THE LAST FEW MILES: A CARTER MCCOY NOVEL by Eric Beetner / Z-View

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THE LAST FEW MILES: A CARTER MCCOY NOVEL by Eric Beetner

First sentence…

Carter McCoy closed the menu and handed it back to the waitress.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Carter McCoy doesn’t have long to live.  Six months give or take a few.  The doctor told him the name of the disease that’s killing him, but does the name really matter at this point?  There’s no cure.  McCoy is 72 years old.  Other than the disease he’s in great shape.  Some might say that’s ironic.

You might think that since McCoy’s wife and daughter are dead, he has nothing to live for.  You’d be wrong.  The man who caused his daughter’s death escaped justice and is still alive.  McCoy has wanted to kill the man for years.  Only thing stopping him was his wife.  Now she’s gone and Carter’s time is running out.

And there’s one thing he’s going to do before his time is up.

+++++

I’m a huge fan of Eric Beetner’s tales.  THE LAST FEW MILES: A CARTER MCCOY NOVEL is another winner.  An old man with just months to live wants to kill the man responsible for his daughter’s death.  The man isn’t a killer, he’s old and he’s dying. In any good writer’s hands that’s a great set-up for a crime novel.  In Beetner’s mits it’s just the kick-off for his yarn.

Soon a young woman in a tragic situation will against odds become Carter’s friend.  She’s in a terrible situation.  Perhaps Carter and a bullet could save her.  Carter’s dying so he has nothing to lose.  And if he’s successful she could have a chance at a good life.

The only thing that could stop him are the police that are getting close and the disease that’s even closer.

THE LAST FEW MILES: A CARTER MCCOY NOVEL is a fast read, with twists, suspense and ever increasing stakes.  I applaud the ending.  It wasn’t what I was expecting but works perfectly.

Rating:

“Lady Without a Passport” (1950) starring Hedy Lamarr and John Hodiak / Z-View

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Lady Without A Passport (1950)

Director: Joseph H. Lewis

Screenplay: Howard Dimsdale, story by Lawrence Taylor; adaptation written by Cyril Hume

Stars: Hedy Lamarr, John Hodiak, James Craig, George Macready, Steven Geray, Nedrick Young, Steven Hill, Robert Osterloh, Trevor Bardette, Charles Wagenheim, Don Garner and Richard Crane.

Tagline: M-G-M THRILLS!

The Plot…

Immigrants refused an entrance visa to the United States have found a smuggling operation through Cuba. A man named Palinov (Macready) who fronts as a cafe owner runs the illegal racket.  Pete Karczag (Hodiak) is an American agent sent undercover to Cuba to get the goods on Karczag.

Once there Pete meets Marianne Lorress (Lamarr).  Marianne is a refugee from a Nazi concentration camp.  She wants to go to the United States to start a new life, but lacks the money to make it happen.  Karczag has other ways she can pay.  Initially Pete plans to use Marianne to get to Palinov. That changes pretty quickly when Pete falls in love with Marianne.

That’s not all that changes.  Palinov discovers that Pete is an American agent.  Palinov knows he’s safer if Pete and Marianne are out of the picture… permanently.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Much of the film was shot on location in Cuba.  Unfortunately, those scenes often come off as outtakes of a travelogue.

Lady Without A Passport (1950) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Planet Terror” (2007) written & directed by Robert Rodriguez, starring Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Josh Brolin and Bruce Willis / Z-View

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Planet Terror (2007)

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez

Stars: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Jeff Fahey, Michael Biehn, Rebel Rodriguez, Naveen Andrews, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Fergie, Nicky Katt, Tom Savini, Carlos Gallardo, Quentin Tarantino, Michael Parks, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Zoë Bell, Robert Rodriguez and Bruce Willis.

Tagline: Humanity’s last hope… rests on a high power machine gun!

The Plot…

When an experimental military gas is accidentally released outside a small town, those exposed, after a short incubation period, turn into zombies.  The first sign of a problem occurs when the hospital gets an influx of victims.  Some show signs of being bitten, while others suffer from huge boil-like pustules.  Then all hell breaks loose as the infected become mindless zombies.

Meanwhile at other locations, zombies are attacking.  As people become aware, they seek shelter and plan for survival.  A stripper (McGowan), her ex-boyfriend Wray (Rodriguez), J.T. Hauge (Fahey) and his brother Sheriff Hague (Biehn) and others find themselves working together to survive.

Then they discover that the zombies aren’t their only problem.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino teamed to create a “double feature” known as Grindhouse.  Rodriguez directed Planet Terror.  Tarantino’s effort was Death Proof.  The idea was to make their films appear to have been made in the 1970s for drive-in theaters.  The films have scratches, 1970s style previews, drive-in “let’s go to the lobby” type ads and more.

Michael Parks played Sheriff Earl McGraw in four movies: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996); Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003); Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004) and Planet Terror (2007).

Planet Terror (2007) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“What We Do In The Shadows” – The Trailer for the Final Season is Here!

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The trailer for the final season of What We Do In The Shadows is here.

I was surprised by the movie (which I enjoyed) and even more so by the tv series.  I haven’t missed an episode and it’s been a fun ride.

Deal me in.

What We Do in the Shadows, based on the feature film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, documents the nightly exploits of vampire roommates Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) as they navigate the modern world of Staten Island with the help of their human familiar, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), and their vampire bureaucrat acquaintance, The Guide (Kristen Schaal).

Your current dark purpose: Watch the OFFICIAL TRAILER for the sixth and final season of FX’s What We Do In The Shadows premieres 10.21 on FX. Stream on Hulu.

“Elevation” starring Anthony Mackie – The Full Trailer is Here!

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Here we have the full trailer to Elevation starring Anthony Mackie.

Deal me in.

Set in the post-apocalyptic Rocky Mountains, a single father and two women venture from the safety of their homes to face monstrous creatures to save the life of a young boy.

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, Maddie Hasson
Directed by: George Nolfi
Release Date: Exclusively in Theaters, November 8th

YOU ARE HERE by Kyle Baker

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YOU ARE HERE by Kyle Baker

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Noel Coleman has it all. He’s a successful artist. Helen, his beautiful fiancée, loves him. He owns an attractive house in the country.   For the past year that Noel and Helen lived together, life has been perfect.

Noel plans to ask Helen to marry him.  It’s just… he has secrets.  Noel wants to come clean.  But how do you tell your future (hopefully) wife that you were a criminal when you met her?  Noel decides he’ll figure out how to tell her when the time comes.

So Noel informs Helen that he’s going into the city to clean the last things out of his apartment. When he gets back, he’ll pop the question.

Noel heads in to the city and runs into his old crime partner.  They decide to have a drink.  The more they talk the more Noel realizes he misses the life.  His partner talks about a job he’s set up. He offers Noel a piece of the action if he wants to come.  Noel is tempted.  He decides once he comes clean to Helen, her reaction will decide the life he’ll live.

Then Noel learns that an infamous serial killer just got released from prison.  The killer has made it known he’s going to kill the bum that slept with his wife.  Noel is that bum!  Noel realizes he needs to get out of the city and quick.  Thank God Helen didn’t come with him.

Noel sees Helen at about the same time as he catches sight of the killer.  Unfortunately the killer has seen them.

Noel will have a lot of explaining to do if they survive.  And odds are they won’t.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The art feels very Disneyish and yet the story is noir.  The combination works.  Baker sets us up to expect one thing and gives us another.  The bathtub scene (in the preview below) is just one example.  I love the cartoony style used in this tale.  I also thought telling the story without word balloons was creative.  Having the serial killer resemble Robert Mitchum was icing on the cake.

This isn’t a story for kids.  There is sex and violence.  Happy endings are for Disney and this is noir.

YOU ARE HERE gets my highest recommendation!

YOU ARE HERE by Kyle Baker rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rating:

“Let Us Prey” (2014) / Z-View

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Let Us Prey (2014)

Director: Brian O’Malley

Screenplay: Fiona Watson, David Cairns

Stars: Liam Cunningham, Pollyanna McIntosh, Bryan Larkin, Douglas Russell, Niall Greig Fulton and Brian Vernel.

Tagline: Darkness shall rise.

The Plot…

In a remote small town police station it’s going to be a strange night.  Police officer Rachel Heggie (McIntosh) has booked Caesar Sargison.  He’s the driver of a hit and run.  Sargison is placed in a cell with Ralph Beswick.  Reggie is charged with domestic battery for beating his wife.  Police officers Jennifer Munday and Jack Warnock (Larkin) arrive with the man Caesar drove into.  Except for a few scratches the man seems okay.

Dr. Duncan Hume (Fulton) is brought in to check the mystery man for injuries.  Suddenly Dr. Hume attempts to stab the man.  Hume is stopped and placed in a cell.  The man has no identification and when his fingerprints come back, they belong to a person that died decades ago.  The man is carrying a small notebook full of people’s names.  When he talks he makes references to the Old Testament.

As the evening progresses, secrets are revealed, murders are committed and murders are solved.  It’s going to be a hell of a night.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Let Us Prey has an interesting set-up.  It just didn’t resonate with me.

Let Us Prey (2014) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“American Horror Stories” 5 Episode HULUween Event – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Check out the trailer for American Horror Stories Huluween Event!

Deal me in.

American Horror Stories is a spin-off of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s award-winning hit anthology series American Horror Story. American Horror Stories is an anthology series that will feature a different horror story each episode.

CAST: Michael Imperioli, Henry Winkler, Dyllón Burnside, Debby Ryan, Jeff Hiller, Jessica Barden, Angel Bismark Curiel, Guy Burnet, Victor Garber

“Halloween II” starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence / Z-View

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Halloween II (1981)

Director: Rick Rosenthal

Screenplay: John Carpenter, Debra Hill

Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Charles Cyphers, Jeffrey Kramer, Lance Guest, Pamela Susan Shoop, Hunter von Leer, Dick Warlock, Leo Rossi, Gloria Gifford, Tawny Moyer, Ana Alicia, Ford Rainey, Cliff Emmich, Nancy Stephens, John Zenda, Catherine Bergstrom and Alan Haufrect.

Tagline: The Nightmare Isn’t Over

The Plot…

At the end of Halloween, Michael Myers escaped after being shot by Dr. Loomis (Pleasence).  Halloween II picks up immediately after this.  Loomis and the police begin searching for Myers.  Laurie Strode (Curtis) is taken to the hospital to treat her injuries.  Michael Myers is also headed to the hospital.  He kills anyone who crosses his path.  Soon he and Laurie Strode’s path’s will cross.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Halloween II is more of a slasher movie than Halloween.

John Carpenter chose not to direct Halloween II.  He was against a sequel, but became involved in order to be paid since the movie was going ahead with or without him.

Although Jamie Lee Curtis receives top billing she has less screen time than Donald Pleasence.  Also since this is more of a slasher film, several other young people get screen time before their deaths.

Halloween II (1981) rates 2 of 5 stars.