Cereal At Midnight

Few games have had the power of Life is Strange . (I may review that here at some point.) However, the focus of this review is to showcase something that grew out of the game in an unexpected way. Anyone who has played Life is Strange would most likely agree that the music in the game is almost a character. It sets the atmosphere and contributes to the power of the story. However, this review is not about that music either. Confused? Please let me introduce you to an independent artist that created an entire album that was inspired by the game. Koethe is an independent artist that writes and plays music that the game Life is Strange inspired. However, this is more than just a fanboy effort. The deep folksy music that this man creates is a perfect match to the game. In many cases it surpasses the original soundtrack.

DISCLAIMER: Art is completely subjective. The appreciation of cinema is completely objective. I wanted to get that out of the way before I proceed with what is a deep passion of mine. Movie posters are like book covers. They can draw or repulse. They can even draw a person in because they repulse. Bad movies can have spectacular posters. Excellent films can have terrible posters. This is the first article that I have in a planned series that discusses this notion from a purely artistic standpoint. A review of a movie poster in no way reflects a film. It is a total and separate entity. What I am also offering here is my own opinion based on hours of research and art appreciation. I am in no way a complete expert. Therefore, if my opinion is different from yours, dear reader, please do not take offense. My intention is not to be negative in any way. I am simply offering my observations and opinions. Thank you for your understanding! A movie poster can make a film or break it. That...

When I first heard of the movie  Kill List , I was curious as to what it was about. Many sites had labeled it Lovecraftian in nature. Boasts of a shocking ending were plentiful. I decided to seek out this film and view it. I almost ordered it several times online from various outlets, but for some reason, I didn’t. I was patient, and like so many times, that was rewarded. Imagine my surprise when I found this film at my local Dollar Tree. I grabbed the single copy they had and excitedly headed home. Within the next few days, I watched the movie and knew that I was going to review it for Cereal at Midnight. The reasons for this are many, but suffice it to say that this film falls into the category of unique horror. I will be careful to not spoil it in this review so read freely.

In 1980, a book by the name of The Clan of the Cave Bear emerged onto the scene. I did not read it. As the years passed, I heard people talk about this series as further books were released. Then in 1986, a movie starring Daryl Hannah was released. I remember watching that film with friends because we all were entranced by Ms. Hannah at the time. I would have been 16-17 years old and had realized that I was forever a part of “geek” culture. I loved the depiction of prehistoric times and the epic nature of the film. The movie was considered a flop at the box office, and no others have been made. However, this movie would pave the way for almost all serious prehistoric films we have enjoyed over the years. Films like Alpha (2018), that is an absolute joy despite its mediocre rating, owe a great deal to The Clan of the Cave Bear .

  Journey , from Thatgamecompany , might be one of the greatest gaming experiences I have ever had. This game is a work of aching beauty that almost feels like a journey towards spiritual edification. I know that seems an odd thing to say about a video game, but that is exactly the way Journey makes you feel. I have played games since the Atari 2600. I have even played the original Pong on the original machine so long ago. I am an avid PC gamer and play many MMO games. The point I wish to make here is that Journey is hands down the most emotional, moving, and powerful experience I have ever had in a virtual world. I am honestly a joyous wreck over it. It made me smile for hours. I rarely have an expressed emotional response over mass media. I do “cry” occasionally over film. While I did not openly cry when I finished Journey , I easily could have. The best way to describe it is the unrelenting sense of awe and utter joy the game brings. I am not certain how the developer m...

Southern Gothic literature has been a pleasure of mine for many a year now. The way the words roll off the page and into the heart and soul of a man is a beautiful thing to experience. In many of my graduate studies, I was confronted by such prose regularly. The likes of Flannery O’Connor, William Faulkner, Harper Lee, and Cormac McCarthy come to mind. To this list of masters I would add one name: Alden Bell. The name even seems to fit the description. Bell is the author of The Reapers are the Angels . This novel is southern Gothic through and through. It also happens to be about zombies and the apocalyptic world that such things bring about. This is a beautiful work that deserves the highest praise possible. Even though I enjoy all forms of literature, the zombie novel is generally delegated to the bottom of the pile when considering serious prose. They are generally formulaic and redundant. Such stories can only take a reader so far. However, The Reapers are the Angels manages to...

Bryan Bertino’s The Monster is a fantastically-fun monster movie in a genre that is  filled to the brim with questionable offerings. Bertino has a command of his writing and director  skills like few in the industry manage. He is the total package when it comes to what he seeks to  do. Many will remember his incredibly effective and terrifyingly-chilling movie The  Strangers from 2008. The Monster is no less spectacular and tension-filled. This is a little movie  that hits every bullseye it aims at. The film is a study in tension and the unknown. It is  fantastically acted with brilliant practical effects. This is a film that feels more like a late 70’s or  80’s movie that deals with contemporary issues. The film is gorgeous and makes use of powerful  storytelling. This is more than a terror-driven story. It is a story of the inner workings of the  human heart. I love it when a horror movie transcends the genre into something more than j...

I have been a gamer for most of my life. I have played everything from video games, card games, role-playing games, miniature based games, to board games of every stripe. I dearly love the interaction of both competitive and cooperative games. I think having a variety of games in one’s life makes for a much better social experience. I realize that most of us game online because it is so much easier. However, if you happen to be one of the lucky individuals that have an in-person gaming group, I would love to introduce you to one of my all-time favorite games. Twilight Imperium, by Fantasy Flight Games, is a game that encompasses just about everything any good gamer could want. It has a great sci-fi setting. It has a very deep game that includes politics, intrigue, and very cool fights. It has a set of races that I simply adore.  Frankly, I wish there were movies or novels that could go with this game. I would absolutely buy them.