Friday, December 17, 2010

Inside *Spoiler Alert*

I don't watch a lot of foreign films in any genres. I don't have any excuses or possible explanations for it. However, after finishing up some online Christmas shopping, I took a gander at the horror DVD selection and came upon this little French film called Inside.

The movie received a lot of good reviews on Amazon to the point that people would erect a temple in its honor and worship it. Bought a used copy and gave it a try. Totally loved it!

The premise is rather simple and unoriginal. A pregnant woman still grieving her husbands death four months prior is home alone preparing to deliver her baby the next day (Christmas coincidentally). An unknown woman shows up requesting to use her phone. Her innocents washes away when she starts revealing details about the woman. The police are called and the stranger disappears but returns later that night. She kills anyone who tries to help the woman all in pursuit of the baby. Like I said, not original.

However, it was the way the movie was filmed that makes it so good. The unknown woman was dressed almost like Morticia Addams which I think adds to her sinister appeal. There's some gore and A LOT of blood. This momma took quite a lickin' and kept on tickin' til the very end. Sliced and stabbed by scissors, smacked by a toaster and a billy club, and gave herself a tracheostomy. The lights went out briefly just as someone was stabbed by the scissors. I think the universe was trying to tell me I wasn't ready for the ending.

The script, camera angles, mood, atmosphere. It all works. Would recommend it to anyone.

Friday, December 10, 2010

The Walking Dead Giveaway

In November, I promised a giveaway and I don't like to disappoint. This contest will run the duration of the month to give everyone a chance to enter. On to the details.

The Walking Dead wrapped up its first season last week. Better yet, it lived up to the hype that surrounded it. For those die hard fans, I have a copy of The Walking Dead Vol 1: Days Gone Bye to give away. This book is a compilation of the first six issues of the comic book. Go crazy on the compare and contrast.

The second prize up for grabs is a new twist on an old story. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies By: Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith takes the classic novel beloved by many and tosses plot and characters right in the middle of the land of zombies. This book received some major buzz, resulting in a possible movie (starring Natalie Portman), comic book series and it's own video game. But it all started with the book and here's your chance to own a copy.

How to Enter:

Winners will be randomly drawn using Random.org. First person chosen will get first pick of the prizes. This contest is for US Residents only. Deadline is December 31st. There are several ways to enter, each point equals an entry:

1+ - New Follower
2+ - Old Follower
3+ - Tweet about the contest. (Include @sthrnwriter in your tweet)
5+ - List the contest on your sidebar (Include link to your blog)
8+ - Blog about contest (Include link to your post)
10+ - Tell me who your favorite Walking Dead or Pride and Prejudice and Zombie character is and why.

Leave a comment (1 per person), itemizing your points with any mandatory links. Also include your name and email address. Good Luck!!!