5 Dark Things – For Your entertainment.

Following on from the Anne Michaud’s award nomination thingy, I’ve been asked to talk about 5 TV shows/Films/Books that I’ve read or watched in the last 12 months. Here are those 5 great things:

1. Eraserhead. A classic film from 1977. I’ve seen it before, many moons ago, but I thought it would be good to revisit it. I’m glad I did. I got more from it this time around. The style is quite jarring. Set in an industrial milieu, the protagonist, Henry Spencer, has to come to terms with his opprosive environment, his endlessly screaming mutant child, and a bitchy girlfriend. You can take from it many things: such as a comment on a grim industrial future, or something more personal – the nightmares of our own views on society. Either way, it’s a great film and will make you think.

2. Dexter (season 5). Simply my all-time favourite TV show. In my opinion nothing comes close to the quality of writing, plot and characterisation of this thrilling show. Dexter himself is a blood spatter expert for the Miami police, but is also serial killer. The twist being that he really is the most likeable of guys, and his victims are usually those that escape justice in some manner. You can’t but help root for him.

3. Cold Earth – Sarah Moss. I loved this book. It’s rare that I say that as most books I read I enjoy but don’t really make too much of an impression on me. But this one did. It’s about a group archeologists who go on a dig in Greenland to learn more about the viking settlements there. The story starts in the POV of a woman recovering from depression. The narration is in the form of diary entries and we get glimpses of odd goings on. The POV changes between the characters and we get a wonderful diverse view of the characters. It has a lovely creepy atmoshere to it, as the dig starts to go wrong. The story ends up of being one about survival. I won’t spoil it, but it has a supernatural element to it that is brilliantly handled.

4. Ren Warom’s Novel: Coil. I was a lucky bunny in that I was allowed to beta read Ren’s novel. And you know what? It’s the best book I’ve read this year, and probably for the last few years. It’s a genius combination of bio/cyberpunk and thriller with a murder-mystery subplot. The charactersiation is fantastic. The lead protagonist’s arc is extremely well handled, and super gripping. Ren has a wonderful way with description and paints some of the best visuals of an environment that I’ve see in any book. It’s currently unpublished, but it’s only a matter of time before someone snaps this up. I realise this is no good to you dear reader at the moment, but keep it in mind because if you get to read Coil, you are in for a treat.

5. The Killing – TV adapation. This is one of the rare TV shows that focusses on character and atmosphere as much as the story and the plot. It seems like a straight forward cop drama, but is far more than that. The twists and turns keep you guessing from episode to episode as to the identity of the murderr of Roise Larsen. You start thinking that it’s the boyfriend, then the family, then her teacher, or it could be the politician.. so many subplots that are weaved in the narrative that keep you interested and intrigued. It’s marvellous. The setting is in rainy Seattle and boy is it grey and grim! But that’s the beauty of it. It’s ugly, it’s gritty and it’s real. There is no hyperbole or melodrama here. Top stuff.

So that’s my five things. Apparently I have to nominate 5 others so they are:

- Ren Warom

- Victoria Griesdoorn

- Tammy Crosby

- Angela Addams

- Belinda Frisch

All top class writers/bloggers who deserve your attention.