All posts by vladkraykulla

Active member of alternative underground scene and culture since early 1990-ies. Underground is a way of life!

(movie) The Twin (2022) is an atmospheric psychological horror tale set in Finland!

After the loss of their son Nathan, married couple move to Finland with their survived son, Elliot, who is Nathan´s twin brother. There in the north of Finland, couple seeks to find solace and deal with grief and loss. But, sinister forces are at work. Elliot starts to behave weird, claiming that he is Nathan and Anthony, the husband becomes estranged and somehow stops taking notes of Rachel´s search for truth. The townsfolk are weird and just stand in front of the house and watch. Is there a way to bring Nathan back, sell your soul or sacrifice everything?

Well, this one was your average folk psychological horror tale like so many others. Meaning, desolate place, cultists, ancient beliefs, pagan lore, family which tries to cope with loss and grief. But, the twist in the end of the movie somehow saves it to be a bit above average and saves the movie in making it a decent one. Teresa Palmer(Warm Bodies, Lights Out) is good, Steven Cree(Outlaw King, Maleficent) somehow does not manage to have chemistry with Palmer´s character Rachel. Directed by Taneli Mustonen(Lake Bodom).

(review) Jerkswitch – Jerkswitch

Jerkswitch are from Canada and are no strangers to the pages of this zine. They were already featured with couple of great singles and now it is time for full length to grace the pages of this zine. Well, this one contains 9 songs. Jerkswitch play emotional melodic punk rock with a bit raw and dirty yet melodic guitar work, great choruses and backing vocals, but the songs are not your fast skate punk. No, this is more like PUP, The Flatliners and similar bands with also some ska punk influences in song structures. Lyrics are every day life, emotions and something I can relate to, like excellent Running From Myself, Killing Machines or King Of Shit. This is a good album by good band.

Bandcamp

(book review) Graham Masterton´s Spirit is one of the less good works from one of my favorite authors.

Graham Masterton is one of my favorite horror writers and his novels are full of suspense, gore, sex and fine storytelling. His works were already mentioned on the pages of this zine. Elisabeth, Laura and Peggy Buchanan are three sisters growing up together. One winter day, Peggy, youngest of the three, accidentally drowns in family pool. Stricken by grief, remaining two sisters build Peggy´s image from snow and her clothes. Then, strange things begin to happen and there is ice, blood and death…In this 1995 novel, Masterton tried to connect classic ghost story and legendary HC Andersen´s fairy tale Snow Queen. Based on a dreamy and imaginary premise, this horror story becomes too complicated in some parts, almost boring in some chapters towards the end of the book, and all gore and death scenes can not save the impression that this one did not quite sit with me when I read it. The characters are a bit plastic, some well written, some are fillers and there are couple of definitely better books of same author than this one. Average horror novel.

5/10