MOVIE REVIEW: Odd Thomas

Anton Yelchin plays a young man named Odd Thomas, who can see dead people. He can also see things he calls bodachs, evil beings that feed off death and despair. When he sees dozens of bodachs gathered around a man in the diner where he works, he comes to believe that something extraordinarily bad is going to happen to the town he lives in. With the help of the chief of police and the girl he loves, who both know about his abilities, he sets out to fend off the disaster.

This is a film based on a novel by the author Dean Koontz. It also features the talent of a young actor whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 27 in a freak accident. It is full of mystery, surprises, and supernatural happenings from the first minute right up until the last. Not recommended for very young children due to the violence, scary scenes, and some strong language, but definitely worth the time.

 

BOOK REVIEW: Old Christmas by Washington Irving

 

This short story is a treatise on the old traditions of England, where the author was invited to spend the holidays by a college friend. Full of delightful descriptions of an old country manor and its somewhat eccentric occupants, this paints a wonderfully moving portrait of Christmas as it was meant to be. Short enough to read in one sitting, but with chapters that can help stretch out the experience, this is one of Irving’s classics that continues to enchant new audiences.

MOVIE REVIEW: Bent

 

When a drug bust goes sour, a good cop takes the fall and ends up behind bars. Upon his release, he commits himself to finding out if he was betrayed by his partner or someone else. Along the way, he discovers that the case that he had been investigating has ties far beyond the drug trade.

Starring Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy in the new Star Trek films), this is a thriller with shades of the old police dramas that used to be all the rage in the 80s. Full of action, suspense, and a few good twists and turns along the way, it will definitely keep you guessing. 

BOOK REVIEW: Salem's Lot by Stephen King

 

A widowed author comes back to his hometown to find inspiration for his next book. While there, he discovers that the old, haunted house on the hill overlooking the town has been bought by a stranger, and the town's residents are falling prey to an insidious evil.

This is a vampire tale that was written before vampires became rock stars with teenage girls hanging off their coattails. The vampires in this are soulless, and often mindless, monsters. And the people who choose to pit themselves against these demons do so against their will. One of his classics, this is a must read for any King fan.