If I Ever Leave This World Alive

Science fiction thriller “Prometheus” brought audiences back to the terrifying world of aliens and gave actress Charlize Theron her second consecutive blockbuster this summer after scoring with “Snow White and the Huntsman” the week prior. Previously helmed as a prequel to the “Alien” series, film creator Ridley Scott chose to portray this as a standalone film with some elements of the original 1979 “Alien” starring Sigourney Weaver. “Lost” writer Damon Lindelof was brought on to rewrite the script after it took several years for this story set nearly eighty years into the future to get off the ground. After a two year voyage in space, a ship named Prometheus arrives on a planet that is thought to be inhabited with aliens responsible for the birth of humans according to cave paintings found in various parts of the globe.

A team was developed with the help of a mysterious, ailing funder to find out if these aliens are alive and how exactly we are linked to them, but after the ship makes its landing it quickly becomes clear that these aliens are hostile toward humans. Noomi Rapace stars as Elizabeth Shaw, an archaeologist with strong beliefs in God and is desperate to find out if these aliens are truly the “engineers” she believes them to be. It was somewhat of a surprise to see “The O.C.” star Logan Marshall-Green cast in such a high profile role as Rapace’s love interest and partner. Theron plays Meredith Vickers, one of the funder’s employees sent to keep an eye on the crew and control the situation, but has her own agenda. The film tackles such issues as Faith and Science just as Lindelof’s ABC show did for six seasons. It was very interesting how Scott chose to develop the aliens in this film as they technically did not have to be replicas from his past films.

Theron was not the only familiar face on board the ship, as “X-Men: Origins” actor Michael Fassbender plays David, an android who acts as the ship’s butler and liaison to the project’s billionaire funder, ensuring that his dying wishes are granted. Fassbender gave perhaps the best performance of the film from his devious actions as a robot obeying his master to his immeasurable amount of knowledge; at one point he toyingly whispers “there is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing.” This movie certainly echoed the original, but lacked character development and actual horror with the exception of a few scenes; whereas the original “Alien” had a cast of five, this one has nearly twenty. Just as in the footsteps of Theron’s previous hit, “Prometheus” made over $50 million in its first weekend after premiering on June 8^th 2012. A sequel seems imminent as the door is left wide open at the end of the film with so many unanswered questions and possibilities to go from here.

No Sleep Tonight

Chilling psychological thriller “Before I Go to Sleep” by first-time author S. J. Watson remains one of those few books that you just can’t put done. The novel tells the story of 47-year-old Christine Lucas who wakes each day in a place she does not know and next to a man she does not recognize as her husband. She stares into her bathroom mirror at the labeled pictures surrounding her not knowing how she has aged twenty years after suffering head injuries in an accident during her twenties. The book follows the formula of a diary written by the amnesiac herself, but with the beginning of each chapter the reader almost immediately forgets that they are reading a journal because the story is written so well. After meeting with Dr. Nash, who contacted her about doing a study on her illness, Christine begins to keep the journal in order to see if it helps her to remember what she had done the day before. In doing so she finds out about her life, her past and ultimately that her husband, Ben, isn’t telling her everything.

With plenty of twists and turns, “Before I Go to Sleep” will have you up all night thinking about what will happen next to Christine or what she will learn about the missing twenty years from her life. Can she trust the man she married or the doctor she is seeing behind his back? Or are these paranoid feelings just more symptoms of her illness? The book was published in the spring of 2011 by the Dublin native with one critic calling it “quite simply the best debut ever.” It reached number seven on the “New York Times Bestseller’s List,” making Watson the highest debut for a British author since “Harry Potter” writer J. K. Rowling. It has been reported that “Alien” producer and writer Ridley Scott has purchased the rights to adapt this novel into a film and has tapped Rowan Joffe to direct. Although many fans of the book call the ending “obvious” and “hurried,” some were generally shocked at the turn of events that occurred, which you’ll have to read for yourself.

The Lady In The Blue Dress

Daniele Radcliffe’s first post-“Harry Potter” film debuted this month and while the trailer made it seem like the horror flick would scare audiences into seeing it, the movie itself lacked any thrill. “The Woman in Black” centers on a young widower, Radcliffe, who is assigned to find the last will and testament of the former occupants of a secluded house in the early Twentieth Century. The unwelcoming townspeople believe that if you see the woman in black, she will appear to a child who is doomed to kill themselves. If it were not for the high pitch of the woman’s screams or the way she handles a rocking chair, there is truly little to fear about her.

Radcliffe’s character is also suffering from both the death of his wife during childbirth and his financial issues with his firm. He is forced to continue his search for the sake of his own son even after town’s children begin to die in front of him and reappear as ghosts. With so many opportunities to branch out the storyline and include other characters into the back story, this horror film chose to not stray too far from the most obvious plot. The movie does win points for its creepy use of old dolls and a visually stunning set, but this doesn’t make up for the writer’s lack of exploration even if the film is based on the Susan Hill novel of the same name.

The movie earned $20 million in its opening weekend with a budget of $13 million, making it an unexpected success for CBS Films. With a release in the UK following a week later, the film has gone on to bring in over $50 million worldwide. “The Woman in black” is plagued by a lack of mystery; as if the audience didn’t already figure out what was going to happen, the woman’s reasons for killing the town’s children is explained a mere twenty minutes into the plot. And if your hoping that a shocking ending could save this horror flick from being forgotten, don’t hold your breath; what could have been an interesting mystery turned out to be Radcliffe walking around a deserted home for ninety-five minutes.

Marry The Night

Dark comedy “Fright Night” might have sailed by moviegoers when it premiered at the tail-end of the summer, but this remake of the 1985 Tom Holland film has made its way into living rooms on DVD. The R-rated 3D film packs a lot of language, gore and laughs, but fails to keep viewers interested from a lack of mystery and suspense. With comparisons to the similarly-plotted “Disturbia,” this movie centers on a young teenager named Charlie, played by “Terminator Salvation” star Anton Yelchin, who becomes convinced that his neighbor is a blood-sucking vampire.

The story takes place in a small dessert development just outside of Las Vegas, perfect for Colin Farrell’s Jerry to go on a secluded killing spree without being noticed. Farrell gives both a convincing and frightening performance as a slick, seductive four hundred year old vampire. However, the film didn’t know whether to be seriously scary or outrageously funny, which is proven when Charlie’s mom, played by Toni Collette, barely reacts to just escaping her house being blown up by her neighbor. This could have been a great film had it not been for the lack of thrill or seriousness in tone.

It’s obviously alright for a dark comedy to be a little out there, but this was by far ridiculous. What “Fright Night” got wrong was immediately telling the audience that their suspicions were in fact correct and Jerry is indeed a vampire about fifteen minutes into the movie. The whole reason why films like “Disturbia” and “The Lost Boys” were successful was because the audience was kept in the dark as much as the main character and part of them really wonders if whether what the main character is thinking is real or if it’s all in their head.

Each writer’s take on vampire anthology is always different and in this form, vampires can create other vampires by biting them, but their victims can return to human form if they themselves are killed. “Fright Night” opened at number six at the Box Office and grossed only eight million dollars while accumulating nearly forty million dollars globally against its thirty million dollar budget. Although there were obvious issues with the story and some really bad lines, the film was mostly fun to watch with great computer graphics and a dark music soundtrack, but viewers couldn’t help but ask where this story was going.

Time Of Your Life

Hit or miss actor/singer/comedienne Justin Timberlake tackles science fiction in his new thriller “In Time,” which hit theaters last week. Set in the future, this retro-influenced film packs some big names behind a dazzling compilation of eras.

The movie begins by informing the viewers that a genetic alteration allowed humanity to develop a system where individuals stop aging twenty-five years after birth. Timberlake plays Will, a twenty-eight year old man whose time in this world is about to run out.

Due to over-population concerns, time has replaced money as the standard currency and people must acquire more time through labor after turning twenty-five years of age, or die within a single year. The poor live in ghettos where people work each day to earn hours of life while the rich live in luxurious mansions for centuries based on how much time they have accumulated.

Amanda Seyfried plays Timberlake’s love interest and sports a short, red wig for the film while Olivia Wilde, fresh off her stint on FOX’s medical drama “House,” plays Timberlake’s extremely young-looking mother. “Mad Men’s” Vincent Kartheiser and “Batman Begins’” Cillian Murphy team up to try and stop both Timberlake and Seyfried from taking back time.

The movie opened in third place last weekend, behind “Puss in Boots” and “Paranormal Activity 3,” with twelve million dollars. With Timberlake’s history of major flops, “The Love Guru,” and minor successes, “The Social Network,” what list will this film be placed on?

All I Have To Do Is Dream

Here is the second part of the top ten scariest movies that can be caught on TV this week with some that you’ll have to pick up at red box.

5 ) “A Nightmare on Elm Street” airing on CINEMAX Sun, Nov 6, 5:00 PM

This 1984 horror film that created seven sequels and a remake tells the story of a murdered child molester who returns to kill his now teenage victims in their dreams. Sporting a Christmas sweater, glove of knives, and third degree burns, Freddy Kruger will surely give you a reason to stay awake; “nine, ten, never sleep again.”

4 ) “Copycat” airing on TNT Mon, Oct 31, 1:00 AM

Sigourney Weaver stars as a criminal psychologist who is bound to her home after a tragic incident that forces her to develop agoraphobia. After two detectives land on her doorstep, she unwillingly tries to help them solve a series of murders that resemble famous killings from the past. This underappreciated thriller can usually be caught on TV late at night, even when it isn’t Halloween.

3 ) “Halloween” airing on AMC Wed, Oct 26, 10:00 PM

John Carpenter’s low-budget 1978 movie was the one that started it all. This slow-paced and suspenseful film is about a crazed lunatic who seeks out his younger sister after spending his life in a mental hospital following the killing of their older sister. Jamie Lee Curtis stars as a babysitter who keeps seeing “the boogie man” while wondering where her friends keep disappearing to on Halloween.

2 ) “Scream” airing on MTV Sat, Oct 29, 8:00 PM

With three sequels and one as recent as this year, this 1996 slasher flick takes the cake as the most suspenseful of its kind and begs the question: What happens when people watch too many scary movies? A ghost-faced murderer goes on a killing spree in the small town of Woodsboro and with so many possible suspects, can Sydney Prescott, played by Neve Campbell, tell who’s the killer and who’s the red-herring?

1 ) “What Lies Beneath” go to red box

Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford star as a married couple who start to see a blonde ghost in their New England home after suffering some marital problems the year prior. From the mystery of the story to the incredible score, this horror film will have you jumping out of your chair every time you hear the name Madison, not to mention the bathtub scene.

Honorable Mentions: “Pet Sematary,” “When a Stranger Calls,” “Saw,” “Paranormal Activity,” and “Final Destination.”

Haunted

After a lackluster pilot, the highly anticipated horror drama “American Horror Story” found its footing in its second episode but still needs to have some fun. The dark and twisted show premiered last week on FX and continues to unfold interesting mysteries.

The show centers on a family that has moved from Boston to Los Angeles after the husband, Ben, was caught cheating on his wife, Vivien, who also suffered a miscarriage. The cross country move into a restored mansion was an attempt to salvage the couple’s marriage for the sake of their daughter, Violet, who suffers from depression; little did the family know that the house they had just purchased is haunted.

This is quite the career change for Connie Britton, Vivien, who just finished a successful five season run as mother of the year on “Friday Night Lights.” “The Practice’s” Dylan McDermott plays Ben, a psychiatrist who is trying to reconnect with his wife after having a fling with one of his students.

Created and produced by Ryan Murphy, the one hour drama is full of characters with odd behaviors and glimpses of disturbing images that feel more like a Stephen King made-for-TV-movie then an episode of “Glee.” The house has a lot of history and it seems that each episode’s beginning will give viewers a glimpse of the house at a different time. So far we have seen it as an abandoned junkyard in the seventies and a sorority house in the sixties.

Perhaps the most interesting scene in last week’s pilot episode was the interaction between the neighbor, played by Jessica Lange, and the maid, played by “Six Feet Under’s” Frances Conroy, who obviously share a past. The irresistibly intriguing Lange reveals a little mystery when she warns one of the two actresses who play the maid “don’t make me kill you again;” interesting.

One thing that stuck out within moments into the premiere was the fact that “Story” completely stole the music and much of the screenplay from the film “What Lies Beneath.” It was as if any moment Michelle Pfeiffer was going to come out of the bathtub screaming Madison. The second episode even featured the famous score from “Pyscho” during a murder scene.

The pilot episode garnered over five million viewers between two airings last week. Featuring baby heads in jars, ginger ghosts, and a creepy burn victim stalker, this show’s future is still up in the air. One thing is certain however: don’t go in the basement.

Come Sail Away

Murder-mystery writer James Patterson delivers another page-turner in his New York Times Best Seller “Sail,” which came out in the summer of 2008. Known for his quick chapters and whodunit storytelling, Patterson can add yet another book to the pile of ever growing Best Sellers.

The story centers on Katherine Dunne, a widow who takes her three children on a sailing voyage for the summer to rekindle past times spent with their deceased father. Captained by her brother-in-law and ex-lover, The Family Dunne was destined for rough waters and plagued by malfunctioning engines and even a fire.

Cutthroat Defense Attorney Peter Carlyle told his new wife Katherine that the trip would be a good idea for the kids who were all suffering from different issues that stemmed from the death of their father. Little did Katherine know that Peter had ulterior motives; about twenty million of them.

Several of Patterson’s novels have been adapted into films, including two Alex Cross movies starring Morgan Freeman (shown above) with another one set to be released next year. Patterson himself has guest starred on ABC’s “Castle,” a crime procedural about a mystery writer who helps a detective solve crimes.

The sixty-four year old author has written seventy one novels in thirty three years with “The Alex Cross Series” being his most popular and top-selling. He is known for his style of writing around the world and while his novels aren’t the best works of fiction, they are certainly easy and entertaining to read.

In recent years his novels have sold more copies than those of Stephen King, John Grisham and Dan Brown combined, leading King to publicly ridicule Patterson by calling him a terrible writer of several “dopey thrillers.” Patterson responded by saying that he is a storyteller and that “there are thousands of people who don’t like what I do; fortunately, there are millions who do.”

You can look for “I, Alex Cross” in theaters next year and any of Patterson’s novels in the fiction section of your local library.

Best Served Cold

Serial thriller “Revenge” is intriguing, smart, and turned out to be nothing short of a fun, campy soap on ABC’s Wednesday nights. The show stars “Brothers and Sisters” alum Emily VanCamp as a young woman seeking retribution on the people responsible for her father’s demise during a summer in the Hamptons.

A lot has happened since the mysterious Amanda Clarke, VanCamp, was forced to leave the Hamptons after her father was accused of having ties into the September Eleventh Attacks and subsequently committed suicide. Now some years later, Amanda returns to the place she once called home with a new name and a new hair color.

It is questionable why the writers thought it’d be OK to bring up September Eleventh as a main focal point to the story’s premise; it will always be too soon in my book. However, it is undeniable that VanCamp can handle her own show, which might be something she learned from her time spent on The WB’s “Everwood.”

The stunning Madeleine Stowe plays beautifully rich Victoria Grayson and lives next door to Emily Thorne, Amanda’s new identity, just as she did when Amanda was a little girl. Victoria suspects that her new neighbor has an ulterior motive when she notices her getting close to her son Daniel and she is very right.

It seems that Amanda will ruin one person’s life a week who was involved in the cover up with her father starting with Victoria’s best friend. There’s plenty of drama to go around; for instance, in its first outing there has been infidelity, food poisoning, and an unidentified murder that I presume will be revealed in the season finale.

Though I’m willing to admit that my initial review was wrong, I still don’t think viewers will stick with this show as it does air in ABC’s cursed Wednesday night timeslot. The premiere episode was watched by a solid ten million viewers, but lost over a million the following week.

The mystery drama will definitely intrigue people for the time being, but it will be interesting to see how the show will evolve once the first season is over, if there even is a second season. “Revenge” airs Wednesday nights at ten o’clock on ABC!

My Life Would Suck Without You

Premiering its third season last week, teen drama “The Vampire Diaries” continues to draw in viewers with exciting plot twists and good story telling, albeit not as shocking as last year’s season opener. What started out as a void to fill while “True Blood” was on hiatus, has become a show that has evolved into a cult classic and dare I say better than anything else on television.

The show revolves around Elena, a seventeen year old girl who lost her parents in a car accident and falls in love with a two-hundred year old vampire named Stefan. With the help of her friends, who have slowly found out about what’s really going on in their small town of Mystic Falls, “the scooby gang” of the new millennium team up to fight the forces of evil.

The story is definitely contrived, but the fact that Elena has an evil doppelganger, the producers use tasteless product placement, and these kids are barely seen at school, doesn’t faze me. Just as in the footsteps of its predecessors, each season brings forth a new supernatural entity to be reckoned with; so far we have been introduced to vampires, werewolves, and this year ghosts.

So much has happened since its premiere in the fall of 2008 that it’s literally hard to keep track of, much like the epic first season of “The O.C.” Through the course of the series there have been so many deaths; and were not just talking about that extra whose neck was snapped two minutes into the episode. We’re talking about series regular deaths, which just makes you want to watch the show even more if not to make sure your favorite character doesn’t die.

What “Diaries” gets right is that it keeps all the players involved in the supernatural elements by not only having the characters face the issues head on, but also having some of them become the monsters themselves. Not only that but the stories involving the supporting cast members such as Caroline and Jeremy have proven more interesting then the main character’s twisted love triangle consisting of dueling vampire brothers.

The show has averaged over four million viewers, which makes it “The CW’s” number one show on the network with season three’s opener bringing in three million sets of eyeballs. “Diaries” has received numerous award nominations recently including “Teen Choice Awards” and “People’s Choice Awards.”

The dramatic thriller is dark, scary, and gets a death scene right, which is more than I can say about “Scream 4.” It brings back to life what the original shows of “The WB” were like with most obvious comparisons to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Nearly every episode ends with a cliffhanger and some even involve a flashback, which offers viewers even more horrifyingly good campiness. “The Vampire Diaries” airs Thursdays at 8:00!