Dinocroc vs Supergator

This is a 2010 fantasy adventure horror monster flick by New Horizons Picture made for television. Also goes by the name "Volcanic". A USA and Japan joint film and location is Pasedena in California. It was directed by Jim Wynorski, and stars David Carradine, Rib Hillis and Amy Holt. 

An illegal experiment resulted in huge mushrooms and two incredibly big reptiles, combined with science lab mutated creatures, such as a large spiked alligator, and a big bipedal crocodile. The secret went out of control and the two giants broke free, killing everyone in sight. Even a few tourists that don't know what's going on because a tasty meal. 

Three people are sent to find and stop the chaos, including a hunter, a government spy and a wildlife officer. There are some pretty scenes of waterfalls and misty forests. It doesn't quite go with the ridiculously scary monsters running amok, but the special effects were quite good. I rate this a fun packed 7/10 for entertainment and amusement!!

What I liked about it was the chase scenes!

What I disliked was the storyline.

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Black Sabbath (1963)

 This is an Italian horror film from 1963, directed by Mario Bava, and stars Boris Karloff. In three segments, the first is "A Drop of Water", then "The Telephone" and "The Wurdulak."

Depending on the version, some have rearranged segments. "A Drop of Water" is about a nurse taken to see the dead body of her former employer, who died of natural causes in her sleep. The corpse doesn't stop her greediness. After getting home, she experiences creepy goings on. "The Telephone" was a nuisance caller that the victim knows and supernatural forces allow the creep to torment her. "The Wurdulak" is about a vampire.

I only watched it a few nights ago and can barely remember most of it apart from the gothic gentleman presence of Boris Karloff introducing each film segment. The only segment I can most fully remember was "A Drop of Water", a ghost story, which to me was scary. I rate this a 5/10 for sending me to sleep halfway. 

What I liked was all the the cute cats in "Drop of Water." 

What I didn't like was "The Telephone" story being cut up and edited all because of the sixties not liking the lesbian storyline. What was left of it was ribbons. That chopped story confused me and I nodded off! HISSSSSSSSSSSS!

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Wait Till Helen Comes

 This 2016 Canadian TV supernatural thriller was directed by Dominic James, starring Maria Bello and sisters Sophie Nelisse and Isabelle Nelisse. Other cast members including Liam Dickinson. Its based on the novel of the same name by Mary Downing Hahn. The film is also known as "Little Girl's Secret." 

A teenager named Molly has had her life turned upside down when her widowed mother takes her and her younger brother Michael to move into a new place with stepfather. The location is rural and pretty isolated beside the woods, and the house used to be a church. They pick up their younger stepsister Heather from a psychiatric hospital where she was living after suffering trauma. 

Molly is unnerved by Heather's strange behaviour such as talking to someone who isn't there. It gets freakier when she can see a ghost of a girl forming near Heather. No one believes her, and Heather says the ghost is "Helen" and "doesn't like it" that Molly can see her. Helen wants something from Heather and Molly is trying to find out if it's connected by missing children in the area.

This is a good, creepy and sad story with interesting photography. A theme of moths and flames appear a lot as symbolism. This is set in the year 1982 just in case you wondered why nobody is using a mobile phone. The author of the original story this film is based on appears briefly as the town librarian. The stepsister Molly and Heather are played by actresses who are real sisters. The actresses playing ghost Helen and one of the missing girls are sisters in real life. The stepfather's job is an author in the film, but in the book he works in pottery. I rate this a decent 10/10 for an awesome haunting story and good film to watch on a rainy night.

What I liked about this film is the nice bedroom of the girls with unique windows.

What I didn't like about it was how the parents didn't believe Molly.

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V. C. Andrews "Dawn" (episode four)

 

This is a 2023 drama TV series based on the "Cutler" books by Virginia Andrews. There are four episodes in total, named "Dawn," "Secrets of the Morning," "Twilight's Child" and "Midnight Whispers". This episode was directed by Jacquie Gould and it stars Brec Bassinger, Megan Best and Khobe Clarke. 

Some years have passed and tragedy happens. Both Dawn and James die together in a fire, caused by evil uncle Phillip and his wife "aunt Bet". They take custody of children Christie and Jefferson whose lives become very miserable. Christie has had enough of her vile uncle so she takes her brother and they run away to New York. I'm not going to spoil the rest!

I rate this episode 9/10. I've never read the books although I feel inspired to now. The books will include a lot more details that the tv series didn't.

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V. C. Andrews "Dawn" (episode three)

This is a 2023 Lifetime TV drama based on the "Cutler" books by Virginia Andrews. There are four feature long episodes, and the first is called "Dawn," second is "Secrets of the Morning" and the third is called "Twilight's Child". Directed by Jacqui Gould and stars Brec Bassinger, Khobe Clarke and Joey McIntyre. 

The end of the previous episode saw Dawn sent away to live with abusive Emily, the sister of grandmother Lillian and aunt Charlotte. Dawn has her baby daughter named Christie who then mysteriously disappears. Soon Dawn's adopted brother James rescues her from the miserable house. 

After Dawn gets Christie back, we discover more. After Lilian died, it's revealed that Dawn is the true born daughter of William Cutler who left a Will making Dawn the main proprietor of the estate and running of the business. Dawn and James marry, then they reunite with Fern. They meet Gavin Longchamp, the half brother of James and Fern. Despite the fairy-tale Happily Ever After, it's not all sunshine and roses!

This episode was full of twists so I rate is a good 10/10. Ignore the youthfulness of the same actors playing characters who've become older!

What I liked was the surprise gift from Dawn's father. 

What I disliked about it was evil Clara. 

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V. C. Andrews "Dawn" (episode two)

This is a 2023 Lifetime thriller TV series based on the Cutler book series by Virginia Andrews. There are four main feature length episodes, the first is called "Dawn" and the second episode is called "Secrets of the morning". Directed by Linda-Lisa Hayter, and stars Brec Bassinger, Khobe Clarke and Fran Drescher.

Dawn accepts that she is now a part of the Cutler household, and calls Laura "mother". She goes away to the Sarah Bernhardt College of performing arts in New York city. This is where she meets her roommate and bff Trisha, a dancer with a kind sweet nature, introducing Dawn to a life of fun. The episode turns a bit girly in 70's style, and then Dawn meets her new music teacher. 

Impressed by her singing, the new teacher Michael Sutton takes a shine to Dawn. She becomes his favourite student. She also likes him very much and is quickly whisked off her feet by him. Things get complicated when she falls pregnant, and Michael coldly abandons her, causing her to get upset and soon injured in a road accident. Left alone and penniless, she has no choice but to leave New York. Her family are very unhappy about her troubles, especially angry grandmother Lilian who keeps reminding her of the "Cutler Curse".

I rate this episode a 7/10. It still contained all the excitement and drama as the first episode, but overdone with the cringe coupling of Dawn and older man Michael. Besides that earlier on Dawn developed feelings for James, knowing that he is NOT her real brother anymore.  

My personal likes is the beautiful clothes and hairstyles worn by Dawn.

My personal dislikes is Michael.

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V.C. Andrews "Dawn" (episode one)

 This is a Lifetime 2023 thriller, based on the Cutler book series by Virginia Andrews. There are four feature length episodes and the first is "Dawn". It was directed by Linda-Lisa Hayter, and stars Brec Bassinger, Khobe Clarke and Donna Mills. 

Dawn Longchamp lives with her poor family who need to move when her dad gets work as a janitor of a posh school for rich kids, offering Dawn a place there as a student. Her mother becomes ill and dies, leaving Dawn, her big brother James, baby sister Fern and their grieving dad, who is quickly arrested. A shocked Dawn learns that she was kidnapped as a baby and her family were not her own real family. Dawn is sent to live with her real family, the Cutlers.

She makes troubling discoveries. Her natural grandmother Lillian Booth is cruel, and the school bully Clara is her own sister, giving her free reign to torment her in the house. What's more uncomfortable is her half brother Phillip! Her natural mother Laura is sickly, unloving with too many issues. The quiet "mother's boy" dad is Randolph who is son of Lilian and deceased William Cutler. Dawn can't wait to leave them, so takes the first opportunity out there by going to college in New York, which changes her life again.  

She stays in contact with her adopted family who are all apart, either in jail, the army and in foster care, while Dawns' own life has also been completely turned upside down. I rate this episode 9/10 for excitement and lots of juicy drama. 

What I liked about this episode was Dawn's new friend Trisha the dancer, a breath of fresh air from the madness.

What I didn't like about it was grandmother Lillian Cutler and how evil she behaved towards Dawn.

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The Wedding Planner

 This is a book review. Title of the book is "The Wedding Planner" by author Danielle Steel. Published in 2023 by Delacorte Press in the US and Pan Macmillan in the UK. The fictional genre is contemporary romance. 

Set in New York, a successful wedding planner called Faith is like a fairy godmother, who can spin dream weddings and help people's weddings become amazing for them. She's often confiding in her twin sister Hope, and her friend/employee Violet. Even though she can run her business really well and is extremely popular, sought after by the very rich, she herself keeps insisting she'll never marry. Past bad relationships ended any ideas of that.

Her clients are a very eccentric bunch, who want this and that done for their wedding. There are the Alberts, who are really super rich parents making decisions on what their daughter's wedding should look like. They've asked for over-the-top things and their daughter will be the bride, who has allowed them to control everything apart from the dress. She soon confides in Faith that she's pregnant. The idea of a pregnant bride will upset her parents. It then unfolds that her dad was misbehaving so her parents split up and called off the wedding, or left it in suspense for now. Then there are other couples who include Punch and Judy type couple with abusive Doug and his victim/fiancé Phoebe.   

Overall the book was filled with repeated phrases and cardboard characters. Reading this was like eating a bowl of sugar. There was hardly any drama and no decent beginning, middle or end. It went nowhere, reading like a documentary, dragging on and filled with boring dialogue. It was repetitive, slow and very sickly. A lot of childbirths throughout the novel in detail featuring pop-up characters. I rate this novel a 1/10 even aware the author is a bestseller and written many books over the years. It's taken me four days to read and now it's going into the bin.

My personal likes is the idea of flower horses and swans. 

My personal dislikes is the rest of the book

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Cast a Dark Shadow (1955)

 

This is a British film noir thriller made in 1955, directed by Lewis Gilbert. The cast includes Dirk Bogarde, Margaret Lockwood, Kay Walsh and Robert Flemyng. 

Teddy is a young man obsessed with money and the idea of killing his rich wife, who he had only just married. Despite his evasive and polite manner, he appears suspicious. Then he meets another wealthy older woman who seems cautious at first but falls in love with him. He's not returning the same emotions and again he's only after her money. 

There's an appearance of pop star Lita Roza, who sings "Leave me alone" in the nightclub. There's a reference to the story of Bluebeard, about an evil man who keeps his dead wives in a chamber. Lockwood is tough and sassy, who isn't going to be taken advantage of. I rate this fun crime movie a 7/10.

My personal likes is most of it from the beautiful home decor, the cute pet birds and the amusing comments by Freda as she makes her greedy husband shrink!

My personal dislikes is How monstrous Teddy really is.

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Wizards of the Lost Kingdom

This is an Argentina/ US low budget 1985 fantasy film,by Trinity Productions. It was directed by Hector Olivera and Alan Holleb. It stars Bo Svenson, Vidal Peterson and Thom Christopher. Written by Ed Naha. 

Simon is a magicians son forced to leave the castle when it's overtaken by the evil wizard. He loses a very important ring and goes on a quest with his trusted Yeti monster friend Gulfax. The princess is kidnapped,  the king was brutally slain, and the world is about to enter chaos. There is little good left in the world, so it's a tense mission through strange landscapes. 

Even though this film is called a "family action fantasy" on IMDB, there's nudity so please be warned. Snippets from another Roger Corman film "Deathstalker" was used in this to make the prologue. Parts of the film if hilarious without even trying to be funny. I rate this amusing fun film a 5/10. 

My personal favourites is the battle between the winged manticore and the goddess! That was just epic and funny. I also liked the house of the hobgoblin, it looked out of place. I also found a lot of the creatures very interesting.

My personal dislikes was the fact I couldn't understand what Gulfax was saying.

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Goliath at the Conquest of Damascus

 This is an Italian 1965 colour film, directed and written by Domenico Paolella. Other writers include Luciano Martino and Ernesto Gastaldi. Production companies are Romana Film and Titanus. The stars of the film are Peter Lupus (of "Mission Impossible" and Hercules films), Mario Petri and Helga Line. 

In ancient Arabia, a powerful man named Goliath helps a king restore his throne and rescue his daughter from an evil band of mercenaries. To help fulfil these missions, he must become a member of this army of Damascus. It also means he has to be a spy as well as a wrestler who comes head to head with another equal strongman. Meanwhile the princess has little time left as she's imprisoned and her betrothed is also taken away.

A lot of action, fighting and sunshine. The costumes are beautiful. The sets are amazing. No CGI was ever used in this. A classic film set in ancient times where it even feels as if you're there. Old style films were ultra realistic and organic. Besides some quite long scenes of dialogue, this is a cracking good watch. I give this a delightful 7/10.  

My personal likes are sweet friendliness of the fighting male characters, from brutes to companions. There is a lot of warmth that should be included in films today!

My personal dislikes is the treachery and slimeball traits of the villains. 

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Adventures of Aladdin

This is a 2019 fantasy drama made by both The Asylum and Two Guys and a Film companies. It was directed by Glen Campbell, who co-wrote it with Tammy Klein. It stars Adam Hollick (from NCIS) as Aladdin, Lord KraVen, Daniel O'Reilly and Lucia Dimitra Xypteras.

A street acrobat falls in love with a princess and she gives him a good luck token. Smitten, he feels bound to stay with her instead of leaving with his acrobatic group of friends. Because then he also stays to complete a dangerous mission of looking for a magic lamp hidden inside a volcano. This is the beginning of a quest with strange and also scary results. 

This is a nice tale of romance and deceit, with magical elements thrown in. The genie from the lamp is more funny than anything as the film has a comedic theme. The special effects are very basic. Also animal lovers should avoid watching this, even though no animals were harmed in the making of the film. I rate this entire film a 5/5 for dryness and plot holes even though it look quite beautiful. 

My personal likes about this are the inundated wishes the genie grants instead of the traditional three wishes.

My personal dislikes is the evil sorcerer Vizier Maghreb.

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The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (1979)

 

This is a 1979 animated film based on the book by the same name by author C. S. Lewis. The film adaption was written by David D. Connell and Bill Melendez, who also directed. Voice actors are Rachel Warren, Reg Williams and Victor Spinetti. You can find the full cast on Internet Movie Database. 

Four children enter a wardrobe playing hide and seek, and then they find themselves in a strange world of Narnia full of snow and friendly magical beings. The world is sent into winter by an evil queen and only Aslan can save them. 

For those not familiar with the story, this tale is both amazing, adventurous and also scary in places. The story is much darker than this animated film. It's an old fashioned form of animation so modern younger audiences should expect that. It's on for 1 hour and 35 minutes. The animation is made by CTW (Children's Television Workshop), Bill Melendez Productions and TVC London. A British and Spanish animation. I rate this quick simplified kids version of the epic story a nice 8/10.

My personal likes about this is a place where talking animals and legendary creatures live happy together. Oh I even like Mr and Mrs Beaver.

My personal dislikes is the queen, also called White Witch and Jadis. 

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Fruits Basket

"Fruits Basket" is a Japanese animated TV series from 2019 to 2021. The production company is TMS Entertainment. While there is an earlier version made in 2001, I'm focused on reviewing the 2019-2021 version as it's true to the book it's based on. The author of the original book version, Natsuki Takaya was involved personally in this recent TV series.

The voice stars include (both Japanese and the English dubbed version) Manaka Iwami and Laura Bailey, Nobunaga Shimazaki and Eric Vale, Jerry Jewell and Yuma Uchida. More can be found on the list at IMDB. 

A teenaged girl named Tohru has become homeless after losing both parents. Her grandfather is staying with relatives who simply dislike Tohru and she's got no choice but to live in the woods in a tent. There she's discovered by members of the mysterious Soma family who take her in to stay with them. She learns that there is a Soma family curse and a connection with the Zodiac. 

This is a rural modern fantasy with shapeshifting and romance. It explores the emotions of each character and how Tohru is welcomed into the Soma family, where she goes from outsider to friend. It's both sad, funny, dark and magical. This updated series is more serious than the original cartoon 2001 series aimed at being more lighter. I rate this an enjoyable 9/10.

My personal likes about "Fruit Basket" are the many sweet characters and cute animals.

My personal dislikes is the evil head of the household Akito Sohma. 

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Thermae Romae

This is a 2012 Japanese comedy fantasy film based on the Manga "Thermae Novae" by Mari Yamazaki. The director is Hideki Takeuchi and the stars include Hiroshi Abe, Aya Ueto and Kazuki Kitamura. 

A Roman architect named Lucius falls in the water and transported to 21st century day Japan. He becomes fascinated by the modern way of life, and especially on the fine details that most take for granted, always when it comes to bath houses and swimming pools. Lucius returns to ancient Rome and manages to use what he's learned in the future and impresses the emperor Hadrian. 

This film is both fascinating and funny. Some of it is too silly to be taken seriously though. The Japanese star is very handsome and also appears quite naked a lot! Also I've been watching the anime series by Netflix "Thermae Romae Novae", which is 11 episodes and each episode is a different adventure of Lucius sent to the future in a water accident/whirlpool. At the end of each episode, the creator Mari Yamazaki explores different bath houses in Japan in very short documentaries. This film/comic/series are beautiful and amusing. I rate this masterpiece a 10/10.

My personal likes is the way we're given both insight into ancient Rome as well as modern Japan.

My personal dislikes is none apart from that it's so underrated.

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The Snow Spider (1988)

This is a 1988 TV mini series, directed by Pennant Roberts. It stars Sian Phillips (who also worked in "Clash of the Titans" and "I, Claudius"), Robert Blythe ("Doctors"), Osian Roberts and Sharon Morgan (who worked in "Torchwood"). The series is based on The Snow Spider trilogy by Jenny Nimmo, then adapted for TV by Julia Jones.

In rural Wales, a boy named Gwyn is given a few strange presents by his grandmother, which includes an enchanting small spider. He makes a few interesting discoveries including a glimpse into the otherworld and visions of a silver ship. It's all to help him become a magician. He and his family still mourn the loss of his sister who vanished mysteriously during a snowstorm. Later he encounters an otherworldly girl named Eirlys ("Snowdrop") who helps Gwyn on his quest. 

The series is followed by two more "Emlyn's Moon" and "The Chestnut Soldier". A very magical series that comes from a unique era of wonderful fairy tales on the screen while growing up. I rate this lovely nostalgic magic a 10/10.

My personal likes is the enchanted little spider.

My personal dislikes are the school bullies who laugh at Gwyn.

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Ghost in the Water

Hello. "Ghost in the Water" is a supernatural tv movie from 1982. It was directed by Renny Rye, who also worked on the tv series "Box of Delights/" The actors of "Ghost in the Water" are Judith Allchurch, Ian A. Stevens (one of the zombie dancers in Michael Jackson's "Thriller") and Jane Freeman (who appeared also in "Last of the Summer Wine"). This is based on the novel of the same name by author Edward Chitham. then adapted by writer Geoffrey Case. 

A chilling mystery when a school teacher gives homework to students Tess and David about local history. There is a piece of folklore about a Victorian girl who committed suicide and it's up to the students to find out if this was true or not. Tess experiences disturbing visions of a funeral with traumatic side effects. 

This is a pleasant ghost story and mystery with sleuthing and adventures. The acting is realistic, the era looks gothic and with Victorian times blended with 1980's. This is the only film Judith Allchurch has made. It was filmed at Link Academy which was formerly called Hillcrest School in Netherton. It was made by the BBC and fun to watch for all ages. I give this a nice 7/10 for atmospheric eeriness. 

My personal likes is the wholesome innocence from the early 80's style film.

My personal dislikes is now after watching this, baths won't be the same again.

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The Lady Grace Mysteries Book 1

 

This book is by Patricia Finney writing as the fictional author Grace Cavendish, who is the main character. It was published in 2004 and the first book I will review is "Assassin" published by Double Day. This is the first in the series of the Lady Grace Mysteries books. 

Grace Cavendish is a maid of honour at the royal court of Queen Elizabeth I. She investigates a brutal murder and her betrothed was accused. Everything suspects that he was responsible as he had the motivation, while Grace isn't convinced. She discovers a curious yellow substance believed to be poison mixed from "darkwort" herb left behind. One of her friends is behaving strangely, and there's a lot more. 

An enjoyable murder mystery with a clever young girl as a 16th century detective! It was very fun to read and written for children and teenagers. It's purely nice historic mystery with some lovely atmosphere. It has none of the ugliness and debauchery found in many historic fiction for adults. 

The edition I have is a small hardback with shiny gold letters and outlines on the red floral cover with a painting of Grace running in a darkened corridor. Besides the pretty front cover is a nice back and spine showing an oval portrait of Grace, who writes as the author in her diary. I rate this a 8/10 because I couldn't put it down.

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Yesterday's Children

The film "Yesterday's Children" is a 2000 tv movie, directed by Marcus Cole. It was written by Jenny Cockell (author of the book of the same title and involved in the tv series "Strange But True" presented by Michael Aspel), Sarah Bird (who worked on tv series "Hawkeye") and Richard Leder (also worked at 2019 "Primal"). It stars Jane Seymour, Clancy Brown and Kyle Howard. 

An English housewife Jenny keeps having disturbing dreams of a vivid place and it's people. She becomes obsessed that it's real place and draws it, learning pieces each time she has more visions. When she puts some of the pieces of the mystery together, she believes it's an actual location found in Ireland. Jenny also comes to realise she might've been reincarnated and that her past life was the reason behind her visions, which were memories. 

This is a well made supernatural mystery. Her patient and sceptical husband doesn't believe her while her spoilt teenaged son turns understanding and helps her on her new quest of discovery. The film is pleasant, atmospheric, creepy in places, although very well made. It's based on the book "Yesterday's Children" by Jenny Cockell who had this experience. She lived as Mary Sutton in Ireland and this seemed to be either past life or a spirit of a woman reaching out through Jenny. I rate this intriguing story a 10/10 for warmth and elegance.  

My personal likes is the scenery in Ireland and finding interesting answers.

My personal dislikes is the attitude of unsupportive grumpy husband.

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Welcome 2026

 

Happy New Year! 

Everyone will be making new year resolutions and so shall we! 

The films reviewed on this blog so far has all been scary and horror genre, with some added games and books. This blog intends to review more genres and not restrict to horror or video nasties. We want to include different types of films and also tv series, books and even games, but not too much because I'm not a gamer girl really anymore. I used to play games a lot when I was younger but for the past 20 years I've been messing with puzzles, brain teasers and crosswords. 

In future Blood Strawberry will become sweeter and sicklier. This is because I'm now ancient and influenced by new things such as gardening, cooking, knitting and laughing at funny cat videos. 

Let's raise a glass of strawberry daiquiri and welcome to the new year.

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