As it’s Halloween, here’s a FREE short story for you to download. ONLY available until MIDNIGHT!
Dark Dreams was inspired by a true story.
For more Short Stories, check out the following from my bookstore:
I am a major fan of the Alien/Aliens franchise. I have more different versions, special editions, box-sets and various director’s cuts, of Alien and Aliens than I have of any other film in my collection. I have/had copies on VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, Blu-Ray etc. and have watched them all several times over.
So, it was not withstanding after the disappointment I felt with the last four outings, Alien3, Alien Resurrection, Alien: Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, (I consider the Alien vs. Predator movies to be a branch off, rather than direct sequels/prequels), that I was looking forward, albeit with a sense of trepidation, to Alien: Romulus. I was hoping they wouldn’t disappoint me again – especially regarding inaccurate details in respect of the xenomorph history as detailed in the sequels/prequels to Alien/Aliens.
I consider Alien, and Aliens, to be the pinnacle of all the films released in the franchise thus far, though I do consider AVP: Alien vs. Predator to be a worthy addition to this list.
Alien: Romulus is, for timeline purposes, a direct sequel to Alien. And whilst the connection between it and it’s prequel is a little tenuous, it’s not unbelievable. And, from that establishing link onwards, Alien: Romulus is a gritty, joyful and very exciting ride which fans of the first two films will enjoy. There are numerous homages, both visually and via the soundtrack, to most of the films in the franchise, along with a very special reappearance, which, if you’re a fan like I am, you’ll absolutely delight in.
There’s not many movies which cause me, whilst watching them, to utter the word “Fuck!”, in gleeful response to what I’m seeing onscreen, but Alien: Romulus’ director, Fede Alvarez, has expertly ramped up the tension and thrills to cause me to say it during one of the more intense and exciting scenes. The performances, by and large, and especially from Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson, are excellent and believable.
If I am to have any criticism of the film, it would be that the writers, Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues seem to have tried a little too hard to make a connection to some of the other films in the franchise. Just pulling back a little and not fully plagiarising one of the franchise’s greatest lines would have been a nice nod, but it comes across as somewhat cheesy, and maybe a little clumsy, in its execution. But maybe I’m being picky.
Overall, the script is tight and action-packed, with some excellent and original ideas that are executed very well. As was the case with Alien Resurrection, the titular aliens are scary as hell. Alvarez doesn’t hold back in giving fans what they finally deserve, especially in terms of frights and gore. Again, as in Alien Resurrection, the final “monster” is disappointing. I’m trying desperately not to let that colour my entire review, but I just didn’t find it scary at all and it took the edge of what was, up until then, an excellent five-star film. The original aliens are the true stuff of nightmares and, in my opinion, they should have stuck with those. With double-jawed mandibles and acid-for-blood, what’s not to be afraid of? And, in Alien: Romulus, these are delivered in terrifying numbers and capacity and should satisfy most fans of the franchise.
David E. Gates
For more reviews, and my experience of cinema, including interviews with some of its directors and stars, check out Cinema by David E. Gates.
©Copyright 2024 – David E. Gates
I am delighted to announce that I have been selected to have a feature on Shepherd’s “Best Books” website. The site aims to create an experience that is like wandering the aisles of your favourite bookstore. When looking for a new book online, it can sometimes feel soulless.
In it’s founder, Ben Fox’s, own words:
I love wandering around bookstores and letting random books capture my attention. Nothing will ever replace the “bookstore experience,” but I want to reimagine online book discovery with more serendipity and delight.
To start, I’ve asked 9,000+ authors to share five of their favourite books around a topic, theme, or mood and why they love each book. This infuses each book with magic and meaning.
To read about the five horror books I’ve chosen, and how they changed my life, click here.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2022
Mind Blood is a brilliant little book of short stories – some had me thinking… One or two made me giggle and a few were quite impossible not to question if it could happen to you… or has it yet to happen?? So many little twists and lots of blood – my poor brain has had to have a holiday!! Well done to David for a book I can pick up again and again to quench my thirst of little short stories without having to leave the light on but keep me awake thinking… Drip Drip drip… Is anybody there? It’s just a book… Let your imagination run amok with this little gem of a book. Go on. I dare you.
Available at all good online bookstores and via www.davidegates.com
A new anthology of short stories by David E. Gates.
Featuring tales of the macabre such as The Blood, Croc, The Crash, The Ghosts of Gribble and You’re Next along with short, flash-fiction stories including The Devil Needs Payin’ and The Search.
More than 30 original stories, many of which have never been previously published.
Get your copy from the bookstore.
Further to being featured on the Portsmouth Literary Map, writer David E. Gates reflects on the impact of the city on his life and works, with excerpts from his writing, in a blog feature on the Portsmouth University website:
You can see the full blog here. Please feel free to share.
I’m extremely honoured to have been included in the Portsmouth Literary Map created by data creator, Dr Mark Frost, of Portsmouth University.
The Portsmouth Interactive Literary Map is a civic engagement, digital humanities project created by the English Literature team at the University of Portsmouth. It celebrates Portsmouth’s rich literary heritage and ongoing literary work, providing details of the many authors with city connections, exploring the wealth of literary works set in Portsmouth, and offering a host of literary extracts that provide varied perspectives on this unique and fascinating place. The map is by no means complete, and will continue to grow, both within the city and beyond its limits.
The link to my birthplace entry is here. The link to where I grew up, is here.
Literary Location entries for those sites featured in The Wretched, a horror novel written by myself, set in Portsmouth and based on local folklore, can be found as follows:
Harry Pounds’ scrapyard
Mother Shipton
Pitreavie Bridge
Stamshaw Lake/ Tipner Lake
Flathouse Docks/ Kettering Terrace/ Mile End
A teenage boy explores the forbidden areas of his home town and gives life to a new evil that stalks him and his friends and family with vengeance in mind. Whilst grappling with the onset of puberty, he must battle the shape-changing menace which haunts his dreams and knows no bounds in its savagery whilst coming to terms with his own metamorphosis.
A unique horror story, drawing inspiration from local folklore, set in and around Portsmouth.
Available at all good online bookstores.
The Wretched won SILVER in the 2017 Authors DB Cover Competition
From 1st until 31st July, all my publications hosted at Smashwords will be 50% off!
You don’t need a coupon, or voucher. Just head to:
David E. Gates and add the items you fancy to your basket and they’ll be 50% off the regular price!
Choose from the following:
To celebrate the release of He Came Back, out on 21st May 2021, we’re giving away free copies.
For details of how to win, sign up to the newsletter at Horror Oasis – Your Destination for All Things Indie Horror
The giveaway will only be detailed in the latest newsletter. which you can subscribe to on the above link… so get your skates on and sign up!
David E. Gates 