Archive for the ‘Scary Stuff’ Category

“Hannah and Other Stories:” Three Weeks Till Re-Release!!!

Posted: September 2, 2025 in Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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I did warn you that I would be getting annoying about this as we got closer.

So, if you haven’t heard by now, I have a collection, Hannah and Other Stories, is being re-released in three weeks, on September 23, 2025. It was originally published on that same date in September 2023 by BSC Publishing Group. After my contract with BSC Publishing Group ended and the book went out of print, I decided to re-release it at the two-year anniversary of its original publication. New edit, new cover, but still the same seven amazing stories of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses.

I’m happy to say that people are showing interest in the new edition. I was even asked to send a signed copy to a reader down in Florida, which is pretty cool. And I’m excited for people to read the new copy. I feel like this version is the closest to my original vision with this collection. Not only that, but it will be in paperback, something that didn’t happen the first time around (long story, don’t ask).

And who knows? If enough people get copies and leave reviews, an audio book isn’t out of the realm of possibility. I would love to see that happen.

Of course, we have three weeks to get through first. And if you’re at all interested in ordering a copy before it comes out, you can order one using the links below. (Paperback, by the way, is only available to preorder through Barnes & Noble). After all, it’s only three weeks away.

And, if you end up reading the book, I hope you’ll leave a review letting me know what you think. Positive or negative, I love reader reviews, and they help me and other readers in the long run.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll be posting again soon. Maybe even before the two-week mark. Until then, however, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 59 days till Halloween. Is that a carnivorous horse behind you? It looks hungry!

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10 Haunted Places I Want to Visit Before I Become A Ghost, Part X

Posted: September 1, 2025 in Scary Stuff
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This image will never not be spooky.

Wow, this is my tenth in this series of posts. You think I should do like the Friday the 13th franchise and go to space for this one? Yeah, you’re right. Not a lot of haunted locations outside of Earth’s atmosphere. However, there are plenty on Earth, and I have ten I want to visit. So, let’s start listing them. Perhaps you’ll visit them this Halloween season.

Or stay far away from them. That’s also a possibility.

Old Absinthe House, New Orleans, LA
This is the first of many locations on this list that are located in New Orleans, so I’ll have to plan a trip back one of these days. Anyway, the Old Absinthe House, also known as Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House, was first built as a grocery store in 1806 before becoming a bar. And through the years, through wars and Prohibition and more. it has remained a bar specializing in absinthe.

It also is home to several ghosts. Some include then-General Andrew Jackson and pirate captain Jean Lafitte, who supposedly met there to plan a collaboration in the final days of the War of 1812. Other ghosts include Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau; a woman in a white dress; and a little girl who plays on the building’s third floor.

You know, I didn’t care for absinthe the first time I tried it, but I’d be willing to try it again. Especially if it came with a side of ghosts!

The Hollywood Sign, Hollywood, CA
Do I need to go into the history of the Hollywood sign? No, because it’s not relevant here, and it’s already so iconic. So let’s talk about the supposed haunting. in 1932, actress Peg Entwistle climbed to the top of the H in the sign and jumped from it to her death. It’s believed that she killed herself because most of her role in the one film she was in, Thirteen Women, was largely cut due to her playing a lesbian. As you can bet, this was rather controversial at the time.

Today, people visiting or working at the sign at night sometimes smell the scent of gardenias, which was Entwistle’s favorite perfume. And they sometimes also see a woman in clothing from the 1930s, who disappears upon being approached.

I’ve never been that far west before, but this makes me want to go there. And maybe make a night visit to the sign.

The Faulkner House Bookstore, New Orleans, LA
In an alleyway in New Orleans is a bookstore where the former home of writer William Faulkner used to be. It was in this home that Faulkner wrote his first novel, as well as first started his writing career. Today, his writing desk is still in the bookstore, which deals in fine literature and rare books, especially of Faulkner’s works.

Faulkner himself is also supposed to be in the bookstore, even though he died in 1962. If you go there sometimes, you can smell his tobacco pipe, and maybe even see him writing at his writing desk. Maybe if I head down during business hours, we could have a nice discussion about literature. You never know.

The Bullock Hotel, Deadwood, SD
This beautiful and historic building, made of stone and built in a Victorian Italianate style, was built by Seth Bullock, an early sheriff of Deadwood, in the 1890s. It was later turned into a hardware store, but was converted back into a hotel in the 1990s, with the new owners decorating the hotel to look as much like it might have in the Victorian era as possible while still having modern amenities.

Seth Bullock’s ghost is also regularly seen around the hotel, making sure guests are enjoying themselves, and that the staff is hard at work. Other apparitions and orbs are seen aplenty, and there are regular ghost tours and ghost hunts in the hotel. So if you need a reason to visit South Dakota besides Mount Rushmore (like me), here’s your excuse!

The Pharmacy Museum, New Orleans, LA
Dedicated to the history of pharmacology and apothecary in the United States, this historic building was first owned and operated by Dr. Louis Dulfilho, America’s first certified pharmacist. It later went to Dr. James Dupas, and then became a paper warehouse before becoming a museum. In the time since then, rumors of hauntings have accumulated at the museum. Most are linked to Dr. Dupas, who is alleged to have done inhuman experiments on enslaved people (though there is no historical evidence that this occurred).

Regardless, people have reported seeing the doctor around the museum, as well as ghostly women in the courtyard. Some have also reported being shoved and touched, only to see no one there. The museum’s website does claim that, like every building in the French quarter, it is likely haunted, though they don’t permit paranormal investigations. They prefer to educate. That being said, the next time I’m in New Orleans, I’m going to learn both about the history of pharmacology, and maybe spy some ghosts while I’m at it!

The Loveland castle in Loveland, OH

Loveland Castle, Loveland, OH
Back in the 1920s, local medievalist, WWI veteran and Boy Scout troop leader Harry D. Andrews bought some land in Loveland, OH and started doing what I’ve always dreamed of: building a castle on his land. The castle was completed after his death, and is now stewarded by the Knights of the Golden Trail, a collective of armored knights born from Andrews’ old Boy Scout troop.

According to my friend and fellow Ohio author John Kachuba, the castle is beautiful to visit. And it’s haunted. Supposedly, the knights will tell you all about the spooky hauntings in the castle, mostly from Andrews’ spirit.

I really have to make a trip there one of these days.

Marie Laveau’s House, New Orleans, LA
If you haven’t heard of Marie Laveau, she was the greatest voodoo priestess in New Orleans history. Her home no longer stands, but there are buildings in the spot where that building used to be. Laveau used to open her home to people to help them through healing and ritual. It’s said the buildings where her home used to be sometimes experience supernatural activity, and it might not be impossible to do ghost hunts there.

I’ve been outside the home on a haunted ghost tour of the French Quarter, but to actually go inside! That could be amazing to experience.

The Morris-Jumel Mansion, Manhattan, NY
Located in Upper Manhattan, the Morris-Jumel Mansion is the oldest extant house in New York City, and is a three-story colonial that now operates as a museum dedicated to its history. The house is named after two of the families who originally owned it, including the family of Eliza Jumel, who was Aaron Burr’s second wife. Yes, that Aaron Burr. And speaking of which, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote parts of Hamilton in the house, which was also at one point used by George Washington as headquarters for the Continental Army.

The Morris-Jumel Mansion.

Today, the museum offers tours and all sorts of programs, including ghost tours and paranormal investigations. Even ghost hunting shows have been in the mansion, which is said to be haunted by Eliza Jumel, Aaron Burr, and at least three other ghosts.

You think I should go there dressed as a colonial soldier, rap some Hamilton, and try to find some ghosts?

The Golden Lamb Inn, Lebanon, OH
Located in scenic Lebanon, this hotel has gone by many names over the years. However, no matter the name, it has never once been closed, and instead has been in continual operation since opening in 1803. The hotel sports a nice, all day restaurant, a bar, a beautiful Colonial building, and more. It’s no wonder this hotel is a historic landmark, and has seen some high-profile guests over the years, including famous political figures.

According to some, a few of these famous guests never left. A former Ohio politician who accidentally shot himself has been seen walking around the hotel, as had a former Supreme Court justice who got ill and died at the hotel. There’s also rumors of a little girl haunting the premises, possibly the daughter of a 19th-century Kentucky senator who got unexpectedly sick and died when the family stayed the night at the hotel.

No idea if it’ll displace the Lafayette as my favorite Ohio haunted hotel, but I’d like to find out.

Ohio Museum of Horror, Galion, OH
This is the newest entry on the list. Opening earlier this year, the Ohio Museum of Horror is owned by Nate Thompson, who also runs the Michigan Museum of Horror (entry for a few list?), and contains everything from horror movie memorabilia to haunted and cursed objects to items formerly owned by serial killers. There’s also a restaurant in the building called The Last Meal, where you can eat meals based on what death row inmates ate as their last meals. It’s generated all sorts of interest and controversy, as you can imagine.

And the good news is, I might be visiting this one sooner than we think. It’s only an hour from where I live, tickets can be used anytime after they’re bought, and I have an opportunity to go up coming soon. I’m quite looking forward to it. Maybe I’ll see something spooky while I’m there. And if not, maybe I can meet with someone there and convince them to put on an event with me and my fellow horror writers.

Have you visited any of these, my Followers of Fear? What was your experience like? And are there any you would like to add? Let’s discuss.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to enjoy my Labor Day weekend and maybe get some scary stories out. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 60 days till Halloween. Let the Party of Frights begin!

Events in 2025

Posted: August 24, 2025 in Living and Life, Scary Stuff, Writing
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Guess what? I have some new events I’ll be attending in the coming months! And, as is my sacred duty, I will tell you about them in case you’re in a position to attend any of them.

First, I’ll be at CryptidCon in Chardon, OH, on October 11, 2025! This new convention is going to be part of the Ohio Viking Festival, and will include authors, cryptozoologists, and more among all the Vikings and axe throwing and strong mead. The festival, and thus CryptidCon, will be from 12 PM – 6 PM, and I’ll be doing Tarot readings and signing books. You can find out more here.

Then, the Columbus Metropolitan Library is hosting HWA Ohio for Scary Saturday again! It will be taking place on October 25, 2025 from 12 PM – 3:30 PM at the Main Library in downtown Columbus. This year, we’ll be having a panel with our members, doing readings, and playing a game of Monster Mash (basically, we have lively debates about which famous monsters would win in a head-to-head fight). In-between activities, we’ll be selling books and feasting on Halloween candy. You can find out more here.

Right afterward, the Book Loft in Columbus will be hosting several of our authors on October 28th, 2025 at 6 PM. We’ll be at the Book Loft itself, which is a famous, historic bookstore in a 19th century building that twists and turns every which way. I won’t be doing readings or anything, but I will be there, probably in costume, hanging out and having a good time. You can find more info here.

Finally, we have the Columbus Witches Ball at the Ohio Brewing Company on November 1st, 2025 from 1 PM – 11 PM. In between dancing, rituals, and yes, pub food, I’ll be selling books and doing Tarot readings. If my last trip there in 2022 is anything to go by, I’m going to have one heck of a good time. You can find out more and grab tickets here.

Except that’s not all! I’ve got events already set up for 2026!

And I am going to tell you what they are.

First, I’ll be heading back to Akronomicon on February 7th, 2026 at the Emidio & Sons Banquet Center in Akron, OH. I had such a fun time at this horror convention last year, that I am coming back next year. And they got some cool guests last year, so I’m excited to see what the guest list for next year is! I’ll have more details as we get closer.

And afterwards, I’ll be at StokerCon again! This time, it’s going to be back in Pittsburgh at the Westin Hotel on June 4-7. This is an amazing event, where horror creators of all stripes get together to talk horror, network, collaborate, and have a scary good time. You can still get tickets here.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll be sure to put out reminders for all these events right before they happen, and I’ll let you know if there are any more I get signed up for.

In the meantime, spooky season is coming up. If you’re looking for something to read for it, or you’d like to support me, or both, you can always check out my books. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan (including some free stuff). I’ll include a link to my Books page below.

And if you like what you read, please leave a review online somewhere. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and they help me and your fellow readers in the long run.

Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 68 days till Halloween.

Rami Ungar’s Books

“Hannah and Other Stories:” One Month Till Re-Release!!!

Posted: August 23, 2025 in Progress Report, Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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It’s hard to believe we’re already at the tail end of August, but here we are. And with that, we’re at the one month mark till the release of my collection, Hannah and Other Stories.

Wait, did I say “release?” I meant “re-release.” And yes, I plan to get a lot more annoying with it as we get closer and closer.

So, if you’re unfamiliar, Hannah and Other Stories is a collection of mine that was originally released through BSC Publishing Group in September 2023. It contains seven original tales from yours truly, including tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses. Unfortunately, the book went out of print once my contract with BSC ended and we decided to go our separate ways. Unfortunate, but sometimes these things happen.

In any case, I’m now in the process of re-releasing the book. Not only that, but I’ve done another round of edits to improve the stories and ensure it’s as close to my vision as possible. And I added that awesome new cover you see at the top of the blog post!

I’m really excited to release this book again (and on the two-year anniversary of its original release)! I always liked this book, and when it was out the first time around, people who got copies really seemed to enjoy it. And with a paperback edition this time (don’t ask), I’m sure more people will read it and enjoy it this time around.

Who knows? We may even be able to justify producing an audio version in the future.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in preordering a copy of Hannah, I’ll leave links below. (If you want to preorder the paperback copy, it’s only available through Barnes & Noble). As I said, it comes out on September 23rd, so the book will be here before we know it. And if you end up reading it, I hope you’ll leave me a review letting me know what you think. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps both me and other readers out in the long run.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I look forward to joining you when the book comes out next month. In the meantime, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 69 days till Halloween.

Nice.

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13 Movies to Watch for Spooky Season 2025

Posted: August 17, 2025 in Review, Scary Stuff
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It’s that time of year again, which means it’s time to recommend some movies for spooky season. So once again, I’m here to recommend thirteen movies that you can binge between now and Halloween. Hopefully you decide to check some of these out. As usual, I got a mix of old and new, well-known and lesser-known. All guaranteed to make your spooky season that much spookier.

So are you ready? One. BOO! Three. Let’s go.

I Am A Ghost (2012)
A ghost is haunting an old, rambling Victorian home. However, she doesn’t know she’s dead. Not until a medium reaches out to her to let her know she’s dead and it’s time for her to move on. But that’s easier said than done. Especially given the truth of how she died.

Made for only ten thousand dollars, this little indie film has both a creepy mystery and a distinct style that makes it stand out. Some of the editing choices might not be for everyone, but honestly, it’s stuck in my mind for over ten years. And I think it’s something you’ll enjoy, too, if you give it a chance. Plus, it’s on Tubi, so it’s free.

Screamboat (2025)
An anthropomorphic mouse gets loose on an old Staten Island Ferry vessel, going on a violent murder spree. Hijinks ensue.

These public domain horror films based around characters like Winnie the Pooh and the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse get a bad reputation. And for the most part, deservedly so. However, this one is actually decent! The humor is top-notch, the slasher element is extremely gory and well done, and there are actually some really beautiful, heartfelt moments. The flooding closet scene alone will pull at your heartstrings! So, if you’re going to check out any of these crazy public domain slashers, make it Screamboat.

Plus, you can make one hell of a drinking game trying to catch all the Disney references. Just saying.

My Best Friend’s Exorcism (2022)
Set in 1989, friends Abby and Gretchen get together with some friends for a weekend of getting into trouble. However, while attempting to take some LSD, something attacks Gretchen. Something not human. It’s making her do horrible things to herself and those around her. It’s trying to drag Gretchen’s soul to Hell. And Abby will need help if she wants to save her best friend from damnation.

Based on the fabulous novel by Grady Hendrix (see my review of the novel here), this movie is equal parts funny and scary, and is also quite heartwarming. My sister and I watched it on a movie night, and she and I loved it. If you’re looking for a fun horror movie to watch this season, then this is definitely an option for you.

Heretic (2024)
A pair of young Mormon women doing their missionary work go to a man’s house after scheduling to meet with him and proselytize to him. However, the man hasn’t asked them to come to his home because he truly is interested in the Book of Mormon. He’s invited them because he’s built his house to be a giant trap. And while they’re stuck with him, they’re going to go on a religious/spiritual journey with him. Whether they want to or not.

With a standout performance by Hugh Grant as antagonist Mr. Reed, the film delivers both a tense atmosphere and a twisty plot full of religious, spiritual, and philosophical themes that really get you thinking. If you enjoy horror but are also very religious/spiritual, I would recommend seeing this film just to ponder its themes. Also, it’s a damn good horror film.

Banshee Chapter (2013)
After her best friend from college mysteriously disappears after taking a chemical associated with the MKUltra experiments, tries to figure out what happened. Along the way, she gets in deep with government conspiracies, a counterculture writer with a drug habit, and mysterious, barely seen creatures that want to inhabit our skins.

Based loosely on the short story “From Beyond” by HP Lovecraft, this found footage updates the story with one of America’s most infamous moments of violating the rights of its own people. It’s not perfect, but it has plenty of scary and tense moments and it’s hard to look away. Plus, Ted Levine as surly counterculture author Thomas Blackburn just steals the show in the best way.

Abigail (2024)
A group of career criminals kidnap a twelve-year-old ballerina to hold her for ransom. They’re told to lay low in a mansion for the next twenty-four hours. No names, no personal details, and no interacting with the girl. However, it soon turns out that the girl is the daughter of a terrifying underworld figure. And she’s a vampire. And she basically staged her own kidnapping so she could have some fun hunting her prey.

As bloody as it is hysterical, this was definitely one of the best horror films of last year. Watching a preteen in a bloody tutu tear out people’s throats and fight grown adults while dancing the steps to Swan Lake is like nothing else. Plus, you really grow to like these characters, even if some of them are total bastards. Give it a watch and see how it enhances your Halloween season.

Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)
Two young girls are growing up in a heavily Catholic community in early 1960s New Jersey. The younger is murdered on the day of her First Communion, and suspicion falls on her older sister Alice, who is neglected and displays antisocial behavior. She also has never been allowed communion, as she was conceived out of wedlock. As more bodies pile up, more fingers start pointing in Alice’s direction. Is she the one behind it all? Or is someone else the culprit?

When this early slasher was released in 1976, it caused an uproar due to its perceived anti-Catholic views. However, it’s since gained a huge cult following and has been examined and reexamined by scholars for what it says about religion, familial dysfunction, and adolescent psychology. For my part, Alice, Sweet Alice has been stuck in my memory since I saw it a few years ago, and I keep finding myself returning to the movie and its troubled main character, every now again.

If you want a slasher that pushes some boundaries, this might be the movie you should watch this spooky season.

In a Violent Nature (2024)
Another prominent slasher, this one takes things in a very different direction. After his grave is disturbed, an undead killer rises from the dead. He then goes on a killing spree, mowing through everyone he comes across. All while doing it in a slow, methodical, unemotional way. And I mean “slow, methodical, unemotional.” But in the most fascinating way.

Most slashers focus on the characters about to be killed, but In a Violent Nature shows things from the killer’s perspective. Not directly, but usually from behind him. Coupled with a lot of quiet moments, without even a soundtrack other than nature sounds, and it makes for a realistic take on a slasher story, though it still has its moments where you think to yourself, “Okay, you idiot, you did something stupid and now you’re going to die.”

Just make sure to be well-rested while watching. If you’re not careful, the quiet moments can put you to sleep.

The Gate (1987)
A young boy and his friend accidentally discover a gateway to semi-Lovecraftian cosmic entities of evil and try to close it before the demons swarm out into our reality and destroy it. Along the way, they’ll deal with some trauma and feelings of loneliness.

This film isn’t the scariest thing I’ve ever seen, but it is fun to watch. It’s filled with a lot of heart, some decent stopmotion effects, and an emotional undertone that will get you right in the feels. Plus, that opening scene that still scares me (plus it inspired a novel I hope to write someday)!

While I wish it would lean more in to the Lovecraftian elements (maybe a remake someday?), it’s still a great film. Give it a watch, and you’ll see.

The Collector (1965)
A man wins the lottery and buys a huge house in the country. He then uses it to keep a woman he’s infatuated with. Obviously, the woman wants nothing to do with him. But stuck in his home, she only has so many options at her disposal. Thus begins a terrible game of cat and mouse.

This psychological horror film may be older and a slow-burn, but it’s still effective. Watching both characters trying to outmaneuver one another and gain control in this messed up stalker-stalkee relationship, all in the background of the English countryside, has to be seen to be believed.

The Vigil (2019)
A young Jewish man who has recently left his ultra-Orthodox community is hired to watch over the body of a recently deceased man until his body is collected in the morning for the funeral. However, the deceased was apparently haunted his whole life by a terrible spirit. And now, the young man may be its next victim.

This is, by far, one of the best examples of Jewish horror films I’ve ever come across. Spooky, atmospheric, with an emphasis on practical effects and psychological horror, this film will stay with you long after you’ve watched it.

The Spanish-Language Dracula (1931)
It’s the same movie you know. The one that started the Universal horror line and is part of the foundation of modern horror films. Or is it?

Back in the 1930s, movie studios were trying to reach foreign markets, especially Spanish-language markets. And rather than dubbing over the soundtracks or figuring out how to put subtitles onscreen, they would have a Spanish-speaking cast and crew come in when the English-language crew were done filming for the day and film their own version. The Spanish-language Dracula is particularly famous, as director George Melford would watch what was filmed the day before to inform his own version.

The result is a version of the 1931 film that is on par with and maybe even better than the English-language version. It was thought lost for many years, but resurfaced in the 1970s and has since been preserved for both posterity and our viewing pleasure. And honestly, if you’ve seen the English version, then you really have to check out the Spanish version and compare the two.

Sinners (2025)
A pair of twins in Jim Crow Alabama decide to open a juke joint for the local African-American community, enlisting the help of their young cousin and some other locals to make it a success. However, on opening night, the joint gets some unexpected gate-crashers in the form of vampires. And these vamps, who are out for more than just blood, won’t stop till they get what they came for.

If you only watch one film off this list–nay, if you watch only one film this Halloween season, make it Sinners. This film is visual, musical, historical, thematic, and just a few other types of gold besides. Blending genres, breaking conventions, and putting a big boost into both African American horror and original horror stories, I’ve seen it twice and have been blown away each and every time.

So, those are my recommendations for this year. I hope you decide to check out a few of these. I know I’ll be giving the ones I haven’t seen in a while a rewatch.

But in the meantime, tell me: what would you add to the list? Which of these films have you seen? And what were your impressions of them? Let’s discuss.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 75 days till Halloween. Get watching.

In Defense of Ambiguity

Posted: August 10, 2025 in Reflections, Scary Stuff, Writing
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A couple of weeks ago, my friend and colleague Ruth Ann Nordin wrote about why she enjoys horror and romance stories (you can read her full post here). Midway through her post, she mentioned how she doesn’t like open endings or where things are left up to the reader’s interpretation. After reading her post, I commented on her post, “Ironically enough, a lot of horror stories have open endings, which only helps accentuate the feelings of horror and dread.”

I’ve been thinking about that conversation since then, and now I want to write about ambiguity in fiction. Especially in horror. And how that, as frustrating as it can be to some readers, that ambiguity can be helpful to stories at times.

Now, I’m not writing this to trash anyone who doesn’t like open endings or stories that leave unanswered questions. People have different preferences, and that’s okay. And honestly, at one point, I felt the same way…until someone pointed out that I’ve written stories like that in the past. I’m just writing about the open endings and the unanswered questions sometimes help a story more than wrapping everything up in a neat little bow.

So, why would writers create open endings? Or leave questions unanswered? Well, barring cases where extenuating circumstances keep the creator from tying up all the loose ends (*cough* Disney canceled The Owl House way too early *cough*), there could be a variety of reasons. In horror, it could be for a very simple reason: doing so makes the story that much scarier.

Great film. Lots of unanswered questions…until the sequels, at least.

Let’s take Hell House LLC. This horror film, while not in my top six, is a favorite of mine. The film is a found-footage mockumentary revolving around a horrific tragedy at a haunted attraction, and what happened to the team behind the attraction. While, over the course of events in this movie, what caused the tragedy in the first place is explained, a lot of things are left unanswered. Things are further explained in the sequels, but if you only see the original film, the things that are left unexplained lend this air of mystery to the story. And the fact that, at least for that film, we’re left to question what we don’t know, can be terrifying.

Another great example: Perfect Blue, one of my top six horror films and one of my favorites ever. I’ve discussed it here before, but if you’re unfamiliar, it’s an anime film about a celebrity who is hunted by a violent stalker, leading her to spiral into paranoia and madness. While the first third is straightforward, and the final third wraps things up nicely, the second third does a damned fine job of making it hard to tell what’s real and what’s delusion. You really feel the protagonist’s terror as she tries to figure out what’s real and what’s not, only to be swept along and finally stop fighting against the current.

Speaking of paranoia and madness, cosmic horror, especially Lovecraftian horror, thrives on ambiguity. The Great Old Ones and other ancient beings often have forms that are undefined by the writers. The most we can say is, “it’s so scary, even thinking about what it looks like is too terrifying! Also, it’s so unlike anything I know, my mind is having trouble defining any particular portion. That being said, it’s so scary, I can’t write it down to tell you about it.”

Even my Cthulhu statue is only an approximation of his true form!

Even Cthulhu, who is the most well-known and most defined of the Great Old Ones, is somewhat undefined. Technically speaking, his whole man/dragon/octopus thing is what people are able to recall he looked like. He’s still somewhat difficult to describe.

And that’s scary. We fear the unknown, and when we can’t fully define what we’re dealing with, it’s frightening.

So, yeah, ambiguity can be frustrating. But it does have its uses. And in the horror genre, it can help us horror writers do what we do best: scare people silly. Hell, at times, it helps the stories become that much more notable. And if a story can be made better by a bit of ambiguity, then a little bit of frustration is well worth the cost.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to make dinner and figure out what I’m doing with the rest of my evening. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 82 days till Halloween. Thankfully, there’s nothing ambiguous about that!

“Symphony for Walpurgis:” Three Months Since Release!!!

Posted: August 1, 2025 in Novelette, Progress Report, Scary Stuff, Writing
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Is it already August? The summer is going by quickly! Soon we’ll be getting ready for Halloween and figuring out what to put on our spooky season reading lists. Good thing there happens to be a new-ish collection of horror novelettes for you to consider adding.

So, if you’re new here and are unfamiliar, “Symphony for Walpurgis” is my latest book, a collection of nine novelettes (stories that are longer than short stories but much shorter than novels), four previously published and five original. They range from stories of cryptids and giant bats (“Famous,” “Disillusionment and Trauma Sometimes Go Hand-in-Hand”), to malevolent spirits (“The House on Lafayette Square,” “The Parasite Man”) and even a Jewish exorcism (again, “The House on Lafayette Square”). It came out on May 1st, AKA Walpurgis Night, when witches hold their get-togethers, which means it’s officially three months old.

And I’m very happy with the response so far. Everyone who’s bought a copy and gotten back to me has told me that they’ve enjoyed what they’ve read, and have even enthusiastically recommended it to other readers. Plus, at both the Big Ohio Book Con and the Columbus Book Festival, I sold out of copies on the first day of both events and came close to doing so on the second days. Clearly, people are liking the book!

But don’t take my word for it. Read some of the reviews:

Dipping my toes once again into the world of indie horror. And this, a rare read of single author short story collections.

All these stories are so very different, but they’re linked (in my mind anyway) by one common theme… that is, all these stories start out a certain way, but a turn of events during the narrative delivers a quite different story.

None of these stories are especially weak, but I have some stand out favourites: The House of Lafayette Square, Mother of Spiders, The Little Goddess of Horror, and Natural Predators. Even those I weren’t so keen on were solid, just a matter of personal taste.

Not my first outing reading this author, and it certainly won’t be my last.

MG Mason, author of “The Residents of the James Hotel,” Goodreads

Bravo! This might just be Rami Ungar’s best work yet. Offering tales of unearthly retribution, dark mysteries, vampires re-imagined and blood curdling entities, Symphony is a gloriously ghoulish anthology with something for almost every kind of horror fan.

I absolutely adored the introduction; it creates a spooky atmosphere straight away and is so much fun, putting you in exactly the right mood for the horrors ahead. Each story is creative and the characters are so vivid and well crafted– Rami has done an incredible job of filling every page with witty prose, clever descriptions and emotions which pulled me right into the characters’ minds. Mother of Spiders was my favourite tale, and definitely one of the most nightmarish.

Only two stories had plots which I wasn’t so keen on, but even then the writing was still engaging enough to make them enjoyable reads. 100% recommend!

Louise Conway, Goodreads

From the fiendish imagination of Rami Ungar, Symphony for Walpurgis presents nine stories, each with its own wildly imaginative tale to tell. The author’s acknowledged favorite, The Parasite Man, will make your skin crawl. In contrast, the warmth and psychological insight of The House on Lafayette Square made it this reviewer’s favorite above all. An underlying theme, returned to across several stories but never repetitively, is the revenge of the mistreated, wreaking havoc on a world they never made

Ann O’Mara Heyward, author of “Tourtiere: A Culinary Horror Story,” Goodreads

Rather enthusiastic, wouldn’t you say? And so far, I’ve been lucky enough to only have one review that’s not five stars. And even that one was four stars!

And with this sort of response in just the first three months, I’m hopeful for more of the same over the next three. Since before Symphony was released, I’ve been working hard with specific goals for this book, including some milestones I want to hit in the first year. I’m not sure I’ll hit those milestones, but I’ll work like hell to make them happen. And with spooky season creeping up on us, I think now is a good time to strike.

And if this post has made you at all interested in reading Symphony, I’ll include links below. It’s currently available in paperback and ebook, and if things continue to go well, an audio version might not be out of the question. Until that happens, you can buy a copy using any of the links below.

And if you like what you read, please leave a review online. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me out in the long run. Plus, reviews help other readers find books and figure out whether or not they want to read them. So you’d be helping both me and your fellow horror fans by letting your thoughts be known!

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll be back very soon with another post (believe me on that promise). So, until next time, good night, happy reading, and remember, we’re only 91 days away from Halloween. You better be getting ready to have some pleasant nightmares this fall!

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads
Kobo

Review: “Helloween” by Duncan Ralston

Posted: July 28, 2025 in Novel, Review, Scary Stuff, Writing
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No, you didn’t read that wrong. That’s not a misspelling on my part of “Halloween.” That is the name of the novel, and since I heard of it, I’ve wanted to read it. I mean, with a name like that, how could I not? And with the audio book just getting released recently, I decided to give it a listen and see if this would become a new classic for spooky season.

Taking place during the Halloween immediately following the September 11 attacks, several strange things are happening in the small town of Crook’s Corner, Massachusetts. A famous scream queen is kidnapped in town while filming a new horror film. A science teacher is putting together a machine that causes those near it to see strange shapes. A Goth teenager and her little sister use the latter’s psychic abilities to play pranks on their grandmother. All this and more herald the coming of something evil: a cosmic being who wishes to become a god over all humanity. And this Halloween, they may get their chance.

This book was so hard to put down (or should I say put on pause?). The first chapter, where the scream queen is kidnapped, is shocking enough, but then the novel jumps back several hours, showing what the main characters–a group of high schoolers filming a horror movie for a class–are up to. And with those opening chapters, you get several different plot threads and you wonder how they’re all going to wrap up into one neat little package.

Which, much to my delight, they did come together nicely, leading to a harrowing story with a strong atmosphere of dread and tension. In fact, that’s probably the book’s biggest strength: the atmosphere. Once the horror part really gets going in Helloween, it’s just nonstop threat to the characters. Even in the pauses to the horror, there’s so much tension, it’s hard to relax. Add in some of the events in the latter half of the book, and you start to wonder if the characters can even triumph over the great evil.

And that’s the book’s second biggest strength: it’s characters, particularly the antagonist Geth. Geth is an ancient entity who schemes to become a god, and when it–or they, I should say–gets the ball rolling on their plans, you better believe that shit will hit the fan! And the way Geth is written, this alien being who thinks differently than us but plans to become a god over us, just makes them fascinating to follow. Even as you fear their victory due to their overwhelming power and disregard for both human life and human autonomy.

The other characters are great, too. Ralston manages to make almost all of the supporting characters– from kooky science teacher Ernie Combs and the Catholic priest to would have been right at home during the Crusades, to scream queen Darla Knight and the annoying kid who annoys almost all the other characters–feel real and fleshed out. And yes, there are a lot of them, but at no point did I ever feel like I was overwhelmed with the number of characters I encountered in the book.

Of course, our six main characters were no exception. At first glance, they do feel like your typical high school stereotypes: Cody the jock; Britney the popular girl; Jay the computer geek; Walden the film buff; Cassandra the Goth and her sweet little sister Taylor. But early on, we see that they all have deep dimensions to them, and that only grows as we get deeper into the story. Before I knew it, I couldn’t help but root for and love these characters dearly.

All in all, Helloween by Duncan Ralston is scary AF and sure to become a Halloween classic in time. On a scale of 1 to 5, I’m awarding it a 4.8. Consider picking up a copy and adding it to your reading list this spooky season. If you’re a horror fan, you won’t regret it.

“Beautiful Darkness:” This Graphic Novel Will Disturb You

Posted: July 21, 2025 in Review, Scary Stuff
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This isn’t my normal review. But then again, this is far from a normal graphic novel.

So, when you think of tiny, humanoid people, what do you think of? Fairies? The Borrowers? How about tiny people living inside you (and I don’t mean the emotions from Inside Out)? Not with Beautiful Darkness, a graphic novel by Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoet.

The graphic novel starts out prettily enough. A girl named Aurora, who is like a Cinderella in a 1950s housedress, is being courted by a princely character named Hector. She’s helped by a short little friend named Plim. In the first page and a half, their romance is going just like a fairy tale…until the cutely drawn characters’ home starts dissolving around them, forcing them to leave.

And then it’s revealed that home is the body of a little girl, left abandoned in the woods to rot. Her name, who she might have been, and how she died, never revealed.

And that’s just the start of a very dark saga dressed up in art that, in another graphic novel, would fit nicely in the children’s section at your local library.

This image is so disturbing, I almost didn’t include it in this review.

Aurora quickly finds herself trying to be a leader as she and the other survivors learn to grasp their new surroundings. However, Aurora, who might be the most realistic, as well as the most idealistic, of this community of tiny people, do not have it easy. Except for one mouse, all the animals and insects are as wild as you’d expect, and do what animals do best. The elements take their toll as well. Schemes to survive lead to further deaths or maiming, such as when one character tries to sneak into a nest full of baby birds and eat with them. The result is that her mouth gets torn open by the mother bird’s large beak, leading her to throwing up blood and running away.

But worse than animals, or nature, or survival attempts, are Aurora’s compatriots. Perhaps because they lived inside the body of a little girl, they are almost oblivious in their innocence and naivete. They see each other die, and move on to fish or fly kites or dance like it was nothing. They scheme against and backstab one another. They even kill each other, and do it with such callousness, never once sparing a thought for the lives they’ve taken!

All this betrayal and disappointment wear on Aurora, especially after her leadership role, and her lover, are usurped by rival leader Zellie. She later thinks that she’s found a friend in a loner survivor named Jane, but events soon force her to make the ultimate choice.

A prime example of how dark and uncaring the world of these characters is.

I’ve written before about “corruption of the innocent” before. The idea that the horrors one faces through a horror story destroys whatever innocence you have left and transforms you into something new. It could be childhood innocence, or that you thought the world was a rational place full of rational people, or that the world is ruled by a loving and merciful god. In some subgenres of horror, like Gothic, it could be considered essential. I certainly consider it essential, to the point I have a tattoo on my back representing it.

And it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen it done so well. Aurora tries to stay strong, but her innocence is destroyed in a world where she and her people are as inconsequential as dust motes, and those she should be able to rely on smile innocently while they betray her. In a way, it’s like cosmic horror, only instead of Cthulhu and the Great Old Ones, it’s a forest full of hungry animals and violent nature, as well as your own community.

(That’s not my observation, BTW: it’s the YouTube channel Tale Foundry, where I first heard of this graphic novel and which I highly recommend. You can check out their video about it here, but beware of spoilers.)

Anyway, it’s probably only a matter of time till this graphic novel appears on my personal shelves. In the meantime, I’m awarding Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoet a 4.8 out of 5. It’s dark, it’s disturbing, it’s possibly the prime example of a new subgenre called “innocent horror,” and I think you should check it out.

Just don’t show it to young children afterwards. It’ll mess them up in all the wrong ways.

Representation in Horror: A Start to a Very Long Conversation

Posted: July 2, 2025 in Reflections, Scary Stuff, Writing
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From left to right: Rob Costello, Gaby Triana, Tamika Thompson, me, Aaron Dries, Rae Knowles, and Logan Johnson.

I’ve been wanting to write this post ever since I got back from StokerCon, but life has been very, very busy. But hey, better late than never, am I right?

So, as you probably recall, at StokerCon I was on the panel Representation in Horror, where we explored the topic of including marginalized voices in our community, as well as writing characters from those communities. I was very excited about the topic; not just because it’s one that’s near and dear to my heart, but because it was my very first time sitting on a StokerCon panel. You know, one that wasn’t pre-recorded.

And I figured I would be bringing something to the panel. I’m Jewish, bisexual, and have some disabilities, including being on the spectrum, after all. With the amount of time I spent just thinking about the things I would say in response to the questions, I thought I could help my fellow panelists blow some minds and get our audience (which nearly filled the room) thinking.

I did not expect to have my mind blown as well. But there were several moments just like that.

Just for a couple of examples, I remember Rob Costello mentioning that fat people were the only group that it was still cool to beat up on and how he was sick of it, and while the audience responded positively to that (apparently they noticed that, too), I was like, “Whoa! How have I never noticed that?” And Tamika Thompson mentioned how much Stephen King uses the trope of the Magical Negro, and I was like “Huh, she’s right. Dick Halloran, Mother Abigail, that dude from The Green Mile. He does use that trope a lot.”

And I’ve been thinking about that panel and all we discussed since then, as well as all the things we didn’t have time to discuss. For example, we didn’t have a chance to discuss various communities and their inclusion in the community or in our literature, such as Muslims, Native Americans, or the Roma community (seriously, even when it’s not overtly negative, I can’t think of a portrayal of the Romani that doesn’t lean on stereotypes). And I forgot to mention how not-helpful the portrayal of mentally disabled people as being magic because of their disability is (examples: Dudditts from Dreamcatcher by Stephen King, the autistic kid from 2018’s The Predator).

I think we could all use further conversation in this topic. Photo by nappy on Pexels.com

And it’s made me realize something: the discussion needs to continue. Because this sort of subject, the kind of stuff certain people call “woke,” requires constant learning and further conversation. That way, we can continue to think about what sort of stories we are creating and foster better understanding between people.

So, don’t be surprised if I have a few more blog posts like this one in the near future, ones where I discuss portrayal in horror and problematic stereotypes and whatnot. I may even reach out to some of my fellow panelists to help with that (I managed to find most of them on social media). But hey, if they feel the same way as me, they might want to continue the conversation as well.

And who knows? We might see Representation in Horror become a regular topic at StokerCon. And I don’t think anyone could see that as a bad thing.

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