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Unhinged: A Micro-Read
The author’s style of writing engages all the reader's senses
This evocative, descriptive micro-read will trigger memories
Author, you got me believing in the bogeyman again!
As a reward, two fourteen-year-old boys are offered a great first-time opportunity to sit up front in the open and watch a movie at a local drive-in theater. Little did they know the movie would affect them in ways neither had imagined nor would ever forget.
Pick up a copy to find out what happened.
This evocative, descriptive micro-read will trigger memories
Author, you got me believing in the bogeyman again!
As a reward, two fourteen-year-old boys are offered a great first-time opportunity to sit up front in the open and watch a movie at a local drive-in theater. Little did they know the movie would affect them in ways neither had imagined nor would ever forget.
Pick up a copy to find out what happened.
44 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2020
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
John Podlaski
11 books68 followersJohn Podlaski served in Vietnam during 1970 and 1971 as an infantryman with both the Wolfhounds of the 25th Division, and the 501st Infantry Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, two Air Medals, and a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. "Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel" is his first book, published in 2010, it is faring well with over 300 combined reviews with an average of 4.6 stars. The story is a memoir of his time as as infantry soldier during the Vietnam War.
John spent the years since Vietnam working in various management positions within the automotive industry and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2002. John is a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 and lives with his wife of 51 years, Janice, in Sterling Heights, Michigan. They both retired in 2013 and enjoy riding their 1997 Harley-Davidson Heritage.
Mr. Podlaski published his second book, "When Can I Stop Running?" in 2016. It's a spinoff from his first novel, and follows two soldiers during a terrifying night - alone in the jungle - on a listening post. Some of the characters from Cherries are also included in this story.
John is currently busy managing a website featuring weekly articles/stories, movies, videos, and photos about the Vietnam War. The address can be found below.
John spent the years since Vietnam working in various management positions within the automotive industry and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2002. John is a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 and lives with his wife of 51 years, Janice, in Sterling Heights, Michigan. They both retired in 2013 and enjoy riding their 1997 Harley-Davidson Heritage.
Mr. Podlaski published his second book, "When Can I Stop Running?" in 2016. It's a spinoff from his first novel, and follows two soldiers during a terrifying night - alone in the jungle - on a listening post. Some of the characters from Cherries are also included in this story.
John is currently busy managing a website featuring weekly articles/stories, movies, videos, and photos about the Vietnam War. The address can be found below.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 24, 2020
I grew up loving horror movies, and “Unhinged” tapped right into that. Two fourteen-year-old boys gratefully took a job to clean up the drive-in for food and movies. They watched “Night of the Living Dead,” which I can still remember watching and being terrified. After that, they had to walk home. I loved seeing the world through their scared eyes. I really enjoyed this quick read that captured the youth of the past so well!
September 6, 2020
The story begins with an engaging inquiry to readers: "Isn't it funny that when talking to others about something scary, everyone has a story of their own?" This line allures the reader instantly.
On that Saturday night long ago, the main characters, two young adolescents, with zeal, accept an offer working at a drive-in theater as temporary cleaning-up crews, with a reward of a free showing of Night of the Living Dead as part of their compensation. Mr. Podlaski's brilliant writing style pens the main characters' various emotions, especially their fear, with an animated, severe, and yet hilarious fashion. The entire script reads like a pleasant conversation with good friends related to a fond childhood memory after a hearty meal.
It's well worth the time and highly recommended for all ages.
On that Saturday night long ago, the main characters, two young adolescents, with zeal, accept an offer working at a drive-in theater as temporary cleaning-up crews, with a reward of a free showing of Night of the Living Dead as part of their compensation. Mr. Podlaski's brilliant writing style pens the main characters' various emotions, especially their fear, with an animated, severe, and yet hilarious fashion. The entire script reads like a pleasant conversation with good friends related to a fond childhood memory after a hearty meal.
It's well worth the time and highly recommended for all ages.
July 17, 2021
Unhinged is a quick read about two boys who help out cleaning up at the drive in one afternoon and, in return, get provided with a good supply of takeaway food and watch the movie of that evening for free. The movie is a horror movie about zombies and the two teenagers discover how unnerving it is to sit in the near dark watching something designed to scare them silly. Everyone around them is safe and secure in their cars but they are exposed sitting outside on the grass. After the movie the pair walk home and discover something or someone is following them. Is it a murderer or a zombie? Is it real or just their imagination? An entertaining short story that will bring back memories to anyone who ever watched something really scary with a mate in the dark.
September 14, 2021
The quote by President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to mind when I read the short story Unhinged: A Micro-Read by John Podlaski: "The only fear that we have to fear is fear ... fear itself — nameless unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert into advance.” This is a short story about 14-year-old boys who accept a manager's offer to clean up the trash at a drive-in in exchange for complimentary food and soda. The movie showing that night is Night of the Living Dead, featuring cannibalistic corpses. Shrieks from the various cars as the movie projects on the screen add to the boys' terror. Fear paralyzes them on their long walk home when an ominous car unexpectedly appears out of the dark.
Author John Podlaski takes you back to the 1970s when high school boys brought their dates to the drive-in. The characters are engaging, and I could sense the paralyzing fear of one boy walking through a dark park to get home. The pacing for the build-up of tension is masterfully done in this short piece. It is what you can't see but can imagine that elicits the most terror.
Unhinged is an entertaining micro-read with elements of horror that will make your pulse race. Highly recommended.
Author John Podlaski takes you back to the 1970s when high school boys brought their dates to the drive-in. The characters are engaging, and I could sense the paralyzing fear of one boy walking through a dark park to get home. The pacing for the build-up of tension is masterfully done in this short piece. It is what you can't see but can imagine that elicits the most terror.
Unhinged is an entertaining micro-read with elements of horror that will make your pulse race. Highly recommended.
September 1, 2020
Author John Podlaski knows how to grab his readers! Horror movies always scare me, and this story of Nick and Jerry's work adventure at a drive-in had my heart pumping. This story of two boys getting a full dose of fear with Night of the Living Dead in the dark, in the open is masterful storytelling.
John starts with I'm going to tell you a story type of attitude, and then BAM, you are right beside the boys. The set up is perfect. I don't want to spoil this one, but it worth your time, especially if this is your first John Podlaski book.
His style of writing enlists all the reader's senses. I liked this passage a lot as I could relate to the building tension rising like a meteor.
"The immense screen contributed to the realistic scene, almost like being a character in the movie. Captivated, both teens smiled broadly.
Thirty minutes later, screams echoed from vehicles behind them; the shrieks were mostly women, but a few men howled too in response to the movie. The boys considered this film uncharted territory, as previous horror movies like Godzilla, King Kong, The Blob, and The Mummy seemed more fake and humorous rather than scary. This movie, though, terrified them, as they both genuinely believed something like a zombie apocalypse could happen, even at the drive-in. Their anxiety levels spiked as the sounds of car doors locking and windows closing diminished the volume of scared screams from other patrons. Both felt extremely vulnerable out in the open. At the halfway point, a frazzled Jerry and Nick reacted to any sound heard behind them."
A great short. You will get a sense of the writing talent of John Podlaski. I am a big fan and highly recommend this for teens and beyond.
John starts with I'm going to tell you a story type of attitude, and then BAM, you are right beside the boys. The set up is perfect. I don't want to spoil this one, but it worth your time, especially if this is your first John Podlaski book.
His style of writing enlists all the reader's senses. I liked this passage a lot as I could relate to the building tension rising like a meteor.
"The immense screen contributed to the realistic scene, almost like being a character in the movie. Captivated, both teens smiled broadly.
Thirty minutes later, screams echoed from vehicles behind them; the shrieks were mostly women, but a few men howled too in response to the movie. The boys considered this film uncharted territory, as previous horror movies like Godzilla, King Kong, The Blob, and The Mummy seemed more fake and humorous rather than scary. This movie, though, terrified them, as they both genuinely believed something like a zombie apocalypse could happen, even at the drive-in. Their anxiety levels spiked as the sounds of car doors locking and windows closing diminished the volume of scared screams from other patrons. Both felt extremely vulnerable out in the open. At the halfway point, a frazzled Jerry and Nick reacted to any sound heard behind them."
A great short. You will get a sense of the writing talent of John Podlaski. I am a big fan and highly recommend this for teens and beyond.
October 6, 2020
Unhinged: Delightful and Laughable!
I thought I was having a deja vu moment with the opening of this story. That's because the background takes place in my hometown. The author was describing the east side of West Eight Mile Road close to Van Dyke and I lived way west of that near another drive in movie theater with the same name.
Its funny how the imagination can run rampant and John hits the ball out of the park with his interpretation of what happened to two boys hired at a drive in to clean up the place after each showing. While watching a movie "Night of the Living Dead" the author (John) describes what a frightening experience that was from the boys' perspective. I kept a smile on my face because the story described what I went through watching horror movies. John was able to describe the feelings that come with being terrified which I could totally relate to. And then they pretended when they talked to one another the next day, that none of it really happened. That is classic macho behavior.
Overall, it was a short and fun read which was totally relatable.
I thought I was having a deja vu moment with the opening of this story. That's because the background takes place in my hometown. The author was describing the east side of West Eight Mile Road close to Van Dyke and I lived way west of that near another drive in movie theater with the same name.
Its funny how the imagination can run rampant and John hits the ball out of the park with his interpretation of what happened to two boys hired at a drive in to clean up the place after each showing. While watching a movie "Night of the Living Dead" the author (John) describes what a frightening experience that was from the boys' perspective. I kept a smile on my face because the story described what I went through watching horror movies. John was able to describe the feelings that come with being terrified which I could totally relate to. And then they pretended when they talked to one another the next day, that none of it really happened. That is classic macho behavior.
Overall, it was a short and fun read which was totally relatable.
August 12, 2020
This was a fun micro-read for me! It took me straight back to my childhood days. Night of the Living Dead was one of the first scary movies my mom let me watch, and I remember my sister and I freaking out for days about every sound we heard at night. It also brought back memories of my sister and I getting lost and both trying to pretend to be brave for the other. Lol!
The author does a fabulous job of making you feel as if you are right there with these two boys as they work their butts off to earn a free movie only to get more than what they bargained for. It's a quick read, but it's definitely worth it. :-)
The author does a fabulous job of making you feel as if you are right there with these two boys as they work their butts off to earn a free movie only to get more than what they bargained for. It's a quick read, but it's definitely worth it. :-)
July 7, 2020
I like the shorts. This one went down very quickly. Jerry and Nick, two buddies, both 14 years old had their own scary experience as children their age. After viewing a scary movie, in the dead of the night, they had to find themselves home through imagined perils. Still not one of them agreed to each other that the experience left them scared. They played tough, as they were expected to be, men.
This was a goodly story. Well written only for the fact that there was too much use of the past participle at one stage. Otherwise, I enjoyed it.
This was a goodly story. Well written only for the fact that there was too much use of the past participle at one stage. Otherwise, I enjoyed it.
June 11, 2020
This short micro-read is extremely well-written and the author drew me right into the flight for life! Two teenage boys scared out of their wits by a movie have to walk home late at night. I was right there, walking/running, with them. From the way this is written, I'd say this author knows a thing or two about fright and he transfers it to the reader with ease. If you are looking for a short (ten minute) read and want to be sucked in, this is the micro-read for you!
March 1, 2021
I remember drive-in movie theaters and I also remember the release of “Night of the Living Dead.” The author did an excellent job setting the stage for a five star story that brought back some five star memories. Those grainy old films, with the tinny outdoor speakers could turn the fright level up high, as it did for two teenage boys, who became “Unhinged” in this must-read short story.
January 11, 2023
Most enjoyable.
A great easy to read tale.It brought back memories of my own fears and terrors experienced as a child.I enjoy the author's writing style and look for to reading more of his work.Thanks John.
A great easy to read tale.It brought back memories of my own fears and terrors experienced as a child.I enjoy the author's writing style and look for to reading more of his work.Thanks John.
March 9, 2023
I know this was a short story but it was incomplete, with no part 2.
I didn't enjoy it other than one part of the book where it could've been a good horror story, but it fizzled out completely. ⭐⭐
I didn't enjoy it other than one part of the book where it could've been a good horror story, but it fizzled out completely. ⭐⭐
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews