MOVIE OF THE MOMENT: Goodnight Mommy

Can you tell I like horror movies? Here we go with another one. I watched it with my family the other day and for the first time in my blog: WE HAVE A BAD REVIEW. Sad but true. Today we are reviewing "Goodinght Mommy".
This movie is another psychological horror film from Austria. 10-year-old twin brothers Lukas and Elias wait for the return of their mother from facial surgery. When she gets back, instead of a pleasent surprise, it's the complete opposite: her head completely swathed in bandages, it is apparent that something is not right, because now she is cold and cruel. For this reason, the boys become convinced that they are dealing with someone who is pretending to be her and they begin to think out of a plan to get their real mother back. This is where the horror begins. 
Unfortunetely, I must say: I fell asleep at the first half of the movie. The movie clearly tries to represent the routine environment that they live in their mansion and the cold relation between the mother and her sons, but this quickly becomes boring throughout the movie. The scenes are so silent, no music in the background, which in some point makes sense and adds a suspense to the movie, but later on you get sleepy. In conclusion, I saw around 30 min. of a 99 min. movie. 
How many stars do I give this movie? Sadly, I give "Goodnight Mommy" 3 stars. I know other people will like this kinds of movies, I do see that, but I need some action in a horror movie.

SERIES OF THE MOMENT: Rick and Morty

We have another series to talk about in my blog! And I'm so glad I got to see this. I found out about this series through a friend that recommended it to me when I was bored. One day I decided to watch it and I did not regret it. 

This is an animated comedy that follows the adventures of a mad scientist Rick Sanchez, who returns after 20 years of being gone, to live with his daughter, her husband, and her children Summer and Morty. Morty becomes the little helper of his Grandpa Rick, who calls him inmediately to go in all sorts of inventions and crazy adventures outside of the human dimension. 

This series is for adult audience only, because there is inappropiate language and images. Also, is aired by the company "Adult Swim", which is known for its adult comedy series. 

This is not a series you will absolutely laugh your ass off screaming and rolling in the floor. It has a subtle humor that won't be of the liking of every person. A lot of irony and sarcasm. Black humour as well. 

Personally, I'm a huge fan of this type of humour. I have a great time watching and reading what they say. It also helps me develop my English Skills. At least I understand the jokes and enjoy them, but I certainly do know that is not for everyone. Just a warning.

I give this series 5 stars!!!

BOOK OF THE PAST MONTH: Demian de Hermann Hesse

I had forgotten to do a review about this book. I read it about 2 months ago. A friend gave it to me one day and recommended it 100%. I have to say, with the very first time I read it, this book has become one of my favorites. It is amazing and everyone should read it at least one time in their lives. Currently, my mom is reading it because I suggested it to her. She's loving it too!

Demian is the story about Emil Sinclair, a boy with a special personality, from his childhood to adulthood. The story and book itself are difficult to explain in words. If I had to coose ONE WORD to describe the overall story and what you can get to learn from the book, it would be "AWAKENING". The encounters of Emil with people that influence his life in some type of way are key to his destiny, specially one, who is the name of the book, Demian, someone who marks Emil's life for the rest of it.

I feel like I don't want to say any more about this story because I would like you to really look for the book, read it and understand exactly what I'm saying. Only there, you will get my point. In my opinion, that is the best way to read it, with no expectations of the outcome of the story. BUT, I recommend it to you and I hope you take my request. Just do it, it would be good for you and your life. You can get to learn a lot from it.

Obviously, I give this book 5 STARS. 

BOOK OF THE PAST MONTH N°2: The Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King

In this entry we have another assignment that I got from my college subject, but this time we had to choose a book on our own. My sister is a big fan of Stephen King's books, such as The Shining, Carrie (which I will review later on) and others that I forgot now. So the day of that class, my classmate recommended this book to me, she didn't obsessed over it but it was a King's book so I told her to lend it to me. 
The book is really short. At least this one had a lot of images that made the story even shorter. I have to say that I got disturbed with so many images that interrupted my reading, so that was a feature I did not really enjoy. I finished the book in 3 days only in the bus rides. I remember I was reading and suddenly I was just starring out the window and not reading. I guess because I got dis

tracted (bored). Now I'll tell you a bit about the story itself.
It basically is the cycle of a man that turns into a Werewolf each time the full moon shines in the town of Tarker Mills. The cycles are divided by months, were there is a victim per month. The main character is responsible for capturing the werewolf that is attacking the town citizens. He discovers that the werewolf was someone who wasn't far away from him, he knew him (in human form).
Personally, I think the story is nothing out of normal. It pretty much sounds like a cliché movie of another decade. I used to lose my interest in it while reading it. I love the film versions of King's books, but this one I feel is not one of his best ones. 
I give this book 2 STARS :(

MOVIE OF THE MOMENT: The Babadook

I recently got a Netflix account, since I am a huge fan of audiovisual content. One of these days my mother, sister and I, who are movie junkies as well, decided to watch a movie to take advantage of the new purchase. We are all fans of Horror Films, so I directed the cursor directly to that category. I came across this movie and I inmediately looked for online reviews, and to my surprise, it had very positive feedback. And I wasn't dissapointed.

The Babadook is a psychological horror film (my favorite kind). The story follows the life of Amelia Vanek, a busy and exhausted widow with her six-year-old son Samuel after the death of her husband Oskar. Samuel is a very special kid. He believes there is a monster in his room, like any other kid of his age. But this goes beyond that. So much that he builds weapons to fight it and protect his mother.

One night, Amelia reads Samuel a book for him to sleep. Mister Babadook, a tall pale humanoid who scares its victims after they read the book. The book has mysterious and disturbing images, while Sam is convinced that the Babadook is real, which leads Amelia to often have insomnia as she tries to comfort him.

And that's how the horror film begins. Strange things start to occur in the house, as if they had a ghost presence. Sleepless nights until Samuel's biggest fear begins to become real, and Amelia believes in it more each day. 

What I liked about this movie a lot, and what usually calls my attention, is the fact that it doesn't require loud noises and sudden images to make you feel scared or disturbed. Unlike other commercial terror movies. 

All this being said, you must watch it to decide if this sounds like something you would like. Personally, I give this movie 4 stars. 

BOOK OF THE MOMENT: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

As an assigment of the Electivo lll subject in college, I chose this book from the Library. I was so glad of the outcome of this assignment (as I have never been before). I have to say I got hooked since the very first word.

The story centers on Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a young orphan who is born with an exceptional sense of smell. Grenoullie is able to distinguish a range of scents in the world around him. He can smell everything. Even things he does not know yet. Grenouille becomes a perfumer when he discovers how to get and maintain the scent of beautiful women. With all of these thoughts that different scents bring to him, he discovers new features of his talent. Specially one, that obsesses him widly: being able to change people's perspectives about him. To achieve this he murders a series of young women until he finds the right one that will hopefully give him what he wants: power in society. 

This book was adapted to a film version. I have to say that I saw the film first, and it has always been one of my favorites. Whenever I catch it in TV I see the entire 2 and a half hours. 

The book was not left behind (I guess that's why the movie is so good, in my opinion). I loved the way the author develops his ideas, giving a lot of characteristics of the environment or the feeling of the characters, almost in a hectic way, to give you this sensation of madness. This, because the main character, Grenouille, was a bit mad since the very beginning of his life. 

It's true that I'm not very good at reading, I lack in it sometimes, but this particular book, I wanted to read at all times. I wanted to know how the story continued! (Even though I already sort of knew, because I saw the movie). It was just the way it was written and displayed that kept me so interested. Also the movie lacks a lot of the scenes that the book originally has. 
SO the big question is: How many stars do I give to "The Perfume" book? I say it with no hesitation: 5 stars!!!!

SERIES OF THE MOMENT: Mr. Robot

Recently, I joined the huge group of series and Netflix lovers out there. Even though this is not a Netflix series, a lot of people is deeply hooked with this one. AND even though you can't comfortably find it in Netflix, as I said, you can see it online, with subtitles, HD and with no lagging. Now, let's talk about the series itself, which, for your information, has only 2 seasons. Season 3 is on the making. 
The story revolves around a young computer programmer called Elliot, who works for a cyber-security firm. Elliot is recruited by an underground hacker group run by a man known only as Mr. Robot, to bring down big corporations, including ones his company is hired to protect. On top of this, Elliot, the main actor, has serious social issues and mental breakdowns. He's antisocial and paranoic about political corruption and humanity. 
If you already got interested about this series, I won't tell you anymore about it, because that should be enough. Computers, hackers, conspiracy, politicians, sex, drugs, alcohol, social anxiety, truth, etc. That's all you need to know. 
I have only seen the first season, but I'm looking forward to seeing the second one, I just haven't had the time. 
I give the first season of Mr. Robot: 5 STARS!! 

BOOK OF THE WEEK: THE SEED OF THE DEVIL – IRA LEVIN

Notice how I put emphasis in the title. All written in capital letters. Keep on reading and you will find out why. 

"The seed of the devil" or also called "Rosemary’s baby" in its cinematographic version, found me without even looking for it. In a walk through those typical "used books" stores, I immersed myself in the search of something interesting and terrifying and I came across a pleasant surprise.

Rosemary is a young housewife married to a theater actor. The couple is searching for a new home and they  find an department that fascinates them. But what they didn't know is that it hid a dark reputation. Both begin a friendship with an unconventional old couple of neighbors. They had strange attitudes that madee Rosemary very uncomfortable. She wants to get pregnant really bad, while Guy, her husband, gets an important role that would boost his career to stardom.

The night Rosemary gets pregnant she has a strange dream of a satanic ritual performed by her neighbors, Guy and others. The worst thing about this is that the dream was not far from reality 

Conclusion? Classic, that any horror fan should have in his collection. I definitely give it 5 stars.