Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: While flying from Los Angeles to Panama, a commercial flight carrying nine passengers and three crew members gets caught in a storm, is thrown off course and crashes in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. Weeks later, with rescue hopes abandoned, three people already dead and hostile natives lurking in the jungle, the plane is repaired but only has one working engine, restricting the amount of weight it can handle, only five of the remaining survivors can escape. The decision about which five comes down to Vasquez, a convicted anarchist facing execution who is now carrying a gun. Who's in it? The movie stars Chester Morris , Lucille Ball , John Carradine , Allen Jenkins , Patric Knowles and Joseph Calleia . Review: I came across Five Came Back last night while scrolling through movies and thought it sounded interesting enough to add to my list. I wound up watching it this morning and it was as entertaining as I was hoping it would be. The film does take a bit to get ...

Synopsis: In an effort to calm her scared children, a mother squirrel decides to tell the story of a little mouse who travels through the woods in search of something to eat. When the mouse encounters three different predators, a fox, an owl and a snake, he avoids being eaten by scaring them with his description of the fictional Gruffalo. There's just one problem, the Gruffalo is real, and his favorite food is mouse. Who's in it?  The animated movie uses voices from Helena Bonham Carter , John Hurt , James Corden , Robbie Coltrane and Tom Wilkinson . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: The Gruffalo (2009)

Synopsis: While some historians consider them controversial and they are often referred to as pirates, privateers working on behalf of the thirteen colonies in exchange for profit were a common occurrence during the American Revolution. This non-fiction book tells their story and argues privateers were as important to the success of the rebelling colonies as any official and celebrated piece of the United States military. Review: I came across Rebels at Sea at a bookstore several weeks ago but, since I was a bit undecided about buying it, I requested a copy through our local library first. I finally finished reading it and can honestly say it is a book that is worth adding to your history collection. I knew enough about the American Revolution to know piracy/privateering was common. However, I never fully understood just how organized and targeted that effort was before reading this book. It wasn't just a group of sailors looking to make a profit, it was a pseudo navy that did a...

Synopsis: Danish miners dig up a frozen section of a prehistoric reptile's tale and transport it to an aquarium in Copenhagen. When the freezer door is accidentally left ajar, the tale thaws out and begins to regenerate. Soon after, Denmark is terrorized by the giant lizard, which is able to spew a toxic green slime. Who's in it? The movie stars  Bent Mejding ,  Asbjørn Andersen ,  Ann Smyrner ,  Mimi Heinrich and  Carl Ottosen. Review: My wife wasn't feeling well last night and went to bed early so I wound up scrolling through my movie library in search of a film I would enjoy but knew she wouldn't. After some decision making, I settled on Reptilicus and, while I had some doubts about this Danish monster movie, it ended up pleasantly surprising me. I'll start out by saying, as far as the special effects go, they were about what you would expect to see from a film from 1961. Reptilicus looks fake and it was easy to tell when some of the actors were standing...

Synopsis: A wealthy woman is murdered by her husband and servants and buried in the woods. As her killers search for her will, they discover an unexpected obstacle, her pet cat, which is seeking revenge after witnessing her brutal death. This leads to a confrontation as the villains try to capture and kill the cat before it kills them or drives them insane, something that does not go unnoticed by the woman’s niece. Who's in it? The film stars Andre Morell , Barbara Shelley , William Lucas , Conrad Phillips and Vanda Godsell. You can read the review here:  Movie Review: The Shadow of the Cat (1961)

Synopsis: Three sets of soldiers in three different wars take shelter from the enemy in a foxhole only to be given a moral dilemma, whether it's choosing between maintaining their post or taking a wounded comrade to a field hospital or whether to take an enemy soldier prisoner or kill them. Who's in it? The movie stars James Le Gros , Alex Breaux , Alex Hurt , Andi Matichak and Cody Kostro. Review: I came across Foxhole on one of my movie channels several weeks ago and added it to my library because it sounded somewhat unique. I mean, it was a war film, but it was a war film telling three different stories set in three different wars (American Civil War, World War I and the Iraq War). I finally got around to watching it this morning and was pleased with that decision. While the concept for each story was the same, the various dilemmas each group of soldiers faced were tailored to the specific situation. The Union soldiers from the Civil War segment, for example, had to dec...

Synopsis: After his mother dies, a young Craig Poole is hired by the wealthy John Harrigan to read to him three times per week along with various other chores, a job Crag continues into his teen years because he begins to consider Harrigan a friend and mentor. When Harrigan dies, Craig places the smart phone he had purchased for the elderly man in the coffin with him and, after receiving an $800,000 inheritance, calls the phone to leave a thank you message on the voice mail. The next morning, he receives a text message from Harrigan, which is becomes convinced is just a hacker or a glitch. However, when he calls the phone again, to complain about a bully at school, Craig begins to believe it might be something more after that bully is found dead the next day. Who's in it? The movie stars Jaeden Martell , Donald Sutherland , Joe Tippett , Colin O'Brien and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. Review: I let my wife pick out a movie for us to watch last night and after scrolling through sev...

We are expecting more rain this week, and I'll keep the trail cameras indoors when that starts, mostly because I have no interest in retrieving them when it's wet. I did, however, put one out again last night and ended up with some photos. Here is a selection:

I didn't put my trail camera out Saturday night only to have the cats go nuts over something they saw out the window. So, I corrected that last night and was rewarded with quite a few photos, though of nothing other than the usual suspects. Here is a selection:

Synopsis: Decades after avoiding a forced wedding to the demonic Betelgeuse, Lydia Deetz is a widowed mother of a teenager and famous host of a paranormal talk show. When she learns her father, Charles, has been killed in a shark attack, she, her stepmother, Delia, and her teenage daughter, Astrid, return to her former home in Winter River, Connecticut for the funeral and Lydia soon discovers Betelgeuse is still around and still seeking to marry her, this time to escape the soul-sucking ghost of his first wife, Delores. Who's in it? The movie stars Winona Ryder , Michael Keaton , Jenna Ortega , Catherine O'Hara and Willem Dafoe . Review: When I first learned they were going to release a sequel to Beetlejuice 36 years after it first came out, I had a lot of doubts about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and decided I wasn't going to risk my money watching it at the theater. My wife and I finally got around to watching it tonight, now that it is available on Netflix and, while I ...

  I wasn't sure if I was going to go for a walk today because I (correctly) assumed the park would be muddy/wet after all the rain we got earlier in the week. However, wanting to get some sun, I gave it a try and while it was slow going, managed to get my full walk in. From a photography standpoint, it was a little bit of a disappointment because I didn't see a whole lot. I was, however, lucky enough to have my camera ready when I walked around a corner and saw this resident watching me. It even was nice enough to remain still just long enough for me to get the photo before running away.

Synopsis: A once-struggling magician, Charles "Corky" Williams, finds success after adding a risqué-talking ventriloquist dummy, Fats, to his act. Just as he is about to get his best break ever, a television series, Corky sabotages the deal by refusing to take a physical and instead flees the city to his hometown in the Catskills, renting a cabin from his high school crush, Peggy. Despite Peggy being married, they end up having an affair and she seems ready to leave her husband for him. However, it soon becomes apparent Fats is more than just a prop for Corky's act and is instead a manifestation of a second, domineering and sometimes violent personality. Who's in it? The movie stars Anthony Hopkins , Ann-Margaret , Burgess Meredith , Ed Lauter and David Ogden Stiers . Review: I remember first seeing the film Magic on display at a video rental store (remember those?). However, despite the movie being out for nearly 30 years, I never took the time to watch the film ...

After quite a bit of rain this week, the weather finally cleared up enough for me to feel comfortable putting out one of my trail cameras again (this was less about the trail camera itself and more about not wanting to walk through mud/water to retrieve it). It ended up being a fairly quiet night, but I still wound up with some photos of the rabbits and opossums. Here is a selection:

Synopsis: While driving through the desert on a vacation, John Emmett's car breaks down, forcing him to sell the vehicle for what he can and find an alternative means of transportation. He thinks he gets a break when Ann Nicholson offers him a lift to Santa Fe, New Mexico in exchange for sharing the driving duties. However, while stopping for coffee, he is approached by a woman claiming to be Ann's nurse who informs him Ann recently had a mental breakdown. A few hours later, after fleeing police seeking to arrest Ann, he learns she is wanted for murdering a CIA agent. Ann, however, claims she's not a killer and is instead a German immigrant who is trying to deliver top-secret missile plans to a scientist now working for the American government. Who's in it? The movie stars Ruth Roman , Sterling Hayden , Werner Klemperer , Jeanne Cooper and Richard Gaines . Review: I wasn't sure what to expect when I decided to watch 5 Steps to Danger on ScreenPix this morning. It...

Image Courtesy of Pixabay   I remember a world where people were nicer. Or perhaps that’s just a flaw in my memory. A time when kids could go to school And we knew they’d be out of harm’s way. I could have sworn we once had liberty and happiness. Maybe it was just a dream. Could it have started out that way And we all just ran out of steam. All I know is, each day, I grow 24 hours wiser And I can see things not going as I was led to believe they were planned. The older I get The less I understand. Wasn’t there a time when our elected officials were heroes, And not just something in a comic book? When did we reach a point where So many of them are crooks? Did the change happen gradually? Did it sneak up on us, like a sudden cough? Or has it always been this way And the brainwashing is finally wearing off? All I know is, each minute, I grow 60 seconds wiser And the hope I had for the future grows less with each movement of the clock hand. T...

Synopsis: When a thick and persistent fog cancels all flights at the London Airport, bus driver Percy Lamb is given the task of transporting several passengers to Blackbushe Airport. The hapless Percy almost immediately gets lost in the fog and already unable to figure out his bearings, he learns stolen gold bullion has been stashed on his bus, along with one of the robbers. Who's in it? The movie stars Frankie Howerd , Margaret Rutherford , Belinda Lee , Petula Clark and Terence Alexander. Review: Due to a time crunch this morning, I looked for a movie that was relatively short and picked The Runaway Bus as a result. I wasn't sure what to expect from the film, other than it was a comedy. After seeing it, my opinion was mixed. because this was one of those movies that, while not terrible, would have been considerably better if filmed for a different genre.  The film had two good things going for it. First, the getting lost in the fog part added an intriguing element becaus...

Synopsis: To those closest to him, he was Eddie Farhat, a son of Arab immigrants, a World War II veteran and a card-carrying member of the United Auto Workers union. To the rest of the world, Farhat would become known as The Sheik, a professional wrestler who didn't speak English and a history of goring his opponents with pencils and other foreign objects. This non-fiction book covers his wrestling career, including overseeing one of the most successful wrestling promotions in American history. Review: I don't think I've ever been anything more than a casual professional wrestling fan and, other than putting it on for background noise when there's nothing else on, rarely even watch it today. However, as someone who loves history, I do have an appreciation for the earlier years of the industry, especially the people who both helped it grow into what it is today and went to great lengths to hide the fact it was a scripted sport. So, when I came across Blood and Fire at...

Synopsis: Nine years after his partner was murdered, Hong Kong police detective Bennie Chan is still trying to prove prominent businessman Victor Wong is both the killer and a criminal mastermind known as "Matador." When his latest attempt to obtain evidence results both in failure and significant property damage, Chan is placed on a leave of absence but instead of taking a vacation, he is forced to hunt down American conman Connor Watts to help his deceased partner's daughter, Samantha, who has crossed paths with Wong's crime syndicate and is in trouble. The assignment proves to be fortuitous when Chan learns Watts has evidence implicating Wong but the men first must make it back to Hong Kong alive. Who's in it? The movie stars Jackie Chan , Johnny Knoxville , Bingbing Fan , Winston Chao and Eric Tsang. Review: I had never heard of Skiptrace until I came across it on one of our movie channels over the weekend. From the description, it sounded like a low-budge...

Synopsis: A Los Angeles beach becomes a spot of terror as beachgoers are randomly attacked by something lurking under the sand. With local authorities powerless to help, it is up to a harbor patrol officer and his ex-girlfriend/daughter of one of the victims to figure out the truth. Who's in it? The movie stars David Huffman , Marianna Hill , Burt Young , John Saxon and Eleanor Zee. Review: My wife came across a Reel featuring a scene from the movie Blood Beach . She thought it looked interesting, so we found the film on one of our movie apps and gave it a try last night. I think I can safely say the movie wasn't anywhere near as good as she was led to believe. I'll start out by saying the premise of the film was interesting. I think the best way I can describe it is it was a bit like a combination of Jaws and Tremors . Unfortunately, the movie fails to capitalize on what could have been a great story. One thing that separates good horror films from bad ones (at least ...

Synopsis: After two scientists are killed at a top-secret underground lab building a space station, Dr. David Sheppard is called in to investigate and catch a potential saboteur. After more researchers are killed via clear acts of murder, Sheppard begins to suspect the lab's supercomputer, NOVAC, is behind the deaths with the help from the two robots it controls, Gog and Magog, and must find a way to stop it before it destroys the entire lab. Who's in it? The movie stars Richard Egan , Constance Dowling , Herbert Marshall , Valerie Vernon and John Wengraf . Review: I've had Gog in my movie library for longer than I can remember but never got around to watching it until this morning. I honestly didn't have much for expectations when it came to this film, but it turned out to be a good choice. The movie takes a little while to get going, with the early focus being a tour of the underground lab and introducing Dr. Sheppard (Egan) to the various characters while giving...

  Image courtesy of Pixabay I know I'm supposed to eat healthier. If I've heard it once, my doctor has told me at least twice. It's just how am I supposed to stick to a diet When the "bad" foods are the ones that taste so nice? That hot food section at the convenience store up the street is well, convenient. And I'd probably at least try a few more garden salads If it weren't for the green leafy stuff in them. I know the point is to keep my heart pumping until I'm old and gray. But is it really worth it When it means I need to watch what I eat on Taco Tuesday? Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm not trying. My spirit is strong, but my willpower is proving to be weak. Perhaps what I need to do is just give into the temptation now And try twice as hard next week. _________________________________________ In the Way (A Poem) Where the F*ck is My Phone? (A Poem) Drive at Night (A Poem)

I cut my walk a bit short today at lunch because I had no interest in tackling the hill when it is as humid as it is. On my way back to the car, I spotted this squirrel as it tried to hide from my view but still watched me.

When I was surprised to see a skunk walking around behind my office, I thought it was just a one-time thing. That seemed to be confirmed yesterday, when it wasn't there when I arrived. However, when I got to the office today, it was once again up on the hill with its nose to the ground looking for food. I was able to get close enough to get some photos, mostly because it didn't seem to care I was there as long as I wasn't doing anything threatening.

It was a bit too "peopley" at the park today, limiting my ability to get any photos (though, on the plus side, I did get to pet a Pit Bull that came running over to me). On my way out of the park, however, I noticed this flock of pelicans flying around and was able to get a couple photos before they flew out of range.

Synopsis: Dress store model Peggy Rooney is dating the store's stockboy, Jimmy O'Brien, leading to some jealousy when another model, Yvonne, shows interest in him. When Yvonne is found murdered and Jimmy becomes the primary suspect, Peggy tries to help him clear his name. However, when another model and the store's owner are also murdered, she becomes a suspect too. Who's in it? The movie stars Marjorie Weaver , Robert Lowery , Tim Ryan , Lorna Gray and Dewey Robinson. Review: I came across Fashion Model some time ago but while it sounded interesting, I didn't get an opportunity to watch it until this morning. Overall, I have to say it turned out to be a good choice. While primarily a comedy movie, the murder mystery was a solid one. You had three dead bodies, no clear motive, other than an expensive broach floating around the store, and no real suspects other than Jimmy (Lowery), who was caught with two of the bodies and had been overheard (in comical fashion)...

My decision to take a walk at lunch today was made at the last minute because of on-and-off rain all morning (and now in the afternoon, so much for mowing the lawn later). I didn't get a ton of photos, mostly because I wasn't sure how long it would stay dry and rushed my walk as a result. I did, however, snap a photo of this frog, which was nice enough to pose for me.

Synopsis: In 1795, Catherine marries Charles Fengriffin and moves into his family estate. Almost immediately after arriving, she begins having strange encounters, including being attacked by a severed hand on her wedding night and seeing the apparition of a horribly disfigured man. She becomes convinced her life is in danger, especially after she becomes pregnant. However, her husband, who clearly knows something, won't answer her questions and anyone who tries to help her winds up dead, slowly driving her insane. Who's in it? The movie stars Stephanie Beacham , Peter Cushing , Ian Ogilvy , Geoffrey Whitehead and Sally Harrison . Review: I added And Now the Screaming Starts! to my library a couple weeks ago, mostly because it sounded intriguing. I finally got around to watching it this morning and, while it wasn't quite what I was expecting it to be, it still ended up being a halfway decent choice. From the description about a sentient severed hand, I figured this would ...

I came into the office and spotted this critter on the hill nearby. It's not the first time I've seen a skunk in town, but it's not a normal occurrence.  Fortunately, I had my camera in the car, so I was able to get some photos. It was still kind of dark out and I had to keep my distance for obvious reasons, and the photos are a little blurry as a result. However, I think they are still clear enough to see the stripes.