Garnet Night

Gothic Snowstorm

2009-12-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

That's what it looks like to me anyway. A peach pie is baking in the oven, holiday lights are twinkling about our warm and cozy home, the makings for a homemade (non-alcohol) fruitcake awaits mixing and baking later. We've enjoyed spicy and savory snacks of sausage, nachos, eggrolls. Tonight we'll drive about enjoying lawn displays; upon return home will dip into "Ile de France" baked brie with cranberries, apricots, almonds and brandy. 'Tis the season! :-D

Happy Holidays to my readers: Even if you don't like it! ;-p

The Haunting of Helen Wren, by Jan Alexander [1975]

2009-12-24T05:33:00.000-08:00

Finished reading this Gothic last evening. It's unusual and original, and on that basis I give it 5 out of 5 stars. It's also a negative Gothic, in that it has no happy ending. The storytelling is done in a measured and progressive semi-"crazy quilt" fashion. It opens with Helen and her troubles. Helen is a sympathetic but somewhat unlikeable character. Her deceased father was a domineering religionist, and at age 27 Helen is meek and undecided...and a boyfriendless virgin. Upon her release from Ville de Valle, a luxury psychiatric hospital, Helen returns home: Where a year prior her parents were brutally slain by unknown assailants. She is nearly raped (and presumably later to be murdered), but is spared by the approach of police sirens (neighbor heard the screams/commotion and phoned the cops). Helen suffers a nervous breakdown as a result.

It's a year later and she decides to return to the unhappy (always) home alone. Her sister, Robie, arrives to usher Helen home; Robie is a free-spirited rebel who resides in NYC and doesn't spend the night. She stays the afternoon with Helen and returns home. Robie has offered to stay awhile, but Helen insists she'll be fine. Mrs. Halvorsen, the cook/maid, is part-time help who refuses to stay overnight. So we have the very unlikely scenario of a mental patient having suffered a catastrophic breakdown returning to the house wherein the savage butchery of her parents occurred, spending the very first night alone. :-\ I doubt it.

It turns out, no surprise, that the house is haunted. On nights of the full moon Helen hears the cries and crashes of her parents' vicious murders "replayed." She also experiences sudden extremely cold drafts and the sensation of someone in bed beside her.

Helen, usually timid and indecisive, decides to seek Robie's help and goes to NYC. Robie had challenged their father, had defiantly told him she'd go on her own even if it meant being disinherited from a fortune. Their father agreed. Robie works, keeps a small apartment, is a party girl with a string of lovers. She's also devoted to Helen, and is stunned but curious when Helen arrives to proclaim their family home haunted.

Two doctors subsequently check into Helen's story. The first, Dr. Brewer, was known to Robie during her days at Columbia University; Dr. Brewer is an M.D. whose hobby is ghost hunting/paranormal. Dr. Wallace steps into the picture at the end; he is a psychiatrist. Both men, while empirically trained and claiming to be skeptical, are actually rather open to the supernatural in ways genuinely empirically trained professionals wouldn't be.

It turns out the house is indeed haunted.

This is the first Gothic I've read wherein the heroine doesn't have a love interest. No man seeks her romantically nor sexually. But considering Helen's overall "gray" personality, I suppose that's without saying.

Trixie gave this story Zero Paws for no mention of a cat. She felt sorry for the little dog who died of fright, but a bit disdainfully so; Trixie pointed out that a cat would never die of fright. :-p

No coal in MY stocking, no sir!

2009-12-22T13:26:00.001-08:00

Skull shaped (duh!) glycerin soaps.
Mini Fragrance Mists 5ml

Santa Claus says I'm a good girl and can order some holiday goodies from AntiSally at GothRosary.com :-D

MINI Fragrance Mists 5ml Alcohol Free = $2.99
Fragrance FUNERAL FLOWERS™
Fragrance SEATTLE RAIN™
Fragrance SHADOWS™
Fragrance GOTHIC ROSE™

Tin Coffin Travel Candle = $3.99 [scroll down for pic in previous post]
Fragrance GRAVEYARD™

Skull Shaped Organic Vegan Glycerin Guest Size Soaps = $4.99
Fragrance BLACK WINGS™

All is made by her and cruelty free, natural. And she has roughly 5 additional fragrances not indicated in this post. Can't wait! My husband will probably think I've truly flipped now...but so far he's cool with it. Frankly it may be more he's just finally given up on me. :-p

Film: Daughter of Darkness [1948 United Kingdom]

2009-12-18T05:18:00.000-08:00

Superb.

Yesterday while looking for a copy of "Dracula" (1992 Ryder/Oldman) at Hastings Books & Gifts, I saw this DVD. The black/white immediately caught my attention, and also the Vivien Leigh look of the actress on it (Siobahn McKenna). From the 1960s? No, from 1948! I'm a sucker for '40s films, and this being a Gothic/Noir...well you know (wink). From the back panel:

"An atmospheric Gothic chiller following an Irish maid with an irresistable attraction to men. With the reputation as a temptress where even the local priest is after her, sexual desire soon descends into brutal psychopathy with a grave ending!

A startling film for its time, Daughter of Darkness posed censorship problems at the time of its release, due to its dark material, and has since remained a lost film waiting to be rediscovered."

I watched it last night and loved it! McKenna is excellent as Emmi Beaudine, a natural beauty who innocently possesses a powerful sexuality. Men are violently attracted to her, obsessive; one man rapes her. Women are equally violent towards her: Jealous and suspicious. When she's driven from the Irish village as servant to the local parish priest, she arrives on an English farm as a servant. History repeats itself and Emmi finds herself in similar troubles with angry hostile females and hotly arduous males. Meanwhile she's honestly puzzled and discomforted by the intensity of the raw emotions constantly swirling around her. Emmi is accused of being "a brazen slut," though she's simply going about life seeking acceptance and the warmth of family and friends. Emmi is soon fired from her servant's job on the English farm; desperate, she has nowhere to go and fears a repeat of her usual experiences elsewhere. Tensions swiftly mount to a startling conclusion.

McKenna carried the character off beautifully. I could almost believe she is Emmi. The character is, imo, sympathetic; I felt sorry for Emmi and liked her. The dialogue, acting, storyline are all wonderfully executed. As for the parish priest lusting after Emmi, that's incorrect.

Extra Features includes "Kiss of Death: Femme Fatale on Film," an "exclusive expert insight into film noir and the femme fatale." I enjoyed this too.

It's a tight little thriller which I'm glad to have in my DVD collection. I'm very picky about films, and this one is an ace.

Coffin Candle Tins: Arrived!

2009-12-17T15:01:00.000-08:00

These little gems arrived just 15 minutes ago in the mail. I ordered two of them, "Seattle Rain" scent; one for sister and the other for myself. They are pudgy palm-fit cuties with a mild and pleasing scent. Mine's already on my dresser, and once the wax is burned it'll go into my purse to hold mints or coins. AntiSally tucked in two white matchbooks with crimson lettering, and also a little box of Lemonheads candy with her business card. AntiSally is a professional; she always profusely thanks the customer and service is speedy. Gothrosary.com is her addy. She makes and sells cruelty-free/vegan soaps, lotions and oils primarily. Other Goth-oriented goodies as well. I do recommend her!

Winona Ryder: Goth Girl

2009-12-17T06:10:00.000-08:00

I love Winona Ryder, particularly in "Dracula." It's been quite a while since I've seen this stunningly gorgeous film and it's been in mind. Will pick up a DVD copy of it soon. Gary Oldman is super sexy, a true eye-candy treat. The 1st image is not an actual photo of Winona; it's a painting I found on the internet. She's eternally beautiful.

Favorite Holiday Songs

2009-12-15T11:39:00.001-08:00

Jingle, jingle, jingle
You will hear my sleigh bells ring;
I am old Kris Kringle
I'm the King of Jing-a-ling!

Jingle, jangle, reindeer
Through the frosty air they go;
They are not just plain deer
They're the fastest deer I know (Ho! Ho!)

You must believe that on Christmas Eve
I won't pass you by;
I'll dash away in my magic sleigh
Flying through the sky!

Jingle, jingle, jingle
You will hear my sleigh bells ring;
I am old Kris Kringle
I'm the King of Jing-a-Ling (Ho! Ho!)

-*-

Have a holly, jolly Christmas!
It's the best time of the year,
I don't know if there'll be snow
But have a cup of cheer

Have a holly, jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street,
Say Hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet

Oh, ho, the mistletoe
Hung where you can see,
Somebody waits for you
Kiss him once for me!

Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn't hear;
Oh by golly, have a holly
jolly Christmas this year!

Favorite Seasonal Items

2009-12-10T15:23:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween -- all around this blog. And since we know Halloween is over, here's some of my favorite December stuff. My "religious" calendar is not easily categorized (that's all I'll say); however, I do enjoy the sights, scents, flavors and overall merriment which is December. And yes, I also do like fruitcake - if it's my mother's recipe. Go ahead and laugh; you're just jealous YOU can't have a slice of it with a dab of fresh butter. >:-p And creamy dreamy homemade eggnog; such a delight. No rum. No liquor shall touch my delicious eggnog! Not that I'm against an occasional mixed drink, it's just that eggnog must remain pure and undefiled. ;-) I've included a photo of Orange Drop Cookies (with orange frosting). They are tender cake-like cookies, fabulously delicious; I've not yet known one person who disliked Orange Drop Cookies (in fact I've known of people *fighting* over them). Have a good season everyone!

The cover I've wanted!

2009-12-09T04:31:00.000-08:00

This was scanned by Absinthe of the now-gone (and still very much missed) "Gloomy Sunday" blog. It was her copy of course, and I've hoped to obtain one of my own, but apparently there are very few "out there". Before she unexpectantly pulled the plug on her blog last year, Absinthe offered to let me copy and use her scans; at the time of course I had no idea she was about to cease blogging. :-\ So, on the off-chance you're reading this Absinthe: Thanks again. It's my absolute favorite cover. I've found the novel itself locally (different edition/publisher), and later placed an order for what I thought was THIS edition with THIS cover. Alas it turns out I ordered (and paid S & H) for the same edition as I already had (its cover is pathetic).
What's this cute chubby kitten doing on Garnet Night? Yours truly is in a slightly foul mood this a.m.; something furry and adorable to look at might help restore the merries.

The Witches of Windlake, by Miriam Lynch

2009-12-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

Late '60s, IIRC. Another bomb by Miriam Lynch (I'm beginning to wonder if "The Bells of Widow's Bay" was an exception for her??). This is another Gothic I set aside after roughly 50 pages (if that) into it. The cover art was obtained via FantasticFiction.uk. It is one of the more beautifully sinister of covers, and a pity it's a bit blurred. Deep reds and stark blacks dominate.

The story opens with a downtrodden late-teenaged heroine taking a stroll on an icy and bitterly cold late November afternoon. I was born/raised in Iowa, and that just does NOT happen. I wonder if Ms. Lynch was a native southern Californian; they seem to think people up north walk barefoot in the snow. >:-\ Anyway, the heroine's homelife is impoverished and mean. Her stepmother and half-siblings are against her, and she's seeking an afternoon away from the usual drudgery. She again comes across a nearby bleak old mansion and this time, feeling extra gutsy even if the sun is near to sinking beneath the horizon and it's the late 1800s and she has nary a lantern nor a candle on her, decides to investigate.

Turns out the menacing semi-dilapidated old house is inhabited. Initially its inhabitants aren't friendly, but she's allowed entrance. She's sized up by the master of the domain, who likes what he sees; he's a widower with an out-of-control son. Would she be willing to become the child's governess for good pay and free room/board?

The heroine readily accepts. She won't even bother returning home to inform her family. She dines with her new employers, one of whom is grandmother of the heroine's new charge. A fancy dinner is spread out in a luxurious dining room. The delicious meal starts off well enough...and then a pall descends over the hosts. Everyone picks fearfully at their plates. The heroine soon learns that witchly in-laws have been chasing down father and son; and within half an hour these 3 "grand dames" arrive and begin asserting control.

I found the storywriting stilted, and the course of events far too rushed and improbable. Maybe I'll pick it up again some time, but have no great urge to.

The Secret of Lucifer's Island, 1967 (?) by Miriam Lynch

2009-12-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

This surprising stinker was so bad I nearly forgot I'd begun reading it months ago. Came to mind last evening. Miriam Lynch bombed this time. Ironically another novel of hers published around the same year -- "The Bells of Widow's Bay" -- was a 5 out of 5 stars imo; one of the best Gothics I've yet read.

This story falls flat from the onset. I managed to get to page 60 before putting it away. The story opens with a young (though adult) heroine reluctantly accompanying her flamboyant ex-Vaudeville aunt to visit other retired show-business "friends" on a remote island. Our heroine is exhausted after a long bus ride with her self-centered auntie, and now it's twilight and they're standing on a dock waiting for their boat ride which shows no indication of arriving. Aunt sends heroine to the local rowdy dive (beautiful young virgin to ruffian drunkards; what sort of an aunt is she?) to try and hire a boat. Heroine succeeds. In the darkness they're rudely driven across frightening choppy waters by a coarse and hostile man who curtly informs them he's NOT taking their bags to the island mansion; once they arrive at that dock, they're on their own. Aunt moans and frets; she and heroine struggle up craggy hills and through dense undergrowth and trees, through pitch-black darkness...groping their way to the mansion. When they finally arrive at the mansion (sans sprains, concussions, fractures) somehow they're both magically able to see in the dark. And it seems the mansion is desserted. But no, it's not -- a lady answers the door, who is immediately hostile and refuses to permit them entry. The heroine is nearly (understandably) ballistic by this point; turns out her dear old aunt had neglected to inform heroine she'd received no reply to a query to come visiting and took it upon herself to "party crash" the place. Her goal? To seduce and marry the wealthy retired actor who owns the island.

Everyone at the mansion are cold and UNwelcoming of their "guests."

Next we find the heroine escorted to a dingy, poorly furnished room. She learns, to her continued delight, that auntie's room is clear across the mansion. Somehow she manages to trace aunt and ex-lady friend (in a hugely sprawling and dimly lit strange mansion??); they're arguing. Heroine, not wanting to be discovered eavesdropping, hurries back to her room -- but not before she sees a ghost.

At this point I stopped reading on the basis of "too improbable" and just plain silly. Nice cover art though; got it from Ebay I think.

The Vampire Tarot : Part 2

2009-12-05T20:22:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week I posted about this Tarot deck. I have a Tarot collection (related to Jungian psychology), but no longer do readings.

I'd purchased this gorgeous deck a week ago, but waited until the time was right to open the box: Tonight. Actually I've not yet removed the shrink wrap from the cards themselves to savor the art, and won't until the time is right.

A bit of humor: The box lid is difficult to remove from the box itself. It is a very snug fit and it occurred to me if an actual vampire had this much trouble lifting a coffin lid, s/he'd have suffocated already - lol!

Tucked inside the black gem of a box is the shrink-wrapped deck of cards, snug in a recessed compartment; above and covering the cards is a beautiful soft-cover book which design matches the box lid's exterior. It is 227 pages and filled not only with an overview of Bram Stoker's "Dracula," but also a history of the Tarot and then a general (though concise) history of vampirism in Europe.

If you've ever wondered why vampire legends abounded in Eastern Europe versus Western Europe (I vaguely have but never pursued it), I came across an interesting bit of history in the book: After "The Great Schism" of 1054 (the split of the eastern Greek Church and western Roman Catholic), the Greek Church continued its belief in vampires, i.e. that an uncorrupted corpse was a sign of an evildoer whom sacred ground had rejected. The RC Church held a radically different view: Uncorrupted corpses were a sure sign of a saint. Also (going further back in time), during Charlemagne's reign (800 - 814 AD) the RC Church forbade belief in vampires. However, once the Inquisition geared up centuries later...you know the rest: "Everyone's a heretic" -- including the now very real vampire.
:-\

I am very much looking forward to reading the **treasure trove** of historical information in the book!

Another humorous note: While browsing through the short section on Tarot history and black/white reproduced images of standard (other deck) Trumps, I thought I read "Lemonade." :-O Huh?! No, it is "Le Monde": French for "The World" of course.
:-p

Coffin Candle Tins from AntiSally

2009-12-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

And other goodies!

Okay, I know it's probably not Goth to say "Oh, aren't those CUTE?" But yeah: Those coffin candle tins are *adorable.* :-D

***Introduction Priced at $3.99:

Coffin Candle Tins. Each 2" metal coffin tin filled with 100% natural soy wax in your choice of GothRosary Fragrances and a pure cotton wick. The perfect spa candle for those personal inventory days. A great over the hill gift or the best way to tell your Goth that you love them. The empty tin is a lovely keepsake box for pocket or purse...***

I've done business with AntiSally before and highly recommend her at: GothRosary.com. She makes all sorts of cool stuff, including a private Goth item I particularly cherish. Will do business with her again soon (and no, she's not aware that I'm promoting her and doesn't know about this blog).

Gothic Tarot of Vampires

2009-12-04T10:57:00.000-08:00

Mmmm...I'd like that gorgeous vampire to bite me! ;-p If memory serves, this Tarot was manufactured in the mid-1990s. It is still being manufactured last I knew, though my years-old deck is stashed safely away. Unfortunately my favorite cards in the deck (a vampire hanging upside down and somehow magically toasting another standing on the floor [the wine in his chalice held by reverse gravity apparently], and also the sensuous embrace of a vampire and vampiress) are not available online.

It is a somewhat violent and disturbing deck of cards; a sort of fierce beauty I often don't like. It's also a strange cocktail of European sophistication, Detroit gritty city, "The Crow"-esque: Sometimes sauve and elegant, other times back-alley and grimy. I can't think of a single adjective to describe it. The inclusion of Japanese dwarf trees (of all things!) in a couple of cards is outright outlandish. It's a busy deck with a hodge-podge of semi-related images. Frankly I sometimes think it's the stupidest deck ever, yet...it does all come together somehow.

More information:

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/gothic-vampires/details.shtml

Three Cover Scans

2009-12-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

I love all three of these covers, and would particularly like to have "Bride of Death"; not because of the cover art but because it's a Belmont Gothic and I've yet to read a bomb from that publisher. ACE and the others get ballyhooed a lot, but Belmont Gothics are consistently very good.

Good Riddance to The Decade from Hell!

2009-12-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

It's only fair to post some images (obtained via internet and NOT scanned by me) if I'm going to blather a bit. "Time" Magazine proclaimed this decade "The Decade From Hell." I heartily agree; however, we (husband/myself) have had a handful of good/fortunate things for which we're thankful/grateful. The last (I hope) "hurrah!" in this weird and troubling decade occurred a scant 2 months ago: A cute old (82!) man who I'd considered fatherly and sweet turns out to WANT me. :-O You know the old saying: Snow on the roof, fire in the hearth. Yipes! That was truly stunning. And he's not giving up either! =:-O I've been touched, followed, eavesdropped on by this man. Yesterday he was dressed To The Nines, displaying jealousy towards my husband and smiling knowingly at me. :-( It is STRANGE being aggressively pursued by a very mobile and healthy elderly man. He needs to reconcile with his estranged elderly wife and quit chasing me! Geez. It'd be funny if I weren't so UNsure I couldn't outwrestle/outwrangle him if the old boy gets insistent enough. :-( Yeah, he played it very cool and innocent until the mask came off. Life sure IS full of surprises. Sort of like Gothic Suspense!
:-\

I do have "Greystones." It'll be read later. Basically I'm something of a nerd girl with an IQ of 130 who prefers serious and nonfiction, such as "The Golden Ratio: The Story of Phi, The World's Most Astonishing Number" by Mario Livio [2002]. I recommend it! ;-)

Oh, and I *love* the cover of "Shadow of a Witch." I'm still hoping to obtain a copy of it.

The Vampire Tarot :: Robert M. Place

2009-12-01T15:48:00.000-08:00

http://thealchemicalegg.com/VampTarot.html

I do like Tarot. :-) But I don't read the cards for two reasons, one of which is they're too habit-forming (to the point of being a weakness).

The other day whilst yours truly was traipsing through Barnes & Noble, this gorgeous black and crimson box grabbed my eye. Sort of like Bugs Bunny's sudden-stop {{-!!KOING!!-}} reaction. :-p

Inner thoughts: {No. Don't buy it. Habit forming!}

Next day: Bought it. :-p

But it's still unopened. These things take time...like aging wine.
;-) And I don't even like wine. Okay, like good sex then. :-D

The factor which decided me, aside from the art of course, was the direct tie-in to Bram Stoker's "Dracula."

I, a former ace Tarot reader, will also say it is powerful. Even wrapped and unopened. The second I held the box in my hands, I felt its deeply powerful resonance (as a child I had the gift of psychometry; knew what was inside wrapped gifts; always freaked my parents and sister out). I look forward to enjoying the lovely art and reading the accompanying book.

And of course Mina is always Winona Ryder (who I've not yet forgiven for breaking up with Johnny Depp!). ;-)

Three Cover Art

2009-11-30T14:07:00.000-08:00

It being rainy and gloomy here the past 3 days, figured I'd share these:

House Above Hollywood, by Velda Johnston [late '60s]

2009-11-30T11:46:00.000-08:00

Snoooooozefest. :-( This novel started out promising, but ultimately bombed. There is no "nightmare cult" throughout most of it, and nothing substantial leading up to the heroine's ensnaring. What we have is a gal who goes to California in search of answers to her alcoholic father's apparent suicide (years later)...an aging silent-movie siren who likes watching TV and answering fan mail...a snide and suspicious nephew who ultimately turns nice and tries to woo the heroine...a young married Chinese-American couple who pretend to have fake Chinese accents in hopes the old mistress of the mansion will feel more at ease with them (-rolleyes-)...semi-weird happenstances...a slightly shady leech with his own new-agey type following who flatters the old dame. The cover art is beautiful. The story is a constant let-down. I give it 2 stars out of 5 for at least having gotten published. :-\

I voted for Kitty LeClaw! Ms. Horror Blogosphere 2009

2009-11-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

http://thevaultofhorror.blogspot.com/2009/11/ms-horror-blogosphere-2009-let-voting.html

I was asked to check out this poll by Karswell (who also created my blog's lovely banner), and to vote for Kitty LeClaw. I've visited Ms. LeClaw's blog numerous times before and have enjoyed her unique style and expression.

http://killer--kittens.blogspot.com/

I'm glad to vote for you, Kitty; best of luck for a well-deserved win! Trixie also voted (and has always especially loved your blog's title)!
;-)

Cover Scan: The Haunting of Drumroe

2009-10-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

These scans were obtained online. I own this novel and have yet to read it. Was published in the late '60s or early '70s. The story is set in Ireland and apparently combines both pagan and Christian elements/history. It also has a couple of recipes for authentic Irish food in the back of the book! :-) The cover art is gorgeous, though her being in that cold snowy night with only a flimsy nightgown (and bare feet??) staggers the imagination. I thought this would be a perfect cover to share for October.

October Already?

2009-10-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

Yours truly has been gone a while, as I'm currently enjoying fiction of an entirely different genre; more on that later. Wasn't it *just* July?? Sure it was: We went to see "Star Trek" in a blessedly dark and cool theater while it was blistering hot and sunny outside. Zachary Quinto as Young Spock: RrrRRRrr. ;-)

Halloween is a scant 30 days away and this weekend I'll buy candy for the trick-or-treaters. At Walgreens they're selling CANDY BLOOD. :-O It looks like blood (presumably is the same sort of fruity liquid which comes in those little wax soda bottles) in an IV drip bag. Ugh! I'll pass. :-\

I'll try to post some cover art soon; this is the month of October after all! Will begin reading Gothics again in the near future. Speaking of those, my sister expressed an interest so I sent 4 to her: Satan's Rock, Circle of Death, The Devil's Daughter, The Seventh All Hallow's Eve. The very last was recommended by Absinthe, and I unwittingly obtained 2 copies of it. I have yet to read it. The others are highly recommended and I reviewed them months ago. I also tossed in some Halloween goodies (edible and non-) for sis, and a card of glowing jack o' lanterns gracefully dotting a front lawn.

Take care and have a spooktacular (you knew that was coming) October. Yeah I know I'm not the hippest wannabe Goth around, but heck...I try. :-p

Dual Cover Art: The Case of the Weird Sisters

2009-08-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

Mid-summer 2008 I found the 1st copy at the local used/out-of-print bookstore. Couldn't pass up that quietly disturbing cover. To be honest? I think these chicks were my babysitters! This cover/edition is from 1971, if I recall the exact year correctly. It's tucked away in one of 4 [--yes, 4] metal boxes and I'm not inclined to go digging. It'll probably be a while before I read the novel.
I love the eerie aura of the 1st cover art [particularly that softly sinister golden glow amongst the trees], and equally enjoy the bold angles and colors [particularly the *green* face] of the 2nd.

Film: The Crow [1994]

2009-08-06T06:03:00.000-07:00

This film needs no introduction nor review. It'd been a while since I'd watched it (mostly because we needed a "new" VCR as we're not going to replace all our VHS tapes with DVDs). Last evening was perfect for it: Overcast, gloomy, lightning and rain (that's a rarity in this otherwise sunny desert with its 320 days of sunshine on average; but we're currently in the rainy season). I lit three candles and put the movie on. My husband asked why I'd lit candles. Um...because it's a *Gothic* film? Duh. :-p

In 1994 I'd just come out of New Age involvement (yes, gentle reader, in the early 1990's yours truly was a 20-something hanging around with folks 20 years my senior who'd been hippies and flower children in the '60s). Four years prior, in 1990, I'd read the "comic book" series of The Crow. Its dark and disturbing imagery was a bit difficult to comprehend at the time; however, the love story was compelling and kept me reading. When the film came out I had to see it; I was immediately hooked and it's definitely a favorite.

This is of course the story of "Shelly Webster and her nice rock 'n roll boyfriend, Eric Draven" who are savagely attacked by a criminal gang on Devil's Night, and the night before their intended Halloween wedding. Eric Draven is resurrected and given powers by a crow for vengeance on their killers.

The characters of Sarah and Sgt. Albrecht are wonderful; they help to round out the film. Favorite scenes include Sarah passing on onions for her hot dog because "they make you fart big time." Sgt. Albrecht referring to Eric as "the mime from Hell" after he vanishes.

Other favored scenes are Eric's tossing rings into Gideon's face while condemning him with "Each of these rings represents a life: A life which you helped to destroy." Eric holding Darla fast before a mirror, telling her "'Mother' is the name for God on the lips and hearts of all children," and making the morphine to run out of her veins. She sobers up and we next see her clean, smiling and cooking breakfast for Sarah. Eric's flashback memories of Shelly; the tenderness and passion of their romance. Rescuing Sarah the skateboarder from an oncoming car; when she complains she wished the rain would stop he replies, "It can't rain all the time." Shelly and Eric's ghostly embrace and reunion at their graves.

Also notable is the highlighting of the depths of T-Bird's gang's moral decay. When confronted by a grieving Eric, Tin-Tin has no compassion nor remorse...or shock. Tin-Tin's not the least bit taken by the supernatural quality of Eric's existence: Instead, he cruelly taunts Eric about having enjoyed raping Shelly. Funboy moans "You've ruined my sheets!" after being shot, and when dying of multiple morphine injections his last words are "You're wasting it!" Top Dollar's henchmen prove there's no honor amongst thieves/criminals.

Most poignant of course is Brandon Lee's own real-life engagement, soon to be wed and tragic death during filming. The scene of flashlight-bearing children in masks and costumes, running towards and past him on a dark street, seems a "goodbye" scene to the actor himself.

I think of The Crow as a love story first and foremost, even if I'm not a great romantic.

Happy 40th Birthday, Jake

2009-08-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

I'll always love you. Despite everything you are still a brother. I miss you. Will the next 30 years pass without any contact whatsoever? The past 1-1/2 years have been difficult enough. I still can't believe I lost you. You should have been a blood brother. I think of you AS my flesh and blood. I tell myself various things, to put the pain away entirely; but a level of pain and sadness returns. If you only knew, beloved.