Film Review: Heathers (Deliciously Dark and Funny)

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Emma

“Another F**king Heather”

Okay, not a film that would fall under the supernatural genre, but it does have some elements of horror. And it’s a bloody good movie. It falls into my top 20 favourite films.

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heathersI can’t remember how I first came across this black comedy. Most likely I watched Heathers on the sly in a cousins’ house when I was a kid without my parents’ knowledge. Good times.

Winona Ryder (Veronica) belongs to the most popular clique at school along with three other girls, all named Heather. Lead Heather likes to bully the less fortunate students and Veronica goes along with it even if her heart isn’t in it. New boy at school, the cool and enigmatic J.D. (Christian Slater), fancies Veronica, but isn’t too keen on the people she hangs with.

They begin a courtship that involves passion, murder and staged suicides. Ah – young love. As the body count starts to rise, Veronica becomes increasingly concerned. Maybe J.D. isn’t the hot, cool guy she thought he was. Maybe he’s just a psycho who’s going to kill her when she no longer feels like playing his weird games.

I love the teenage speak in Heathers, which I think inspired some of the dialogue in Buffy. “What is your damage?” and  “Jealous Much?” are just a couple of the gems I used to enjoy saying in an American accent back in my teen days. I think Cordelia Chase (from Buffy) channelled Lead Heather a lot.

Heathers is fun and deliciously wicked, twisted in the most entertaining way.  Christian Slater and Winona Ryder are at their best here. For backup, they have Shannon Doherty, who is suitably bitchy. Heathers laughs in the face of Mean Girls. The 80’s movie is funny, daring, boasts a great cast, and the chemistry between Slater and Ryder sizzles. *****

Rent it tonight if you haven’t seen it in a while.

“Teenage suicide; don’t do it!” (Can’t get the song out of my head)

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Who has seen Heathers? What are your Favourite 80’s Movies?

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Book Review: Redemption by Michelle Cornwell-Jordan

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Emma

Redemption is the last in the Night School Vampire Hunter series by Michelle Cornwell-Jordan. Since I enjoyed the first and second novella, I was delighted to get my hands on an early copy of Redemption.

Here’s a quick reminder of what went down in the first two novellas.

Night School Vampire Hunter #1

night school 115 year old Angel’s supernatural problems begin on her birthday, October 31st. Yep, Halloween as luck would have it. This is the first time she has the disconcerting vision of the little girl with wriggling worms in place of where her face should be, some kind of portent of bad events to come. After the mysterious disappearance of her parents, Angel (her real name is a lot fancier -Dasheen Bellamy) enrols in Ame Academy, a wicked looking Gothic-style castle with her younger brother, Jordan. Pretty soon, Angel learns about the existence of supernatural creatures, and the unsettling truth that she is a warrior fated to fight them.

Angel dreams of a boy she has never met; she knows somehow he is coming, but not who he is or what they mean to one another.

In the first book we are also introduced to Elin, Bella Donna and Ismet, her fellow pupils and three supernatural ladies I was hoping would make an appearance in the next book.

Kindred (Night School Vampire Hunter #2)

kindredAngel’s crushing on the gorgeous Rafael. Unfortunately she doesn’t have much time to enjoy the new relationship given the Big Bad Evil that’s on the way. Angel is still reeling from learning about the supernatural world and her central role as a Vampire Hunter. She has a unique ability for a Hunter; her blood kills vampires. She’s also dealing with a younger brother who’s mid transition, and she makes it her mission to save him from becoming a monster.

I wanted to find out more about Elin, Ismet and Bella Donna (half human/half vampire, Jinn and natural born vampire, respectively). I was happy to discover more about them in Kindred.

The first novella was simply a vampire story. Kindred goes beyond that. There are layers of mythology beneath the surface, and a greater fantasy aspect here with godlike beings and all types of otherworldly creatures.

Book Review: Redemption

redemWith Angel lost in the abyss, a sense of dread hangs over Ame Academy. Rafael is in despair and unable to cope without his soulmate. Ismet, Elin and Bella Donna take centre stage in this final chapter, propelling the action along to Halloween Night.

As per the first two books, I found my interest drawn more to the supernatural trio Ismet, Elin and Bella Donna than Angel and Rafael’s side of the story. I was delighted to see these powerful ladies front and centre in Redemption. Their banter about the subjects they studied at school made me wish I’d had the option to take  “Supernatural Cultures 101” back in my secondary school days.

My only gripe with Redemption would be with the final battle. Halloween night loomed over all their heads, but when the battle arrived, it was very short. I’d like to have seen an extended battle scene because I’m blood-thirsty like that. 🙂

The mythological creatures in the Night School series are fascinating. When I read the first novella, I thought the trilogy was going to be about vampires and slayers only, but then a host of Supes were introduced, making these books pretty unique in the YA vampire/otherworldly category. Redemption, like the first two books, is a short and enjoyable read. I’d love to see another story that follows Angel on her next adventure. ****

Favourite Quote:

“Soon there would  be Supernaturals on Reality Television”

Check out the series on Goodreads and Amazon where you can get all 3 novellas in one.

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Anyone got any supernatural books you’d like to recommend?

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