20s Movie Review - The Substance

Director: Coralie Fargeat
Genre: Horror/ Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 141 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qually, Dennis Quaid

Description: A fading celebrity (Demi Moore) takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself (Margaret Qually).

Review: Elizabeth Sparkle has spent years making viewers at home happy with her sexy looks on her fitness television show. She is living the life she has always wanted, full of fame, money, a stunner penthouse and her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But the studios decide it’s time for a new star. A breath of fresh air. However, Elizabeth knows it’s because of her age.

When Elizabeth receives a mysterious note, she learns about “The Substance”: a procedure, which you can do from home, that promises to transform you into a younger, more beautiful and perfect version of yourself. Elizabeth decides to take a chance. And a better version of Elizabeth is born, in the form of Sue. I’m not going further into the plot, because it’s best to just experience it.

The perfect world that is portrayed is reminiscent of Barbie. But the underlying theme is quickly apparent: society forces women to adapt unrealistic standards of femininity and appearance.

Virtually all scenes with Sue are overly sexual in depiction. Of course this is intentional. Especially to eventually show the contrast between Sue and Elisabeth. And in contrast with the body horror scenes. Because, be aware, this movie is not for the faint of heart.

Demi Moore and Margaret Qually portray the mounting tension between the two women phenomenally (please give Moore the Academy Award). Together, they paint a compelling picture of the internal struggle an aging woman can have with herself.

Director Coralie Fargeat does not shy away from the gore. Some scenes reminded me of David Cronenberg films. The practical effects and body horror are perfectly executed and not for tender souls. But the ending took it a bit too far for my liking.

This film is a bizarre ride, the chilling world of show business is painfully exposed and it shows how quickly you can become irrelevant in this world. The film is very strange, but utterly fascinating with a mix of dark humor and horror. Be warned, this is not for everyone.

Rating: 4/ 5

00s Movie Review - Letters from Iwo Jima

Director: Clint Eastwood
Genre: Drama/ Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 141 minutes
Year: 2006
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Ryô Kase, Shidô Nakamura, Hiroshi Watanabe, Takumi Bando, Yuki Matsuzaki

Description: The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United Stated and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 4: A FILM FROM 2006
 
Review: Several decades ago, hundreds of letters were unearthed from the hard groun of Iwo Jima. These letters were from Japanese soldiers and officers who perished on the island in February and March of 1945. They gave the men a voice posthumously. Knowing that their chances of survival were very slim, they were sent to Iwo Jima long ago. Dying honorably was the best they could do. A very different attitude from that with which their American enemies went into battle.

General Tadamichi Kuribayashi was sent to the island to lead the troops there and defent the island, the last line of defense between the Americans and the Japanese mainland for as long as possible. With his cunning strategies, unprecedented in Japan, he and his army managed to hold our forty days against the American troops, who had expected an easy and quick win. In the end, this cost many lives on both sides: seven thousand Americans and as many as twenty thousand Japanese died before the battle was over.

Clint Eastwood wanted his film to pay tribute to the fallen from both sides. “Flags of Our Fathers” came out first, telling the story from the American’s point of view. And a few months later “Letters from Iwo Jima” was released. This last film hits harder and is the better of the two.

While one of the main characters, a soldier who would prefer to just be at home with his family and has no desire at all to sacrifice himself for his country, is a character we have seen before in war films, the other main characters offer something more original. The Japanese battle mentality is especially fascinating at times.

If you have seen “Flags of Our Fathers” and liked it, it might be interesting to see the other side of the same story. Because, even though “Letters of Iwo Jima” is following the same events, this one is way more interesting and captivating.

Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - Cutting Teeth by Chandler Baker

Title Cutting Teeth
Author: Chandler Baker
Genre: Horror
Published: 2023
 
Description: Darby. Mary Beth and Rhea are on personal quests to reclaim aspects of their identities subsumed by motherhood – their careers, their sex lives, their bodies. Their children, though, disrupt their plans when an unsettling medical condition begins to go around the Little Academy preschool: the kids are craving blood.
 
The a young teacher is found dead, and the only potential witnesses are ten adorable four-year-olds. Soon it becomes clear that the children are not just witnesses, but also suspects… and so are their mothers.
 
Review: We follow three mothers, Rhea, Mary Beth and Darby, who all have young children in Little Academy preschool. Trying to balance their life as mothers with their career, social life and relationship with their partners, life is hard enough. When the children at Little Academy start biting people, it feels like they are going through a phase. But eventually they develop an apatite for blood. With that, one of their teachers is found dead on school property. And the only witnesses are the four-year-old kids. But they’re not just witnesses, they might also be suspects. And so are their mothers.
 
The story deals with motherhood and the things that people never tell you before becoming one. It also takes a looks at society with a critical eye. “Cutting Teeth” is first and foremost a very original book, dealing with an actual medical condition that I personally never heard of. Mixing these issues these parents are all dealing with, with a murder mystery, makes for a very entertaining and enjoyable read. And the story was not at all predictable. It took some unexpected turns.
 
The character development was very strong and enjoyed the mystery. Sometimes the story focused on the personal lives and relationships of the three main female characters a bit too much. I wasn’t that interested in that. I preferred reading about the kids and the murder mystery and how these women dealt with that.
 
I am very interested in Chandler Baker’s other work within this horror/ thriller genre, because this was a definite winner.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Too Big To Fail

Director: Curtis Hanson
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: William Hurt, Billy Crudup, James Woods, Bill Pullman, Tony Shalhoub, Topher Grace, Cynthia Nixon, John Heard, Edward Asner, Kathy Baker, Paul Giamatti

Description: Chronicles of the financial meltdown of 2008 and centers on Treasure Secretary Henry Paulson (William Hurt).

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 3: A FILM WITH WILLIAM HURT
 
Review: A fantastic cast who are all perfect for their roles. But the subject matter is the big draw. I’m not very good with financial topics, don’t know much about it nor does it interest me.

Because the dialogues are sharp and the acting is so strong, it did engage me for most of the runtime. But most of it went over my head, because the financial world is just not something that holds my interest for very long.

I would recommend this movie for anyone who wants to know more about this subject or for people who are interested and fascinated by the financial world.

Rating: 3/ 5

Book Review - You Like It Darker by Stephen King

Title: You Like It Darker
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror
Published: 2024
 
Description: “You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the dark part of life – both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. You like it darker? You got it.
 
Review: Stephen King’s 2024 release, “You Like It Darker”, is a collection of 12 short stories. They live up to the hype, though some stories are more memorable than others. And like the title says, it explores the grimmer aspects of life.
 
There was only one story I didn’t really care for, called “Red Screen”. The rest of the stories were all really good. And I will focus on a few of my favorites.
 
“The Fifth Step” is one of the shortest stories and this makes it even more impressive that it packs such a powerful punch. We meet Harold who agrees to listen to the confessions of a recovering alcoholic named Jack. His revelation are initially mild but the twist in this story is what makes your jaw drop.
 
“Rattlesnakes” is a (sort of) sequel to “Cujo”. This is the scariest story in the book, about a man named Vic facing a haunting in Florida. He staying at a friend’s home and befriends the neighbor woman, who also lost her children. It’s a frightening horror story.  
 
There were two stories I rated 5 stars and one of them might be an unpopular one. I loved “Laurie”, which focuses on death and grief, but is the most heartwarming story in this collection. I was emotionally invested and loved the main character and his dog Laurie. No supernatural, no twists, just really good.
 
My absolute favorite was “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream”. It’s the longest story, with over 150 pages, it’s a novella within a book. Danny has been having the same dream, about an abandoned gas station with a person’s hand sticking from the ground. When he finds the actual gas station, he decides to visit it, and there he finds a dead body. He makes an anonymous call, but when he’s been tracked by the police, Danny becomes the prime suspect. Danny Coughlin is one of the most compelling main characters and the story is very compelling from start to finish.
 
Other favorites were “Two Talented Bastids”,”Willie the Weirdo”, “The Turbulence Expert”,  “The Dreamers” and “The Answer Man. I was so happy that this turned out as good as I hoped it would be, because you never know with a short story collection.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

20s Movie Review - His Three Daughters

Director: Azazel Jacobs
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 14: A FILM WITH ELIZABETH OLSEN
 
Description: This tense, touching and funny portrait of family dynamics follows three estranged sisters as they converge in a New York apartment to care for their ailing father and try to mend their own broken relationship with one another.

Review: First things first: why is no one talking about this movie? Because it’s amazing. A true hidden gem, on Netflix, released in 2023.

In the intimate, domestic drama “His Three Daughters’, in impending goodbye forces three sister to look each other in the eye again after a long time. Separated by their career choices, family lives and clashing personalities, the women face a difficult task: caring for their dying father in unison, and ultimately grieving in unison. The austere setting does half the job, but it is the three leading actresses who take the film to the next level.

When the stilted Katie begins an argument in the pithy opening scene about the care status of her ailing father, it takes a moment before we see who she is talking to. The camera catches her in a stately shot and refuses to bring the rest of the room into view; the healthcare professional who patiently listens to her is given his own speaking frame only moments later.

After the first few cuts, the camera takes some distance and the women poarticipate in the conversation also come into view together. Of the three sisters in the room, only Rachel was already living in the apartment where their father is spending his final days. Katie and younger sister Christina traveled to the place to help out.

The separate shots of the three women are apt for the attentive manner in which director Azazel Jacobs proceeds in “His Three Daughters”. The film shows the relationship between family members in a situations of transience.

The conversations between Katie, Rachel and Christina quickly expose how different the characters of these women are, and it is not surprising that the first cracks in their rapport quickly follow. Whereas Katie prizes responsibility and labels, Rachel lives a wasted life; she smokes at least foir joints a day, bets on several sports games at once and is comfortable leaving her dishes out all day. The sensitive Christina stands literally and figuratively between her two sisters.

For over an hour Katie, Christina and Rachel bicker and grieve over a man who is carefully kept of screen for most of the film’s runtime. Focusing on the daughters, their emotions, they way each of them deals with the situation and the grieve. And how they deal with each other. It’s a character study, of the individual women, but also about their relationship as sisters.

It is a delight to see these three women in their sister roles. Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon and Natasha Lyonne are all fantastic in their roles. With only an apartment as the décor and a fairly simple story, these three actresses leave a big impression and lift the film to a high level. And I think everyone should see this film.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Book Review - Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Title: Behind Closed Doors
Author: B.A. Paris
Genre: Thriller
Published: 2016
 
Description: Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disables younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better.
 
But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable.
 
Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remains so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or when they are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows.
 
Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door is closed.
 
Review: I have not had the best luck with B.A. Paris yet. I read her 2024 release “The Guest” which I found extremely boring. But one bad book does not say everything about an author. I was interested in the story of Jack and Grace, who seem like they’re living the perfect life. But they have everybody fooled.
 
The story is told from the perspective of Grace and the chapters alternate between past and present. At first, I felt that Grace wasn’t the smartest main character. She made some questionable decisions and things that happened were a bit predictable. Grace did certain things and I knew what would happen next. What the consequences were to her actions. But as the story went along, there were some really good twists. And the book turned out to be above average because of the ending. I really loved that and I did not expect it either. So that makes “Behind Closed Doors” both predictable and unpredictable.
 
I have read my fair share of thrillers now. So even though this is still a good book, I feel it has a bigger impact if you are fairly new to the genre. And it’s most definitely better then the other book I have read by Paris.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5

20s Movie Review - Carry-On

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Taron Edgerton, Jason Bateman, Dean Norris, Theo Rossi, Sofia Carson, Logan Marshall-Green, Danielle Deadwyler

Description: A mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) blackmails a young TSA agent (Taron Edgerton) into letting a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Eve flight.

Review: Director Jaume Collet-Serra does exactly what a good, fun action film should do: be engaging, exciting and entertaining. And that from the comfort of your own home, because it’s a Netflix-original.
The décor is an airport, where on Christmas Eve, young TSA agent Ethan has to deal with a mysterious traveler who demands that he let a suitcase pass through security without checking it. If not, his girlfriend Nora becomes a target.

This plot makes for a delightful, nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat exciting thriller. Full of twists (or credibility, but we’ll let that one pass), it’s the perfect film for a movie night. Just turn of your brain for two hours and enjoy this fun action thriller, because it’s one hell of a ride.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Book Review - Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune

Title: Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles # 2)
Author: T.J. Klune
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2024
 
Description: A magical house, a Secret past, A summons that could change everything.
 
Arthur Parnassus lived a good life built on the ashes of a bad one. He’s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and hopes to soon be the adoptive father of the six dangerous and magical children who live there.
 
Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very island so long ago. He is not alon: joining him is the love of his life: Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. And there’s the island’s sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.
But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.
And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home – one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur works so hard to protect his children from – Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.
 
Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.
 
Review: With “Somewhere Beyond the Sea”, T.J. Klune once again manages to create an enchanting story that hits you right in the heart. This sequel to “The House in the Cerulean Sea” is full of humor, poignancy and a touch of magic, this novel takes you on a journey that is as surreal as it is compelling.
 
For this book we switch the focus from Linus Baker to Arthur Parnassus, the master of the orphanage, where magical children reside. I’ve read the first book in 2022 and as soon as I read about all these characters again I was reminded of how much I loved it. At the time of reading “The House in the Cerulean Sea”, I didn’t know this was going to have a sequel. And I didn’t really think it was necessary. But now I feel like it was meant to be. Because “Somewhere Beyond the Sea” is just as amazing as its predecessor.
 
Author T.J. Klune is know for his ability to write true-to-life characters, even though they are magical beings, and this book is no different. The main characters are both relatable and charming, and their struggles and growth feel genuine. Most of the story takes place against the backdrop of an idyllic coastal town, and Klune’s description of the setting make you almost imagine the salty sea air.
 
What sets this book apart is the way it interweaves major themes such as loss, love, and self-discovery with an atmosphere of magical realism. The story offers a unique perspective on what it means to face your past and find happiness again.
 
“Somewhere Beyond the Sea” is an amazing sequel, a warm embrace that is a heartwarming, compelling and beautifully written story, filled with the most fantastic characters you will ever come across. Like “The House in the Cerulean Sea”, this is book is a new favorite. So, if you loved the first book, please pick this up too.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

90s Movie Review - The People Under the Stairs

Director: Wes Craven
Genre: Horror/ Comedy
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 1991
Starring: Brandon Adams, Everett McGill, Ving Rhames, Wendy Robie, A.J. Langer, Sean Whalen, Bill Cobbs, Kelly Jo Minter, Jeremy Roberts

Description: When Fool (Brandon Adams) breaks into the home of his family’s landlords, he discovers they have mutilated several boys and kept them imprisoned under the stairs. As Fool attempts to flee, he meets their daughter Alice (A.J. Langer). Can Fool and Alice escape?

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 1: A FILM FROM 1991
 
Review: 13-year old Fool is persuaded by his sister’s boyfriend to break into the landlord’s house, that has been taking advantage of the entire neighborhood. However, the house turns out to be a prison from which escape is almost impossible. Inside, Fool gets to know his fellow inmates.

“The People Under the Stairs” is a film directed by Wes Craven, horror with elements of dark comedy. Inspired about a news report about a couple who kept their children locked in the house for years, Craven made an amusing and critical fable about the America of Reagan and Bush.

It’s not one of Craven’s best films, but certainly one that will entertain you. It’s funny and ridiculous, though also creepy. But the film is self-aware. I don’t think many people know this Craven flick.

Rating: 3 / 5

2024 Reading Wrap-Up

With the start of 2025, I’m looking back on my reading year. It was a great reading year, 2024. I exceeded my reading goal again, read from some amazing new-to-me authors and revisited some favorite authors. Here are my 2024 reading stats (thanks to StoryGraph).

I read 86 books, where my goal was 65. I read 23.026 pages. The first book of the year was “The Hunting Party” by Lucy Foley. A book my dad picked as my first read of the year. I didn’t really like it, it’s my least favorite Lucy Foley book so far. My last book of the year was a lot better, and was a big surprise: “The Lies You Told” by Harriet Tyce.

I read most books and pages in May, which was the month I participated in Escape the Readothon by Lexie. It was a month long readathon, which was so much fun. I also had a week of this month, so more time to read as well. In January I read the least amount of books, easing into the new year I guess. But it was November were I read the least amount of pages. I read some shorter books and listened to audiobooks primarily as well. That might explain this.

To no surprise, thriller was my most read genre this year. I still love this genre the most, together with mystery. Which is in second place. I read a lot more horror this year. Which I’m very happy about. And I’m surprised to see contemporary up there as well, together with crime. I do want to read more different genres, trying to read more diverse genres in 2025.

“It” by Stephen King was my longest book this year, with over 1100 pages. Can’t believe I read that book. My shortest book was under 100 pages, being “Find Her” by Tessa Bailey. Funny enough “It” ended on my favorites list and “Find Her” is probably the worst book I read in 2024.

 I spend an average of 8 days on each book, which was the same as last year. The average amount of pages was 361 pages. I read “Heartstopper Volume 1” in one sitting. I did that with more books this year. From the top of my head “Heartstopper Volume 2”, “The Christmas Guest” by Peter Swanson’ and “Find Her” by Tessa Bailey. Basically because they were either novellas or graphic novels. “Out There Screaming” took me 35 days to finish. It’s a horror anthology, so I read a story here and there when I had some extra time.

My most read authors were Peter Swanson and Janice Hallett, each with three books. I also read two books by Simone St. James, Holly Jackson, Freida McFadden, Stephen King, Jessie Sutanto, Riley Sager Iain Reid and Blake Crouch. I had read from them in 2023 as well, Peter Swanson was also on this list last year. Blake Crouch, Jessie Sutanto and Iain Reid were all new-to-me-authors.

Of all the books I read, the average rating was a 3,6, which is a pretty good average. Lower then last year, but I think I’m more critical now. I had definitely more 1 and 2 stars this year. I gave out the most 3 and 4 star ratings and 16 books were a 5 star. Among them was one reread.  

Even though I read the least amount of pages in November, it was my highest rated month. The year didn’t start well, I started with 2 and 2,5 stars in January. And again, in May was Escape the Readathon, so I got a lot of reading done, which means lots of books and pages got read that month. 

Based on popularity on StoryGraph, “Beach Read” by Emily Henry, is the book that is shelved the most. I don’t really get the hype, but I finally what the fuss is about. “Murder by the Seaside” , a short story collection of murder mysteries, was the least shelved by readers. I was not surprised to see “The Women” by Kristin Hannah as the highest rated. It’s a super popular book and I also really loved it. 

I explored a bunch of new authors as well (I have read from Bram Stoker and Mary Kubica before though, before I started using StoryGraph). Iain Reid is definitely a new favorite author for me. Other new-to-me authors that I really enjoyed were Blake Crouch, Josh Malerman, Paul Tremblay, Abby Jimenez, Benjamin Stevenson and Bonnie Garmus.

I didn’t realize I read so many books that were part of a series. Apparently I read 18 books that were in a series. There are some series I’m sure of that I won’t be continuing: The Obsession series (“Obsession” by Jessie Q. Sutanto), The Housemaid series (“The Housemaid’s Secret” by Freida McFadden), The Castle Knoll series (“How to Solve Your own Murder” by Kristin Perrin). Some I might consider continuing in: Six Crimson Cranes (“Six Crimson Cranes” by Elizabeth Lim), Green Greek series (“Wolf Creek” by T.J. Klune), Vera Wong series (“Vera Wong’s Unsollicited Advice for Murderers” by Jessie Sutanto), Indian Lake Trilogy (“My Heart is a Chainsaw” by Stephen Graham Jones) and A Rabbits Nvoel series (“Rabbits” by Terry Miles). The Appeal series by Janice Hallett is finished, as far as we know now. But I definitely do want to continue in these series: Bird Box series (“Bird Box” by Josh Malerman), Wayward Pines series (“Pines” by Blake Crouch), The Thursday Murder Club series (“The Last Devil to Die” by Richard Osman), Hearstopper series (“Heartstopper Volume 1 + 2” by Alice Oseman), Ernest Cunningham series (“Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” by Benjamin Stevenson, Part of Your World series (“Part of Your World” by Abby Jimenez), Legend & Lattes series (“Legends & Lattes” by Travis Baldree) and the Hercule Poirot series (“Death on the Nile” by Agatha Christie).

I DNF’ed more books, but still only 6, which is not that bad. “Homecoming” by Kate Morton, “How to Kill Your Family” by Bella Mackie, “Oranges Aren’t the Only Fruit” by Jeannette Winterson, “Nine Perfect Strangers” by Liane Moriarty and “Death Comes at Christmas” (a short story collection). I also DNF’ed “We Sold Our Souls” by Grady Hendrix, but I will try this one again when I’m more in the mood for it. I was think of eventually reading “Nine Perfect Strangers” as well, but I saw the TV show and I’m definitely not interested anymore.