A quick message.

Just to let you know that I have a YouTube channel now. Where I do some reviews of movies, TV shows, and fan fiction. The channel is called Gary Matrix Reviews. I will still do reviews on my blog but not as often as usual.

Ok. That's about it and I'll see you next time.

20 short scary stories.

1: We don’t mind our dog sleeping in our room at night. It’s the thing that lives in our closet that is bothered by it.

2: I don’t mind the tapping on my window. Until I found out that it was coming from inside my house.

3: I used to whistle when I fetch water from the well. Until something started whistling back.

4: I had a terrible nightmare where I was attacked by a derange person at four thirty p.m. I was glad that I finally woke up from it. However, as my clock hit 4:30, I hear hurried footsteps coming up the stairs.

5: What do you do when you are looking at a photograph and it starts smiling at you?

6: There was a message on my bathroom mirror. But I live alone.

7: Blackberries used to be my favourite fruit. Until I saw one get up and crawl away.

8: It’s great to have a phone. But it is annoying to be constantly getting phone calls from complete strangers. Especially when they are from the grave.

9: I have a new camera. But it keeps taking strange photos. In all of them, there is a strange blurred out figure in the background. I wouldn’t mind but every time I take a picture, the closer the figure gets.

10: I keep getting messages from my wife. Who had died a year ago.

11: I won a new camera and decided to test it out with my friends. But the photos turned out to be disturbing. They show how and where my friends would die. But what was more disturbing is that the photo that of me that I took by accident… shows nothing.

12: I used to collect portraits of people. Until one of them blinked.

13: It’s horrible when someone won’t stop talking about worms when you are eating spaghetti. It’s another thing when you find out that they were telling the truth.

14: I hate that constant knocking noise. But I don’t want to lift up the floorboards.

15: I went to complain about my new wardrobe. I had opened it and found that it was invested with spiders. The shop manager said that it was strange. The last owners complained that there were zombies in it.

16: There is nothing like the sound of laughing. Unless it is 2 pm and you are alone.

17: I was shocked when the announcer came over the train’s speaker. “Next stop is Purgatory”.

18: I have the ability to stop time. But I can’t restart it.

19: It is one thing finding a skeleton in your living room. It’s another thing when it starts talking to you.

20: I don’t want to blink. Cause every time I do, that statue moves closer.

TV Review: Monster in my pocket.

Release date: 1992.

Story: Deep within a mountain in Transylvania, Doctor Henry Davenport (a.k.a the Invisible Man) and his friends (Frankenstein's monster, Mummy, and Wolfman) have managed to capture all of the evil monsters and have placed them behind bars. But one of the evil monsters (Vampire) tries to escape with the help of a shrinking spell. But the spell backfires and shrinks all of the monsters and the mountain instead. And then the mountain teleports to Los Angles. Which causes all of the bad monsters to escape. Now the Invisible Man and his friends have to go and recapture them. Especially Vampire, Medusa, and Swamp Beast. But it isn't easy when they are one inch high. So the good monsters decide to visit a famous horror writer in order to get some help. But the writer is away. Apart from his daughter Carrie. Who decides to help the good monsters in their fight against the evil ones. While also trying to find a way of regaining their normal height.

My thoughts: This one off special, named the Big Scream, was the pilot for a cartoon series based on the toy line of the same name. And it is indeed a good special. It is such a shame that this didn't get a series. yet there are rumours of five or six more episodes that were created. But they are either extremely difficult to find or non-existent. I like the character designs as well. Frankenstein's monster is renamed Big Edd and looks like Franken-berry from the American cereal brand (and also has this thing were every time he gets angry, sparks fly from his head), Wolfman has a Jamaican accent, Swamp Beast is just a large blob type of creature that can separate into other versions of himself, and the Invisible Man is without his bandages (properly so that he won't be mistaken for Mummy). If this had a series, I would have liked to see them encountering other good or bad monsters (including Warlock. Who is a fan favourite). Also it is a cool concept that while trying to find a way of regaining their height, the good monsters discover that they can active that by laughter and the bad monsters can grow back through screams. This special is available on Youtube and I would recommend that you check it out.

My score: Five stars.

Film Reviews: Haxan (a.k.a Witchcraft through the ages).

Release date: September 18th 1922.

Story: This Swedish documentary style horror movie is about the study of witchcraft, devil worship, and how the misunderstanding of mental illness and diseases could have led to the hysteria of witch hunts in medieval Europe.

My thoughts: Dark, creepy, atmospheric, and bizarre. This seven part movie really catches the horror element with images depicting witches, demons, and the devil himself (played by the director himself). This film was banned in the USA and was heavily censored in other countries. In 1968, the movie was re-released in the USA in a re-edited form. Now called Witchcraft through the ages and has an narration by William S Burroughs.

Even though this is a silent era classic, this film is really not for everyone. Some people might get offended and/or horrified at the scenes of devils, witches, creepy scenery, and torture. So I would warn you before watching it.

My score: Four stars.

Film Reviews: The Fog

Release date: February 8th 1980.

Story: The costal town of Antonio bay, California is getting ready to celebrate it's 100th anniversary. But things are not so smoothly as the inhabitants wanted. For on the night of the celebrations, a strange thick fog comes in from the sea and soon ingulfs the town. But it's not the fog that is a threat... it is what's in the fog that is the main threat.

My thoughts: This is one of John Carpenter's most recognisable films. And it is great. The pirate ghosts are cool and some of the effects are impressive. If you haven't seen it yet, I would recommend it.

My score: Three stars.

Youtube Reviews: The Stories of Sodor.

Series creator: Victor Tanzig.

Starting date: 20th February 2017.

Story: The train, for its type, is the most powerful vehicle on land. And the engines of Sodor are the power behind the docks, industries, and pipelines that make up the world renowned North Western Railway. Join Thomas, Edward, Percy, and all of the other Sodor engines in their daily tasks to keep their business going. For these, are the Stories of Sodor.

My thoughts: The great series is based on the popular Thomas the tank engine series. the show itself has three series, many shorts, and a fourth series is currently being made. What I like about this show is that it doesn't follow the books or the tv series at all. It kinda does it's own thing. And it isn't set in one time period. It starts after the first world war and is likely to finish in the present day. And includes many historic events as well. Including the rise in communism, the nationalization of Britains railways, world war two (which was it's own side season called The Stories of War), and even goes into detail on how the railways worked and operated at the time. I was surprised that Edward is the narrator of the show. But then I realised that it might be mainly based on the Railway book series and not the Thomas and friends show (where Thomas is the main character). The show even has characters from a similar show called Tugs.

Any dislikes?: Only a few. One of them being the swearing. I mean I wasn't expecting swear words in something based on Thomas and Friends. But in the third series and the Stories of War side season, there are times that the characters use the F and W words. Also some viewers may not like some strong issues that some episodes are centred on. Such as prejudice, war, bullying, unfairness, and other subjects like them.

Overall: It is a great show and I would recommend it.

My score: Four stars. 

Film Review: Ace Ventura. When Nature Calls.

Release date: November 10th 1995.

Story: Having failed a mission to save a racoon, Ace has left the detective business and has joined a Tibetan Monastery. But then a British correspondent visits him to ask for his help. It seems that a sacred animal of an African tribe has been taken just before a wedding is to be taken place. And if the animal is not returned, the tribe will be at war with an neighbouring tribe. Ace then takes the job and soon is traveling across Africa in order to find the missing animal. But things soon start to turn on the uncertainty side when Ace finds out what the sacred animal actually is... an albino bat

My thoughts: Not as funny as the first one but still a great film. It parodies the movie Cliff-hanger in the first part (where Ace unsuccessfully tries to rescue a racoon from a cliff face). And also some of the movie isn't even filmed in Africa. But one thing that I didn't get is Ace's fear of bats. Even though he is supposed to like all animals, yet is horrified by the near mention of bats. But still it is a good film to put on one evening.

My score: Three stars.