TAMARA

Yesterday October 29th 2014 Jeffrey Reddick and co-writer J.D. Matthews published Jeffrey's first book titled 'Tamara'.  

Yes, the very same Jeffrey Reddick who created the Final Destination Franchise...

It hasn't been that long since my last blog about this massively talented individual. 

My write up on Jeff's short film 'Good Samaritan' 

So... Tamara... 

Tamara is a book that's based off the 2005 classic cult film of the same name.  

Here is a link to the film version:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401815/   

I haven't seen the film.  BUT... I have read the book :)

The description from the kindle page is as follows:

"Based off the cult classic film of the same name, "Tamara" tells the tragic story of a misunderstood and mistreated teenage girl. A shocking event transforms Tamara from plain to sexy, from meek to bold, and from a victim to a dark avenger after it unleashes a mysterious power within her." 

Intrigued by the description. Come on, High School really sucked for me...

When the book became available for purchase, I grabbed it at the first opportune moment.

I didn't actually get to settle down and start reading it until about 9pm... 

Thought "Hey... read a lil... and let it soak in and pick it up tomorrow" ...Yeah I'm a lazy reader.

I read the first 4 chapters and put it down.  "Cool deal" I said to myself. "Liking this so far."

I go off on my merry way, it wasn't long... I peered over to my phone... I grabbed it and opened up my Kindle App and started where I left off... I couldn't resist...

Line after line... chapter after chapter... 

It flowed, it vibed, it entranced me.  

I read through to the half way mark... I promised myself I would put it down and go to bed... But I couldn't... I wouldn't...

It was as if... 'Tamara' herself, had me under her finger.

I finally finished reading it as the sun was getting ready to bust over the horizon. 

"What a book... What an ending!"  I marveled in thought.

There are moments of terror, and moments of suspense, moments that make you empathetic and compassionate, you really "feel" for this character...

There is humor, I found myself chuckling out loud more than once.

The dialogue is nicely done, as each character talks you get a sense of them being their own person. Which doesn't always come through in literary works... It did so superbly in 'Tamara'  

There is action which grabs you and carries you along for the ride.

By the time it was over, I felt like I had personally been on this journey that had just unfolded before my eyes. 

Which was glorious, since it is based on a film... and I haven't seen the film... I wondered how my experience reading this book would turn out...

I must say, that I didn't need any knowledge of the film... Everything was complete, the story was there and I felt emerged in this world.

But I can't help but wonder... Whats the film like?

While there are several links to 'Tamara' placed inside this blog already, you can either click the link or picture below to visit the amazon kindle page for the book.

 'Tamara'

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OYU2GCC 

While I do affirm that this is a great book,

Don't take my word for it... 

Discover for your self.

I leave you with the book trailer:

 

You can catch updates about the book on the Official 'Tamara' Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Tamarathenovel

   

You can follow Jeffrey the Author of Tamara on Twitter:

@JeffreyAReddick

Mobsters, Monsters & Nazis

My latest blog is a special treat for you and for me!

I got a very special glimpse at the cover of Mobsters, Monsters & Nazis

 Which is the latest work of:

Author Dan O'Brien and Illustrator Steve Ferchaud

It's not every day that you get to be one of the few people to see a cover before it is revealed to the public at large. So when I got home from visiting relatives over the weekend... and I spied with my eye this cover... waiting in my inbox... I was ecstatic!

Dan O'Brien is an excellent writer and his past works have been a testament to his skill with the pen.

Mobsters, Monsters & Nazis is a six-story illustrated series that will launch on Halloween, and run to Christmas before it concludes. 

If you have enjoyed Dan's work in the past, you will not be disappointed in his future. If you like noir, pulp, Lovecraft, and detective fiction... then this is a series worth checking out... I mean just look at the cover below... a nice throw back to those serials of the golden age of dime store comics. 

It is available for pre-order starting today, so be sure to grab it and spread the word!

You can pre-order it for only $2.99 by clicking on the cover below or by following this link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OE781J2

And now... without further ado... I present the cover for:
Mobsters, Monsters & Nazis

 

Isn't that cover awesome?! Yes!

You can follow Dan O'Brien on Twitter:

@AuthorDanOBrien

'Good Samaritan'

So I recently got a chance to watch a screening of Jeffrey Reddick's short film 'Good Samaritan'

Yes, the very same Jeffrey Reddick who created the Final Destination Franchise.

The same Final Destination that has reminded me to:

*Never place beverages on my computer monitor and/or TV...

*Always look 3 times before crossing the street...

*NEVER, never park your car on a train track...

*Always put your coffee in a cup holder, never between your legs when driving...

* While AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' is an awesome song, never listen it on the interstate.

*Log trucks = Stay the hell away!!!

*Avoid Amusement Parks because they are not so amusing.

and many more scenarios that have made me more careful/paranoid.

'Good Samaritan' by my own description is a psychological horror.

Written by Jeffrey, and being his directorial debut, It has this perfect mix of ambient creepiness, "Scare the hell outta you", and 'Make ya thinks'

Imagine... suffering from Agoraphobia... A horrible disorder, that is a psychological condition which triggers anxiety and even panic attacks from being in open spaces... In severe cases the fear prevents people from leaving their homes...

Its a very real disorder, that very real people suffer...

So imagine having a severe case of Agoraphobia and witnessing a horrific crime just outside your door...

You WANT to help...

but... remember as soon as you open that door... the fear, the anxiety, the panic of the world outside comes flooding in...

FLOODING IN...

That immobilizing fear turns your body into a prison...  

This is the scenario that the character Nathan Rome of 'Good Samaritan' is faced with...

A character that was perfectly brought to life by Toby Hemingway

 As you are watching his struggles, he conveys them so believable, you really feel for this dude! You want to be there encouraging him on....  
"You can do it! Come on bro, its gonna be ok" 

But that's after you forgive him... Because...

Actor Rainn Wilson nails it, as he portrays a news personality, a pundit with a very powerful manner of speaking by the name of George Reed. The type of guy you do not want doing a story on you, even if you are an 80 year old grand mother, who has been as sweet as a bag full of kittens her whole life... He'll find something to shame granny. He's good at what he does. 

"You did what grandma? For Shame :("

 

Essentially, after the aforementioned scenario of witnessing a crime outside his home...  Nathan Rome becomes haunted... tormented... by his inability brought on by his condition, that prevented him from helping someone in need... a fiery interview at the hands George Reed certainly doesn't help the guilt factor.

The use of the word 'Haunted' gives you some context here ;)

'Good Samaritan' also contains the super acting talents of:

Jane Badler

&

Jeff Locker

Also a shout out to the composer who did the score, Chris Lott. 
Very nicely done! It captured the feeling of the short perfectly. Music is an important part of any film and he did not disappoint. The score built upon that "crawling up your spine through your nervous system" feeling.

To all the other folks who worked on this and made it happen, I may not know your name... But you did an awesome job making this film come to life.

I am really glad Jeffrey put this short film together, it just gives credence to him as an artist... not only has he proved to us many times that he is an amazing writer...

He shows us he is also a truly talented director.

I would love to tell you more... or break down the film further... but I don't want to give anything away... because this short not only has to be watched... it needs to be experienced.

After the film was over... I wanted more.

While it was a great short... It successfully did the hard hard task of introducing characters to us, and telling us a story about them... in a short film time line... 

All while being aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

But...

It would be even more epic as a full length feature.

Which I pray our souls will be frightfully entertained by one day.

'Good Samaritan'  has been screening at several film festivals across North America already this year, and will receive its European debut during the Berlin Short Film Festival  which takes place October 26 – 31, 2014

Stay up to date and connect with 'Good Samaritan' on social media

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/goodsamaritanfilm?ref=br_tf

Twitter:

@GoodSamaritanSh

and follow the man himself on Twitter:

@JeffreyAReddick