Monday, February 8, 2021

Movie Inspirations for The Window, Resident Alien Review, The Little Things Review, and Movie News

Four Movie Inspirations for The Window by Dave Cole

In The Window, Brian Bingham is able to see into the future through an attic window. When it reveals his best friend’s death, Brian must find a way to change the future…or die trying.
While I don’t always know exactly where the inspiration for my books come from, these movies could have been somewhere in the back of my mind as I wrote The Window.


The Dead Zone – Based on The Dead Zone by Stephen King

Johnny Smith awakens from a coma years after a car accident with the ability to see a person’s future with a mere touch. After shaking the hand of an aspiring politician, Johnny sees a horrible future. Johnny resolves to kill the candidate before he rises in power. Great book and a decent adaptation of a Stephen King novel (not something I say often).

Minority Report – Based on Minority Report by Philip K. Dick
In the distant future, John Anderton is the head of the Precrime Division, where three mutant “precogs” can predict crimes before they occur, reducing the murder rate to zero. When Anderton learns he himself is predicted to kill a man in the coming week, he suspects he is being framed. He discovers the prediction was a “minority report”, where the precogs’ predictions didn’t all agree.

Next – Based on The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick
With the ability to see events just minutes before they happen, Cris Johnson works as a Las Vegas magician. When terrorists threaten to detonate a nuclear weapon in LA, the FBI approaches Cris to convince him to help her stop the upcoming apocalypse.

Tell Me How I Die (2016) – screenplay by James Hibberd
When a group of college students take part in a clinical drug trial, they begin to have visions of their own deaths. When the deaths begin to happen, they scramble to escape their own fate. They discover the killer can also see into the future. Can they survive when he always seems to be one step ahead of them?



The Window by Dave Cole


A dark window to the future…
Everything changed the day Brian Bingham looked out the attic window and saw something that wouldn't happen for another week. Through a mysterious window no one else can see, Brian gains a portal into the future. But the future is not always something he wants to see.
Brian has enough troubles in the present without worrying about the future. His parents are constantly fighting, his grades are plummeting, and his new relationship with Charlotte, a girl way out of his league, is in jeopardy.
When the window reveals his best friend's brutal death, Brian’s world is turned upside down. He must find a way to change the future…or die trying.


$13.95, 6x9 trade paperback, 170 pages
Print ISBN 9781939844767 / EBook ISBN 9781939844774
Young Adult – Paranormal (YAF045000) / Contemporary Fantasy (YAF019010) / Horror (YAF026000)
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Goodreads

Find Dave Cole at The Math Kids



Reviews


Resident Alien


New show on SyFy staring Alan Tudyk (Firefly/Serenity, Rogue One, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil).
From the IMDB: follows a crash-landed alien named Harry who takes on the identity of a small-town Colorado doctor and slowly begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his secret mission on Earth.
The show and the characters are quirky. Think Northern Exposure and then add an alien whose mission is to kill all humans.
The show moves at a leisurely pace, punctuated by very funny, snarky asides from Tudyk. The alien learned how to speak English by watching Law and Order, so he also has a detective streak in him.
Again, the show is quirky, odd, and quite fun. Tudyk gets to be Tudyk at his snarky best.
Recommended!


The Little Things


From the IMDB: Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon is sent to Los Angeles for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment. Instead, he becomes embroiled in the search for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city.
Staring Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto.
This is a very slow burn psychological thriller. It would be an average movie at best if not for the outstanding cast. Washington and Leto give great performances. Leto was indeed one creepy dude!
It was worth it on HBO Max, but I would’ve been disappointed in the theater. (It came out on January 29 in theaters and on HBO Max, who has a deal with Warner Brothers.)
Watch if you’re a big fan of the actors.
 

Movies and Stuff


Christopher Plummer
passed away last week at the age of 91.
His career spanned eight decades. Eight! Just incredible.

From Screenrant: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 writer and director James Gunn reveals he cried a lot while writing the script for the Marvel Studios threequel.
Thor is still rumored to be involved, especially as the Guardians are in the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder.

They are rebooting The Man Who Fell to Earth as a series.
From JoBlo: Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is set to lead the upcoming Paramount+ series The Man Who Fell to Earth. Based on the Walter Tevis novel and Nicolas Roeg’s cult classic 1976 film starring David Bowie, the series will follow a new alien character, played by Ejiofor, who arrives on Earth at a turning point in human evolution and must confront his own past to determine our future.
Ejiofor is a great choice and he’s been in countless films, including Serenity, Doctor Strange, and 12 Years a Slave.

Elephant’s Child posts weekly writing word prompts and this month, I got to supply four weeks’ worth of words!
They range from movies to series to bands and finally some random goofy words.
Go check it out and write a flash fiction piece.


Seen any of those movie inspirations for The Window? Watched Resident Alien yet? See The Little Things? Any news surprise you? And can you create a flash fiction piece based on the words at Elephant’s Child’s site?

Next Monday is a holiday, so I will be offline and return the following week.


51 comments:

kaykuala said...

#1?
The demise of the classic Sound of Music's C. Plummer is regrettable. Not seen the Movie Inspiration. Will look up however Elephant's Child. Should be interesting. Have a breather next week Alex, stay safe!

Hank

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

That's so cool that some of Dave's inspiration came from films. I was thinking that my inspiration hasn't, but thinking more about it...I believe films and shows *do* provide a lot of background inspiration.

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, Alex!

Precognition is a fascinating subject, so put me down to watch all four movie inspirations for The Window. Mrs. Shady is easily bored, but I appreciate a good slow burn, Therefore I would also be interested in seeing Resident Alien and The Little Things.

Thanks for remembering Christopher Plummer. Two fine actresses, Cloris Leachman and Cicely Tyson, also died in recent days, and news recently surfaced that the distinguished actor Hal Holbrook died last month. All three Hollywood greats were in their mid 90s.

Have a great week, good buddy Alex!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats to Dave on his new book. It's awesome how it was inspired by movies. It reminds me that inspiration is all around us.

Joanne said...

Dave's new book sounds good and intriguing. Now if only the window can predict other great actor deaths - so many of the golden oldies are passing on. Who will make the top of the Oscar show death scroll?

Joanne said...

and P.S. It's all over for the world when Betty White sees the light....

nashvillecats2 said...

Congrats to Dave on his book. So sad to hear about the passing of Christopher Plummeer..... who can forget The Sound Of Music?.7

Take Care Alex.
Yvonne.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I wonder if watching movies opens our creativity. With bad movies, I almost always figure out what I would do differently to make it better. Sometimes movies will inspire an idea for me.

Resident Alien sounds like something I would like.

Teresa

Cathrina Constantine said...

Congrats to Dave. His new book sounds intriguing!

I love Christopher Plummer. A wonderful actor that I admire.

I've rewatched the Minority Report recently. Just as good as the first time.

I really like Alan Tudyk. I first saw him in A Knights Tale, where he was fantastic. I have yet to check out Resident Alien.

Alex, enjoy the next 2 weeks!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Elizabeth, they do for me!

Shady, always sad to lose so many great actors.

Joanne, I know! Maybe she will live forever.

Cathrina, I think that's where I first saw him as well.

Computer Tutor said...

Nice list. I think I need a dramady now (never heard that word before).

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I'm showing my age but I was 12 when The Sound of Music came into the theatres. It was spectacular. And everyone was in love with Mr. Plummer. He was a Canadian icon.

The Resident Alien sound hilarious. I hope we're able to get it here.

Congratulations, Dave. Nice to see your book online.

Thanks for the movie reviews, Alex. I'll looking forward to The Little Things.

Annalisa Crawford said...

Alan Tudyk is a great actor. I'll surprise my husband and suggest watching it. (All suggestions come from him usually.)

Patricia Stoltey said...

I've put The Window on my "Want to read" list. It sounds like a good read!

Birgit said...

I'd like to see that quirky show if it is on the Sci-Fi channel. Congrats to Dave on his new book...love the Dead Zone. I do want to see that Denzel Washington film but will be waiting until I can see it on DVD I guess. Even though Christopher Plummer was 91, I was shocked by his passing because he seemed in such great shape but he fell and hit his head on the car door. It just shows what a fall can do(remember Natasha Richardson?). I will head over the Elephant's Child to see your words. Have a great week and stay safe!

Victoria Marie Lees said...

I believe that what we read, either in the news or nonfiction or fiction, and the films we view all work on our consciousness to influence what we write. Love Dave's premise. Great cover! All the luck with this new release, Dave.

So sorry to hear Chris Plummer passed. I LOVED the Sound of Music. Chris was in the beginning of the National Treasure movies, too, as the grandfather who "knighted" a young Ben Gates. All best to you, Alex!

Elephant's Child said...

I really, really don't want to see the future. The present is often more than enough.
Thanks for the heads up (and your prompts). The next post will go live on Wednesday (my time).

John Wiswell said...

Alan Tudyk is so fun, and Resident Alien looks cute. My biggest problem is I keep misnaming it Resident Evil!

(And good luck with this novel, Dave! Those are some mighty influences.)

Chemist Ken said...

Saw The Little Things at the theater this weekend. It was good, but I thought the detective turned obsessive a bit too easily.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Congratulations, Dave! Your novel sounds like an intriguing twist on the seeing-into-the future idea. I look forward to reading it!
Resident Alien sounds like fun, especially with Tudyk.
Plummer was an amazing actor.
And yay for writing prompts - definitely checking those out.

Liz A. said...

I had a story idea similar to The Window years ago. Never wrote it. Kinda creeped out by the whole idea.

I watched the pilot for Resident Alien last night. I... 'm not quite feeling it. It's... there's something about it that I'm not liking. I may give the 2nd episode a watch, but at the moment I think I might not go much further with it.

Have you seen The Watch yet? It's on BBC America, and it's based on Terry Pratchett's Discworld books on Sam Vimes and the Watch.

J E Oneil said...

What a coincidence, I just watched The Dead Zone again last week. Kind of wish we had our own Johnny Smith five years ago.

Fundy Blue said...

I didn't know that Christopher Plummer had died. 😓. Enjoy the long weekend, Alex!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Joylene, I wasn't that many years behind you.

Annalisa, do it!

Birgit, I do remember Natasha. Very sad.

Elephant's Child, looking forward to it.

John, so does my wife!

Ken, which is why I'm glad I saw it at home. Although I am looking forward to the next movie release for the theaters - Godzilla vs. King Kong.

Liz, Resident Alien doesn't click with some people. And not seen The Watch. Not a Pratchett fan.

JE, would he see the evil happening now?

Mary Kirkland said...

I liked the Dead Zone.

Rhonda Albom said...

Congrats to Dave on his new and exciting sounding book. Cool that he knows where the inspiration came from.

And RIP Christopher Plummer, he will always be Captain von Trapp to me.

Jenni said...

Congrats to Dave! I don't normally go much for suspense, but his premise is very intriguing! Resident Alien sounds fun. I'm a huge Northern Exposure fan and love anything quirky!
Enjoy your long weekend!

Andrew Leon said...

I'm quite enjoying Resident Alien.

mail4rosey said...

I like Jared Leto but I don't know if I'd want to see him do something creepy (well, creepier than the Joker anyway, who is a very colorful guy ;) ). Cool that you contributed for Elephant's Child's place. I like her and her site. :)

Nilanjana Bose said...

I'd quite like to see the future through a window.

Elephant's Child is one phenomenal woman.

DMS said...

I haven't seen any of the movies or shows!

Love visiting EC on her blog. :)

Have a great break-
Jess

Stacy McKitrick said...

Daughter & I watched the first episode of Resident Alien. We're hooked.
The Little Things looks interesting. We have HBO Max, so will probably give it a try.

Lisa said...

I have Little Things on my list of things to watch. Thanks for the blurb, because now I'll make it a priority. I LOVE Denzel.
I cried hearing of Christopher Plummer's death. I have always admired him and am sad to see him go. I feel lucky to have been alive when he was and to have benefited from his art.

Sandra Cox said...

I hate that we lost Christopher Plummer.
You've been doing a great job on the word prompts.
Have a good one.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Jenni, you'd like the show then.

Andrew, it's a fun show.

Rosey, he's creepier than that.

Stacy, might as well watch what you can.

Sandra, thanks!

G. B. Miller said...

Re: The Dead Zone. I've had the pleasure of reading the book, and seeing both the movie (with Christopher Walken) and a couple of seasons of the t.v. show. I can tell you that the movie did the book quite a bit of justice, while the series strayed so far from the original premise of the book that it became laughable (IMO).

The premise for "The Window" seems very enticing, somewhat like that Twilight Zone episode featuring the old lady with the telephone connection to her late husband or the salesman who gives people things that he thinks they'll need in the immediate future. Definitely sounds like another rare book purchase for me.

Patsy said...

It's not often that I recognise a film mentioned on here, but I've seen and enjoyed Minority Report.

Susan Kane said...

We enjoy REsident Alien. In fact, with all the Netflix, etc. we get to have fun watching the SyFy offerings! Just hand us the remote and popcorn, and we are set.

Tudyk is hysterical! He manages to take on the character so well. Death at a Funeral had Tudyk, Peter Dinklage being their awesome selves.

Sandra Cox said...

I didn't know there was another Thor movie coming! I'm ecstatic. Thanks:)

Susan Kane said...

We enjoy REsident Alien. In fact, with all the Netflix, etc. we get to have fun watching the SyFy offerings! Just hand us the remote and popcorn, and we are set.

Tudyk is hysterical! He manages to take on the character so well. Death at a Funeral had Tudyk, Peter Dinklage being their awesome selves.

XmasDolly said...

OMG I WAS SO SICK WITH THE FLU! YUK! But I'm better now and comin' home to my new blog. Still workin' on it and I had great help from a friend. She was an angel from the Lord for sure. She's a wonderful gal too you! Stop by her blog and say hello I'm sure she'll greet you with open arms. She knows so much about music too. Her name is Cathy. She's one of our gals on Monday. Anyway, she knows everything about music. You'll be amazed. Not sure about today's music, but you know. So thanks for stoppin' by sweetie. You're duh best. How is you and your family doin? Fine I hope. When I got so sick my daughter came in from Oaklawn to take me to the doctor's & they tested me for Covid & the flu... fortunately enough I did not have Covid I was just sick with the stupid cold. YUK (SCREAMING YUK)!!!! I hate being sick. anyway hope to see you again! You're duh best! HUGS

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

GB, you should pick up the book then.

Susan, Tudyk is indeed hysterical.

Sandra, another Thor!

Maria, sorry you were sick. Really miss your blog.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

I must read The Window. Off to order a copy. These cold days are perfect for reading.

Toi Thomas said...

I find inspiration from all sorts of media, but movies do help me to visualize things. The Window sounds like a good read.
Resident Alien looks fun. Looking forward to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Donna K. Weaver said...

The book The Dead Zone really resonated with me. And I love the ethical question it posed as well as how it was eventually resolved.

Christopher Plummer left us with an amazing filmography. What a great actor!

Pat Hatt said...

I've seen 3 out of 4 of the movies above. Enjoyed them indeed. Barely remember the Dead Zone though.

Still have to give Resident Alien a go too.

mshatch said...

The Window sounds like a good read, especially if it's anything like the inspiration books! Definitely want to see Resident Alien and what? Guardians 3??? I'm Psyched!!!

Sandra Cox said...

Hope your week is going well and packed with happiness.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your book, Dave! It sounds very interesting.

I fell asleep while I was watching the little things. Not because I was bored, I was just exhausted. I keep meaning to watch it again but then end up watching something else.

I rented Barb and Star - definitely my kind of movie. I wanted to watch it again before the rental expired but didn't get another opportunity. It was silly, over-the-top fun. You really need to be a fan of Kristen Wiig to enjoy it, I think.

Have a great weekend!

Magic Love Crow said...

I love the Dead Zone and the Minority Report! The Window sounds so cool! Congrats Dave! The Resident Alien looks like fun! Hope you're well Alex! Big Hugs!

Debra Renée Byrd said...

I don't know how far Resident Alien will go, but I like it. lol I love Alan Tudyk, though, so..!