Short Film Showcase Sundays: The Backrooms

The internet, to the absolute surprise of no one in the Fake News era, is a fertile breeding ground for mythology and lore. The urban legends and campfire stories of days past have since given way to stories told in obscure chat rooms and anonymous forums, built up over time before eventually breaching the mainstream and ingraining themselves into popular culture. From the earliest days … Continue reading Short Film Showcase Sundays: The Backrooms

Monsters and Mayhem: Horror Creature-Features

While I have love for every subgenre of horror, I have to admit that there’s one in particular that holds a special place in my heart: The monster movie. Or, if you prefer, the creature-feature. Sure, we all know and love the big names, like Godzilla and King Kong. Those of you with particularly refined taste may also be fans of loving derivatives like Cloverfield. … Continue reading Monsters and Mayhem: Horror Creature-Features

The Predator Gets Some Much-Needed Redemption in Hulu’s ‘Prey’

The older I get, the more I realize that my taste in movies is probably the direct result of having been raised by people who had absolutely no idea what was appropriate for a child to watch. Some of my earliest, fondest memories as a kid revolve around watching a revolving cavalcade of sex, violence and adult language that I had no business whatsoever experiencing, … Continue reading The Predator Gets Some Much-Needed Redemption in Hulu’s ‘Prey’

Jurassic World: Dominion Manages the Impossible: Makes Dinosaurs Boring

When I was growing up, I was pretty much the textbook definition of what you’d call a “dinosaur kid.” I was obsessed. I’m pretty sure there’s some old home movies floating around of me, as a small toddler, just casually rattling off Latin names for the extinct beasts, surely much to the chagrin of my poor parents. I was convinced, for the first several years … Continue reading Jurassic World: Dominion Manages the Impossible: Makes Dinosaurs Boring

‘Maximum Overdrive’: Stephen King’s Brain on Drugs

Stephen King is perhaps the most prolific and pop-culture-influencing author alive today, particularly within the horror genre. No one else has produced as many iconic, fan-favorite scary stories as the Maine native has throughout his decades-long career. From Carrie all the way up through to The Outsider, King has been steadily cranking out gruesome hits since the early 1970s, and shows no signs of stopping … Continue reading ‘Maximum Overdrive’: Stephen King’s Brain on Drugs

Scares from Space: The Best of Extraterrestrial Horror

Most horror is Earthbound. The terror on our screens is based on monsters from our own world, or at the very least, worlds that are connected to ours. Creatures emerge from the woods or the sea to hunt us for dinner. Murderers and psychopaths escape from asylums or wander out of abandoned campgrounds to stalk us from the shadows. Vengeful spirits and malevolent demons arise … Continue reading Scares from Space: The Best of Extraterrestrial Horror

‘Re-Animator:’ Lovecraftian Horror in it’s Most Delicious, Digestible Form

I hate H.P. Lovecraft. Sure, I love the meme-ry of his work in pop culture, all the references to Cthulu, Elder Gods, and Old Ones, all that fun stuff. I know the Shoggoths and the city of R’lyeh, and I’m pretty well-versed in all the horrors of Dunwich and the madness in the mountains. But man, his writing is just… no fun. At all. Lovecraft … Continue reading ‘Re-Animator:’ Lovecraftian Horror in it’s Most Delicious, Digestible Form

“VHS 94:” Mostly Forgettable Analog Schlock

As I’ve said before on this site, I love anthology horror films. I find that, historically, filmmakers are able to be more creative and more inventive with the short film format than they ever are with feature-length films, mostly because they aren’t bogged down with all the narrative trappings that accompany a 90-minute-plus runtime. Movies like Creepshow and The ABC’s of Death are so full … Continue reading “VHS 94:” Mostly Forgettable Analog Schlock

Spooky Segments: The Best of Horror Anthologies

Sometimes, a movie is just too much of a commitment. You’re tired, you’re distracted, you’re unfocused. You want to watch something, but you also don’t want to have to devote your attention to a full-length, two-hour story. You want something snappy, something quick and punchy, something that can keep your interests in short, controlled bursts. I understand this feeling all too well. I love movies, … Continue reading Spooky Segments: The Best of Horror Anthologies

The Suicide Squad: James Gunn Finally Unleashed

I like to think of myself as pretty well-versed in comic book lore and mythology at this point. There’s a lot of obscure characters out there in Marvel and DC comic canon, which is understandable given that both companies have been around for the better part of a century now. They’re bound to pick up some oddball, one-off heroes and villains along the way. And, … Continue reading The Suicide Squad: James Gunn Finally Unleashed