Not-horror movie review...

 

HERETIC (2024) had an excruciatingly slow build-up. I almost quit early on because the two missionary sisters were so irritating that it made it hard to stay invested in anything happening to them.

This was also pretty misleading. It’s sold like a horror movie, but it’s really a psychological thriller, and not a very thrilling one. A lot of talking. A lot of circling the same ideas. Very little payoff.

I kept waiting for some kind of mind-blowing ending that would justify sitting through the rest of it, but that never came. By the time the movie wrapped up, I realized I didn’t actually care whether the main characters lived or died.

Overall, it felt slow, talky, and underwhelming. If you’re expecting horror or a strong payoff, this probably isn’t it.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Tuesday Terror: SIGNIFICANT OTHER

If you love both science fiction and horror, Significant Other (2022) is absolutely worth your time. It starts out like a low-key relationship thriller, almost deceptively normal, then slowly lets something much stranger creep in. When the shift happens, it feels earned, not like a cheap twist. It’s one of those movies where you realize halfway through that you’re watching something smarter than you expected.

What makes it work is how the sci-fi doesn’t replace the horror, it sharpens it. The film uses its science fiction angle to dig into fear around trust, identity, and intimacy. The scares are personal. It’s not just about survival. It’s about realizing the person beside you might not be who you think they are, and what that means emotionally as well as physically.

It’s tense, contained, and surprisingly thoughtful. The setting does a lot of heavy lifting, and the performances keep everything grounded so the concept actually lands. If you like horror that gets under your skin and sci-fi that isn’t afraid to be weird and intimate, this one hits that sweet spot. Give it a chance. I think you’ll be glad you did.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Book vs Movie

 

THE CABIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD written by Paul Tremblay and KNOCK AT THE CABIN direct by M. Night Shyamalan tell the same story, but neither version lived up to what the premise promised.

The book sounded like it would be tense and emotionally brutal. Instead, I found it frustrating. There’s so much potential here, but very little is done with it. The constant ambiguity and lack of action drained the impact for me instead of deepening it.

The movie is only slightly better, but at least it tries to give the audience some footing. It still holds back, but it makes an effort to provide closure, which helped.

I didn’t love either version. The book disappointed me, and the film only improves on it a little. Both had the bones of something unforgettable, but too much is lost to hesitation and uncertainty. If you’re curious at all, the movie is the better experience.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Characters Go Crunch

If you love old-school creature features from the 1970s, SEA DEVIL by Scott Donnelly is going to be right up your alley. I’m already a huge fan of his work, and this book is a must-have.

The setup feels familiar in a good way, but the execution has its own teeth. There’s enough atmosphere and menace here to satisfy anyone who grew up on gritty, creature-on-the-loose films.

If you enjoy yelling at characters for crap decisions, check out this bunch. For me, it's a perfect blend of nostalgia and fresh storytelling, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

As always,

AstraDaemon

 

Craig DiLouie Controversy

EPISODE THIRTEEN by Craig DiLouie is the kind of psychological horror novel that slowly strangles your mind. I chose to read this because DiLouie is one of my all-time favorite authors, and I’ve enjoyed so much of what he’s done over the years.

This book feels like entering a dark tunnel that slowly begins to fill with water, with an undercurrent of science fiction pulling the reader deeper into a twisted terrorscape. At times it reminded me more of The Children of Red Peak than his other stories I’ve read.

I enjoyed the unsettling direction the story took, but I never really connected with the characters. I didn’t care if they lived or died, and that distance made the emotional payoff feel weaker to me than in some of DiLouie’s other books.

The ending is bleak and depressing, which fits the tone, but it left me feeling more worn out than satisfied.

This is a book more for die-hard DiLouie fans than casual readers. If you love his style and don’t mind a slow burn with a dark finish, you’ll probably enjoy it. For me, it wasn’t as memorable as some of his previous work, but it still has enough atmosphere and unpredictability to be worth a look.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Friday Fright: Psychotic

 

PETRIFIED WOMEN by Jeremy Ray caught me off-guard. I expected one kind of story and ended up somewhere I never would have predicted.

The story moves in a direction I didn’t anticipate, and that sense of unease builds naturally. You’re never quite on solid ground, even when you think you’ve caught on. That unpredictability is what makes it so thrilling.

The ending is dark and a little cruel, the kind that leaves you sitting there for a minute after it’s over. I loved it. If you enjoy short fiction that surprises you and isn’t afraid to go bleak, this one is absolutely worth your time.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Movie Review: WEAPONS

I don’t watch a lot of movies anymore. My free time usually goes to books, so when I sit down for a film, it’s because something really caught my attention. The trailer for Weapons did exactly that. It promised something dark, unsettling, and genuinely disturbing.

The movie itself didn’t live up to that promise.

Instead of feeling tense or frightening, a lot of it came across as unintentionally comedic. Scenes that should have been eerie landed flat, and moments that seemed designed to unsettle felt more awkward than scary. I kept waiting for the tone to shift into something truly menacing, but it never really got there.

The characters didn’t help. I wasn’t invested in any of them, and without that connection, the stakes never felt real. Horror works best when you care who survives. Here, I found myself detached, more aware of the setup than immersed in it.

The trailer is honestly the best part of this experience. It sells a movie that feels sharper, darker, and far more effective than what’s actually on screen.

If you’re going in expecting something genuinely frightening, you may be disappointed. This one never became the horror film it wanted to be.

As always,

AstraDaemon

September Shorts: Day 3

HANNAH-BEAST by Jennifer McMahon is absolutely horrifying on so many levels. Drunk parents, mean girls and murders. A tragic Halloween tale told in past and present. Add it to your October list.

As always,

AstraDaemon

September Shorts: Day 2

It was supposed to be a fun trip in which the author could meet some of his readers but when he travels to their country, he soon learns their reasons for coming to meet him aren't quite as how he had imagined it...

MEET: HE CAME, THEY ATE by Matt Shaw isn't his best work. The action doesn't even begin until the story is halfway over. The characters lack any kind of depth.

Here's the thing, my favorite Shaw stories include amazing storylines, creative violence and bizarre characters. This didn't have any of that.

If you're new to Shaw I recommend his stories that take place in or around water. He's really in his element then.

As always,

AstraDaemon

September Shorts: Day 1

When the crew of an oil platform off the coast of Virginia rescue a survivor from a lifeboat adrift at sea, they unknowingly bring a zombie virus aboard their rig. Before long, a few crew members are infected and reanimate. As the crew is rapidly transformed into the living dead, Captain Jason Clark must find a way to stop the infection before it can reach shore, even if that means sacrificing everyone on board.

DEAD WATER by Scott M. Baker is a thrilling quick read! The author wastes no time diving into a sea of blood. The crew does try to use caution, but it's too little too late.

I think this would make a good action movie. Highly recommend this one!

As always,

Astra Daemon

30 Days of Creature Features: DOLPHIN

DOLPHIN by Matt Shaw needed to be written; I am so tired of everyone glossing over the dark side of dolphins. I'm not sure I would call this comedy horror, as I found the gory events quite serious. If you have a weak stomach, it's best to stay away from this one...unless you live near a beach. Then, read it as a cautionary tale.

If you decide to dive into this story, make sure to read the entire novella. The ending is a complete shocker.

I would love to see Shaw write about otters next.

As always,

AstraDaemon

30 Days of Creature Features: GOBLINS

They want the children!

Someone is taking children from their homes on Roanoke Island, and gruesomely slaughtering their families.

After a small, hideous-looking creature is discovered at one of the murder scenes, Chief of Police Marcus Hale realizes whatever is responsible for the killings isn’t even human. Hale suspects a bizarre link to the past, to the end of the 16th Century, when the island’s first settlers disappeared, leaving only the word Croatoan carved into a tree.

But something far more sinister than he ever imagined is at work. And if it isn’t stopped soon, the entire island’s population will perish. Just like it did so many centuries ago.

David Bernstein has been one of my favorite authors for years, so I dug around to see if I missed any of his books and found GOBLINS. The story flips between the POVs of the humans and the goblins, which is not something I expected from the author. Honestly, I wasn't sure this would be a good idea. I thought this might make the goblins cheesy instead of chilling.

At first, the characters seem stereotypical for this sub-genre of horror, but they are believable and not the usual close-minded small-town folk. They know something is slaughtering entire families and acknowledge this might not be a serial killer after all. Some of them are even willing to consider the folklore woven into their history is an attempt to warn and protect future generations.

While not as frightening as Bernstein's other stories, I still recommend this one to fans of 80s monster movies.

As always,

Astra Daemon

Reviews Coming Soon

 

Beware of Reddit Recommendations

COWS by Matthew Stokoe was recommended to me on the Reddit horror sub. While the story kept me hooked like a slab of beef, this is waaay out of my comfort zone. The cows were a complete surprise to me...I thought the author was going to introduce cannibalism. I think people eating people would have been more mild than what the workers did to the cows, or what the cows did to folks in retaliation. Not to mention, Stephen's home life is a graphic nightmare.

If you're into extreme horror, read this. If you're just a tourist like me, consider this a warning.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Emotionally Devastating | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE THINGS HE HEARD by Matt Shaw is tragic and horrifying because of the realism. It doesn't take a stretch of imagination to envision this type of violence behind closed doors or in the classroom.

The most disturbing aspect is the way the boy's thoughts and feelings are completely disregarded. The emotional aspect is similar to IMMORTAL SHADOWS and THE SUICIDE CLUB.

I recommend all three.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Science Be Damned | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

When ships begin disappearing in the Bermuda Triangle, something survives long enough to show the gruesome tale of what may have been behind the disappearances.

But, when a run of the mill treasure hunter Rick Morgan comes across video footage that survived one of the shipwrecks, he is determined to uncover what happened. After enlisting the help of Dr. Strant, an expert in disappearances at sea, they set off to see what lies in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle.

What they find there may prevent them from leaving.

CREATURE BEYOND THE TIDE by Kayla Hicks attempts to explain the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle with a creature feature. The action has a unique angle I haven't seen other sea horror stories, so I remained hooked from beginning to end.

Unfortunately, this piece is far too short...leaving me with unanswered questions. I'm hoping the author will give us a sequel with more information about the creature's hunting habits.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Hell in a Cell | Flash Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

The last scribblings of a damned soul, found scratched upon a wall.

SENSATION by Christian Hall is pretty much torture porn. Not much else to say about this flash fiction piece. I am curious about the author's other stories now...

As always,

AstraDaemon

Faulty Appliance | Short Story Review | AstraDaemon

Going to be reviewing a lot of short stories and flash fiction this month...

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THE FRIDGE by J.R. Rain is a nightmare with layers...not getting the product as described, being forced to endure someone else's will, and more. While captivating, I do wish the author had written more about the history of the fridge.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Blood Feud | Kindle Vella Review | AstraDaemon

I've brought you zombies and werewolves from Kindle Vella...today, I'm bringing a vampire serial into the Lair...

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HAINT by Samuel Brower takes place in Kentucky, after a mine collapse. One tragedy leads to another, and corpses begin to pile up around the small town of Haint's Hollow. The sheriff soon realizes this is something much worse than the work of meth-heads and drug dealers.

The author does an excellent job of twisting family drama and crime drama into an action-packed horror serial. While the story comes to a natural conclusion, I'd love to see more of these characters. (Maybe the Appalachian Druid series?)

If you want a Vella story which doesn't use cliché cliff-hangers to keep readers interested, you really need to dip into these episodes.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Texas Terror | Kindle Vella Review | AstraDaemon

Yesterday, I posted a review about a Vella serial with zombies...now we move on to a werewolf story...

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THE BEAST OF SETTLER'S POINT by Kody Boye is a mix of western horror and supernatural folklore. The story takes place in 1845, told from the POV of a young girl who soon discovers war is not the only thing killing people in the wilds of Texas.

I've read many stories by this author, but Boye still surprised me with the interaction between characters and the ending. Every episode had me changing my guess about the details of the werewolf threat.

I'm recommending this one to Young Adult and New Adult fiction fans.

As always,

AstraDaemon