Horror with a Side of Funny

Posted on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 by Reading Addict

spooky house backlit by the moonI love October! It really is my favorite month with the air turning crisp and the leaves changing color and, of course, Halloween. But I have a small confession to make. I don’t really like scary stories. Except, that is, when the scary is served with a side of funny. Our family has a slew of movies that we watch throughout the month of October and I usually try to read at least one holiday themed book during the month. Continue reading “Horror with a Side of Funny”

Italian Horror!

Posted on Friday, October 23, 2020 by Abbey Rimel

As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, a young woman’s thoughts turn to horror. Not just any horror, but the strange brand of Italian horror cinema dubbed ‘giallo’. Gialli are known for blood and gore, a stylish yet menacing atmosphere and bizarre twists at the end. Giallo films are considered the inspiration for American slasher movies and it’s not hard to see why.

If you’re a fan of Italian giallo, you’ll find DBRL’s free streaming service, Kanopy, a virtual wonderland that will surely keep you enthralled for the remainder of this horrifying year. And on that note, here are some gruesome* highlights to get you started. Maybe, in comparison, they’ll make 2020 look almost normal.

*No kidding! Put the kids to bed! Continue reading “Italian Horror!”

Horror Film Favorites

Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 by Dana S

scary image of man with jack'o lantern head in dark room

Fall is my favorite season, and not for pumpkin spice reasons. All summer, I can’t wait for the cool weather so I can wear all the flannel, boots and cardigans, and curl up in a blanket watching horror movies. My personal spooky season started in late August this year; the first time there was a hint of chilliness in the air and maybe one leaf turned sort of orange — it was horror time for me. Here are a few of my horror film favorites.

The ShiningThe Shining Cover

This is one of the first films that got me interestedThe Shining cover in horror when I was in my tweens and I watch it almost every year around Halloween. Whether you’ve seen this movie or not, you probably know “REDRUM” and Jack Nicholson demolishing a door with an axe screaming “Here’s Johnny!” In this horror classic, Jack Torrance becomes the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel located in the Colorado Rockies. His son Danny begins having psychic premonitions, and as Jack learns more about the hotel’s dark past, he begins to terrorize his family. Director Stanley Kubrick does a great job at creating a general feeling of unease throughout the film. Continue reading “Horror Film Favorites”

New DVD List: The Mole Agent, Shirley, & More

Posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 by Decimal Diver

Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.

The Mole Agent
Website / Reviews 
Shown earlier this year at the 2020 True False Film Fest, this documentary follows 83-year-old Sergio, who is sent as an undercover spy to a Chile retirement home to track suspected elder abuse. Through the lens of the hidden camera in his decoy glasses, viewers watch as Sergio struggles to balance his assignment with becoming increasingly involved in the lives of several residents. Continue reading “New DVD List: The Mole Agent, Shirley, & More”

New DVD List: The Outsider, The Hottest August & More

Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 by Decimal Diver

Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.

The Outsider
Miniseries
Website / Reviews
Based on the Stephen King best-selling novel, this miniseries begins by following a seemingly straightforward investigation into the gruesome murder of a young boy. But when an insidious supernatural force edges its way into the case, it leads a seasoned cop and an unorthodox investigator to question everything they believe in.

Continue reading “New DVD List: The Outsider, The Hottest August & More”

A Gentleman in Moscow: The Kanopy Watch List

Posted on Friday, September 11, 2020 by Abbey Rimel

Here is a watch list that explores themes from this year’s One Read title, and recommends films from the free streaming service offered by Daniel Boone Regional Library, Kanopy

Tchaikovsky, one of the great Russian contributions to Western culture:

Getting to the Nutcracker: The Making of a Christmas Classic
101 minutes, 2014
Filmmaker: Serene Meshel-Dillman

Getting to the Nutcracker with a Sugarplum Fairy... | PBS SoCal Continue reading “A Gentleman in Moscow: The Kanopy Watch List”

New DVD List: Saint Frances, Looking For Alaska & More

Posted on Friday, August 7, 2020 by Decimal Diver

Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.


Website / Reviews
Playing earlier this year through Ragtag Cinema’s Virtual Cinema, this film follows flailing 34-year-old Bridget, who finally catches a break when she meets a nice guy and lands a much-needed job nannying six-year-old Frances. But an unwanted pregnancy introduces an unexpected complication. To make matters worse, she clashes with the obstinate Frances and struggles to navigate a growing tension between Frances’s moms.


Miniseries
Website / Reviews
This is an 8-episode limited series based on the John Green novel of the same name. It centers around teenager Miles “Pudge” Halter, as he enrolls in boarding school, falls in love with Alaska Young, and finds a group of loyal friends. But after an unexpected tragedy, Miles and his close friends attempt to make sense of what they’ve been through.


Website / Reviews
The iconic Merce Cunningham and the last generation of his dance company are stunningly profiled in Alla Kovgan’s documentary, through recreations of his landmark works and archival footage of Cunningham, John Cage, and Robert Rauschenberg. A breathtaking explosion of dance, music, and never-before-seen archival material, this film is a timely tribute to one of the world’s greatest modern dance artists.

Other notable releases:

Evil” – Season 1Website / Reviews 
” – Season 2Website / Reviews 

New DVD List: Seven Worlds, One Planet, & More

Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 by Decimal Diver

Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.

Seven Worlds, One Planet
Series 1
Website / Reviews
Millions of years ago, incredible forces ripped apart the Earth’s crust, creating our seven continents, each with its own distinct climate, its own distinct terrain, and its own unique animal life. This documentary series presented by Sir David Attenborough showcases the true character of each continent in turn and reveals just how it has shaped all life there. Continue reading “New DVD List: Seven Worlds, One Planet, & More”

New DVD List: Knives Out, Fleabag & More

Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 by Decimal Diver

Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.


Website / Reviews 
A tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie and a fun, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. When a renowned crime novelist is found dead at his estate, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From the novelist’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind his untimely death. Continue reading “New DVD List: Knives Out, Fleabag & More”

New DVD List: Parasite, Cobra Kai & More

Posted on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 by Decimal Diver

Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.

Parasite DVD cover
Website / Reviews
Playing last year at Ragtag Cinema, this fictional film by director Bong Joon Ho is a pitch-black modern fairytale of class conflict. The film is a story of two families: one, the Parks, the picture of aspirational wealth; and the other, the Kims, may be rich in street smarts but little else. Through chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and one senses a golden opportunity. Continue reading “New DVD List: Parasite, Cobra Kai & More”