, but after meeting the characters, I’m happy to report that it was just fine; daytime drama level, but that’s OK. Speaking of soaps, it has Robert Scott Wilson, who plays Ben on Days of Our Lives. And let’s not forget Pancho Moler; he’s always great to watch. American Fright Fest hit all the things I like about slasher films and had some unexpected stuff. I know some of you don’t like Tubi, but that’s where this film is (it might be somewhere else too but I didn’t check) and you really need to see it. I gave American Fright Fest 5 out of 5 Stars. American Fright Fest (2018) #Slasher #Delight ...

Breathless is a short story by Yvette M Calleiro and brings a wonder-filled tale that kept me guessing with each paragraph. The detail of the characters and scenes are amazing and mesmerizing. I recommend you give this quick read a chance, and I give it 5 out of 5 Stars. About Breathless What if the fairy tale kiss that always awakens the damsel in distress takes a sinister turn? What if prince charming’s kiss no longer produces a happily ever after? Silena’s infatuation with William hits a speed bump when he rejects her. After all, she is just a maid, and he is a young, rich aristocrat in the 1920s. Why would he have any desire to waste his time with the help? On one particularly lonely day, Silena calls upon her magic to transform into a sexy flapper for the night. Her dream to enjoy one night with William is finally in her grasp, but her magic comes with consequences that neither William nor Silena could ever imagine. About Yvette M Calleiro Yvette M. Calleiro is a heavily addicted...

Through The Nethergate drew me in quickly and I was immersed in a wonderful story immersed in history. The perfect narrative provides a world that I wasn’t expecting that is dark and frightening (just the way I like them). As I read, I had a hard time putting the book down because I wanted to know the next dreadful that was heading for Margaret, her grandfather, and the ghosts that she’s befriended along the way. The unexpectedness of Hugh Bigod’s desire turned into a super cool twist. The historical parts, while fictionalized, add a nice layer of realness to the story. You need to read Through The Nethergate by Roberta Eaton Cheadle because I give it 5 out of 5 Stars. About Through The Nethergate Margaret, a girl born with second sight, has the unique ability to bring ghosts trapped between Heaven and Hell back to life. When her parents die suddenly, she goes to live with her beloved grandfather, but the cellar of her grandfather’s ancient inn is haunted by an evil spirit of its ...

The Altar Boy is one of those stories that I had difficulty putting down as I wanted to know what would happen next. I related to Carl with his fears of the dark field and creepy people in his hometown and a few of his other experiences. Phil did a fantastic job taking me back in time to an era that I’ve heard so much about but not experienced because I wasn’t born yet. I loved the music references. They gave an extra dimension to the story, making me enjoy it more. And I swear, at one point, I smelled a hint of patchouli. The Altar Boy is one of the most chaotic tales of growing up that I have ever read, and I am happy to have spent time with Carl and his family. I gave The Altar Boy 5 out of 5 Stars. The Altar Boy: A Dark Tale of Comedy Sorrow and the Catholic Church in the 1960s by Phil Stephens #Book #Review #RRBC Click To Tweet About The Altar Boy: A Dark Tale of Comedy Sorrow and the Catholic Church in the 1960s Black-robed nuns, priests, bishops, the select fraternity of Altar B...

Who Invited Them (2022) is about Adam and Margo, who throw a housewarming party. Their friends are kind of bitchy because they seem jealous that the couple got such a nice house. They notice Tom and Sasha and try to figure out who they are. OMG, Tom and Sasha turn out to be Adam and Margo’s new Best Friends Forever. There were several “couples therapy” moments in this film (is that a theme for 2022?), but not as bad as some I’ve seen this year. The male-to-male conversations were pervy, like locker room or poker night stuff, while the female discussions were about empowerment. I knew the twist before it happened and didn’t get it wrong. The creepiness of this film kept me on the edge of my seat, making me wonder what would happen next. This isn’t one that you can blink through because you might miss something dark and twisty. I loved Who Invited Them and gave it 5 out of 5 Stars. Who Invited Them (2022) #unexpected #horror Click To Tweet

I was excited when I heard Rob Zombie was making a Munsters movie. Of course, I had questions. After seeing his other films, how could I not? I saw the posts on Instagram and was delighted that the campiness would be intact and confirmed by the first trailer. I read reviews that said there was no conflict, but I strongly disagree. There was tons of conflict. Lily falls in love with Herman at first sight and upsets The Count, The Count and Lester, Lester and Zoya, The Count and Zoya, and there’s more, but I guess it wasn’t strong enough for those folks, while it worked wonders for me. I listened to the soundtrack before I saw The Munsters and was drawn into the world even without knowing the visuals that went along with it. You should check that out, too; it’s on most music platforms (if not all). This film is a prequel to all that is The Munsters and filled in blanks for me that I always wondered about with the storyline. Now, that those questions are answered, I’m satisfied. (Really, ...

The Last Thing Mary Saw (2021) has been in my Shudder cue for a while because sometimes Shudder Originals are dreadful (more often than not, especially the newer ones). When I decided to rip off the bandage, I promised myself I wouldn’t finish it if it fell into that category. Much to my relief, it did not. It is the tale about Mary (obviously), who is having an affair with the maid, Eleanor. As a quick side note, Isabelle Fuhrman played Eleanor, known for her role in The Orphan. Mary and Eleanor are punished for their disgusting behavior by kneeling on rice. Well, they don’t stop their romance and devise a plan to break free of the matriarch.  I love historical horror fiction (probably why I wrote darkness is coming), and this hit the mark for me with creepiness and bizarre events. Judith Roberts is fantastic as The Matriarch. She has that look of the stereotypical witch. While she rules with the word of God, there is something sinister about her. I loved The Last Thing Mary Saw a...

In the Mouth of Madness (1995) is the final in John Carpenter’s Apocalypse Trilogy that started with The Thing (1982), followed by Prince of Darkness (1987). After seeing them all, I realized that they aren’t a traditional “franchise” like Halloween or Friday the 13th but an anthology; not sure why it took me so long to figure that out. The film is one acid trip after another, with strange hallucinations that make John Trent (Sam Neill) say over and over, This is reality . Arcane Publishing hires Trent to investigate the disappearance of missing horror author Sutter Cane. Linda Styles, Cane’s editor, goes with him in search of a fictional town, Hobb’s End, that they realize is real. As with most Carpenter films, including the previous two in the trilogy, I think In the Mouth of Madness held up nicely. The effects are good for the era, and the sense of darkness and suspense is intense. It also has a few jump scares, making this a nice ending to the series. I hope they don’t remake this ...

So, Mad God (2022), have you seen it? I did, and it was one of my most anticipated films of 2022. The description on IMDb says A corroded diving bell descends amidst a ruined city, and the Assassin emerges from it to explore a labyrinth of bizarre landscapes inhabited by freakish denizens. And that happened twice, maybe three times if you count the ending. The visual aesthetic of this film was terrific. The strangeness was off the charts. The point was….I’m still trying to figure that out. There was a lot of symbolism in it, but it wasn’t put together in a way that made sense. Was there a message that I missed? Maybe, but I couldn’t take my eyes from the screen as the next travesty came into focus. The beauty of this film isn’t hindered by dialogue, allowing the eyes to take in the beauty. Each creature was a delight to my eyes, and the landscapes were troubling. Even the live-action sequences were dark and nightmarish. At one point, I imagined sitting in a theatre with my husband to ...

I thought Candyman (2021) was a remake and not the fourth in the series; that’s why it took me so long to see it and Jordan Peele’s involvement. I’m scolding myself for waiting because this film is fantastic. It starts by returning us Cabrini-Green in 1977 and the police looking for Sherman Fields because he’s accused of putting razor blades in candy that he hands out to children. When a kid screams in the laundry room, the police come and beat Fields to death, then we jump to the present and the rebuilt Cabrini-Green that is gentrified.  I loved the tie-in with Candyman (1992) and Anthony McCoy learning all he could about the supposed myth. The art installment he creates called “Say My Name” is very cool with a three-panel bathroom mirror hiding an array of pictures. Each time someone said Candyman five times in front of a mirror, he came, which was stupendous. The blood flow gave me chills. The camera angles were beautiful too. In the past, I’ve complained about social aspects be...

I read Practical Demonkeeping when it was first published in 1992 and only remembered one scene from it, so when I came across it on Amazon I couldn’t resist getting a copy to rekindle the memories. I’m glad I did because this is a great read. I also learned that this is part of a mini-series of sorts about Pine Cove, the fictional town where it’s set. The dark elements in this novel are amazing and they are offset slightly by the comedic interludes. The layers of stories within the story are great and done perfectly, keeping me turning the digital pages and losing track of time. I gave Practical Demonkeeping 5 out of 5 Stars. Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore #Horror #Comedy Click To Tweet About Practical Demonkeeping In Christopher Moore’s ingenious debut novel, we meet one of the most memorably mismatched pairs in the annals of literature. The good-looking one is one-hundred-year-old ex-seminarian and “roads” scholar Travis O’Hearn. The green one is ...

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) is one of those films I put off seeing because reboots are hit or miss, and the previous installment left a horrible taste in my mouth; I never finished watching that one. I was impressed with this one though. The opening was intense and far more frightening than the original two in just those few minutes. While the originals and this one were considered Comedy/Fantasy, the comedy in Afterlife was darker; I’m a little surprised Horror wasn’t included.  I tend to be critical of CGI in any movie because it just looks fake a lot of the time for me, but what they did here didn’t make me cringe for the wrong reasons. Even the effects for Zuul and Vinz Clortho didn’t bug me too much; I prefer the originals of course.  The story fits nicely too with what Egon would do and reflects some actual thought went into creating this film. The reunion at the end was sweet and (don’t laugh) a little emotional for me.  I loved Ghostbusters: Afterlife and gave ...

The Edge of Fear is about a couple who lose their child to revenge kidnapping because the kidnapper thinks he’s owed because she’s his ex-wife. I was captivated by the intensity of the emotions that Brennan conveyed. Each page was filled with scenes that felt real. At one point in the story, it stalled, which made what I was reading more real as I can expect that a parent that has lost a child to kidnapping would feel that their life had stalled as they waited for their child to walk through the door. The Edge of Fear is well written and gripping and that is why I gave it 5 out of 5 Stars. About Mara Beth Maura Beth lives in a small town in the pinelands of New Jersey. A lover of words and books since childhood, she found ways to incorporate writing into a variety of jobs, from editing an organizational newsletter to writing for the federal government. Now pursuing writing for pleasure, she is the author of two full-length novels, as well as a number of short stories. When not writing,...

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) stayed in my Netflix cue for a while before I finally watched because I was afraid it wouldn’t be good based on my experience with some of the dreadful sequels. Well, I shouldn’t have been scared. Since the original film from 1974 was one of the first exploitation survival films to hit the mainstream, it set the bar for everything that followed. This edition to the franchise took the formula and exceeded my expectations. I didn’t think that was possible. This starts with Melody, Dante, Lila, and Ruth traveling to abandoned Harlow, TX, to auction off the properties to create a town where they can feel safe. Nice utopian fantasy. On the way, they meet a man at a gas station and have a confrontation. When they arrive in Harlow, they discover that the town isn’t empty; a woman and her son live in the orphanage. Circumstances quickly change for them as a busload of potential buyers arrive. I thought it was awesome that they brought back Sally Hardesty and ...

No Pedigree by Nonnie Jules No Pedigree tells the tale of Baylee (no spoilers because you must read this). The way Nonnie wrote this story made it feel real as I walked along with Baylee. This short story is a must-read as it conveys how racial bias plays too strong of a role in the world. I enjoyed No Pedigree and gave it 5 out of 5 Stars. Unwelcomed by John Podlaski Unwelcomed is a well-woven short that brings suspense I wasn’t expecting and that wasn’t the only emotion I felt by reading it. This story pulled me in with the first paragraph and kept me wondering what was going to happen next. If you’re looking for a quick thriller this is the story for you. I gave it 5 out of 5 Stars.  

I wasn’t going to say anything about seeing The Bitch Who Stole Christmas (2021), but after a moment’s thought, I decided that I needed to tell you about it. If you are a RuPaul Drag Race fan, this is one you don’t want to miss. On top of that, it spoofs those movies on a channel that shall not be named. It highlights some of my favorite Queens from Drag Race, like Ginger Minj, Jan, and Latrice Royale. Of course, RuPaul is in it, though it’s pretty apparent that she filmed with green screen and wasn’t on the set with the rest of the cast. And let’s not forget Michelle Visage, who narrates the film in the Night Before Christmas style. It revolves around Olivia St. LaPelle, who is sent to Tuckahoe to write an expose for a failing magazine in hopes of getting the next big promotion. If you’ve seen any of the films from that channel that I won’t mention, you know how those Christmas movies go, and this one does the same thing without all the sappiness. The comedy level is off the hook with...

Netflix keeps popping out movies that I’d never heard of until they show up on my recommendations shelf, and the most recent one was Nightbooks (2021). Reading the short description in the app only told me it was a new take on Hansel and Gretel. OK, so this should be interesting. I didn’t realize that it was intended for children. Not that children’s horror is bad, it was just unexpected. I love that someone thought to tap into a great audience. Yes, this movie is a remake of Hansel and Gretel, and when I started watching, I was instantly pulled in. The thing about this children’s horror film that took me off guard was how frightening it was without being over the top with gore. And of course, something I’m not accustomed to, there were no cuss words at all. The effects they used in this film were of splattering some sort of monster bug and the witch levitating the kids, and both were well done. The mystery behind what happened to the children is answered nicely with an opportunity for...

When Netflix pops me a message saying they have a new film I’m going to love, I always roll my eyes. So when There’s Someone Inside Your House (2021) came in the email, I gave my usual response, but I added it to my list. And, of course, I thought, I can turn it off if I’m not feeling it. The opening scene contains an unknown stalker who’s broken into a farmhouse to torment a football player who doesn’t want anyone to know about a secret. The details of this young jock’s demise were impressive, and I won’t spoil any of it if you haven’t seen it. As the movie progresses, the antagonist kills other teens from the town, and still, no one knows who did it. Makani, who also has a secret, thinks her secret boyfriend is responsible. Yes, there are a lot of secrets in this small Nebraska town, and there was some typical teenage drama. But what set this apart from the average teen horror was the twist involving the killer’s identity. There’s Someone Inside Your House was filled with good suspen...

Sometimes movies have incredible hooks that suck me in and chew me up, leaving me terrified; other times, they don’t. Let me tell you that A Quiet Place Part II (2021) had the hook. The thing that I never understood from the first installment was the how, and this one filled in those blanks. The opening shows the world how it was in the small town where our heroes are from and the catastrophic events that unleash the beasts on the world. The fright I felt from this part of the movie surprised me, and it set the tone for the rest of it. The monsters are some of the most horrific things I’ve seen in quite a while. I usually complain about CGI, but I won’t this time because these creatures are amazing. The survival theme is the same as the first, with Regan Abbott (Millicent Simmonds) taking the reigns to find a way to save the world. And if I say more, you won’t need to see this film. A Quiet Place Part II is better than the first, and I gave it 5 out of 5 Stars. A Quiet Place Part II (2...

Fear Street Part 3: 1666 is the conclusion of this amazing horror film series. I’m sad that it’s over, but they resolved the mysteries, so what else is there? I’ve never read any of R.L. Stein’s books, so I really don’t know. As with Part 2, they added scenes from the previous films, then jumped into 1666. I enjoyed that they used the actors from 1978 and 1994 to portray characters in this episode. The coolest part was Kiana Madeira, who is Deena, sees the story unfold through the eyes of Sarah Fier, and at times the real Sarah appears, played by Elizabeth Scopel. Finally learning the backstory of Sarah and what happened to her in 1666 was portrayed perfectly, in my opinion. It was complete with a witch trial that was just as horrible as they were. When Deena’s vision ends, we return to 1994, and this segment of the film is called 1994 Part 2. With every passing second, I’m at the edge of my seat, wondering how this group of kids is going to take down the evil that lurked in their town...