Romantic, Whimsical Horror!

For this week's Horror selection, I read "What the Moon Brings" by H.P. Lovecraft, and some of his other work. I loved how lyrical and surreal the prose was in the Moon piece especially. I usually don't like horror, but his writing felt a lot like poetry, almost like Edgar Alan Poe's work. It was creepy, but it wasn't gory or bloody which is what usually trips me up.
"And as I ran along the shore, crushing sleeping flowers with heedless feet and maddened ever by the fear of unknown things and the lure of the dead faces, I saw that the garden had no end under that moon; for where by day the walls were, there stretched now only new vistas of trees and paths, flowers and shrubs, stone idols and pagodas, and bendings of the yellow-litten stream past grassy banks and under grotesque bridges of marble." The picture he paints sounds like a dream, or a creepy vaguely romantic nightmare. The ending was less so, which where the "horror" element came in I suppose. I looked at a couple of his other works, but this one was definitely my favorite. I did like the line in " The Unnamable," referring to the trees as "patriarchal." Not entirely sure what that means, but its a funny concept.
I also watched "Delicatessen" by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. I'm a massive fan of his other work, I'd probably site him in my top 3 directors (along with Guillermo del Toro and Wes Anderson.) Whimsical horror, (which is how I'd describe this creepy cannibalistic hotel flick) is something I can get kinda behind. Post-Apocalyptic France sounds like one of the most fun settings for a film, if I had to survive the apocalypse anywhere I'd probably pick someplace similar. I'd cross my fingers for less flesh-eating, though. I grew really attached to the main characters, despite the comically dark setting, they were both very sweet and likable. They also weren't "traditional Hollywood couple" which was refreshing, they both had so much more character, appeal, and likeability. It was also kind of "Horror Romance," which is what pulled me in more.



Five Stars!

Local Host

(Re-Post from my old blog)

Local Host by Aether Interactive is a charming yet eerie pixel art style point and click game, where the player is tasked with wiping 4 artificial intelligence drives of varying levels of like-ability. 

Gosh Darn, this game has me shook. The art and design of the full package, pixel art, music, gameplay, even how the product was packaged with a physical retro-style cd felt so specific and detail oriented. 

The User meets a green, pink, yellow, and red host, all who operate in a single broken down and deteriorating body. Each has an opinion on being wiped. The game-play itself is surreal, we actually feel things for this game, this product and characters made to test our own ability to follow instructions. Do we sympathize with the host in love? With the broken host, irreparable and in pain? With the host that dreams on a bigger scale, and aspires for more? Our boss’s instructions are clear, wipe the drive and leave no trace. Our own human emotions are actually something we must face, which is surreal to experience.

Book Review - Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Juliet takes a breath was the first book I've read in a while that I really couldn't put down. I don't know if I've ever read a book that puts so much emphasis on intersectionalism, especially with the main character. She was quite literally close to home, I grew up in Westchester NY so that was a really cool connection to her. I wish I could send this book back to myself when I was first figuring all this out, in terms of the story and narrative, in addition to the writing. I've never read a YA novel that actually discussed polyamory, let alone had a protagonist that was gay, non-white, and chubby. The story and the characters were also wicked funny, the sense of humor game through, in addition to great discussion on what romance means in more modern LGBTQ circles. I believe it takes place in the early 2000's, so her introduction to all of these terms was one that I could have related to, at that age. The romance was sweet, especially one exploring interracial relationships. It reminds me of this other book I'm currently reading, "Lies we tell Ourselves," which is about a highschool romance between two girls during the civil rights movement. There are a lot of overlapping themes, I actually couldn't have planned for a better pair to read in parallel. All of the themes of forbidden love, layers/contrast of culture, inclusivity/exclusivity, and more gay romance. 

Its been a long time since I read a book that was equally educational and engaging, and its one I would definitely recommend, honestly to anyone who will listen.

Call Me by Your Name - Review

Call Me by Your Name - Directed by  Luca Guadagnino

Interesting film, very poetic and a sort of “classically queer” film. Coming of age story, set in the 80′s about a teen in the Italian countryside who becomes involved with an older male student, staying with his parents over the summer.

I think the story differed greatly from the traditional story structure, perhaps because it was based on a novel, and had a very “slice of life.” kind of feeling. I still found a lot of novelty in the characters, their emotions and experiences especially involving young love, and queer attraction. 

Opening Image: Elio hanging out with his friend  Marzia. Shirtless, summer, he looks and feels very naive and young. 

Theme Stated: I don’t know if this was stated early on, but the theme seemed to be “Call Me by Your Name.” They each believed the other was the better of the two, thus calling each other by their own names.

Set up:

Catalyst: Oliver, a friend of Elio’s fathers and traveling student visits the home to stay for the summer.

Debate:

Break into two:

B story:

Fun and Games:

Midpoint:

Bad Guys Close in:

All is lost:

Dark Night of the soul:

break into three:

Finale: Elio gets a call from Oliver, who announces that he is engaged. They still call each other by their own names, it still feels special and significant, even though it hurts.

Final image: Elio staring into the fire, finally accepting and embracing his heartbreak over Oliver. bundled up in layers, change of season, cold. 

http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2017/11/30/blueprints-call-me-by-your-name.html

https://blog.blcklst.com/anatomy-of-an-opening-scene-call-me-by-your-name-a9c5474f0a92

The Shape Of Water - Review

THE SHAPE OF WATER

Honestly, a work of art. The visuals, the special effects, the actors and the cinematography, this film is the full package. Unexpectedly sweet, unexpectedly romantic, and full of eggs, my dream film has truly come to life. 

“The fact that we all have this nostalgia now for this period is interesting because in a way, it never really existed. People were talking about the future and how great it was going to be, but it was difficult for anyone who wasn’t white and male. So it’s the right time period to frame a story about ‘otherness’ and the persecution of ‘otherness.’” 

That’s partly why Eliza and the Creature are mute, why Elisa’s neighbor and friend Giles (Richard Jenkins) is gay, and why her co-worker/confidant Zelda (Octavia Spencer) is black. The story gives a voice to those who typically didn’t have one. 

Opening Image: Underwater, the apartment submerged. Elisa’s happy, ideal dream.

Theme Stated: I couldn't find the theme explicitly stated in the script, but the theme did seem to be ‘giving a voice to those who were voiceless.” i.e, black, queer, women, mute, aquamen ect.

Set up: Elisa, the protagonist, is sweet, romantic, and mute. She is caring, a good person, but lonely. She loves eggs, and dreams of water. She feels classic, elegant, but youthful still.

Catalyst: Her job receives a mysterious new asset, with a new team at the facility. 

Debate: Everything is changing. The new head of security is an asshole, and the asset/room Elisa and her friend Zelda are tasked with cleaning is dangerous, bloody, ect. 

Break into two: The new asset room, is the strange new world. Set apart from the world she knows, dangerous, and full of adventure.

B story: Eliza and the creature begin an egg and music filled romance.

Fun and Games: Teaching him about records, making him eggs, teaching him signs, Dancing, the two grow closer. 

Midpoint: Danger! The Russian spy wants to kill the asset, to stop the American scientific progress! and the Americans want the Asset’s body for space travel research! Either way, bad news for Elisa and her Fish Boyfriend. She’s gotta save him!

Bad Guys Close in:

All is lost:

Dark Night of the soul:

break into three:

Finale:

Final image: Elisa and the Asset underwater, embraced. Her scars become gills! Love wins! Her dream came true!

http://scriptslug.com/assets/uploads/scripts/the-shape-of-water-2017.pdf

https://screenwritingumagazine.com/2017/11/27/shape-water-writer-writing-adult-fairytale/

A Monster Calls - Review

A monster calls is a dark/fantasy/serious coming of age story about a young boy coping with his mother’s terminal illness, though a huge tree monster. Directed by J. A. Bayona and written by Patrick Ness, based on his novel of the same name. Screenplay by  Patrick Ness.

l really enjoyed monster calls. what a powerful movie. The animated sequences especially stood out to me, I wasn’t surprised to find that the Visual Development artist was Alexis Liddell, a French artist largely responsible for the look of the animated sequences in the final harry potter film. his blog is:

http://alexisliddell.blogspot.com/

In terms of the story, it had loads of heart. The cast was totally all-star. the lead boy, Conor, was so compelling. It felt like it understood emotion, and loss, and all of the feelings that no child should ever have to go through. The metaphor for losing his mother was… it was intense. “ I let her go” was unexpected. The lessons he learns, “humans are complicated beasts.” is a valuable lesson for all ages. In terms of filmmaking, I loved the moments you could feel. Shots that felt textured and tangible. Moments that felt nostalgic, like his mother finding the projector and the animation machine, and with Conor exploring and touching all the treasures in the house.

Opening image: Connor waking up from a horrible nightmare, showing him losing his mother. 

Theme Stated: “the truth will be what he hides and is most afraid of that he dreams of. “

Set up: He’s a very troubled boy. He doesn’t want to open up to teachers who reach out, and he has trouble at school socially, from bullies. In addition to his mother’s suspected fatal illness. typical day.

Catalyst: Introduction of the tree monster, who introduces the story’s premise. he will be told stories, and then he will finally tell the fourth one in return.

Debate: Conor doubts the tree monster, doubts the stories, chalks it all up to a stupid dream.

Break into two: “go on then” Conor agrees to listen to the story, and we are transported into the magical and whimsical animated story world.

B story: would the b story be the stories the tree monster tells? or Connor’s relationship with his dad, or grandmother?

Fun and Games: Living at his grandmother’s house, drawing more. Seeing his dad again, having fun then.

Midpoint: The second story. Conor destroys his grandmother’s house.

Bad Guys Close in:  his dad leaving, his mother still sick,  the bullying gets worse. connor snaps, and now is in trouble with the principal. 

all is lost: The medicine isn’t working, again. Conor can see how sick his mother looks. (his nightmare comes true, he admits that sometimes he wishes it was all over. he lets go, because it hurts.)

Dark night of the soul: Conor arguing with the giant.

break into three: his mother validates his feelings. she tells him everything will be ok, she knows everything he needs to tell her already. break things, and I’ll be right there with you.

finale: his mother’s final moments. he tells her, “I don’t want you to go.” she passes at 12:07. “it ends with him finally holding on to his mother, (even though it hurts.) and by doing so, he can finally let her go.”

final image: Connor finds the drawings his mother made as a child, of the stories he heard from the giant. he makes the connection. She’s right there with him, through the drawings. 

I also found this: https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/how-to-read-a-screenplay-parts-1-7-3c5b51ecee15

highly useful.

Glyceride and The Enigma of Amigara

The two comics that were recommended to me were were Glyceride,
by Jinji Ito, and The Enigma of amigara Fault, by the same. I’m a bit
of a wimp when it comes to horror, (Ironic I know, considering the
class’s title.) So these two specifically were supposed to be for the
faint of heart. The first one I read, about the creepy human-shaped-holes
in the mountain, was absolutely erie. Even though there were no blood and/or
guts, it was terrifying on a psychological. The manic obsession these
people had surrounding the holes, and the mystery of never knowing
exactly what happens, was a terrifying combo. The second story I read,
about the grease house, was a different kind of creepy. I cringed multiple
times, from the descriptions of the disgusting grime, heat and sweat. All
of the depictions of the acne were downright horrifying. In terms of story
I didn’t totally understand it, I wasn’t sure if it was going for shock value
or just thrill but there wasn’t a lot of explanation in the narrative.

writing prompt jan.23.2018

Prompt: Everyone in the world woke up having the same dream. Except for you,
you didn’t dream at all.

It started off as an unusual, queasy feeling. I"m sure you know the type, like
the entire class was in on some hilarious, practical joke, and I was the punchline.
I noticed the starry, dazed look in my peer's eyes, the certain grogginess that
had by some strange miracle escaped me. The first clue i noticed was the
twins. Well, they weren't biologically twins, it was that pair of joined-at-the-hip
popular girls that looked perfectly identical. Every highschool has a set of
twins. During second period, their hushed and secrative giggles turned more
and more serious. "Thats such a coincidence!" "What are the odds?"

Recs:

when night is falling - film rec
the hunger
arostotle and dante
a and e forever

Matilda - Review

Screenplay by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord

Adapted from the novel by Roald Dahl

I love the book, I love the musical, I love the movie. Roald Dahl is a genius, and studying his work as the first screenplay I’ve read feels pretty right. In terms of the movie’s actual plot and structure, It didn’t feel super clean and close to the cat’s story beats. It holds a lot of good feelings, good themes, and 90′s nostalgia, which is why I still consider it one of my favorites. I didn’t expect Danny Devito to play such a primary role in this version.

opening image: Matilda as a baby, meeting uncaring and unloving parents.

Theme Stated: Her father tells her “when a person is bad, that person has to be taught a lesson.”

Set-up: Mistreated but sweet and clever youngest child must be independent and self-sufficient when her horrible parents mistreat her.

Catalyst: Matilda uses her mind to destroy her family’s TV set, after being provoked and abused by her father. powers???

Debate: Shes sent to school, and meets the terrifying ms. trunchbowl. and the wonderful ms. honey!

Break into Two: 

B-story: The mystery behind Ms. Honey’s Father’s death, and the unfair treatment she receives from her aunt, Mrs. Trunchbowl.

Fun and Games: The school cheering after cake, matilda mastering her powers, 

Midpoint: Ms. Truchchbowl visits the classroom, and terrorizes the students. Newt scene. Ms. Honey and Matilda get closer. 

Bad Guys Close in: Ms. Trunchbowl comes back early while they are still in the house, and they run and hide to try and escape her. 

All is Lost: Ms. Trunchbowl almost catches them, they lose Lissie doll and all of ms. honey’s treasures.  

Dark night of the soul:  Ms. honey tells her to give up and never go back into the house. defeat.

Break into Three: Matilda uses the information she learned from Ms. Honey about her father and her Aunt, and takes the initiative towards Mrs. Trunchbowl. She works towards mastering her powers, scaring Ms. Trunchbowl in the house.

Finale: All of the children rise up against Mrs. Trunchbowl, throwing their lunches at her. Her hold on them, and ms. honey is broken. Matilda also stands up to her parents, when they try to escape to Guam.

Final Image: Ms. Honey reading with Matilda before bed. shes finally found a mother. 

Only Lovers Left Alive // Interview With a Vampire

I found this movie absolutely refreshing, compared to a lot of the popular vampire media I'm used to seeing. Only Lovers Left Alive was highly romantic, poetic, and sweet, everything I could ask for from a modern vampire flick. The cast was killer, as was the cinematography and soundtrack. Seeing what bits and pieces Adam and eve both took from the past, records, old television, vintage fashion etc. was interesting. How well they were able to successfully blend into modern settings seemed to be an enormous theme, one that they eventually were weak to. "Can these wise but fragile outsiders continue to survive as the modern world collapses around them?" is the phrase used in the screenplay. I liked how much science and thought was put into the narrative, i.e. finding blood that was pure and disease free.
The literature selection I read was "The Vampire Lestat," by Anne Rice, which is interesting because it the time it was published, (1985) it was probably also considered vampires in a modern lense. That seems to be the 'hook' that vampire media is going with today, how vampires interact with a modern, millennial setting. As mentioned, Claudia's character was one of the more interesting vampire concepts I've heard of. A girl, frozen in time but still faced with adult feelings, emotions, and urges is something I would probably be pretty protective of, if it came from anyone other then Anne Rice. I'm also a little cautious of the choice to make Lestat and Louis romanticly involved, as the trope of monsters being gay/queer runs the risk of demonization.

Frankenstein!

Victor Frankenstein felt very classical and dramatic to me. His language was very flourishy and vivid. I'm surprised that female characters played more subdued and minor roles in the story since the author was female herself. It was very classical and very wordy, a bit hard for me to wrap my head around at times. Choosing to start and end the novel with letters gave it an element of classic realism, like we were experiencing the events similar to the characters.
In terms of 'Gothicness,' it had a very classical feeling. Old ships, brains and corpses, passionate and emotional doctors and scientists, and flighty females. There's death, decay and madness, quintessential horror if you ask me.