Thoroughbreds is not Heathers. It seems like every movie with teen girls and dark humor invokes Heathers. Heathers came out in 1988, and it was shocking and perfect for the time. It captured, as nothing before it had, the cynicism of students, the toothless administrators, and the deep emotional cruelty of teen girls. Veronica’s crush on the dangerous new boy in town resonated with young women, and they were empowered by her rejection of him when he went too far. Thoroughbreds is not Heathers. It’s something more. It’s quiet. It’s slow moving[...]
0 Brian and I are HUGE Evil Dead fans. We actually met face-to-face three years ago at Comic Con in NYC--the very same one where there was an Ash vs. Evil Dead panel and a tour through Ash's trailer. How cool is this?! Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when one of my favorite horror shows comes back on STARZ. Now in its third season, Ash is back and so are the marvelous special effects. This show has THE BEST effects, from heads being cut off to fingers being severed by a saw. If you like slapstick slaughter, this show is definitely for you![...]
Like so many other Toronto residents, hearing the news that someone was finally in custody for multiple murders that had occurred over the past few years came with both a sense of relief as well as trepidation, especially when the news broke that the police were calling him a potential serial killer. First, a little info, for those readers who have not heard about this case: A BRIEF TIMELINE In the fall of 2012, multiple men are reported missing from Toronto's gay village (Majeed Kayhan, Soroush Mahmudi. Dean Lisowick, although not reported missing, is thought to[...]
Because it's Oscar month (this Sunday!) and because a horror movie has been nominated...let's watch Get Out. This fabulous 2017 horror movie directed and written by Jordan Peele, not only made us cringe and shudder, but made us think about how we look at, how we think about, and how we treat people of color. Chris, a black man, journeys to meet his girlfriend's parents, his white girlfriend's parents. The visit should be fine, but from the very beginning the trip tumbles into a mess of weird and creepy. Get Out addresses the true horror of racism, not only a d[...]
I recently visited with two of my favorite crazed older ladies at a theater performance of Arsenic and Old Lace. The stage play, written nearly 80 years ago, is a madcap romp that takes place in the living room of Martha and Abby Brewster. The sweet, spinster aunts are serial killers - strictly to give peace to nice, older gentlemen, you understand - but unfortunately, they aren’t the only killers in the family. You could say there is some family competition on who is better at it. The Brewster aunts of the 1940's gave rise to a plethora of unhinged film la[...]
I have a campy YA horror novel that is struggling to find a home. The market isn't as strong for YA horror as it is for say, contemporary romance. I know what you're thinking--but what about authors like R.L. Stine or Stephen King? Darling, they are outliers. Sometimes when I go to ALA or other conventions and ask publishing houses about current YA horror that I should have on my radar, they're not as quick to have recommendations for me as they are for other genres. Not always, of course. Sometimes they grace me with a zillion recommendations and it's love[...]
I know it's cool nowadays to talk junk about The Blair Witch Project, but anyone who say that movie when it came out knows it created an amazing sense of atmosphere, and it made being lost in the woods seem downright terrifying. I bring this up, because as I was watching The Ritual last weekend, I realized it was the first movie that captured that "lost in the woods" feeling for me since Blair Witch (although The Ruins came close, and I heartily recommend it). The Ritual combines that atmosphere of isolation with some folklore and a strong dose of H.P. Lovecraf[...]
Today is a very special day. For. One. Very. Special. Person. Editor. Author. Human. Jokester. Academic. Enthusiast. Empath. Leader. Lover of books. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERICA! Here are just a few gifts from the troops. Erica, you always know how to lift me up and somehow sense when I'm hurting. I've never met someone who has made me laugh harder, want to be better, and understood my empath side more than you. You are simply incredible, talented, and a force of nature made of beautiful words and a kind heart. Thank you for being you. To kick th[...]
Greetings, horror movie lovers. There's a new movie out. Just this month, Winchester arrived in theaters. Directed by Michael and Peter Spierig and written by the Spierigs and Tom Vaughn, the story is inspired by the legend of Sarah Winchester and the Winchester House. Of course, I took myself to see it. My fellow Midnighter The Davis Girl suggested I jot down my expectations or pre-viewing thoughts to compare with my thoughts post-viewing. I didn't have a lot of expectations, going into a book or movie I am ready to accept what the writers want t[...]
The Midnight Society likes their books a little bloody, but other bloody things are tantalizing, too. There’s something so enticing about the shiny, red liquid. Which is why, in a field of torn apart trees, I was recently kneeling to take photos. Amidst all the destruction, I had spotted blood on the ground. The ground was covered in fresh mulch and leaves. The forest had been shredded to bits. Stumps were pulled from the ground, black soil drying in clumps on their exposed roots. Devil's Tooth fungus (Hydnellum peckii) grows under forests, its myceliu[...]