Feature Article

Long-time fans of horror films likely can’t shake the shock from seeing “cannibal zombie entertainment” find mainstream acceptance. Decades ago, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead pulled in well over $5 million during its original 1968 theatrical run, yet few production companies took a change releasing an equally violent copycat. It wasn’t until 1974 that a creepy film …

The opening sequence of Alligator (1980) brings audiences to Florida to watch a man lose a wrestling match – and almost his foot – to an alligator. The spectacle prompts an announcer to say, ”Sometimes the alligators win.” Hardboiled and burned-out police officer David Madison could substitute many words for “alligator” in that statement, and the sentiment wouldn’t change much. …

Welcome back for part 2 of our expedition into that emerald green hell known as the rainforest. This leg of our journey is equal parts arthouse and grindhouse. Each of these films in some part helped shape my novel Primeval Waters. We’ll kick it off with an overlooked nail biter from the director of The Exorcist. Missed Part 1? Click …

Scholars say there are four primary conflicts in literature—man vs. nature, man vs. man, man vs. self and man vs. God. Well, no backdrop better combines all these elements than the Amazon Rainforest—an untamed jungle populated with hostile tribes where all of God’s creatures are out to devour you, if your own fear and ignorance doesn’t kill you first. That’s …

Cinephile loner Eric Binford is not Cody Jarrett, the iconic cinematic gangster James Cagney portrayed in White Heat (1949), but Binford thinks he’s Jarrett. Binford’s love interest Marilyn O’Connor is not Marilyn Monroe, although she becomes the late star in Binford’s mind. Real-life is not a movie, yet Binford can’t tell the difference. Tragedies result when Binford’s warped fantasies disrupt …

Key Ingredients for an Unforgettable Killer in Slasher Horror By Alexandrea Weis

To me, the characters that appear in a horror film can make or break the movie in general. If you like the characters and want them to survive, then chances are you will enjoy the film that they appear in. On the other hand, if you could care less about the characters and just want them to get killed off …

What Makes a Ghostly Tale Horrifying? By Alexandrea Weis For many, their first introduction to the horror genre isn’t the slasher that hides under the bed or the disturbed boy next door who plays with his collection of rat skeletons. It’s a ghost story. One in five Americans have encountered a spirit, and even more believe they exist. Despite the …

Movies, particularly horror movies, let’s discuss. I wasn’t sure if I would make a “List” but I wanted to acknowledge some of the films I was able to review or watch as a writer. There were a few films, web series, anthologies, and SHUDDER, could we just say THANK YOU, SHUDDER. A few films that stood out this year. We …

Movie: The Exorcist (1973) – Questions and Answers The next film in the unholy Hollywood trilogy comes from director William Friedkin, which incidentally celebrates its 45th anniversary in December, a film that still cares many, and leaves them wondering if the Demon/Satan won and the exorcism failed, well that question finds itself included as well as many others. Therefore, grab …

With Halloween just around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to watch some horror movies. And what better way to watch horror than to binge-watch a series set on exploring the conventions of different generations of horror films? R.L. Stine’s Fear Street trilogy is the perfect representation of the horror film industry from the classic ‘70s films all …

Welcome back to Part 2 of our Halloween inspired “Songs from the Crypt,” playlist, though I think these songs are winners any day of the year. We’ll kick things off with a semi mainstream number and let things get weirder from there.  Zevon’s “Werewolves of London,” is a mainstay of Halloween playlists and drunken sporting events, but for my money …

Halloween always means tons of candy, horror movie marathons, naughty nurse costumes, and, of course, holiday song lists. These “horror rock” rundowns usually put “Don’t Fear the Reaper” and “Pet Semetary” near the top, alongside a parade of Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie tunes. But, to shake things up, I’ve hit the vinyl boneyard to unearth a few …

Happy Halloween and Happy October. So, it’s been Halloween for me since maybe July? Okay, probably sooner, but don’t judge. I love summer, and I love sunshine but I do love Halloween. It’s spooky season and everybody loves a good scary movie, or a good show. You can find quite a few movies on apps like Tubi and Crackle. You …

It’s time to load the crossbows and unleash the hounds for Part 2 of The Most Overplayed Game. We’re running down the endless parade of Most Dangerous Game knockoffs. After that we’ll jump in the Hum Vee for a real-life human safari. Hard Target (1993) Director John Woo’s English language debut suffered from star Jean-Claude Van Damme’s creative interference, including …