INDIE MOVIE REVIEW: The Misadventures of Mistress Maneater (2021)

 We are all things INDIE here and today we are spotlighting on an awesome new rom-com indie film THE MISADVENTURES OF MISTRESS MANEATER 

 Directed by  C.J. Julianus and Written by Lorrisa Julianus.

REVIEW

Meet Ava Moriarty (Lorrisa Julianus), a former genius art historian and now a Diva Dominatrix who wants out. Partnering with her friend Gabe (Shannon Brown) on a business deal, this investment is Ava’s escape to happiness. Ava comes home from a hard day’s work to find her Russian mobster boyfriend (whom she refuses to admit is) is dumping her and wants the money he loaned her to invest with back. Oh, and that money is now gone along with their investor friend Lloyd who died of an unfortunate circumstance.

 Bonus she’s got 28 days to deliver. What’s a girl to do?

Scene from The Misadventures of Mistress Maneater

When offered to exploit a local priest for precisely the amount she needs, she takes the offer. Ava, though decides to play detective to find out the why. Ava learns though the priest and she are not so unlike each other in this romantic comedy adventure.

 Winner for Best Comedy at the Mile High International Film Festival (2020) and directed by C.J. Julianus, The Adventures of Mistress Maneater is a witty, charming high-end indie film. Polished and smooth, it is easy to watch. Lorrisa Julianus (Ava Moriarty) dominates (pun intended) being cast as the writer of the film as well. While a fun, sweet rom-com adventure on the outside, C.J. Julianus weaves in the message about self-worth and even self-forgiveness. We all see this through the characters of Ava, of course, and Pastor Radovan (Mickey O’ Sullivan). With Radovan, it is seen through his actions. For Ava, it is shown not much through her actions, but more so through her make-up and clothes.  When we first meet Ava, she is black leather red lips and fierce. As the story progresses, her clothing and make-up become lighter and softer, just as Ava is becoming softer and learning her self-worth and finding her happiness.

I am not much of a rom-com fan, but I fell in love with this movie. It was intelligent, quick-witted, and will charm your pants off.  You are grabbed at the first scene and held all the way through. Of course, making a film is a group effect, but having a great cast helps. The cast of Mistress Maneater is phenomenal. It’s the best indie cast I have ever seen so far. Everyone plays off each other, so naturally, helping emersed you in the story to feel and care about everyone.

My rating **** (4 Stars)

The Misadventures of Mistress Maneater is available to watch on Amazon Prime and Tubi

Book Review: Skadegamutc: Ghost Witch by Ian Conner

 

The Ghost-Witch is one of the scariest figures in Passamaquoddy mythology. It is often said to be born from the dead body of a shaman who practiced black magic. The demonic entity then emerges each night with murder on its mind. It can't be killed but destroyed and temporarily only banished.

Sheriff John Alton has a supernatural serial killer in the Village of Nollesemic Maine. The same one who appears every twenty years. The Two Spears and Four Claws Clans have battled the centuries-old evil that has plagued their clans for generations. A source of great shame for the clans. So much so, that it is never spoken about outside of the tribe.  Now the evil has returned, once again threatening the lives of a young mother and her twin babies.

Maggie Four Claws, Grandma Opal, and the rest of the clans move into action to hunt down and banish the Ghost Witch. Will they find the evil in time enough to banish it and save Rebecca and her babies?

 

AVAILABLE NOW AT KOBO/  BOOKBUB/ and  AMAZON

REVIEW

Intertwined with Native American lore Ian Conner weaves a seducing chilling tale that tells the story of the Skadegamutc or Ghost Witch. Conner grabs you at the first page as she sets us up in 16th-century Maine, Onata Village. We are given a tale of a bewitching beautiful Maidan seen by four sisters under the moonlight by the lake. When the Maiden request that they bring newborn twins that are to be born soon into their tribe in exchange for beauty, their tribe becomes alerted, and the Evil is discovered. The Evil is banished but not destroyed; cursing it will return.

Here is our setup for Ghost Witch as Conner takes you from past to present to past to tell this horrifying curse tale of the Ghost Witch. Time jump's confused me, but Conner did it well with some fantastic writing.

Conner's writing is clean, fresh, and straightforward forward, making me gobble up every syllable he writes. Conner ultimately keeps you engaged with every word. 

I love Native American lore, and there have been books and movies based on Native American ghost stories. Conner does not disappoint with his nailing it ABSOLUTELY right!

Oh, and to add to the book's more spookiness, Ghost Witch is actually based on an actual legend associated with the Mikmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and Abénaki tribes. Our tribe in our book is called the L'nu'k tribe, which is what the Mikmaq tribe often calls themselves. It means "The People." I did not find if Nollesemic Village existed, but there is a Nollesemic Lake in Maine and a Pequabuck Lake, which is a location in the book. I loved Skadegamutc: Ghost Witch. You will be lured under this book's spell too. Recommend READ!

My Rating ***** 5 stars and beyond!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ian Conner is retired military and spent most of his adult life as a Marine and Army Infantry Sergeant. Now living near San Diego, California, with his wife Bonnie, a cellist, and their two dogs, Cookie and Isabella. Conner spends his days fostering kittens, gardening, crafting beautiful stained glass, and creating worlds on the page. Conner has authored other novels, such as political thrillers The Price of Partisanship and The Long Game * Epic Fantasy/ Science Fiction of Griffins Perch and Coopers Ridge, or Fantasy Horror like Skadegamutc: Ghost Witch.

After a lifetime of destruction, the thought of creating something tangible and lasting holds great appeal.  He found art cathartic and a way to redefine himself both in his eyes and the eyes of others. Conner can be reached at ian@blackraptorbooks.com.