Book Review: Thinner by Stephen King

***(out of four stars)

Billy Halleck has a problem. He's losing weight... and fast.

After accidentally running over a gypsy, Billy Halleck is cursed by the leader of the gypsies, Taduz Lemke. Billy was a lawyer and got off with a slap on the wrist, because he was good friends with the judge. Now, day by day and hour by hour, Billy is thinning down to almost nothing. He must find Taduz, and confront him, because if the curse isn't lifted he won't be around much longer.

I've gotta say that I read quite often and it's very hard to find a good book that keeps the pages turning. This one was one of those special novels that had me engrossed for the entire time. One on hand, you feel bad for Billy Halleck, who really didn't mean to hit that women. On the other, he almost deserves what's coming to him. It's a slow decent in horror as page by page Halleck is losing weight although he continues to eat heartily.

Halleck learns that others have been cursed. Namely the ones who helped him get off easy at the trial. One character literally turns into a lizard and the other one sort of melts away. Billy's weight problem tells me that he got off a bit easier than his pals. Soon after, his marriage begins to fail, friends turn their backs on him and the doctors all think he's a crazy lunatic. The only friend that stays by his side is Richard "The Hammer" Ginelli. Ginelli is a ruthless killer and vows to help assist Halleck in finding Taduz and the clan of gypsies.

I won't spoil the ending here. It is bleak. As it should be. Wrapping this story up in a nice bow would take away from the entire experience. If you're into King's work, this one should not go unnoticed.

Stephen King (as Richard Bachman)

Publisher: NAL

1984

309 pages

The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King

*1/2(out of four stars)

After the sudden death (crib death) of her two month old baby, Emily takes up running. It's therapeutic and helps her mend the wounds of losing her child. Meanwhile, her marriage with Henry is failing quickly and she begins running from that as well. Soon, she's running from just about everything. She contacts her father and asks if she can reside at his vacation home on the Florida Keys. She needs some time to re-evaluate her life, marriage and well being.

While at the Florida Keys, she continues to run. The only contact she has is with an old man named, Deke Hollis. Deke tells her about a man named Jim Pickering. Deke finds it odd that Pickering always brings a girl with him to the keys. Pickering calls these girls his nieces. Deke also tells Emily that most of the young women are never seen again.

Soon Emily runs into trouble. On one of her runs she passes Pickering's house. She notices a young women in Pickering's trunk; stabbed to death. Pickering sneaks up behind her and knocks her out. When she awakes he has her in his house. She's tied to a chair with duct tape. He plans on killing her but hesitates. He asks her if anyone knew she was there and she tells him the old man. He leaves the house, supposedly to kill Deke.

When he returns, Emily frees herself. She wounds Jim Pickering and runs out of the house. Pickering begins to follow her but just doesn't have the stamina or speed to keep up. As Emily runs along the beach, trying to escape her assailant, she's surprised to see a latino male in the ocean. The latino tries to help her, but is out witted by Jim Pickering. Pickering kills the man with scissors. Emily swims out in the ocean and Pickering follows her. Pickering can't swim and ultimately drowns in the ocean.

By the end of the story, Emily still contemplates her future with Henry and her life.

I really wanted to like the character of Emily. I felt sympathetic because of the loss of her child, but that just wasn't enough. The baby succumbed to crib death. It wasn't her fault.  It wasn't Henry's fault either.  But she still runs out on her marriage. I wasn't sure what she had planned for the rest of her life. She was just running... literally! I usually love the way King writes his characters. Most of the time they're genuine and feel natural. Emily was just an unlikable character too me. In my opinion, she's one of the weaker characters King has penned.

The killer (Jim Pickering) is a total buffoon. For a guy who's killed on numerous occasions, his strategy was weak. The guy didn't muster an ounce of fear from me. At no point was this character threatening. Somehow, you knew Emily would prevail. I really wanted closure with her story, but there was none. She began running and I assume she'll continue to run. The story is predictable and lacks real suspense.

If you're a die hard Stephen King fan, give this short novella a read. However, you'll find better stories by him. This story just felt flat throughout. Generic story, with no redeeming qualities.

Reading info: This story was first published in the July edition of Esquire back in June of 2007. It's also an installment in a collection of King's short stories called, Just After Sunset. And finally, an audio edition was made by Simon and Schuster in 2008. The story is read by Mare Winningham. This is the version I've used to take in this story.

The Night Flier

**(out of 4 stars)

I'm really starting to despise Hollywood's latest versions of vampires. Where the fuck did all the cool vampires go anyway? Does anyone remember vampires that actually scared the living shit out of you? I do. How about Max Schreck's "Count Orlok", in the infamous 1922 classic, Nosferatu? Or maybe one of my personal favorites, Radu the Vampire, from Subspecies. Yeah... those were vampires.

It seems that if you want to watch a good vampire flick you've got to dig around a little. Although I won't say there hasn't been any good vampire flicks made recently, I'll simply state that most of the vampire movies are disposable. You can take them or leave them. Choice is yours.

But I recently revisited a film that I saw some years ago. Now, I'm not saying that this film is the greatest of all vampire flicks, because... it's not. I'm just saying that at least with this one your getting your money's worth. If - of course- you share my same tastes in vampires. That is saying that vampires don't twinkle in the sunlight or climb trees like spider man. They hide in the dark, they ravage victims, they are nasty, rat-like creatures with a hunger for blood.

The Night Flier is based on a Stephen King short story with the same name.

A mysterious black plane, a Cessna Skymaster 337, is landing at quiet, isolated airports during the night killing vicims with vampire-like fashion. The throats of victims are literally being ripped out. There are no strong leads and very few witnesses.

Eventually, Richard Dees [Miguel Ferrer] a selfish and miserable reporter for the local tabloid, Inside view, is ask to follow the story. Richard follows some leads and interviews local witnesses and eventually embarks on a personal mission to find out the true identity of the Night Flier. The only thing we know about the Night Flier is his name: Dwight Reinfield.

Meanwhile, Katherine "Jimmy" Blair, a new and hungry reporter is also put on the story. Katherine and Richard but heads throughout most of the film. It appears that Richard isn't following the same advise he gave to Katherine. He tells her not to believe everything she publishes and not to publish what she believes. Richard becomes obsessed with the story and eventually all his questions are answered. In, what I might add, is a pretty good ending.


This film has good pacing. It tells a good story and doesn't drag on at any point. The plot is simple: it's a cat and mouse chase. The acting, by Miguel Ferrer is very well done. I feel this certain type of role was meant to be played by Miguel. You can almost tell that this role was natural to him and he is very convincing.

I feel the character of Jimmy played by Julie Entwisle is a little over acted in certain spots. In fact, most of them. She looks unnatural and seems to be fresh out of acting school. One certain scene takes place in a bar where Richard is giving her advise on the new job she is taking on. She seems to be jumping in spots; almost over emotional as if she doesn't quite know how to naturally react to her situation. Overall her acting really doesn't take anything away from the film, but if you're watching for it you'll see it.

The special effects are stellar - and practical - no bullshit CGI. Instead of two little vampire bites in the neck, we get the whole effect of a throat that has been ripped out. Down right violent and visceral! And with the vampire, Dwight Reinfeld, you don't get that pretty, sparkling, sexual beast hiding in the dark. You get a horrid vision of what this vampire really is; revolting and perverse.

All in all this was one hell of a vampire movie. Again, not the best, but at least it's a glimpse of what a true vampire is. The Night Flier is a movie for any fan of the vampire. If you're sick and tired of being sick and tired of the romantic kind of vampire movie then give this one a chance. Yeah, have your girlfriend come over so you both can neck while watching the Night Flier! Get it? I know, I know, shit joke but I tried.

Starring: Miguel Ferrer, Julie Entwisle, Dan Monahan and Michael H. Moss
Directed by: Mark Pavia
Run time: 93 min

The Boogeyman by Stephen King

A distraught man named, Lester Billings sits in a psychiatrists office, telling a story surrounding the mysterious deaths of his children. As the story unfolds we get a glimpse of Billing's character. At first glance he seems a bit off the wall and his story crazy. He's sure that nobody will believe his story and that he'll go to jail. He constantly worries about the closet door in the doctor's office being open. And only after making sure that nothing is inside, is when he ligtens up and continues his story.

Lester continues and says that he blames himself for the deaths of his kids. All the children (before their death) said that they saw something come out of the closet. The boogeyman! And when they are murdered, Lester finds the closet door ajar. He's quick to point out that he closed the closet door before putting his kids to bed and leaving the room. Lester begins to think that, like his kids, the boogeyman is at fault and is now coming for him.

The short story ends with a pretty great twist that I didn't see coming. So I won't ruin it here on this blog.

This story was published in March of 1973 and later put in the Night Shift collection. This was a story that grabbed a hold of me and never let go. From start to finish, you're not sure whether Lester is just out of his mind, or if in fact, he's telling the truth. Of course, all your questions will be answered by the end. The story runs at about 11 pages long, so it's relatively short and to the point. It doesn't suffer the usual King treatment; being too wordy and concentrating on an abundance of back story that really doesn't need to be there. Like I said, straight and to the point. Any King fan will appreciate this classic. When King is on, he's really fucking on! This short is just one of many examples of why he's earned the name, Master of the Macabre.