Books
‘Something is Killing the Children’ from Boom! is a Chilling Must-Read

Something is Killing the Children (Boom! Studios, $14.99) begins with a group of teenage boys playing truth or dare. Choosing truth, James recounts something he recently witnessed from his bedroom window: a large and shadowy thing, blending in with the trees. His story is disturbing enough to seem fake, so much so a friend questions its veracity. James then dares his challenger to investigate.
Given the series title, you have an idea how that dare ends.
I’m not going to spoil the killer something outside of the back cover description: “terrifying creatures that live in the shadows.” Said creatures appear by the end of the first issue. along with Erica Slaughter, a specialist in both finding and killing these monsters. What follows is a hunt led by Erica to destroy the monsters consuming the sanity (and children) of the Wisconsin town.
The book has a lot working in its favor. The art (Werther Dell’edera on illustrations, Miguel Muerto as colorist) serves the story well. Daylight scenes are crisp and varied in angle, with nice use (but not overuse) of color; nighttime scenes are disjointed, bloody and horrifying.
The monsters themselves work well–blurry and confusing, as if straddling the world between nebulous dreams and concrete reality. The on-page violence is graphic, powerful, and most important necessary. These monsters are kinetic and brutal.
The writing (James Tynion IV) also delivers, resonating strongly at the character level. James is smart beyond his years, yet carries emotional baggage in common with teenagers (though in uncommon ways, given his pariah status in the school after his friends die). While reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Erica displays a singular drive, strong problem-solving skills, but is totally lacking in humor.
The rules surrounding the monsters are also compelling. Who can see them; who doesn’t, and why? This is a book that demands attention well after the reading is done.
The one element of Something is Killing the Children that puzzles me concerns the shadow organization in charge of monster killers like Erica.
As the story progresses, this organization moves from the background–present only as a silence on the other end of Erica’s calls–to the foreground, complete with new characters, politics, and internal drama. For me, the story functions well independently of their presence. It made me question why they were included, or rather why they couldn’t just exist on the other end of Erica’s phone the whole time.
Still, this book is a recommended read. With a propulsive story, brutal, on-page violence, and intriguing characters (and monsters), it’s easy to see why the book was nominated for multiple awards in 2020. Those dark pockets of the woods just got a lot more horrifying.

Books
‘A Haunting In Venice’ Trailer Examines a Supernatural Mystery

Kenneth Branagh is back in the director’s seat and as fancy-mustachioed Hercule Poirot for this chilling ghost adventure murder mystery. Whether you like Branagh’s previous Agatha Christie adaptations or not, you can’t argue they weren’t beautifully photographed.
This one looks gorgeous and spellbinding.
Here’s what we know so far:
The unsettling supernatural thriller based upon the novel “Hallowe’en Party” by Agatha Christie and directed by and starring Oscar® winner Kenneth Branagh as famed detective Hercule Poirot, will open in theaters nationwide September 15, 2023. “A Haunting in Venice” is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve, “A Haunting in Venice” is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot.
Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets. Reuniting the team of filmmakers behind 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express” and 2022’s “Death on the Nile,” the film is directed by Kenneth Branagh with a screenplay by Oscar® nominee Michael Green (“Logan”) based upon Agatha Christie’s novel Hallowe’en Party.
The producers are Kenneth Branagh, Judy Hofflund, Ridley Scott, and Simon Kinberg, with Louise Killin, James Prichard, and Mark Gordon serving as executive producers. A brilliant acting ensemble portrays a cast of unforgettable characters, including Kenneth Branagh, Kyle Allen (“Rosaline”), Camille Cottin (“Call My Agent”), Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”), Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), Jude Hill (“Belfast”), Ali Khan (“6 Underground”), Emma Laird (“Mayor of Kingstown”), Kelly Reilly (“Yellowstone”), Riccardo Scamarcio (“Caravaggio’s Shadow”), and recent Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”).
Books
‘Official Five Nights at Freddy’s Cookbook’ Gets Release This Fall

Five Nights at Freddy’s is getting a big Blumhouse release very soon. But, that’s not all that the game is being adapted into. The hit horror game experience is also being made into a cookbook filled with deliciously spooky recipes.
The Official Five Nights at Freddy’s Cookbook is filled with items that you would find at an official Freddy’s location.
This cookbook is something fans have been dying for since the first games’ original release. Now, you will be able to cook signature dishes from the comfort of your own home.
The synopsis for Five Nights at Freddy’s goes like this:
“As an anonymous night guard, you must survive five nights as you are hunted by five animatronics hell-bent on killing you. Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria is a fantastic place for children and adults can have fun with all the robotic animals; Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy.“
You can find the Official Five Nights at Freddy’s Cookbook in stores beginning September 5.

Books
Stephen King’s ‘Billy Summers’ Being Made By Warner Brothers

Breaking News: Warner Brothers Acquires Stephen King Bestseller “Billy Summers”
The news just dropped via a Deadline exclusive that Warner Brothers has acquired the rights to Stephen King’s bestseller, Billy Summers. And the powerhouses behind the film adaptation? None other than J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way.
Speculation is already rampant as fans can’t wait to see who will bring the titular character, Billy Summers, to life on the big screen. Will it be the one and only Leonardo DiCaprio? And will J.J. Abrams be sitting in the director’s chair?

The masterminds behind the script, Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz, are already working on the screenplay and it sounds like it’s going to be a real doozy!
Originally, this project was slated as a ten-episode limited series, but the powers that be have decided to go all out and turn it into a full-fledged feature.
Stephen King’s book Billy Summers is about a former Marine and Iraq War veteran who has turned into a hitman. With a moral code that only allows him to target those he deems “bad guys,” and a modest fee of never more than $70,000 for each job, Billy is unlike any hitman you’ve seen before.
However, as Billy begins to consider retirement from the hitman business, he is summoned for one final mission. This time, he must wait in a small city in the American South for the perfect opportunity to take out a murderer who has killed a teenager in the past. The catch? The target is being brought back from California to the city to stand trial for murder, and the hit must be completed before he can make a plea deal that would bring his sentence from the death penalty to life in prison and potentially reveal the crimes of others.
As Billy waits for the right moment to strike, he passes the time by writing a sort of autobiography about his life, and by getting to know his neighbors.