Posts Tagged ‘films’

“Welcome to Derry” Feels Like Returning to My Beginnings

Posted: November 17, 2025 in Reflections, Scary Stuff, Writing
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

I first read IT by Stephen King when I was eleven or twelve: the same age as the characters in the flashbacks. And while I had been reading The Vampire Chronicles and most of Anne Rice’s books up till that point, I didn’t exactly classify it as horror (Anne Rice herself preferred the term “Gothic saga”). So, for me, IT was my first jump into horror since outgrowing Goosebumps.

And it expanded my world. Not only did the novel terrify me, but it showed me just what great, mature horror storytelling looked like. From the terrifying and insidious nature of Pennywise and It’s many forms, to how the novel took the time to let us get to know characters both major and minor. I was entranced and enthralled, even as I was terrified, diving deep into the book every opportunity I could get and learning as much as I could.

By the time I finished the book that summer, I knew what sort of stories I wanted to write in the future.

Without IT, I would not be the writer I am today. Or the person. I might not even be blogging to you right now, now that I think about it!

I bring this all up because, if you weren’t aware, there’s a TV show airing on HBO Max called Welcome to Derry. Taking place in the same universe as the movies, the show goes into events during the 1962 cycle, which was the cycle before the first movie. And unlike the movies, which focused on a core group of characters first during their early teenage years and then during their adult years, Welcome to Derry focuses on a wide variety of characters, including school kids, military personnel at the local Air Force base, and the nearby Native American population.

It’s very Stranger Things in its character development and methods of storytelling. And since the creators of Stranger Things were heavily influenced by IT, among other things, I guess it’s coming full circle?

Well, it feels full circle to me, because while watching the show, I feel like I’m getting a reintroduction to the horror genre. Just like I did when I was a preteen and dove into King’s book. It feels like I’m getting lessons in how to do creative and powerful scares, storytelling with large casts, and character development every time I sit down to watch the show.

Which, while being told through a visual medium instead of a literary one, I’m grateful for. While I’ve made strides in becoming a horror author, I still feel like I have a long way to go before I can be at the same level as the authors I admire and regularly read. And while I learn something about good storytelling every time I enjoy a good book, show, or movie, I feel I’m getting a Master Class in the subject from this show.

Hell, I think in the short story I wrote most recently, some of what I gleaned from Welcome to Derry made it into the story. I wasn’t originally going to apply what I learned, but it occurred to me while I was writing, and I was like, “Oh. That’s good. That’s very good. Let’s try it.” And while I haven’t heard back from the alpha reader yet (I only sent them the story last night, after all), I feel like adding those elements gave the story an extra bit of excitement and terror.

So, with only four episodes of the show left (I have my doubts they’ll do a second season, though I would likely welcome one), I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next. And to seeing what I can glean for use in my own storytelling.

In the meantime, I’m going to get to work on some of that storytelling. I have stories to edit and send to the beta readers, after all. Wish me luck!

And in the meantime, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Me writing and editing under the influences of good storytelling teachers.

13 Movies to Watch for Spooky Season 2025

Posted: August 17, 2025 in Review, Scary Stuff
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

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.

The Crazy “Die Hard” Viral Incident

Posted: December 14, 2024 in Living and Life
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

So, it’s been a bit of a strange week for me. Most of it was work, where my workload somehow doubled this week and a bunch of other things occurred, but the thing that I want to talk about is about Die Hard. As many of you know, there’s a big debate over whether or not Die Hard counts as a Christmas movie. This humble Jew not only counts it as a Christmas movie, but as many of you know, has the tradition of getting takeout and watching the movie every Christmas Eve.

And earlier this week, I was at my chiropractor’s office getting an adjustment and was talking to the receptionist while I was paying my bill. Here’s a reproduction of the conversation:

Receptionist: “Are you doing anything for Christmas?”

Me: “Just getting Chinese food and watching Die Hard.”

Receptionist: “What’s that? Some new TV show?”

Me: “…”

Receptionist: “From the look on your face, this is something I should know about, isn’t it?”

And that was the conversation in a nutshell. And you can imagine how stunned I was. I can understand people having never seen the film (I used to be related to someone like that), but having never heard of it? And no, she wasn’t some youngster, this woman was old enough to be a few years behind my parents in high school! You’d think she would have heard of a major blockbuster that came out in 1988.

Anyway, I explained to her what the film was, and she said she’d consider checking it out (whether or not she does, I won’t know till next month). However, that’s not where the story ends. If it was, it would be amusing, but not enough to warrant a blog post.

No, what happened next was that I posted the conversation on my social media so other people could laugh at it, too. And Followers of Fear, over on Threads (Facebook’s answer to Twitter, if you didn’t know), it went viral! I kid you not, within twelve hours, I had tens of thousands of views on that post! Hundreds of people commenting every minute, talking about how old they were when they saw the movie, incidents where young and old alike were unfamiliar with something that was supposed to be common knowledge, and a hundred other things that, more and more, strayed away from the main topic at hand.

As of writing this, that post has over 189,000 views, 2,700 likes, 1,100 comments, and twelve reposts. And I’ve still no idea why it went viral like that. I mean, I know Die Hard and whether it’s a Christmas movie or not is big around this time of year, but holy shit! If any post about one of my books gets even a hundredth of that sort of attention, I would be in heaven!

So yeah, that happened. As did a post about the Disney Princesses duking it out to the death getting nearly 17,000 views (Mulan and Merida are the favorites to win if you force the magical ones not to use their powers), and over on BlueSky, the director of the movie Suitable Flesh saw my review of it (I found it unnecessarily horny), and was pretty much like, “Oh well, I thought it was horny enough, but to each their own. Thanks for watching.” With a GIF of Elmo shrugging. I was touched.

Like this, but with “OH WELL” over his belly.

And this is only part of what has been a weird, weird week. But this is the part that I’ve been dying to tell someone all week and which I’ve only been able to do now. Really, no deeper reason than that. Thanks for indulging me while I unloaded what’s been rolling around in my head this week.

Anyway, hope you’re all doing well as the year begins to wind down. I’m counting down the days till I’m off for two weeks and working on The Shape of Evil in the meantime (nearly halfway through the second draft). And in the meantime, if you’re looking for a good scary book for yourself or for someone else this holiday season, I’ll leave a link below. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan, so be sure to check them out. They’ll make the holiday gatherings that much easier.

Rami Ungar’s Books

Also, if you would like to keep up with me on Threads, BlueSky, or any of my other social media platforms, I’ll include those as well. I post more often there than here, and it’s another way to support me, so please do check me out.

Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Facebook
Threads
BlueSky
Instagram
YouTube

The Struggle is Real

Posted: February 7, 2024 in Living and Life, Reflections
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
9
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

I’ve always felt “the struggle is real” is a weird phrase. I mean, we all have jobs, bills, relationships, school, and a million things that are out to kill you. The struggle is always real.

Lately, I get why people say that. Because at my day job, the struggle is very real right now.

Now, I try not to talk about my day job on my blog. After all, this blog is about my writing. But I need to vent, and I feel like talking about it here. Helps that it’s been a week since I last posted, and that makes me itchy.

Still, I don’t want to go into details, so I’ll just say that it’s been crazy busy. Like, I’ve had to work a couple of late nights, and I probably will be working more of them in the near future. Maybe even a couple of hours on the weekend. I don’t know, it’s still being discussed.

But that’s just the kind of workload we’re dealing with, and it’s a small team doing what I’m doing. Plus, we’re facing pressure from all sides, as well as malarkey that’s only giving us more headaches. It’s enough that, sad to say, I finally get why people say “the struggle is real.”

Now, before you get yourself all worried, just know I am taking care of myself. Maybe I have indulged in a beer or sweets a bit more, guilty as charged, but I am monitoring my mental health, talking to people who are trained to listen to problems, and I am doing self-care. Earlier today, I watched a horror movie with dinner. It was a terrible horror movie, but it did help with the stress (and with not being able to write for two days due to the effects of stress).

And I have scheduled some vacation time in the near future. Not saying when in case stalkers or burglars read this blog, but it’s soon. I’ll take that time to simulate living like a full-time writer, with most of my day spent writing.

And possibly visiting my dad and stepmom. Hey, they live in another city and I don’t get to see them as often as I see my other close family. Also, I may have an appointment at a spa scheduled for that period. And you know I like to watch anime as soon as it’s available to stream.

According to my Tarot, things might be improving next week. I hope that’s true.

But other than that, I am spending the time working on stories and doing other things a full-time writer might do. Hopefully it’ll be good for me, it’ll help me get some good stories out, and help me in my quest to become a full-time writer. I’m really looking forward to that.

And wow, just writing this all out has made me feel better. The struggle is still very real, but it feels a bit less soul-grinding than it did when I got home earlier today. Maybe getting it out will be the start of changing how things are going. It would match up with my Tarot reading for next week. That would be nice.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. If you would like to help me get through this period, just keep doing what you’re doing: supporting me. This could be as simple as reading this blog and leaving a comment, or even reading and reviewing my books (links to which can be found on my Book Links and Excerpts page).

Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

13 Movie Recommendations for Spooky Season This Year

Posted: July 29, 2023 in Review, Scary Stuff
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

As you are no doubt aware, we’re less than a hundred days till Halloween. With that in mind, you’re probably doing all sorts of preparations for the spooky season. This obviously includes what scary movies you’ll be watching this year.

Back in 2020, I did a recommendation list of lesser known horror films that many Followers of Fear found helpful. Why I waited three years to do another one, I don’t know, but I came up with a strong list of films you crazy horror fans might enjoy adding to your queue this year.

Keep in mind, I will be focusing mostly on lesser known horror films, as the very well-known ones don’t really need a recommendation. Chances are, you’ve probably seen the well-known ones anyway. So, since we horror nuts love finding new material, let’s get on with it!

Ghostwatch (1992)

A BBC team of journalists investigate a supposedly haunted house on Halloween night, broadcasting it live to the nation. At first, things are calm and there’s even evidence that the hauntings aren’t real. However, as the special continues, supernatural events not only begin to plague the family and journalists in the house, but in the BBC studio and in the homes of viewers.

Or at least, that’s what many people thought was happening. In reality, this special was filmed beforehand and was technically a TV movie. It even listed the name of the movie series it was part of and the name of the writer at the beginning of the special. However, many who caught the special missed this notice, and, possibly because some of the BBC’s most trusted names were part of the “investigation,” believed the events portrayed were real. The thousands of ensuing complaints, plus the death of a young man with intellectual disabilities who believed his home was haunted after watching the special, led to the BBC apologizing and never airing the special again.

That being said, Ghostwatch is available on Blu-Ray and streaming, and it is a fascinating watch. Even if you weren’t around in 1992 or have no idea who these people are, it is amazing to place yourself in the shoes of the audience and see how masterfully they were led to believe that the events portrayed were real. If you can, go check it out. I placed it at the top of this list for a reason.

Hell House LLC (2015)

Portrayed as a documentary, Hell House LLC covers the case of a haunted house attraction that, on opening night in October, resulted in the deaths of numerous guests and most of the staff. As the documentary team tries to piece together what happened from newly discovered footage, they make a terrifying discovery about the site where the tragedy occurred. Namely, not everything is what it seems there.

Honestly, this film is absolutely unsettling. The news report about the tragedy at the beginning of the film gives it a sense of realism, and the numerous strange events in the building give everything this sense of encroaching evil. The scenes with the creepy clown mannequin and the last scene in Paul’s bedroom are among the scariest I’ve seen from a found footage movie in a while, and it’s not surprising that it’s built a following. Highly recommended if you want a good, creepy found footage horror film. You can stream it for free on YouTube.

Also, there are two sequels, but they’re more about explaining things than actually scaring the crap out of you, so I’m avoiding them.

Lake Mungo (2008)

Man, there are a lot of fake documentaries this year. Must be how effective they are at seeming real. Anyway, in this Australian film, a family deals with the mysterious drowning death of their daughter and what they think might be her spirit trying to contact them. I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s both a poignant story of a family dealing with grief as well as a surprising ghost story. There are moments I still play over and over when I watch this movie because they’re that good. Definitely don’t miss this one.

The Offering (2023 film)

A new addition to the growing catalog of Jewish horror, this film follows a young Jewish man and his pregnant, non-Jewish wife as they go to reconcile with the former’s heavily religious father. However, the family is being plagued by a dangerous entity, one that seeks to harm the couple’s baby. And not everyone might survive.

While somewhat uneven in scares and storytelling, it is still a tense and scary film with plenty of moments to freak you out. It’s also a very sad story about what it means to be a family and to be a parent, to grieve for loss and to take responsibility for lives other than your own. If you’re not squeamish about children and pregnant women being targeted by evil in a horror story, I highly recommend it.

Candyman (1992 and 2021)

I’m including both films here as one entry, as I think they make a great double feature if you watch them together and they just really compliment each other. Anyway, you know these films: the spirit of an African American painter who was horribly murdered by white men and became a Bloody Mary figure wreaks havoc every time someone says his name five times in the mirror.

The first film follows grad student Helen Lyle as she does research on the urban legend on the Candyman. The reboot/sequel follows a painter who discovers a variation of the legend and brings it into his art. Both lead to carnage and to the evolution of the legend. Both films are amazing pieces that have their own mood and aesthetic that are fascinating to watch. Definitely view them together if you can.

The Innkeepers (2011)

Ti West has made a name for himself as a director of horror films, and this artsy piece is definitely one not to miss. Set at the very real (and allegedly very haunted) Yankee Pedlar Inn in Torrington, Connecticut, it follows two employees running the hotel and trying to document its alleged hauntings during the hotel’s last weekend of operations.

A slow burn of a horror movie, it has some terrifying imagery and scares that make you want to rewatch the scares just to see how they do it. It also makes you want to find out more about the inn and maybe visit it yourself. Or is that just me? Well, if it is, this is a fun and creepy ghost story that you would probably enjoy as part of your horror movie marathon. Especially if you need a break from the more pee-your-pants horror films.

Terrifier (2016)

Two girls going out for fun on Halloween night come across Art the Clown, a silent, psychotic murderer with a penchant for humor in his torture.

That’s it. That’s the movie. But what a movie it is! A splatterpunk slasher that does not shy away from showing the blood and guts and gore, it’s elevated above a Saw knockoff by Art, whose enigmatic nature and almost humorous approach to life and death make him almost mesmerizing to watch. For people who aren’t into gore and violence for violence sake, I would avoid this one. But if you are at all curious, I would at least check it out. Just don’t blame me if the hacksaw scene turns you off.

Terrifier 2 (2022)

Art’s back, and he’s out for more blood. Only this time, he’s on a collision path with a high schooler who seems to have a strange, almost psychic connection to Art. And when they meet, it’ll be a battle of good vs. evil for the ages.

When this film came out, there were reports of people fainting or throwing up in the theaters during shows of Terrifier 2. Honestly, I can believe it. There are some seriously sick scenes, especially in the first half of the film. However. it’s also a fascinating story of two siblings dealing with grief and growing up, finding themselves and learning to be strong and adults in the face of pure evil. It’s a tough film to get through, but I’m honestly glad I sat down and watched it. And I hope that when Part 3 comes out, I can actually see it in theaters.

Scream VI (2023)

The latest and probably the most brutal entry in the Scream franchise takes us to New York City, where a new Ghostface killer goes after the Carpenter siblings and their friends. And you would think being in a crowded city, rather than in a small town, a college campus or on a movie set would help. But really, no matter where you are, Ghostface is going to come for you.

While I’m not a big fan of the final twist, I thought the film was well done. The action and tension are master class, and the film’s story continues to bring the mystery and guessing game we’ve come to expect from the Scream movies. I say check it out if you’re looking for a good modern slasher.

The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)

Our final fake documentary, The Poughkeepsie Tapes presents itself as a true crime documentary of a serial killer who films his kills on VHS tapes.

And God, does this film feel real! Between not shying away from the violence and psychological terror of its subject matter, as well as its masterful use of amateur actors to play “expert witnesses,” it’s almost too easy to believe in this film. Even if you don’t, it’s one of the scariest films I’ve seen in a while. If you’re going in, good luck. You’re going to need it.

The Uninvited (1944)

Our only classic film on this list, The Uninvited follows two siblings who purchase a seaside house in England, only to find out that ghosts are haunting the house. And that these ghosts have a connection to a local girl named Stella, who is obsessed with the house.

Honestly, it’s a very fun film and has held up very well since its release. While I’m not sure modern audiences would find it spooky, there’s some great storytelling and atmosphere in the movie that makes it very entertaining to watch. If you’re looking to ease yourself or someone else into spooky season and all the horror out there, this is a good film to go with.

The Changeling (1980)

A grieving widower moves into an old house after losing his wife and daughter in a tragic accident. He soon discovers the house is haunted by a powerful entity, and this spirit won’t be held back by a little thing like death.

While some things about this film haven’t aged well, others are just as terrifying as they were in 1980. Anyone who has seen the sequences with the red ball, the séance, or the wheelchair know what I’m talking about. It gets even scarier when you find out the film was based on things the writer supposedly experienced while renting a haunted house a few years prior. Definitely worth including in your spooky season rotation.

Talk to Me (2023)

The only entry on this list that’s still in theaters, it follows several teens who play a game with an embalmed hand trapped in plaster. When you hold it like giving a handshake and say “Talk to me,” it allows you to communicate and even become briefly possessed by the dead. However, one night playing the game takes things to a scary new extreme, and these kids learn what happens when you play with fire.

I wouldn’t call it the scariest film of the year, as others have said, and I did think the second half got slightly predictable and less scary. However, it is an enjoyable horror film, with an emphasis on emotion and storytelling over gore or special effects, and an amazing cast. If you can, get your butts to the theaters and check out Talk to Me.

So, there you go, my Followers of Fear. Thirteen horror movies for your eyeballs to gorge on this spooky season. I hope you enjoy them and let me know what you think, as well as what films you think are necessary viewing this year.

Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant viewing, and even more pleasant nightmares.

Please Stop Bringing Babies to the Ballet!

Posted: April 29, 2023 in Living and Life
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
2

I normally don’t talk about this sort of thing on my blog. You know, because it’s kind of devoted to my writing career and to horror. But honestly, after today, I gotta say something to more than just my family. So strap in, kids. I’m doing a public service announcement veering into rant territory.

As many of you know, I’m a big fan of ballet. I’ve even included it in a few of my stories. And I was very excited to go see my local company perform Swan Lake. It’s their last production of the season, it’s probably the most famous ballet in the world alongside Nutcracker, and it’s a lot of fun to guess what variation of the story the performers will do (there are many depending on the vision of the company). And it was, to my delight, a great show. Except for one little issue…some of the patrons had brought their babies and infants with them to the show.

If I could insert an actual sigh here, I would.

Look, I get it. We all need a little escape from our lives. And except for maybe Nutcracker, most companies will wait several years before performing the same show again, which means you probably only have the opportunity to see this production once. And nobody likes missing out on what they love. And for Nutcracker, I kind of expect small children at that one. It’s a family show with lots of exciting stuff happening onstage to keep their attention.

But seriously, why are you bringing a child that young to a show other than Nutcracker? At five or so, kids start to gain the ability to sit still for movies and shows and be quiet. But younger children, especially babies, aren’t able to do that. Many of them can’t even comprehend what’s going on around them.

Imagine, being in a room where it’s dark, there’s loud music constantly playing, and then there are bursts of house-shaking applause during the show. Any small child will be terrified and cry out!

In fact, many of them were. I counted at least four tots who cried at various times during the show. If not because they were scared, then because they were tired, or fussy, or they’re babies! That’s what they do. As well as gurgle, babble, and make any number of noises. All of which happened during the show and distracted the audience. Several times, the parents had to take their child out of the theater and into the foyer because it wouldn’t calm down or go to sleep.

Feels like a waste of a ticket, if you have to leave the show every twenty minutes because of your kid.

And that brings me to my next point. These tickets cost anywhere between seventy and four hundred dollars (excluding processing fees and whatnot). So you’re putting down several hundred dollars for tickets for these shows, including one for the baby, when your child isn’t able to understand or appreciate the show, and definitely won’t sleep through the whole thing. You might as well spend the money on a babysitter instead. From what I’m told, they’re much more affordable, and you wouldn’t be inconveniencing all the other guests who paid a lot of money to see this show as well.

And if you’re not ready to be separated from your kid, don’t go! You’ll save money, and you won’t have the inconvenience of leaving the show several times, climbing over people in seats that are as packed in as airplane seats.

And while I’m on the subject, this should go for movie theaters as well. Yes, movies are a lot more affordable than plays and ballets, but the concept still applies. Hell, it might even apply more! A lot of films these days include explosions, screaming, guns firing, and so many things that might frighten a small kid in a dark room.

I’ve had to deal with this at more movies than I dare to count. When I saw IT: Chapter Two, some woman in the front row brought her baby. During the first twenty minutes, the kid kept screaming and the people around her kept telling her to leave because it’s IT: Chapter Two! That movie is going to be loud and scary! And when I saw Logan a few years before, a kid was crying on the stairs in the theater because that’s a gory, violent film and he was scared! Took a good twenty minutes for the parents to get up and take the kid outside. I guess they thought he would just stop and take a nap?

Now, I know I’m not a parent. I don’t know how tough it is (though my parents did raise me and three younger sisters, so sometimes I feel like I kind of get it). But I know that young kids, unlike teens and adults, don’t know better about how to act during a movie. They just react. And if your kid isn’t ready for movies and you can’t get a babysitter…well, parenthood is about sacrifice. That’s what I’ve learned from every great parent I’ve ever come across. And sometimes, that sacrifice means waiting a few months for the movie to be available on streaming and Blu-Ray.

Luckily, there’s been some movement to prevent this sort of problem. A lot of movie theaters don’t allow young kids to see R-rated films at all, and won’t let them see PG-13 movies after a certain time. Many of these same theaters also have showings exclusively for families: the lights aren’t out all the way, talking and crying isn’t a big deal, and the film is something the kids can get into. And the majority of Broadway theaters and traveling shows require children be at least five years old, or they won’t let them into the theater. And many ballets can even be streamed these days, believe it or not! Some are even streamed live!

And yes, I might write to the company that runs the theaters to see if anything can be done. I mean, if they enforce Broadway policies for the touring Broadway shows, they might be willing to extend that to other events.

But really, parents of young children need to help out too. As I said above, these small kids can’t help being noisy. They’re not electronic devices you can just switch off. They’re going to react instinctually, and that will disturb audiences. But parents, you can make a choice. You can choose to waste money on something that your baby will disturb for you and everyone else. Or you can keep the kid home, and save everyone, including your kid, from having their night ruined.

And hey, you might still be able to see your show or movie. Like I said, babysitters are a lot more affordable than you might think.

Thanks for reading, folks. This has been something I’ve actually been wanting to write about for ages now, but after the show today, it just kind of came to a head and I had to make my feelings public. And if this changes even a few people’s minds, it’ll be worth it.

I Miss The Scream TV Series

Posted: March 8, 2023 in Reflections, Scary Stuff
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
10
The first season of the Scream TV series. The show deserves more attention, if you ask me.

Odd topic for my two thousandth post, but hey, not every milestone post is going to be something big and amazing. Besides, this needs talking about before Friday.

And what’s Friday? The release of Scream VI, the sixth Scream movie. By now, most horror franchises, especially the slasher franchises, end up on direct-to-video (or DVD and Blu-Ray or streaming, as things now stand). But the Scream franchise, through not putting out sequels every year and making films that tend to age well (seriously, I enjoyed the films I disliked on first viewing more on the second viewing), has stayed in theaters. And the sixth film, set in New York and featuring a Ghostface who appears to be a major fanatic of the Ghostface killers, looks especially amazing. What could be missing?

Well, in all the rewatch of the films and which one’s best, I miss the TV show. Yeah, Scream had a TV show. A lot of people have forgotten that. It was on MTV for two seasons and VH1 for a third season, it was slightly more serious than the movies with less metatextual exploration of horror (but it did have that), and, for two seasons, had a Ghostface whose costume didn’t look clumsy or like it would get in the killer’s way.*

I actually bought the TV show’s version of the costume for Halloween soon after I got my job. I still have the costume, and enjoy wearing it on occasion. I wore it for this post!

What was the TV series about, you might ask? Well, it was a similar setup to the movies. A serial killer, known in this reality as the Lakewood Slasher or the Brandon James Killer, wears a mask based on the face of an accused murderer named Brandon James and starts killing people related to this world’s Sydney, named Emma. And, like the original films, the killings are often inspired by Emma’s family’s past.

There was also some amazing character development, a mystery that kept you guessing, and some really freaky kills and scares that competed with American Horror Story and the Slasher TV series. So, what happened?

I don’t know. I guess the producers got scared that people were losing interest in the second season, because after a Halloween special, they scrapped the ongoing storyline of Emma and her friends and started a new story with the original Ghostface costume for the third season. And that was the season that got critically panned and was followed by a cancellation. So, I guess it was a good decision?

Me in my Scream TV series costume. Creepy, right?

And that’s a shame, because as I said, I remember it being really good for the first two seasons. And while we can never be sure, if the series had decided to focus on the story of Emma and her friends, rather than doing a reboot for a possible anthology series, what could have happened? What if the series got better? At the very least, we might have wrapped up the story.

So, while I look forward to seeing the new film, I would like to point out that the TV show (or at least the first two seasons, anyway), deserve some love and appreciation. Hell, after I finish watching the original run of Law & Order, I’m going to rewatch the first two seasons on Netflix.

Maybe you can join me for a watch? I think that would be a lot of fun. And together, we can maybe show this show some deserved love.

Did you watch the Scream TV series? What were your thoughts of it? Any chance you’ll revisit it with me? What’s your favorite scary movie?

*Seriously, what the heck is with the Ghostface robe? It goes down to your feet and is tight around the legs. Every killer in that costume should trip every time they pursue a victim. Actually, they showed that in the parody film Scary Movie.

The Face of Horror Contest: Help Me Win

Posted: September 6, 2022 in Living and Life, Scary Stuff
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
9

55 days till Halloween! Who’s excited?

You’re probably wondering what this is about. Well, a little while ago I heard about a contest for horror fans called the Face of Horror. What’s it about? Well, various horror fans and creators sign up to show that they are the greatest horror fans there are. The Face of Horror, if you will. And over the coming days, you’ll be able to vote for the candidate of your choice.

Guess who signed up as a contestant?

That’s right, me. I mean, can you blame me? And what happens if I actually win? Well, I’ll earn $13,000; get to stay in Buffalo Bill’s house from Silence in the Lambs for two nights (apparently it’s a real place in Pennsylvania); a walk-on role in the next movie of the director running the contest, Jim Vendiola; and a photo shoot with Kane Hodder, the only actor to play Jason Voorhees more than once, let alone four times, in Rue Morgue magazine! And all I need is your votes.

Now, I know you guys don’t owe me a thing and there’s no reason for any of you to help me. However, even if I don’t win, this could be a good opportunity for me. By participating, I might get even just a little bit of exposure, which may help me find some new readers. And if I end up winning, this could be a huge boost to my career! I could end up meeting all sorts of new people and followers through this contest.

Plus, you would have my gratitude in helping me move forward through the contest and hopefully furthering my career.

So, how do you vote? Click on the highlighted link below, and it’ll take you to my profile. You can cast one free vote per day during the contest, and can purchase additional votes (a portion of proceeds from purchased votes going to the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which funds pediatric cancer research and financial assistance for families of patients). All you need is a Facebook account and/or a valid credit/debit card (especially if you intend to purchase more votes).

Anyway, this post being out means that the contest has begun, and the first round will go until September 15th. That’s at least ten chances for each person to vote. I hope you’ll consider voting and helping me out with moving onto the next round. Who knows? You may end up helping me further my dreams by leaps and bounds just with your support.

The Face of Horror — Rami Ungar

One more thing: I’ll be at the Mystics and Marvels fair on Saturday and Sunday, September 10th and 11th, from 11 AM – 6 PM, at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, Ohio. This is a really cool convention with Tarot readers and fortune tellers, stones and crystals sellers, and, of course, authors. I’ll be at the chapter for the Ohio chapter of the Horror Writers Association, HWA Ohio, so stop by if you can. You can check out more information at the website here.

And on Saturday, September 17th, the Pickerington Public Library is holding an Author Spotlight Event for Ohio authors at their location in Pickerington, Ohio from 10 AM – 2 PM. I will be signing and selling books at a spooktacular table, so I hope you’ll stop by and say hello.

And if you can’t make it to either event but would still like to support me (in addition to voting, of course), you can always check out one of my books and let me know what you think when you read it. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback and it helps me in the long run. I’ll include links below.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll check in again soon. So until next time, happy voting and pleasant nightmares!

The Pure World Comes: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Goodreads, Audible, Chirp, BingeBooks, LIbro.Fm, Storytel

Rose: Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Audible, B&N

Snake: Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Smashwords, and Kobo

The Quiet Game: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Smashwords, and Kobo.

What Do My Favorite Horror Movies Say About Me?

Posted: August 30, 2022 in Reflections, Scary Stuff
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
10
My favorite films surrounding my remote control.

You know, this may not be the biggest issue in my life. And it may not be the meaningful thing I could write about on this blog. But you know, it’s something I find myself pondering from time to time. What do my Top 6 Favorite Horror Movies say about me and my interests?

(It used to be 7, but I realized while making my list that while I enjoyed the film, it wasn’t something I would gladly watch again and again and again, just say the word go. Also, my tastes change over time, so this list could look very different in ten or even five years, as well as grow or shrink.)

But what does it say about me that I enjoy these particular films? What about them draws me to them? I tried to figure it out by listing them and then listing what I liked about them. Here are the films in question:

Perfect Blue (1997)
Based on the novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi and directed by Satoshi Kon, Mima Kirigoe is a J-Pop idol who is forced by her agency to transition into acting. This and a violent stalker sends Mima into a violent psychological down-spiral, one which may very well claim her life.

  • One of the few good examples of anime horror I’ve come across in my life. The art style is also excellent, where characters and scenes are animated with a sense of realism rather than the usual anime exaggerations. This gives the horror a certain sense of realism that you wouldn’t normally find in anime.
  • The movie works to make you question, along with Mima, every moment of reality. What is real, what isn’t, what’s a dream, what’s part of Mima’s TV drama and what’s her actual life. It’s all up for debate throughout the movie, with the use of color, quiet scenes vs acting and dancing scenes, and repetition of events making you feel the disorientation Mima feels. All leading up to a final third with a horrific twist.

Color Out of Space (2020)
Starring Nicholas Cage and based on the novella by HP Lovecraft (one of my favorites by him, BTW), a meteor falls in a small West Virginia farm, giving off an odd color that can’t really be categorized. Soon after, strange events start happening on the farm, changing the plant life, the family, and reality itself. All leading to a devastating conclusion.

  • Ask most film critics, it’s one of the best HP Lovecraft/Lovecraftian horror adaptations ever made.
  • The film’s very misleading, at first playing up Cage’s penchant for odd acting and adding in plenty of comedy. Later on, however, Cage’s performance goes from funny to sinister, and the humor vanishes as the number of scary events occur and build, filling with you with dread.
  • The mix of practical effects and CGI is well done, with the latter only being employed as absolutely needed and the former being used enough to make fans of The Thing proud. This allows for the final scenes to be really horrifying, even when chock-full of CGI.
  • Just watch the cutting board and alpacas in the barn scenes. You’ll be scarred for life.

Overlord (2018)
During the D-Day invasion, a small troop of American soldiers sneak into a French town to take out the Nazi’s radio tower, preventing the Nazis from calling for help. What follows is a harrowing ride through hell as the team confronts not just Nazis and the horrors of war, but deadly experiments that may end up changing the tide of the war.

  • Despite being a “Nazi zombie” film, which is usually silly or played for laughs, this film plays it much more seriously. The zombies are almost a secondary feature of the film. The real emphasis is on how war scars and changes you, how horrible the drive to win can make a person, and how war brings out the depravity in all of us. When the zombies are on screen, they’re used sparingly, only to heighten the horror and the stakes.
  • During the scenes where the protagonist explores the laboratory, the emphasis on mood and atmosphere creates a powerful dread of what’s around every corner, under every sheet. If you’ve ever seen or played the game Outlast, it often feels like you’re in the middle of that game, and that is a terrifying thought to have.

Sleepaway Camp (1983)
As a young girl, Angela sees her father and brother killed in an accident on a lake adjacent to Camp Arawak. Years later as a teen, Angela and her cousin Ricky go as campers, only for a strange series of deaths to ruin the summer fun. And in the center of it all, Angela seems to be a fixture.

Who else had their mind blown by this moment in the film?
  • This is a rather unique 80’s slasher. For one thing, the campers are all played by actual teens and tweens, rather than adults pretending to be teens. Coupled with the teens language and behavior, it often reminds me of my own camping days, except less Jewish and more murder-y.
  • There are also prolonged periods between (admittedly inventive) kills, which allows you to really get to know the characters and remind you that these are just kids. This makes each instance of death even more shocking and brutal than it would be if they were in your face one after the other.
  • The twist in this movie is rather famous and forces the viewer to recontextualize everything in a new light. I won’t say what happens, but ooh boy, it’s not the sort of thing you could do today. I’d be interested to see how a remake handles this twist and reworks it for a modern audience. Also, I wish there was a novelization for this movie, because it would be great.

The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
A medical student is filming a documentary about an older woman’s battle with dementia. While out at her country home, however, it becomes increasingly clear that this woman is dealing with something else besides dementia: a dark presence has come for Deborah Logan, and it’ll use her to accomplish its sinister goals.

  • Both a found footage and a possession movie, the take on the latter is very unique, both in the victim of possession and who/what is doing the possessing. However, since this is a film about a woman with dementia, it misleads you at first so that you don’t know if what you’re experiencing is really supernatural at first. And when it becomes clear that something supernatural is happening, it becomes both terrifying and tragic.
  • Did I mention this film is terrifying? Not just for anyone whose relatives have experienced dementia (and I’ve heard from people that that’s a form of terror in and of itself), but just as a horror movie it is terrifying. From dark and claustrophobic scenes in an abandoned mine to strange happenings in the house and one bloody scene that freaked me the hell out, this is not a film you want to watch with the lights out.

Prince of Darkness (1987)
A Catholic priest discovers an ancient artifact in the basement of an abandoned church that points to the fulfillment of an obscure end-of-world prophecy. Needing to prove it to the world, the priest enlists the help of several prominent professors from a local university and their grad/PhD students to help quantify this strange, evil miracle. As you can guess, shit really hits the fan.

  • One of John Carpenter’s lesser known masterpieces (which I think is a damn shame), the film has a unique take on God and Satan that feels more at home in a UFO cult, but works really well here. It also has some interesting ideas and themes to explore, such as the nature of evil, the relationship between religion and science, and even an allegory for the AIDS epidemic, which was at a peak when this film was made.
  • Also, while not the scariest thing ever, it is pretty damn creepy and has some truly great moments of horror.

So, there you go. These are my favorite horror films right now. And I struggle to find a unifying theme about why I elevate them above all others. Half of them are from the last decade, two from the 1980s, and one from the 1990s. They all place a lot of emphasis on psychological horror, but how and how much varies from film to film. Only two of them are adaptations of anything. No similar genres, directors or writers, different themes are explored in each one, and I own copies of all of them on DVD or Blu-Ray.

Maybe it’s just that they stick in my head more than others, or that they impressed me in some way that other horror films haven’t. Perhaps they’re the kind of stories I wish I’d wrote, or I like thinking of what I’d do with the material. Wait, no, it’s not that. I think that with every horror film.

If nothing else, I’ll be able to discuss films like Perfect Blue and Prince of Darkness with more people.

Well, maybe you’ll help me find some insight. If nothing else, there’s a chance you’ll be curious enough to see these films if you haven’t watched them before, or give them another watch if you have. You may even notice something I don’t.

You may even make some of them part of your Halloween watchlist this year (63 days till Halloween at the time of this writing). And if you do, I also recommend adding Carnival of Souls (1962), Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), As Above, So Below (2014), The Void (2017), both versions of The Fly (1958 and 1986), the 2013 remake of Carrie, It (2017), and Freaky (2020). All make great additions to your Halloween viewing lineup. Not to mention all the movies coming out starting next month. I’m getting chills just thinking about it!

Anyway, this has been a long post and it’s getting late. I’m going to end it here and call it a night. Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares!

What are your thoughts on these films? Did you notice anything I didn’t? What are your favorite horror films that you recommend to everyone?

Is “Elevated Horror” Really a Thing?

Posted: April 18, 2022 in Reflections, Scary Stuff, Writing
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
4
Photo by Pedro Figueras on Pexels.com

I’ve heard this term thrown about a few times since January, first in the new Scream movie and most recently in an analysis of a horror film on YouTube. “Elevated horror.” And the speakers, whether in in the Scream movie or in the YouTube video, made it sound like it’s a recognized subgenre of horror with its own staple of tropes and trappings. Like slasher and its killers and gore, or Gothic with its ancient, diseased settings and corrupting influence.

The thing is, it isn’t. Elevated horror isn’t an actual subgenre of horror. I’ve consulted with dozens of writers on this (thank you, Twitter and the Horror Writers Association Facebook group) and it’s not a subgenre. It seems like a subgenre of horror at first glance when you look at works referred to elevated horror. In movies, films referred to as elevated horror include The Witch, Babadook, It Follows and Get Out, among others: they’re horror stories that focus more on probing psychological drama, characters and metaphor than blood and gore or supernatural horrors. Often, there’s a powerful social commentary being presented through the narrative, such as Get Out‘s commentary on race.

In terms of literature, “elevated horror” might have all of these as well as flowery language. It might be almost called “literary horror,” because there’s an emphasis on wording the story nicely and making it just too dark to be called “literary fiction.” Examples include The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers, Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, The Deep by Alma Katsu, and A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill.

And, most importantly, “elevated horror” can sometimes cross over into other genres, such as thriller, literary, or even comedy.

Can you really say The Witch and Get Out belong in the same subgenre?

Sounds like a subgenre, doesn’t it? But it’s not. The works called elevated horror are all as different from each other as roses are to tulips are to primulas. All flowers, but all different kinds of flowers. Let me explain: The King in Yellow and The Deep are cosmic horror mixed with deep psychological themes, The Witch is some cross between folk, religious and historical horror, and Get Out‘s searing satire makes it borderline horror-comedy. In fact, it was nominated at the Golden Globes under categories for comedies or musicals!

Yet all of them are given the designation of elevated horror. So, if it isn’t a subgenre, what is it?

The conclusion I’ve come to after speaking to numerous other writers is that elevated horror is actually horror films taking place in elevators.

Just kidding, that’s elevator horror, and the only example of that I can think of is 2010’s Devil.

No, “elevated horror” is a marketing term. And like all marketing terms, it’s directed towards a specific audience. Who is this target audience? It’s people who normally wouldn’t check out horror because they fear it’s low class, dangerous, or degenerate. They may want to check out horror or be curious, but the stigma still attached to the genre keeps them from doing so. Either that, or they won’t check it out unless a work is given a specific designation.

Calling something “elevated horror” is basically saying, “This isn’t like other horror stories, where half-naked teens are voyeuristically killed with tons of blood and gore, or where supernatural entities menace children in sewers. No, it has nuance and social commentary! There’s psychology and drama and fleshed out characters! You can be respectable while enjoying this!”

In other words, it’s another way of something is high-brow. “There are no explosions and superheroes here. No aliens or elves. No star-crossed lovers up against the odds. Only real people having real life situations, or real people in situations that are absurd but it’s okay, because it says something important about society.”

I almost wish it was a subgenre. I might have found a home for my ballerina-meets-the-King-in-Yellow story already (still working on that, give it time).

Pinhead may not be from an elevated franchise, but that doesn’t make him or Hellraiser any less awesome.

And the problem with this marketing term is it’s misleading. By calling certain movies or books “elevated horror,” it’s labeling all other horror as “trash,” or at the very least “common.” Either way, the designation puts other horror stories down. And that’s a shame, because there’s such good horror out there. Dark Harvest, Kill Creek and Salem’s Lot aren’t high brow, but they’re great stories that thrill and can leave their readers up late into the night. Same with The Thing or the Hellraiser franchise: they may never win Oscars, but goddamn are they scary, and the latter has led to one of the most memorable characters in the slasher genre.

I’m not trying to put down the term. I’m just saying we should understand what it means, both for works designated as such and those that aren’t. And if it lets you enjoy horror, great. Just make sure to check out works that aren’t “elevated” and whose creators don’t really think or care if their work is called that.

Personally, I can see some of my work being called elevated, but I’ll just say that I was trying to write a fun story and wanted others to enjoy it as well.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. After getting my thoughts on this topic out, I’m off to dream of beasties and ghosts. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Older Entries