Frills and Fright

As a fan of the book and television series, I highly anticipated the remake of Stephen King's IT . After reading the book, I saw how much the television mini series missed their mark, including the storyline and overall horror. The 2017 remake of IT does not disappoint! Pros: Acting: The acting performances of the children in this movie are outstanding- they're very believable and they're all lovable characters. I particularly enjoyed the heartwrenching performances of Beverly and Bill. Storyline: Like Stand By Me and Stranger Things , this film is about a group of underdogs whose friendship aids them in overcoming monsters, such as Henry the school bully and Pennywise the clown. This movie takes place during the 1980's, unlike the book and television series that's set in the 1950's. I like how the setting was revamped, and was also kept nostalgic. I also liked the balance of comedy and horror. Richie was given the sailor mouth, quick witted spotlight ...

We Are What We Are is an independent horror film that is ominous, grotesque, and surprising.  I had no idea what this film was about- other than my partner suggest we watch it.I loved how unexpected We Are What We Are is, especially in terms of the last ten minutes of the film. At first I had no idea what was going on (“Is this a dream sequence?! Is this literally happening?!”), but I felt that the ending was right. It could have ended with the expected, with the good guys getting their way- but it did not. I also like how it tied back with the sisters wishing that they were different- that they did not enjoy the strange ways of their family. The ending represented the title of the film- that although the sisters did not feel like what their family did was right- they ultimately gave in to their impulses and allowed their id to succumb them.   This film is also by the same group of folks that directed, wrote, and starred in Stake Land . Both films are v...

The Love Witch is a horror/drama/comedy film that pays homage to 1960's/1970's sexploitative films. I very much appreciated the authenticity to the 1960's era. The costumes, makeup, sets, music, and even the sounds (clinking of glasses, tires on gravel) felt like I was watching an old 60's sitcom like I Dream of Jeannie. My favorite part about this film was the gorgeous jewelry, makeup, and clothing. It was humorous to watch the characters discuss love and gender roles. Elaine, the love witch, has an obsession with men and finding true love. Though she is much more obsessed with the concept of "true love" than actual men. She uses love magick to make any man fall into infatuation with her, but then things go awry. While I appreciate the overall look and homage to the era, I think this movie would have been a better success if it was 30-60 minutes shorter (the movie runs 120 minutes). I also disliked the characters within her coven- I felt there coul...

I wore this look on a date with my boo. I love this flowy dress from Torrid- it has become one of my favorite black dresses in my wardrobe. Its super comfy and stretchy, and great for the hot summer nights. I can't wait to wear it in the fall with some leggings and booties! The shoes are from the Avenue- I'm slowly but surely learning to walk in heels, and a chunky heel is a great place to start. I am definitely outside my comfort zone, but am getting the hang of it!

Mysterious, brilliant, and bizarre. Twin Peaks is a small town located in the north west, where everyone knows each other and each other's personal business. Nothing wrong ever happened in Twin Peaks, until the day that beloved teen Laura Palmer is found dead. The show centers on how her death effects the lives of townspeople, and the circumstances that led to her death. This show is one of a kind in that it is of many genres, including mystery (noir), serial drama (soap opera), romance, science fiction, thriller, and horror. I think the only genre missing from this equation would be western! From first glance of the cover and seeing photo stills, I had no idea what to expect from the show.  Season 1: 10/10 The first season of Twin Peak is an absolute masterpiece. With the fantastic storytelling, solid characters, relationship building, and dire truths unfolding, each episode left me on the edge of my seat. Dale Cooper, like the audience, is new to the town and the...

Memory: I'm a seven year old chubby kid laying flat on my stomach looking at old photo albums. My mom is sitting cross-legged next to me. I'm looking at yellow tinted photos of a family BBQ by the poolside. There's a photo of my mom, a young thin girl, wearing a yellow two-piece bathing suit. I come across a photo of my Grandma and her sister, wearing bright printed dresses, ones that are mid-sleeve and floor length. "Mom why isn't Grandma wearing a bathing suit like everyone else?" "Krystal they're wearing muu-muu's- it's what women wear when they get too big and want to cover up". She laughs at my curiosity. "Moo? Like a cow?" My mom laughs, "Right, like a cow. You never want to get too big and have to wear one". Even as an adult that memory always stuck with me. Before my body/fat positive journey began, I never allowed dresses or bright prints into my wardrobe. In the summertime especially, I would always see ...

Train to Busan is a Korean zombie horror film about a zombie outbreak on a train. No, this is not Snakes on a Plane , it's zombies on a train! (Someone really ought to make a picture book about this). The main character, Seok-woo, is a self-absorbed business man who does not spend enough time with his young daughter. Feeling resentful and angry at her father, Soo-an requests that she visit her mother for her birthday. To please her, Seok-woo agrees to accompany his daughter on the train ride. As their train takes off, a rickety, bloody woman stumbles onto the train, and all hell breaks loose! Like many zombie movies, there is a cast of great side characters that Seok-woo and Soo-an meet. My favorite character was the burly husband,  Sang-hwa,  trying to keep his pregnant wife safe and alive. He is the smartest and most kick-ass from the bunch. I loved the creature concept of these zombies. A person whose infected transforms rather quickly, with dark veins covering their ...