Category: Horror – Poems and Haiku
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Daily Prompt
What’s your favorite cartoon?
Scooby Do was the one that popped to mind. Been a fan of it for many years and it was always one I loved to watch as a kid.
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Review and Haiku: Sinners
Spoilers – proceed with caution.
Haiku:
Twin brothers return
Ready to start a business
Dreaming of success
2 more to come, stay tuned, allright, let me go ahead and dive into this movie, a movie that might be number 1 for me in 2025, if not, easily top 5.
First thing, score, the music in this movie is fire from start to finish. I loved the song, Rocky Road to Dublin when all the vampires were singing along and dancing. It’s one of my favorite moments and another favorite musical moment was when the song I Lied to You was playing and the camera wove it’s way through the dance floor showcasing how that music was piercing the veil of time. Wow! And the other musical moments were top notch too. Hard not to enjoy I picked poor robin clean, so, if you watch this movie for one thing. Watch it for the music. You will not be disappointed.
Now, haiku 2.
3 vampires arrive
Trying to start a new world
Filled with peace and love
Ryan Coogler, director, dude knows how to get the most out of a scene, knows how to keep the pace quick, and he knows how to capture each moment with the lens. He also did a great job keeping this story centered because there are a lot of moving parts. Easy to get lost but he kept it on the right path and Ryan also wore a Producers hat and Writer’s hat too. Lots on his shoulders and he handled it effortlessly.
Now, the third haiku
Bloody fight ensues
Two guys survive until dawn
Vampires burn alive
Next up, acting, without this cast you wouldn’t have been able to make a movie like this work. You just wouldn’t. Miles Caton and Jack O’Connell, highlight for acting, highlight for singing. Michael B. Jordan playing three characters, twins, and a vampire. I can’t give him enough credit for what he did – very convincing. Hailee Steinfeld was great as a human or vampire. The rest of the cast was flawless too. Delroy Lindo, should give him a nod, I had no idea he had an English accent, and to see Buddy Guy at the end. I liked that too.
And last thing to mention, the vampires, one of my favorite subgenres in horror. They looked great with those glowing eyes and calm demeanours, talking about peace and love, and one big happy family, free of race and gender. Also, liked seeing the old vampire tropes show up with garlic, sunlight, and wooden stakes to the heart being their downfall. I could keep going but I think that’s it. What are your thoughts about Sinners? Is it worth the hype or not? Let me know in the comments. Also, giving a nod to the Dead Meat Podcast. They did an amazing job deep diving this one. That’s where I learned about Delroy Lindo having an accent. I really liked how they discussed not only the movie but the history surrounding it. I encourage you to check it out.
Take care and have a good one.
YouTube Horror Channel: Disembodied Screams
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Review and Haiku: Good Boy
I enjoyed this one. Told from a dog’s point of view. I am not sure I have seen a ghost story from that angle and it was more than a gimmick to put butts in seats. It actually worked and kept my attention the whole time.
Highlight for sure was the dog. Indy was so good in his role that at times I forgot I was watching a dog. He sold it. Not sure how they got him to do the things he did.
It also didn’t overstay its welcome. Just shy of 1 hour and 13 minutes and to me that’s a perfect length for a movie like this. If you get a chance check it out. There’s lots of good creepy stuff that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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Haiku: Death Tide
Inspired by the song Pacific Grim from this album. If you like extreme metal then check out Cattle Decapatation. Are you a fan? Drop me a comment with your favorite song.
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Movie Review and Haiku: Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers
Not much to say about this one. It worked and sort of didn’t but if you can vibe with it, which I did, then it’s a good time at the movies. It’s not for everyone, probably not for 99% of the population, but that 1% is going to enjoy it as I did because I am a big fan of well made B-Movies.
Plus there’s plenty of gore for gore hounds and Gunnar Hanson is in it. He played Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie. Bonus points for that.
Also liked the noir aspect too with the detective doing voice overs like Bogie when he played Sam Spade. Highlight of the movie for me.
Do you enjoy B-Movies? Let me know your favorite.
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Review and Haiku: Frankenstein (2025)
One word sums up this whole movie – Beautiful. This movie looked amazing from the sets to the lighting to the costumes to the colors to the shadows – simply beautiful to look at and to see. Eye candy from start to finish and it’s one of my favorites of 2025, up there with Sinners and Weapons for great movies I’ve seen this year.
I was afraid having Netflix put this out and to be the engine behind the machine, so to speak, would be a death curse for it. Thankfully it wasn’t because that has happened many times before. So much so that when I see Netflix original I’m hesitant, but in Guillermo del Toro I trust and will continue to trust because his direction is amazing and captivating. His shot selections and the way he moves and weaves the camera throughout these scenes in this movie and these landscapes and the way he holds the tension and the suspense just by using that camera like only a pro can do – loved that aspect of Frankenstein and the story too, which Del Toro adapted for the screen. I was gripped by the story and the conflict the whole time and felt strong emotions and feelings for all these characters on screen.
Oscar Isaac did an amazing job in the lead role, very convincing as Victor Frankenstein. You felt his pain, you felt his torment, you felt his joy, you felt his passion, you felt his struggles. He did an amazing job in that role. Mia Goth, strong as she always is in whatever she does, but for me, the true star in this movie, the person that had the heaviest load to bare – Jacob Elordi – who played Frankenstein’s monster. He put so much heart and soul and emotion into this character that I found myself rooting for him most of the time throughout the movie. I felt all of his compassion and sorrow and grief and everything else this monster endured because Jacob nailed it and if he hadn’t this movie wouldn’t be the movie it is. Kudos to him for stepping up to that challenge and the rest of the cast was solid too. No complaints in that department. Might be some Oscar buzz for this one next year. It wouldn’t surprise me.
Moving beyond direction, story, and acting, the effects are top notch. Money went into this one because the effects worked. There might have been a few wonky CGI animal moments but that’s not really an issue. Doesn’t condemn the movie because when effects were needed they always looked great. Especially liked the look of the monster in this one. Very human like but also very monstrous at the same time. It could almost blend in with society but there was enough off about it that it couldn’t. That led to a lot of great moments throughout this film.
Score was also powerful and strong. Some decent gore at times too and on and on it goes. Needless to say, goodness abounds in this film and I will probably give this one another watch sometime soon.
Have you seen Frankenstein? Let me know your thoughts about it.
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Review and Haiku: Predator: Badlands
Gore:
There’s plenty of green predator blood. Plenty of Predator and animal and android dismemberments. Plenty of melting androids. Plenty of gooey android blood too. There’s not much red to be seen but there is still plenty of blood spilled in various colors. If you like gore, it’s there, just not red, and I am sure that helped the rating stay PG-13.
Effects:
Obviously money went into this one. Everything looked great from the landscapes to the ships to the unique creatures and plants. Those weapons with the red lights – looked cool. The movie was also kind of Star Warsesque at times, which I really liked. All the Predators looked amazing. Lots of unique designs for their armor and weapons and faces.
Story, Script, and Directing:
Highlight and Star those three things because Dan Trachtenberg delivers once again behind the lens. His direction is flawless just like it was in Prey and Killer of Killers. I have enjoyed what he has brought to and added to the Predator lore and universe. It’s a great way to keep the Predator fresh and new without relying on the past and I also loved the world building in this movie. Seeing the Predator home planet and the Planet Genna – the death planet – enjoyed all the various creatures on this planet and the plants and things of that nature. Part of my enjoyment of this movie was just watching and waiting to see what they would come up with next. Story and script are also top notch. Patrick Aison and Dan did an amazing job crafting this story and script and making it believable.
Acting:
Top notch. Dimitrius who played Dek, the Predator we root for this time, was great in the lead role and Elle Fanning did an outstanding job playing both good and bad androids. Not a big cast but the movie is not about the cast it’s about the spectacle and there’s plenty of it.
Score:
Powerful. The sound design was crisp and clean and the explosions rattled my seat from time to time in the theater.
Bonus points to Bud:
Glad they didn’t overuse this creature and left it behind for part of the movie. Might have been a bit too much for a Predator movie if it had too much screen time.
Minor Gripe:
I will say it took me a minute to vibe with Elle’s character but once I did I was fully connected and the humor, at times, wore a bit thin. It’s okay to stay dark. A movie like this kind of demands it.
That’s it.
What are your thoughts about Predator: Badlands?
YouTube Horror Channel: Disembodied Screams
Podcast: Disembodied Screams
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Review and Haiku: Predator: Killer of Killers
Spoilers, possibly, maybe, proceed with caution. You’ve been warned. Now, here is the haiku and then the review.
The Shield
Great way to lead this set of stories off. I enjoyed seeing vikings taking on this monstrous Predator. Doesn’t end well for any of them, but overall this was really solid. Great gore, action, setting, effects, and animation. The kills were brutal and bloody. Predator looked awesome – never seen one that big.
The Sword
There’s something about Japan and swords and the lore of that country’s history with Ninjas and things like that that play well in the Predator universe and this segment leans heavy into that lore. I really enjoyed this segment, it might be my favorite of the 3, just something about seeing Japan and a Predator unleashed upon this ancient world that works for me. I would love, of these three segments, to see this one fleshed out and turned into a live action film. I think it would really pop and once again, gore, violence, action, etc. is awesome. No complaints in that department. I also think this is my favorite Predator in this film.
The Bullet
I liked the story in this one a lot, probably the most fleshed out and well rounded story of the three. I really liked seeing the dog fights because we’ve never seen a Predator fighting and flying in his ship. The ship a lot of times is an after thought, a prop, so that was a nice touch. The setting was great too. 1941 and the second great war – I bet a Predator could find a lot of good fighters in this time period and place. And like the other two segments, it works, not as bloody or as violent, but there’s still plenty of action and gore and violence and all that stuff that the other two segments excelled in and if you tune in just for that you will not be disappointed.
The Battle
Somehow these warriors are in the same time line and fighting each other and trying to survive a gladiator style event on a hostile Predator planet. Great conclusion to the movie and it showcased another awesome Predator with amazing dread locks. Not sure about the time traveling aspect because there would have to be some of that for the conclusion to happen. But if you don’t think too much about that then it isn’t a problem at all. And again, like the other segments, gore, violence, action, animation, mayhem, dismemberment, etc. etc, etc. are all top notch.
Have you seen this movie? Let me know your thoughts about it. Favorite Predator. Favorite Segment. Let me know that too. Take care and have a good one.
YouTube Horror Channel: Disembodied Screams
Podcast: Disembodied Screams
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Script and Haiku: Predator
Spoilers, possibly, maybe, proceed with caution. You’ve been warned. Here we go with the haiku.
Elite rescue team
Mission to save hostages
Alien hunting
What is there to say about this movie that hasn’t already been said a billion times?
Gore. Excellent. Head shots. Body shots. Skeletons ripped from human meat. And one nasty arm severing. Plenty of red is spilled.
Story and Script. Tight and lean. No wasted space.
Directing from John McTiernan is on point. He got the most out of every scene and actor and he shot the action scenes perfectly – you could see it all very clearly.
Acting, solid, it is what it is for a movie like this. Honestly, it’s much better than a movie like this actually needs to be because movies like this don’t need top notch acting. You got the action. You got the villain. You got the testosterone fueled pace. Acting is only a small part of that but there’s not a dud to be had among this cast. This was Arnold at his peak. Even if he couldn’t act, which he can, he’s proved that, I’d still cast him for star power alone.
Score. Fits each scene to a T.
And this movie gives us one of the all time cinema villain legends. The Predator and I am still surprised that they were able to make the Predator and all the stuff he used look this good in the Eighties, pre CGI. I can see why the Predator continues to haunt cinema to this very day.
I have loved this movie for a very long time. It’s Eighties action through and through, it’s a gory horror slasher movie, it’s scifi, it wears a lot of hats and looks good in all of them. Now, what say you? Do you love this one? When was your time seeing it? Things like that in the comments below. Take care. Have a good one and get to the choppa.
YouTube Horror Channel: Disembodied Screams
Podcast: Disembodied Screams
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Haiku: Halloween
Happy Halloween to those who celebrate.
Find more screams here.
YouTube Horror Channel: Disembodied Screams
Podcast: Disembodied Screams
A Poetry Journey 
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