Thursday, October 30, 2014

Friday's Film Adaptions: The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney

Here is Throwback Thursday's edition of Friday's Film Adaptions.
Summary:
On a quiet fall evening in the small, peaceful town of Mill Valley, California, Dr. Miles Bennell discovered an insidious, horrifying plot. Silently, subtly, almost imperceptibly, alien life-forms were taking over the bodies and minds of his neighbors, his friends, his family, the woman he loved -- the world as he knew it.

First published in 1955, this classic thriller of the ultimate alien invasion and the triumph of the human spirit over an invisible enemy inspired three major motion pictures.








Films
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Released: February 5, 1956
Length: 80 minutes
Director: Don Siegel
Cast: 
Kevin McCarthy as Miles Bennell
Dana Wynter as Becky Driscoll
Larry Gates as Dan Kauffman
King Donovan as Jack Belicec
Carolyn Jones as Theodora "Teddy" Belicec
Virginia Christine as Wilma Lentz
Jean Willes as Sally Withers
Whit Bissell (uncredited) as Dr. Hills
Richard Deacon (uncredited) as ER doctor


Rating:  

Trailer:  


Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Released:  December 20, 1978
Length: 115 minutes
Director:  Phillip Kaufman
Cast:
Donald Sutherland as Matthew Bennell
Brooke Adams as Elizabeth Driscoll
Leonard Nimoy as Dr. David Kibner
Jeff Goldblum as Jack Bellicec
Veronica Cartwright as Nancy Bellicec
Art Hindle as Dr. Geoffrey Howell, DDS
Lelia Goldoni as Katherine Hendley
Don Siegel as Taxicab Driver
Kevin McCarthy as Running man

Trailer: 



Body Snatchers
Released:  January 28, 1994
Length: 87 minutes
Director: Abel Ferrara
Cast:
Gabrielle Anwar - Marti Malone
Terry Kinney - Steve Malone
Billy Wirth - Tim Young
Christine Elise - Jenn Platt
R. Lee Ermey - Gen. Platt
G. Elvis Phillips - Pete
Reilly Murphy - Andy Malone
Kathleen Doyle - Mrs. Platt
Forest Whitaker - Maj. Collins
Meg Tilly - Carol Malone

Trailer: 



The Invasion
Released: August 17, 2007
Length: 99 minutes
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel & James McTeigue (uncredited)
Cast:
Nicole Kidman as Carol Bennell
Daniel Craig as Ben Driscoll
Jeremy Northam as Tucker Kaufman
Jackson Bond as Oliver
Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Stephen Galeano
Veronica Cartwright as Wendy Lenk
Josef Sommer as Dr. Henryk Belicec
Celia Weston as Ludmilla Belicec
Roger Rees as Yorish
Eric Benjamin as Gene
Susan Floyd as Pam
Stephanie Berry as Carly
Alexis Raben as Jill
Adam LeFevre as Richard Lenk
Joanna Merlin as Joan Kaufman

Trailer: 


Author Bio:
Mr. Finney specialized in thrillers and works of science fiction. Two of his novels, "The Body Snatchers" and "Good Neighbor Sam" became the basis of popular films, but it was "Time and Again" (1970) that won him a devoted following. The novel, about an advertising artist who travels back to the New York of the 1880's, quickly became a cult favorite, beloved especially by New Yorkers for its rich, painstakingly researched descriptions of life in the city more than a century ago.

Mr. Finney, whose original name was Walter Braden Finney, was born in Milwaukee and attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. After moving to New York and working in the advertising industry, he began writing stories for popular magazines like Collier's, The Saturday Evening Post and McCall's.

His first novel, "Five Against the House" (1954), told the story of five college students who plot to rob a casino in Reno. A year later he published "The Body Snatchers" (later reissued as "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"), a chilling tale of aliens who emerge from pods in the guise of humans whom they have taken over. Many critics interpreted the insidious infiltration by aliens as a cold-war allegory that dramatized America's fear of a takeover by Communists. Mr. Finney maintained that the novel was nothing more than popular entertainment. The 1956 film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was remade twice.

Mr. Finney first showed an interest in time travel in the short- story collection "The Third Level," which included stories about a commuter who discovers a train that runs between New York and the year 1894, and a man who rebuilds an old car and finds himself transported back to the 1920's.

He returned to the thriller genre in "Assault on a Queen" (1959) and tried his hand at comedy in "Good Neighbor Sam" (1963), a novel based on his experiences as an adman, played by Jack Lemmon in the film version.

In "The Woodrow Wilson Dime" (1968) Mr. Finney once again explored the possibilities of time travel. The dime of the title allows the novel's hero to enter a parallel world in which he achieves fame by composing the musicals of Oscar Hammerstein and inventing the zipper.

With "Time and Again," Mr. Finney won the kind of critical praise and attention not normally accorded to genre fiction. Thomas Lask, reviewing the novel in The New York Times, described it, suggestively, as "a blend of science fiction, nostalgia, mystery and acid commentary on super-government and its helots." Its hero, Si Morley, is a frustrated advertising artist who jumps at the chance to take part in a secret project that promises to change his life. So it does. He travels back to New York in 1882, moves into the Dakota apartment building on Central Park West and experiences the fabulous ordinariness of a bygone age: its trolleys, horse-drawn carriages, elevated lines, and gaslights. This year Mr. Finney published a sequel to the novel, "From Time to Time."

Mr. Finney also wrote "Marion's Wall" (1973), about a silent-film actress who, in an attempt to revive her film career, enters the body of a shy woman, and "The Night People" (1977). His other fictional works include "The House of Numbers" (1957) and the short-story collection "I Love Galesburg in the Springtime" (1963). He also wrote "Forgotten News: The Crime of the Century and Other Lost Stories" (1983) about sensational events of the 19th century. 





Amazon  /  B&N  /  Kobo  /  iTunes  /  Audible  /  Goodreads TBR

Films
1956:  Amazon  /  TCM
1978:  Amazon  /  TCM
1994:  Amazon  /  TCM
2007:  Amazon  /  TCM



I've never read the book but I have seen the original 1956 film and I love it.  It has just enough humor, drama,  and suspense to heighten the scare factor.  I'll be honest and I'm not much for remakes so I have never seen the other three films I featured here and I really don't have much desire to either. They are probably fine films but as I said, I'm not much for remakes.  



Broken Series by Angela Fattig

The Broken Series
Author: Angela Fattig
Genre: Erotic Romance

Just Breathe (#1)
Summary:
The nightmares never stop. Love and happiness is just an illusion, a Fairy Tale. Men, all men, want one thing, sex and then they leave.
At least that’s how it is for Jaden Smith. She lost her father at the age of 9, the only man who truly loved her.  Her mother used and manipulated her while teaching her younger sister how to trap a man.
At the age of 20, she finally escaped. She started to believe in love and happiness again. Until her mother and sister took it all away, again. Jaden now believes she is broken and beyond repair. Yet, she prays that maybe, just maybe, one day… Just Breathe
Nightmares for Chase Daniels occurred during the day. Money hungry woman coming at him, all day every day. Love and happiness is just an illusion, a Fairy Tale.
Samantha broke him. She crushed his heart and world. He swore that he would never let any woman close enough to hurt him again. Yet, he prays that maybe, just maybe, one day… Just Breathe



The Heart Won't Lie (#2)
Summary:
The storm is coming and it will not be stopped. Chase will see red and Jaden will be cast back into the darkness.
***The past and secrets have been revealed. Jaden and Chase believe they are finally free to love. However, the past has different plans.  
When Jaden and Chase have a chance encounter with Jaden’s mom and sister their world is spun out of control. 
Dory Smith has a plan and it involves destroying her oldest daughter, again. However, this time her plans involve murder.
Are Jaden and Chase strong enough to fight back and hold on to the one thing they so desperately want, need?
Will Dory win and finally have what she believes is hers?




Out of the Darkness (#3)
Summary:
As they step out of the shadows of the storm Jaden and Chase finally see the light, or do they? 

With Dory behind bars and Sandy dead, Jaden and Chase begin to rebuild their lives and find each other again. 
With the discovery of the secrets Dory held on to for years, Jaden and Chase believe the nightmare is behind them and the family that once eluded them is now within reach.
However, Chase’s past is not finished with him.
The Bitch is back and her name is Samantha. She has heard of Chase’s engagement to the gutter trash of the Earth and vows that it will never take place. 

With the help of Steven, Jaden’s ex. Samantha will plow through their lives and like Dory, murder is the plan. 
Jaden and Chase soon see that they can’t trust anyone and everyone who knows them is not safe. 
The beautiful wedding they had been planning may never happen and the family they longed for may end before it has begun.
Jaden will be sent back into the darkness, but this time it is not her own. Will Chase be too late to save Jaden? Can Jaden save Chase?




Trailers:
Just Breathe

The Heart Won't Lie

Out of the Darkness


Author Bio:
Angela Fattig spent most of her childhood reading any book she could find. That's when her passion of writing was born. When she was 10, she started writing short stories and poems and kept quite a collection.
In 1998, she met Paul and they have shared a life together for 15 years. In 1999, she introduced the world to her first born, Brandi, and again in 2000, Sarah.
Today, when she is not doing what she loves, writing, she spends time with her beautiful family and the addition of two dogs named Izzy and Herly.
Angela's inspirations have always been Stephen King, E L James, and Poe.


Twitter  /  Website  /  Blog  /  Amazon  /  Autograph  /  Goodreads



Just Breathe (#1)

The Heart Won't Lie (#2)

Out of the Darkness (#3)

Brought to you by:  Obsessive Pimpettes

Short Tales of Horror Part 2 by Regina Puckett

TITLE – Short Tales of Horror Part II
AUTHOR – Regina Puckett
GENRE – Horror
PUBLICATION DATE – September 2, 2014
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 77 pages
PUBLISHER – Punk & Sissy Publications
COVER ARTIST – Ryan Jorgensen owns copyright on photo. 
Charity Parkerson put together the book cover.

Summary:
Ours
While Sheriff Wilson has no idea what really transpired the night twelve people were murdered in the old mental hospital during what was supposed to be a simple night of ghost hunting, he was at the scene moments after the lone survivor committed suicide. Now it’s a year later and a group of paranormal investigators want to set up a haunted house and invite the general public in that same abandoned mental hospital. How is he supposed to keep that many people safe from whoever or whatever killed the last group?

Silent Baby Screams
Gwen doesn't understand why her husband resents their newborn baby so much, but she never suspects that one day she'll return home from work to discover their baby boy has simply vanished. What happens next is the stuff of nightmares.

Lucky Thirteen
Thirteen black cats help keep watch over a bedridden, old lady. Sometimes the number thirteen is lucky but then again it might just depend on it who you are.

Pay Back
There’s nothing usual about Jeremy waking up late for school, but on this particular morning something feels different. When he goes downstairs to face the music, he finds his grandmother waiting for him but no one else appears to be at home. Jeremy believes he’s caught a lucky break and his mother and father won’t get to know, but he soon discovers that not everything is as it seems. He finds he’ll have to face up to his mistakes, though, and maybe even suffer a little payback himself.

Slimmer
Sandy loves her new boyfriend, but ever since they moved in together, Donald won’t get off her back about how much she eats. When he offers her a new miracle diet pill, she decides to try one just to shut him up. Unfortunately, there are unexpected side effects that take them both by terrifying surprise.

Sam I am
The morning after moving into her dream home with her young daughter and husband, Paige learns that the three story, 18th century house might be haunted. She then finds that her daughter has a new imaginary friend called Sam I Am. It isn’t long before Paige’s perfect home turns into a living nightmare.



Ours
     “Something drained its battery. Sometimes that happens when a spirit is nearby. Why don’t you try asking Wallace a few questions?  Maybe he likes men better than women. After all he only kidnapped, raped and killed little boys. “
     There nothing Alan wanted less than to try and communicate with a dead serial killer but he had forced his way in with the group so the least he could do was try in fit in. “He liked little boy’s. I don’t think he’s going to be interested in my type. I’m a little old for his taste.”
     Rhonda didn’t say anything but continued to stare at him. He finally shrugged. “Why the hell not?”  He turned toward the empty room and tried not to feel like a damn fool. It was a good thing none of his deputies could see him talking to a ghost. “If you’re with us, Wallace Webster, you should know the world’s a better place without you in it. You were the lowest form of scrum bag and I think it’s a damn shame you were granted the pleasure of dying of old age in here instead of getting the electric chair like you deserved.”
     Rhonda elbowed him. “Ask a question and stop antagonizing him.”
     Alan glared at her. “Fine.”  He closed his eyes and tried to think of a good question. “Why did you hurt those innocent children?”  All of the K2 meters lit up.
     Rhonda leaned over and grabbed her backpack. She dug around until she found the recorder. “Ask him something else. “
     Alan stood and walked over into the circle of K2 meters. “Why, you Son of a Bitch. Why?” He felt a sharp stinging sensation across the back of his neck before cold air enveloped him. Just as he was reaching back to rub the painful area, a putrid smell filled the air and a voice right next to his ear whispered. “Mine.”  Without even thinking, he asked, “Why?”  There was a sinister laugh and another sharp painful slash across his neck and then down the full length of his back. He went to step out of the circle until something bumped against the side of his leg. The air around him became soupy and every breath became harder and harder to draw in.
     When he made another move to leave the circle several things happened at once; it felt as if a large hand gripped onto his shoulder, a breathe of foul air filled his nose and the room became crammed with small black shadows. Another whisper finally answered his question. “My children.” Alan forced his legs to move but he only made it a few steps when the black forms rushed to surround him. It felt as if several pairs of small hands were tugging at his pants’ legs and there were arms wrapping around both of his legs. The air overflowed with agitated murmurings and whispers.
     Every hair on Alan’s body stood up from the static electricity in the room. He blinked his eyes several times trying to focus on the tiny black shadows which had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They were all inside of the circle of K2 meters and the lights on the meters were flashing on and off like crazy. The shadows were darker than the room’s darkness. They were completely void of any light and the feelings emanating from them were if they were totally void of any happiness.
     It wasn’t so much the touching or even the presence of the black shadows that bothered Alan. It was those feelings of pain and anguish that were slowly leaching away his own happiness. He could sense they needed his help and this was the only way they knew how to ask for it. He broke out in a cold sweat, and just as the coldness was beginning to seep into his skin, frantic screaming came from somewhere else in the hospital.


Author Bio:
Regina Puckett is an award nominated author for her short story, Balloon Wishes.
Concealed in My Heart is a Readers' Favorite Book Award Winner.
Claimed by Sin is nominated for 2014 Ellora's Cave Golden Ankh award.
Concealed in My Heart won runner-up in the international 2014 MARSocial Author of the Year Competition.
Borrowed Wings, has received the Children's Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
Memories won first place in the 1st WSBR International Poetry Contest. This poem may be found in her book of poetry, Tilting at Windmills and Words.
Slowly Drowning won second place in the 3rd WSBR International Poetry Contest. This poem may be found in her poetry book, My Words into the Beyond.
Sir Galahad Comes to the Rescue won third place in the 3rd WSBR International Poetry Contest. This poem may be found in her book of poetry, Ramblings and Dreams.
Her collection of poetry, Fireflies, won 2013 Turning Pages Poetry Book of the Year.
She writes sweet romances, horror, inspirational, picture books and poetry. There are several projects in various stages of completion and there are always characters and stories waiting for their chance to finally get out of her head and onto paper.


Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Website  /  Blog  /  Amazon  /  Google+  /  Goodreads






2 print copies of Short Tales of Horror Part II


Brought to you by: