Movie Review: PLEDGE

 

PLEDGE
Director: Daniel Robbins
Writer: Zack Weiner
Staring: Zachery Byrd, Phillip Andre Botello, Zack Wieiner, Aaron Dalla Villa
78 mins / March 2019

Horror / Thriller
Streaming: Hulu 

"Few Get In. None Get Out."

This movie is like what might happen if Revenge of the Nerds met Friday the 13th. It is Pledge-Week on a college campus. Three friends make their way from one fraternity to the next, certain they will get into one of the Greek frats.What they learn, instead, is that they are annoying, and creepy, and that the people at the houses they visit would rather make fun of them rather than let them pledge.

When a stunningly beautiful young woman invites them to a party, they decide to go. They have more than exhausted the campus opportunities. In a tucked away mansion, the three find themselves in the center of an amazing party. They are surrounded by loud music, hot chicks, and the group of guys running the house have taken a special liking in the trio.

When they come back the next day, they learn they are only 10 members ever in the "club," the three of them are the only pledges being considered. And then ... the hazing begins. The nightmare begins.

Trapped inside the mansion tucked in the middle of nowhere, the three friends realize their dream of joining a fraternity, of acceptance, inclusion -- are rocked to the core as the hazing turns to torture, One problem with escape. There is no way out . . . very little chance of getting away.

For a low budget horror film, the cinematography is top notch. Every single one of the actors does a great job, You can't help but like the three nerds (Byrd, Botello, Weiner), and Aaron Dalla Villa is a pretty cool villain.

The twist at the end, about the pledges, that was the kicker. That was what made a potential 6 Star review into an 8 Star review. In my opinion.

I found myself holding my breath more than once, and a few times, I even cringed and thought about looking away. (I was raised on horror, so looking away is never an option). This thrilling tale is far from perfect (as are most movies, even big budget films), but I really enjoyed this one! Know how I know it was compelling and entertaining? I didn't play with my phone once. (That right there is a good sign).

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the crime novel, YOU CHOOSE

Book Review: TOO HARD TO FORGET, by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey
TOO HARD TO FORGET
Forever, 2017
336 Pages
Romance

“Peggy Clarkson is returning to her Alma Mater with one goal in mind; confront Elliott Brooks, the man who ruined her for all others and remind him of what he has been missing.”

Too Hard to Forget is the third book in Tessa Bailey’s Romancing the Clarkson series and for me was the one with the most mystery surrounding it. The few glimpses of Peggy Clarkson in the previous two books let us know she had a score to settle but that was it. The mystery made this story full of surprises and for me and by far my favorite of the series.

Peggy is the youngest of the Clarkson siblings and a former college cheerleader who wears 4 engagement rings around her neck from her failed engagements. On their way to New York City to fulfill her mother’s last wish she stops in Cincinnati to see Elliott Brooks, famed college football coach nicknamed the “Kingmaker”. Not much is talked about in the previous books about their relationship but there are plenty of flashbacks throughout the book that show exactly what kind of relationship there was between Peggy who was a student at the time (teacher/student taboo.. yes!!!!) and Elliott. Flashbacks are very hard to do right but in this book they were perfect and added a depth to both the story and the characters which really helped me to understand exactly why they were both so pained even after 3 years.

Throughout the book as we see Peggy and Elliott dance around each other (and crash into each other!) Tessa gives us glimpses into Elliott’s internal struggle with his past and his strong faith. What started as the embodiment of the sin lust turned into something more which neither one expected and were unsure how to deal with. Add in Elliott’s daughter and his high profile coaching job and this story had more layers than an onion. What I loved most though was how as the book went on we started to see the layers peel one by one. Not too fast, not too slow. The flow and the character development was perfect from beginning to end. Often in series the later books can seem forced or rushed. There was absolutely none of this. Of course as expected there were plenty of the steamy scenes that Tessa Bailey is known for however what pleasantly surprised me was the sweetness of this story as I viewed the synopsis as a “women with a score to settle” type book.

Overall I could not have loved this book more. It had something for everyone. Sweet second chance love story? Check. Teacher/Student taboo? Check. Super-hot sex scenes with an uber dominate and powerful hero? Double check. Too Hard to Forget left me wanting more and definitely lived up to its title as I will not be forgetting it any time soon!

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Eliza Wise is a Travel Planner, and mother of 4 school age kids who started reading as an escape from reality and is now an active member of the Indie Romance Community. Eliza is most interested in ebooks. Her Kindle is her best friend. Genres she is prefers reviewing: Contemporary Romance, Most Erotica (Some BDSM, but stays away from violence)

Book Review: THE SLAUGHTER MAN, by Tony Parsons

Tony Parsons
THE SLAUGHTER MAN (DC Max Wolfe #2)
Minotaur Books, 2015
373 pages
Crime / Detective / Police

I am truly enjoying everything Tony Parsons. Max Wolfe is back. The second book in the series is even more engrossing than the first.

A horrible murder spree starts on New Year's Eve and finishes on New Year's Day. It seems an entire family has been slaughtered. The crime is committed in a ritzy, wealthy, gated community. The family was taken at night. The brutal killings are going to be a challenge to investigate. The weapon used was a bolt gun, traditionally used for stunning cattle. The weapon punches a hole through a human skull.

Reviewing the scene, Wolfe realizes one body is unaccounted for. The husband and wife were in the bedroom. They found the bodies of the brother and sister teens. Where was the four year old?

Wolfe and his team have their work cut out for them. They need to find the killer, and a missing person. There is a timetable involved. The longer it takes to find a missing child, the more likely it is the child is dead. Or just gone.

They do have a prime suspect in the murders. Someone who had decades ago killed a father, and his two sons with the same weapon.

What I am loving about the Wolfe novels is the family aspect. I cannot help but adore the detective's five-year-old daughter, and the special bond, the relationship between the two of them (and the lovable dog, Stan). The family aspect is important to Wolfe. It is clearly what keeps him grounded, gives him focus, and drive.

Another outstanding novel. Hats off to Pearson and his creation!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series,
and The Vaccination Trilogy