Author: torstenvblog

Writer of the strange and everything; lover of horror, literature, comics, and the alien is my spirit animal

Heart Shaped Box

heart box

So because of a string of WTF events in life, I went back to being a full throttle, hardcore Lit nerd for a couple weeks. In those weeks, I got to read somethings off my to-do list, one of which is Joe Hill’s debut novel. Hill is the son of the legendary Stephen King so I was really interested to see if the apple fell far from the tree…

Judas Coyne is a aging rocker with a morbid collection of various things he’s acquired over the years. One day, his assistant finds a online bid for a ghost attached to a dead man’s vintage black suit in a heart shaped box; Jude buys it for giggles, just to have. His young, goth girlfriend laughs too, despite getting pricked by something sharp in the suit. It’s not long before Jude finds validity to his purchase and he’s visited by the owner of the suit, wielding a blade pendulum and X’s replacing his eyes. When Jude demands a refund from the seller, he finds out she has a sinister plot for him after blaming him for the death of her sister, Jude’s previous girlfriend. It’s up to Jude and his girlfriend Georgia to survive the vengeful spirit of a heartbroken step father as they run for there lives, but is there an escape?

I have to give Hill credit, while not perfect I ate this book up. Hill has a easy style that channels hint’s of his father’s earlier work but feels uniquely his own. The story is well paced and there is a good sense of dread throughout. Craddock, the spirit, is a eerie force that feels threatening and works as a good antagonist. My favorite part of the story was Jude and Georgia’s relationship and character arcs throughout the story. What I admit what I didn’t like was the actual end to Craddock, feeling like it came to out of left field and went to too far out to land a happy ending. In the end, it’s a enjoyable book by a good author I can’t wait to read more of that I recommend picking up. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Batman: Assault on Arkham

220px-Batman_Assault_on_Arkham_cover

So when I talked about Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay  I said it was basically the interpretation I wanted; in Batman: Arkham Origins we got the hint of Waller and the Suicide Squad that sadly never got to go anywhere in the Arkham verse…until now.

The Riddler is on the loose again and the feds are on his trail as well as his nemesis, Batman. He’s apprehended and sent to Arkham Asylum, but Amanda Waller isn’t pleases; Riddler has some vital information she needs. She assembles Task Force X, aka the Suicide Squad, to infiltrate the asylum and get him. Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, King Shark, and Killer Frost make there way in but nothing is ever easy. Harley and Joker’s relationship is on the rocks after a messy breakup and she’s out for blood, Batman is on there ass, and Waller has ulterior motives than cost them there lives as a plot is unleashed from inside the asylum.

Much like Hell to Pay, this is exactly what I wanted from a Suicide Squad film, unapologetic badassery from some great bad guys as well as Batman being the stoic badass he is. I love watching the clash between  the Bat and the Squad. Riddler was unexpected cool and welcome part of things as well. The movie feels very much part of the Arkham verse with a lot of game accurate voices and character cameos; what bothered me however was trying to place it in the timeline- I personally want to say it’s between Origins and Asylum but I can’t really be sure. The only little gripe I have is the title feels misleading and I feel like this is a Suicide Squad movie first instead of a Bat movie. In the end, if you love the Arkham games, you will have plenty of fun with this movie. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Ratched series trailer

We live in a strange time friends. This strange time now includes a Nurse Ratched origin series, the tyrannical nurse from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I’m sorta curious where the hell this series is going to take this. I want to watch it for Sarah Paulson and I’m hoping for the best. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Predators

predators

We begin with Royce, a mercenary,  falling from the sky, unaware how he ended up in such a predicament. After avoiding death, he discovers he isn’t the only one. The survivors of the drop land in an uncharted jungle, each armed and each a soldier, killer from there respective field. After a run in with with these four legged alien beasts, they start to question what’s going on when an unseen assailant starts picking them off. Prey for a new kind of hunter on a lien world, how long can they survive the ultimate hunters?

Predator 3 is a mixed bag but I appreciate that they tried expanding the lore and didn’t just repackage the formula of the first 2 movies. I actually like how the characters are mostly hostile towards each other and have pretty cool backgrounds with a curve-ball towards the end; the story reminds me of The Most Dangerous Game featuring the Predator. I like the idea of introducing different Predator clans but the bastard Predator looked kinda goofy with the half mask and under bite. The effects are good for the most part but there are a few questionable moments. My favorite action scene is definitely the sword fight between the Yakuza assassin and the Predator. The ending is fine but I hate how open ended it is. There is a lot of callbacks to the first and the score is a nice updated feel of the original. In the end, Predators is a decent sequel that you may like if you want something a little different from the series. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

 

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Gameplay trailer

It’s no surprise the latest Assassin’s Creed to drop looks like it’s shaping up to be the best we’ve seen in ages. I love the combat changes and the graphics look stunning but I can’t help but wish it wasn’t an Assassin’s Creed game but a whole new IP instead. I’m wishing for the best and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Watch Dogs: Legion cinematic trailer

I like the cyberpunk vision they are going for and the narration is a nice touch even though I’m getting bored of dystopia. The break neck pacing was jarring but some of the action scenes are cool. I think the gameplay trailer was better than the cinematic, but this conveys a message that it’s here. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Watch Dogs: Legion gameplay overview

I’ve never been into the Watch Dogs series, even though many people have told me 2 was a huge step in the right direction. Legion looks like a blast and I like the inspiration taken from Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood and the loads of different ways to play the game out. Legion very well might be where I start the series. May the gaming gods bring you glory.