Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: After more than two years at the front lines of the American Civil War, Union Captain John Harling is looking forward to being discharged and allowed to go home. However, his discharge is put on hold, and he is instead ordered to track a group of Confederate soldiers that were believed to be dead but are now causing death and destruction. Harling enlists the help of the soldiers' former commander, Col. Nehemiah Strayn, now a prisoner of war and learn, with the assistance of a mute but clairvoyant runaway slave, the men they are chasing have been brought back from the dead by an evil African entity brought to the United States by a slave trader. The movie also goes by the names Ghost Brigade , The Lost Brigade and Grey Knight . Who's in it? The movie stars Corbin Bernsen , Adrian Pasdar, Ray Wise , Cynda Williams, Martin Sheen and Billy Bob Thornton. Review: The Killing Box had been in my library for some time and, after canceling previous plans to watch it, I fin...

 Here are my thoughts from today's 39-22 Green Bay Packers loss at the Minnesota Vikings: That first Christian Watson catch was a thing of beauty. After Jordan Love had his career-long touchdown pass, Packers' fans should be salivating about the potential that pairing offers if Watson can stay healthy. Based solely on this game, I think Love finally has a number one receiver in Watson as well. They haven't had a true go-to guy since Davante Adams was traded Watson's rookie year.  At minimum, I like Love's weapons. Less was more this season, reducing the number of receivers on the roster but giving him players who can make plays. Even Matthew Golden, who unfairly was criticized for not being a big enough part of the offense last year, was earning his draft status. The PAT miss by Trey Smack brought back some bad memories of Green Bay's recent history of kicking problems.  He's young so I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt though, especially aft...

Synopsis: After having a fight with her husband and seeing him kill himself right after, Harper takes a solo vacation to a small countryside village to cope with her grief. Not long after arriving, a strange, naked man follows her home from a walk in the woods and attempts to break in, prompting her to call the police. She then learns the other men in the village are also acting strangely toward her. Who's in it? The movie stars Jessie Buckley, Rory Kinnear, Gayle Rankin, Danny Stafford and Paapa Essiedu. Review: My youngest daughter and I looked for a movie to watch with my wife when she got home from her sewing studio yesterday and, since she likes horror films, picked one from that category. The film Men sounded interesting, so we picked that one. Two hours later, my opinion of the film was clear. "What the hell did I just watch?" Then, after some sleep and reflection, I reassessed that opinion. "What the hell did I watch last night?" The movie, frankly, ...

Since the birds are starting to migrate, I decided to fill all my bird feeders today (versus just a couple of them) and get them strategically placed around the yard. I had a bit of free time this afternoon, so I went outside with my camera to see if I could get some bird photos. It was a little more difficult than expected, both because they were extra active and wouldn't hold still and because the heavy cloud cover made it darker than I would have preferred. I did manage to get some though. Here is a selection: ___________________________________________________________________________ Here are some of my previous birdfeeder/yard photos: Just a Random Bird Feeder Photo Some Birdfeeder Photos Bird Feeder Photos (9/7/2026) Around the Yard

Synopsis: Still mourning her father's death, Sara takes a trip to Thailand with her friends, including her controlling and impulsive BFF Max. Following in her father's footsteps, Sara and her pals travel to the Devil's Mouth, located in water-filled cave system. Despite a recommendation from their guide to take the easier green path, Max insists they take the more-difficult red path, adding even more strain on her already strained friendship with Sara. Hours later, when they are deep within the cave system, the friends find their lives in danger from a hungry trapped shark that kills their guide and leaves them trying to find a way out alive. Who's in it? The movie stars Kathryn Newton , Lana Conor, Nico Hiraga, Gavin Casalengo and Tommi Rose. Review: My wife suggested a movie night last night so, after grabbing some fish dinners from our local bowling alley/bar & grill, we came home and looked for something to watch. After reviewing several choices, we settled o...

Just a reminder, if you haven't taken a moment to remember those who lost their lives, the families that were impacted and the first responders who worked tirelessly to save as many people as they could 25 years ago today, please do so. As you do, please enjoy some of the photos I took on my walk today: _________________________________________________________________________ Here are some of my previous photos: Lunchtime Walk Photos (8/14/2026) Lunchtime Walk Photos (8/31/2026) Lunchtime Walk Photos (5/20/2026) Lunchtime Walk Photos (5/15/2026)