Yesterday, Rogers TV in London, Ontario began airing a spot featuring yours truly speaking about THE WAR BENEATH, my motivations, inspirations, and the meaning of the term “technothriller.”
Category: Movies
Book Cover, Book Review, Character Development, Horror, J.J. Martin, Movies, Suspense
TSJ Reviews Father Sweet by J.J. Martin
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TSJ Reviews FATHER SWEET by J.J. Martin
FATHER SWEET is the debut novel by Canadian writer J.J. Martin. It centers around a boy’s life in a small hamlet near Ottawa in Northern Ontario and his intersecting path with not only the local predatory priest, but also his father’s mysterious occupation and reasons behind the cold-hearted manner in which he raises his children. The two stories converge near the book’s conclusion, and the novel is a riveting tale of abuse, strength, revenge, and redemption.
Book Review, Horror, Inspirations, Movies, Science, Suspense, Technology, The 1980's, The 1990's, Thriller
TSJ on The Hot Zone
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I read this book shortly after its release in 1994. It is a page turner. It brought public attention to the threat of deforestation, and it did so in graphic, horrific detail.
Action, Movie Review, Movies, Suspense, Thriller, Underwater Thriller
TSJ Reviews the Netflix Documentary Thriller LAST BREATH
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“A deep sea diver is stranded on the seabed with 5 minutes of oxygen and no hope of rescue. With access to amazing archive this is the story of one man’s impossible fight for survival.” — from IMDB
Link
John Carpenter’s Contribution to Speculative and Science Fiction Film
This week, speculative fiction blog Aurelia Leo published an article I wrote on legendary SF director John Carpenter. Over the decades I’ve searched out any property I could find that Carpenter has directed. Find my thoughts on many of his SF films at the link, including THEY LIVE, PRINCE OF DARKNESS, THE THING, and ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK.
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TSJ’s “My Favorite Things Related to the Oceans”
Over at Speculative Chic they’ve posted an article I wrote about the Science Fiction books and movies that I love most featuring the oceans. They helped inspire me to write THE WAR BENEATH. Some of them are novels from the tail end of the Golden Age of Science Fiction.
Action, Character Development, Horror, Movie Review, Movies, Netflix, Suspense, Thriller
An Interpretation of BIRD BOX
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TSJ Interprets BIRD BOX, a Netflix Original
BIRD BOX is a gripping horror/survival/post-apocalyptic film. The disaster reveal happens near the beginning of the movie, but it does not explain the “monsters” in any real detail (more on this later). This is another film in the horror sub-genre involving a sensory deprivation. Recent examples include DON’T BREATHE and A QUIET PLACE. In those films, the story forces characters to remain silent or risk death. In the case of BIRD BOX, however, the sense involved is sight. If the characters see the monster, they die — in this case, victims kill themselves after witnessing the creatures.
Action, Horror, Movie Review, Movies, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
TSJ Reviews HOLD THE DARK
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TSJ Reviews HOLD THE DARK
Film: HOLD THE DARK, An Original @Netflix #Movie
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Riley Keough, Alexander Skarsgard
Directed by: Jeremy Saulnier
Screenplay by: Macon Blair
Based on the Novel By: William Giraldi
This is a captivating and moody film holding layer upon layer of meaning that will keep viewers guessing until the end. It’s compelling and engaging, thanks to strong acting and beautiful cinematography, and it reminded me of WIND RIVER crossed with THE REVENANT. It’s a mystery, a crime thriller, and a brutal examination of the thin line that divides human from animal. Answers are not stated outright, but the clues are all there … so watch closely.
Horror, Movie Review, Movies, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
TSJ Reviews ESCAPE ROOM (2017)
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TSJ Reviews ESCAPE ROOM (2017)
Film: ESCAPE ROOM (2017)
Starring: Evan Williams, Elizabeth Hower, Annabelle Stephenson, Dan J. Johnson
Director: Will Wernick
Writer: Noah A.D.
Budget: Unknown
It took me a little bit to decide whether I wanted to write this review or not.
Movie Review, Movies, OSCARs, The 1970's, The 1980's
TSJ Reviews BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
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TSJ Reviews BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
Sometimes less is more, and I am aiming to keep this short and sweet, hopefully to have greater impact on those who might stumble across it. My wish is that it might motivate people to spend two hours at the theaters this weekend.