I recently mentioned that A. Chandler, an Amazon.Com Top 100 reviewer, had posted a review of The Acorn Stories, titled “A light hearted read with stories that flow smoothly and a dash of humor.” Chandler is now the #1 reviewer there.

More reviews by A. Chandler.

SF Universe reports that Demons Are Coming to BBC America, January 2. A secret team recruits a teenaged descendent of Van Helsing to fight things bumping in the night. Christian Cooke plays the descendent, Luke Rutherford.

The videos I’ve seen posted make it look fun, with a good combination of danger, humor, and creature effects. It sounds like the perfect companion to BBC America’s Being Human. Like that show, though, the season ends way too quickly.

Gay Movie Review: Shank

Summary:

An eighteen-year-old gang member tries to hide his homosexuality amid a violent life in this gritty British drama. Shank offers a frank, disturbing look at life on the street.

Pictured (from right): Tom Bott (Jonno), Alice Payne (Nessa), Wayne Virgo (Cal), and Marc Laurent (Olivier).

Text:

Eighteen-year-old gang member Cal (Wayne Virgo) acts violently against his homosexual feelings, including those for his best friend, Jonno (Tom Bott). Nessa (Alice Payne) not only leads their gang but also holds secrets about both young men and why she carries so much anger.

In an intentional departure from coming-out films, director Simon Pearce teams with screenwriters Darren Flaxstone and Christian Martin for a British film that depicts a clash between gang life and gay life. The resulting story not only mixes graphic sex and violence but goes much deeper, looking at why people live in fear of sexual orientation and their own vulnerabilities.

Though Cal seems perfectly willing to bash other gays, he finds himself defending and then befriending Olivier (Marc Laurent). Meeting secretly while Cal hides from his fellow gang members, Cal and Olivier quickly fall into a relationship and in love.

Of course, violence waits around every corner for Cal, and he only manages to lead Olivier into that violence. I honestly can’t say for sure that this movie will appeal to all fans of gay films. In fact, I usually prefer some of the more positive representations of gay characters that other movies offer. However, Shank’s honest look at closeted, conflicted gays in dangerous settings makes it equally compelling.

The homosexuality of those characters adds to their complexity, taking what might sound like a B-movie premise and elevating Shank into an exciting, disturbing, and engaging drama. The talented cast and the unconventional script make Shank a memorable experience.

Thanks for visiting my blog! Please read about my small-town fiction collection The Acorn Stories and my free eBook Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.

Sherwood Anderson.

readear (audio book reviews): Winesburg, Ohio.
The Outlet: Writing and Money.
This Recording: In Which We Plan To Come Back To You.
The Books of the Modern Library.
dooneyscafe.com: In the Land of Oz.
Google Blog Search.
The Joplin Globe: Mike Pound: Fostering a new generation of journalists ... maybe.
The CCLaP 100: "Winesburg, Ohio," by Sherwood Anderson.
Civil War general's home in Clyde gets a touch-up.
The Wettest County in the World
Australian film director hints at 'Wettest County' casting.
Rose-coloured Reviews Sherwood Anderson's "The Egg.”
Writing Groups, Mentors, and Sherwood Anderson.
Start Narrative Here.
Knoxw.CloseReadingNYC: Sherwood Anderson.
Samantha Fingerhut: Sherwood Anderson.
The Acorn Stories: West Texas fiction in the tradition of Winesburg, Ohio.

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