Film Review—Evil Dead 2

Sam Raimi’s second horror classic. Ash and Linda go for a romantic vacation to a secluded cabin. There they discover a book bound in human skin and find the recorded notes of the archaeologist who discovered the terrifying tome known as the Necronomicon Ex Mortis. The recording recites incantations that release evil spirits that possess both the living and recently deceased. Linda falls prey to these spirits, and Ash is left to try and vanquish the evil.

It may sound like a tasteless cliché, and worse, the sequel of a tasteless cliché. But it was with the first Evil Dead that the “cabin in the woods” horror film had its genesis, and the true genius of Evil Dead 2 is that it is not a simple continuation of events of the previous film. It is an extension of the first film while at the same time being a parody of it and other horror films. It teeters the fine line between horror and comedy, scaring you immediately after you finished a hysterical cackle.

Few films can boast the distinction of being both a masterpiece of the genre and at the same time a loving satire of it, but Evil Dead 2 can proudly hold its severed head high in that camp.
Andreas

Want to watch Evil Dead 2 right now? You can with IndieFlix on the Library Website. IndieFlix provides award winning independent films, cult favourites and out right classics that can all be watched wherever and whenever you want. To start enjoying these movies all you need to do is go to the Camden Library IndieFlix page, create your RBdigital account, and release your inner movie lover.

Movie Club—Fight Club

This month the Movie Club will be screening Fight Club, directed by David Fincher and starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Fight Club follows an unnamed narrator (Norton) who has become increasingly frustrated with his white collar existence to the point of insomnia. His salvation comes at the hands of Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), who shows him how to escape the numb prison of the modern world. Norton is the first of many converts to Tyler's ideals, and so marks the beginning of Fight Club. But as Tyler's methods become ever more extreme the narrator struggles to come to grips with the direction his life is taking.

The film is graphic and visceral, but it has more going on between its fists than splattered blood and shattered bone. The raw edginess is the exterior of what is at heart a generational film about the price of consumerism and the struggle for individuality in a carbon copy world.

Fight Club will be showing on Wednesday 10 June @ Narellan Library (Cnr Queen and Elyard Street, Narellan) @ 6pm. Tea, coffee, and biscuits provided, but you are more than welcome to bring your own snacks and beverages.

Stay after the screening to chat about the gory details and big ideas Fight Club has to offer. That's right, we'll be breaking the first two rules of Fight Club. Share your thoughts or use the discussion questions to get a debate going.

Book Review - Stay Alive by Simon Kernick

Suspend belief at the number of dead bodies that will litter the landscape and jump on for the ride. A masterly plot, page-turning action and some unexpected twists will keep you up reading this. Amanda is in a safe house as she may be the only witness who can identify a serial killer. When she is targeted and found, her escape gets tangled up with a family on a wilderness outing, an ex-soldier and a local gangster. Excellently escapist.
Wendy

Book Review - The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins

Honor Holland works at the family winery along with most of her family. Her life is full of good things and she thinks one of them is her friend 'with benefits', Brogan. But she feels more for him and puts their relationship to the marriage test. Picking herself up after he ran for the hills, she helps out a family connection, British professor Tom Barlow, who needs a green card to stay in the US.  An arranged marriage might just work out better for her than her own efforts, she can help him out and it can't be any worse than what she's been doing up 'til now, surely?.  The plan didn't include falling for him but that is just what she does. Kristan Higgins has written a loving family here, with problems and challenges but with a strong sense of support and love.  Capable, feel good romance.
Wendy

Book Review - Helping your anxious child-A Step-by-step guide for parents by Ronald M.Rapee, PH.D, Ann Wignall, D. PSYCH, Susan H. Spence, PH. D, Vanessa Cobham, PH.D and Heidi Lyneham, Ph. D

This second addition, Helping your anxious child-A step by step guide for parents has been updated to include the best techniques and latest research for managing childhood anxiety from separation anxiety, general anxiety, panic disorder and phobias.

Helping your child use detective thinking and stepladders to make progress. This book provides tools from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help your child overcome their fears with or without a therapist.

Written activities are included throughout the chapters for the child and parents to complete.

Being interested in child mental health I found it to be very directive and easy to follow. I recommend this book to anyone interested in child mental health and for parents/carers of children who suffer from some form of anxiety. Anne