MONSTER ISLAND by David Wellington / Z-View

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MONSTER ISLAND by David Wellington

First sentences…

Osman leaned over the rail and spat into the gray sea before turning again to shout orders at his first mate Ysuf.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

The zombie apocalypse came.  It was as bad as anyone could imagine.  In no time at all the zombies outnumber the living.  The humans who survive huddle in small groups in whatever safe haven they can find.  But without adequate food, water, electricity, lights, air conditioning or heat, survival is barely a step above existing.

The cities are the worst.  The bigger the city, the worse the situation.  In New York City most of the millions of people who used to live and work there are now members of the walking dead.  You’d have to be crazy or have a daughter who will die if you don’t.

Dekalb isn’t crazy.  But he’s been separated from his daughter.  Dekalb was captured by a squad of warrior women.  Their leader will die without the right medicine.  Dekalb knows where a supply can be found.  The meds are at the U.N. Building in midtown Manhattan.  Dekalb offers to retrieve the medicine if he can be reunited with his daughter.  Although a small squad of the warriors will travel with Dekalb, they’ll be outnumbered millions to one.  The only saving grace is Dekalb can think.  Zombies are just mindless eating machines.

All of them… except one.

A medical student named Gary had a plan to survive the zombie apocalypse.  And he did.

Sort of.

Now Gary is one of the walking dead, but he still has the ability to think.  Sure, like all of the other walkers, Gary has a never-ending hunger for human flesh.  But in addition to his ability to think, Gary can mentally control the other zombies.  Gary’s developed a plan that will make him king of the world.  Humans will be contained, corralled and allowed to live…  as a food source for Gary and his walking dead army.

Dekalb and Gary are on a collision course.

+++

MONSTER ISLAND is the first in Wellington’s MONSTER trilogy (MONSTER ISLAND, MONSTER NATION and MONSTER PLANET).

Wellington first published MONSTER ISLAND in installments available for free on the internet.

David Wellington takes the traditional zombie troupes and puts a spin on them.  I enjoyed the ride and look forward to the others in the trilogy.

Rating:

THE CROW: THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY by Jeff Bond!

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Fans of J. O’Barr’s The Crow are gonna love this.  A new book by Jeff Bond titled THE CROW: THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY premieres on September 1, 2026.  Here’s the lowdown…

The ultimate guide to the making of cult classic film The Crow, featuring new interviews with filmmakers, behind-the-scenes imagery, and highlighting its enduring legacy, including exclusive imagery from the 2024 film.

Take a deep dive into the making of the iconic 1994 film The Crow, exploring its origins in James O’Barr’s haunting graphic novel, and the lasting impact of its production in later sequels. THE CROW: THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY details the film’s bold visual style, director Alex Proyas’ creative vision, and the rise of Brandon Lee as the unforgettable Eric Draven. Despite tragedy, the crew’s determination to bring the film to completion created a cult classic.

The book traces the franchise’s evolution through its sequels, and examines how The Crow became a symbol of love, loss, and redemption, leaving a legacy that continues to resonate with fans. Through interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and critical analysis, this is the definitive account of The Crow’s lasting influence.

“The Pitt” Season 2 starring Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa / Z-View

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“The Pitt” Season 2 (2026)

Created by: R. Scott Gemmill

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 16; 30) R. Scott Gemmill
  • (ep. 17) Joe Sachs & R. Scott Gemmill
  • (eps. 18; 29) Noah Wyle
  • (eps. 19; 24) Cynthia Adarkwa
  • (eps. 20; 25) Simran Baidwan
  • (ep. 21) Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman & R. Scott Gemmill
  • (eps. 22; 26) Valerie Chu
  • (eps. 23; 28) Joe Sachs
  • (ep. 27) Danny Hogan & R. Scott Gemmill

Directed by:

  • John Wells (eps. 16; 30)
  • Damian Marcano (eps. 17; 20; 25; 28)
  • Uta Briesewitz (eps. 18; 22; 26; 29)
  • John Cameron (eps. 19; 23)
  • Noah Wyle (ep. 20)
  • Shawn Hatosy (ep. 24)
  • Amanda Marsalis  (ep. 27)

Stars: Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez and Sepideh Moafi.

Tagline: The work never stops.

The Plot…

The Pitt follows Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch in real time as he works a major hospital emergency room that is understaffed and overworked.  It is the fourth of July.

Let the fireworks begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Pitt was nominated for 13 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards and won 5…

  • Nominee for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup – Myriam Arougheti, Thomas Floutz, Chris Burgoyne, Martina Sykes for episode “4:00 P.M.”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) – Todd Grace, Ed Carr, Von Varga, Tami Treadwell for episode “6:00 P.M.”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) – Bryan Parker, Kristen Hirlinger, Vince Tennant, Joshua Adeniji, Roland N. Thai, Lyndsey Schenk, Sam Lewis, Nicholas Kmet, Adam DeCoste, Alex Ullrich for episode “7:00 P.M.”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) – Merry Lee Traum, Marie-Flore Beaubien, Leesa Simone for episode “7:00 P.M.”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – Joe Sachs for episode “2:00 P.M.”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – R. Scott Gemmill for episode “7:00 A.M.”
  • Nominee for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series – John Wells for episode “7:00 A.M.”
  • Winner for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series – Cathy Sandrich Gelfond, Erica Berger 
  • Winner for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Shawn Hatosy
  • Winner for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Katherine LaNasa
  • Winner for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Noah Wyle
  • Winner for Outstanding Drama Series – Damian Marcano, Michael Hissrich, R. Scott Gemmill, John Wells, Michelle Lankwarden, Simran Baidwan, Erin Jontow, Amanda Marsalis, Terri Murphy, Cynthia Adarkwa, Noah Wyle, Joe Sachs

The Pitt continues to be must-see tv for me.

Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa have won well deserved Emmys for their performances on The Pitt.

“The Pitt” Season 2 (2026) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Harbinger Down” (2015) starring Lance Henriksen / Z-View

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Harbinger Down (2015)

Director:  Alec Gillis

Screenplay: Alec Gillis

Stars: Lance Henriksen, Giovonnie Samuels, Matt Winston

Tagline: Terror is just beneath the surface.

The Plot…

Stephen along with his graduate students Sadie and Ronelle are aboard the fishing boat Harbinger.  They are at sea to study the effects of global warming on whales.  The Harbinger is crewed by ship captain Graff and his crew which consists of Bowman, Roland, Big G, Dock, Svetlana and Atka.

When an large foreign object is discovered on sonar, they bring it aboard.  To their surprise they discover they’ve found a crashed Soviet lunar module.  Aboard is a dead cosmonaut…

… as well as the alien that killed him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Harbinger Down comes off as a low-budget homage (re-imagining? rip-off) of John Carpenter’s The Thing.  At the start of the film, the date is given as June 25 1982, which happens to be the day JC’s The Thing was released.

When the crew first discovers the module, Graff asks “Is that a man in there, or something?” This is the same question asked by Doctor Copper in John Carpenter’s The Thing.

In John Carpenter’s The Thing, Childs asks about “voodoo shit” in regard to the alien.  Here a character makes the same “voodoo shit” reference to the monster.

Harbinger Down (2015) rates 2 of 5 stars

“Reservoir Dogs” Alt Poster by Nick Charge!

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Reservoir Dogs was my introduction to Quentin Tarantino.  It and Pulp Fiction are my Tarantino favs.  Depending on my mood, they alternate in the top spot.

Nick Charge has created a clever alt poster for Reservoir Dogs.  Look into Mr. Blonde’s shades and I’ll bet you begin to hear “Stuck in the Middle with You”.

If you’d like to see more of Nick Charge’s art, you can on his Instagram.

“You shoot me in a dream, you better wake up and apologize.” – Mr. White

“Badland Rising” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for Badland Rising is here.  It looks to be a good low-budget crime/action film.

Deal me in.

A former soldier working in construction to save his family’s farm, is eager to return to his wife and son. But his homecoming is derailed when he inadvertently becomes entangled in the bloody aftermath of a botched mob robbery. While escaping the chaos, Dave unknowingly acquires a bag of money, making him the target of ruthless criminals.

CAST: Jake Ryan, Nathan Phillips, Steve Mouzakis

The film will be on digital and VOD on June 12th.

UNFINISHED TALES by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips!

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Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ new graphic novel, UNFINISHED TALES, drops December 8, 2026.  Here’s the lowdown…

“Brubaker and Phillips don’t hit a wrong note.” — Shane Black

A shocking new original graphic novel from the legendary team of Brubaker and Phillips!

Finnegan Blake is one of the most successful authors in the world, but he can’t enjoy all the fame and fortune anymore. Because Finn is ten years past his deadline on the final book in his epic fantasy series, and has no hope of ever finishing it. Until an old friend shows up with the perfect solution to his writers block. But their pact soon turns dark, as egos clash and old secrets emerge, leading Finn to wonder exactly what kind of deal he’s made, and how far he’s willing to go to get this final book onto the bestseller list. Most writers would kill for Finn’s life… will he?

The Lord of the Rings meets The Talented Mr Ripley in this paranoid thriller by the grand masters of comics noir. UNFINISHED TALES is the must-have graphic novel for the Christmas season, from the red hot creators of RECKLESS, THE FADE OUT, KILL OR BE KILLED and CRIMINAL (coming in 2026 to Prime Video).

“Shoot the Piano Player” (1960) directed by François Truffaut / Z-View

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Shoot the Piano Player (1960)

Director:  François Truffaut

Screenplay: François Truffaut, Marcel Moussy; based on DOWN THERE (aka SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER) by David Goodis

Stars: Charles Aznavour, Marie Dubois, Nicole Berger, Michèle Mercier and Albert Rémy.

Tagline: A Film for Adults

The Plot…

Charlie Koller is a piano player in a small jazz club.  Charlie  comes in each night, plays the piano and keeps to himself.  He’s a low key guy.  Léna, a waitress at the club, is starting to fall in love with Charlie.  Although Léna knows a bit about Charlie’s past, she keeps it secret.

One night when Charlie is playing, a man comes rushing in the club. The man is Charlie’s estranged brother.  He’s on the run from two thugs who aren’t far behind.  Although Charlie wants no part of his brother’s problem, he can’t stand by and do nothing.  The choice to get involved will bring forth the past Charlie has kept hidden and result in several murders.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although based on David Goodis’ excellent novel, DOWN THERE, the screenplay makes significant changes to the protagonist making him more confident and stronger.

Due to budget restraints, Truffaut often filmed on the streets of Paris where they could, improvising dialogue as they went along.

While I’m a fan of Shoot the Piano Player, I like the novel even better!

Shoot the Piano Player (1960) rates 4 of 5 stars