Nightmares can creep into our minds in the dead of night like a cold fog or a phantom waiting to whisk us away, coming in all shapes, sizes, and forms: a cat, a dog, a car, a machine, a rat, an abusive husband, a haunted hotel, or even….a dancing clown! Only one man I know has masterfully taken the most innocent things in life and turned them into the most diabolical beasts or situations we’ve ever imagined… author Stephen King!
When it comes to classic horror novels, one may think of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, just three of the many classics from decades past. However, one author has dominated the horror genre in recent years: Stephen King. With well over 60 novels, short story and novella collections, and many other written works, Stephen King has proven to be the “Master of Horror”. With such a long list of credits, one may ask: Who is the most evil villain Stephen King has ever created?
Sometimes we talk about the past decades. We all love to reminisce about our childhood, what influenced us, and what made us happy. Some consider the 1980s their favorite decade. Bring up that decade in conversation, and people can’t wait to share their thoughts and memories of the decade that was dubbed “totally awesome”! In these conversations, many agree that the 1980s were one of the best decades for horror films.
In every generation, there comes a gifted author who not only has talent, but whose writing captures our attention immediately. From Poe to Shelley, Lovecraft, Matheson, King, Hill, and Chizmar, to name a few, we seem to be enthralled to the point that we’re anxiously awaiting more. You can add author Jonathan Janz to this impressive list, as he does just that with his latest novel, Marla.
It’s said that America’s favorite pastime is…Baseball. However, I believe one of America’s favorite pastimes, if not the favorite, is…going to the movies. For over 100 years, society has looked to the movies for entertainment, relaxation, storytelling, and, for some, an escape. There are many elements of a film that make it enjoyable: directing, acting, storytelling, special effects, and, of course, music. Music in film has taken simple stories, and in some cases, ones that may seem uninteresting, and brought them to life.
The horror genre has changed many times over the past century, especially in film, from the old black-and-white monster films of the 30s and 40s to Sci-Fi horror of the 50s and 60s to satan-themed films and box-office blockbusters of the 1970s. However, it was in 1978 when director John Carpenter released his iconic horror film, Halloween, the first mainstream slasher film. Since then, Hollywood has made a tidal wave of slasher films, reaching the heights of Halloween.
It’s challenging to take a classic fairy tale and put your own spin on it. To accomplish this task, you need a creative, unique mind. Author David Tocher has overcome this type of challenge with his new book, Moonlight Desires: A Cinderella Retelling, and has created not only a fascinating story, but one so beautifully told that you can visualize it.
Sequels in cinema have been around for decades. Sequels not only make money but also dominate the box office. In recent years, there have been a considerable number of them, coming out faster than some new film releases. Some are better than others, and some we would like to forget. Their titles tend to hint at what the film is about… beginning with catch phrases such as ‘Return of…’, ‘Revenge of…’, ‘Final Chapter..’, ‘Curse of…’ and so on. However, the very first horror sequel to have a number, not a Roman numeral, in film history is….JAWS2! How in the world could a sequel be made to the biggest and first summer blockbuster of all time….JAWS?
The 1980s…a favorite decade for many. Those who lived through it, those who came after it, all agree there is something surreal about that decade that spawned some of the most pivotal turning points in our modern times. From fashion to music, the fashion and hairstyles were unforgettable. The language that emerged in the 80s was radical, bodacious, gnarly, and, yes, totally awesome!
Ask any horror fan who their favorite horror slasher, killer, madman, or horror legend is, and you’ll get a wide variety of answers. However, you can make a Vegas bet you’ll get three names repeatedly: Jason, Freddy, and Michael. Of those three, the debate of who is the “number one best horror character of all time”, well, that’s going to be a debate as long as time itself. However, it is safe to say that the majority of the voters will say… MICHAEL MYERS!
CULT MOVIE | ||
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THE SHAPE OF WATER – Guillermo del Toro | |
DIGGER – Alejandro González Iñárritu
(English) MY SCARIEST STEPHEN KING SCENE – Richard Chizmar
(English) STILL FLOATING: 40 Years of Pennywise – Tom Deady
(English) THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE OUTRAGEOUS: 1980s Horror Cinema – Bryan Senn
(English) MARLA – Jonathan Janz
DISCLOSURE DAY – Steven Spielberg
(English) THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN FILM MUSIC 1960s -1990s – Wayne Byrne
(English) WELCOME TO ELM STREET: Inside The Film And Television Nightmares
(English) MOONLIGHT DESIRES: A CINDERELLA RETELLING – David Tocher (review & interview)
MARTY SUPREME (Josh Safdie) vs FABRIZIO CORONA – IO SONO NOTIZIA
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