Welcome to Hipsterville: SUGAR SKULL by Charles Burns
Welcome to hipsterville. If there is something that is both scary and fascinating to observe (like a train wreck) it is the activity of a hipster. Charles Burns completes his ode to the lives of hipsters gone terribly wrong in the final part of his Nitnit trilogy, “Sugar Skull.” Outside of a Stephen King novel, this new book by Burns offers up plenty to be creeped out over. Think of it as “Carrie” for the Gen X set.
Filed under Charles Burns, Comics, Generation X, Graphic Novel Reviews, graphic novels, Hipsters, Horror
“The Chair” is a great example of the offbeat horror you can find at Alterna Comics. You can read my review of the graphic novel here. Both the book and the movie project have a rabid following. A lot of people want to see this movie become a reality but we’re not there yet. Check out the Kickstarter campagin in support of this movie project right here. The campaign ends on Saturday, June 28, 2014.
Filed under Alterna Comics, Comics, Comics News, graphic novels, Horror, Kickstarter
What I love about this comic, “The Empty Man,” is how much it resembles a good fright from a nice lucid nightmare. I had a bad one just the other night. Apparently, there was this little elfin man in a sailor suit lying in a corner. I couldn’t figure out if he was dead or fast asleep. I tried to approach him but could not.
Filed under Boom! Studios, Comics, Comics Reviews, Horror
If you’re looking for some good all-ages comics that teens, and anyone for that matter, can relate to then “The Woods” is an excellent choice. Everything in a teenager’s life can seem like it could trigger the end of the world. And then, one day, that world literally ends. That’s the premise of “The Woods,” a new comic by Boom! Studios.
Filed under Boom! Studios, Comics, Comics Reviews, Horror, Sci-Fi, science fiction
“The Chair” is described on the back of the book as a “psychological thriller” and that’s exactly what it is. It’s pretty grim but it does not run off the rails into torture porn which it easily could have done so. All the elements are there: a creepy prison we always see in shadows, a series of disturbing events, a main character brought to the brink of insanity. But there is always more going on in this story than mere prison tropes. It’s an ambitious thing to attempt with such dark material but this story keeps us wondering all the way to the end.
Filed under Alterna Comics, Comics, Graphic Novel Reviews, graphic novels, Horror
There is something likable about Billy, even though he is pretty unlikable. “Billy the Pyro” is a new comic, published by Alterna Comics, that gives us a main character with an uncontrollable hunger for arson. Well, as he puts it, he just needs to see things burn. His psychiatrist can’t seem to break through. His dad would just as soon break his skull. No, it’s not good being Billy.
Filed under Alterna Comics, Comics, Comics Reviews, Horror
If you’re looking for some sophisticated horror, check out Director Roger Sewhcomar’s DO YOU LIKE MY BASEMENT? Whether you’re a horror movie purist or a casual viewer, this is a thrill ride that is sure to please. You can think of this as tapping into the spirit of suspense in such classics as PSYCHO but with a contemporary edge.
Meet Stanley Farmer, a man who only wishes to make a truly authentic horror movie. Played with devilish glee by Charlie Floyd, Farmer is a handsome, dapper fellow with a taste for blood. Part comedy of errors, part little shop of horrors, you’ll find yourself quite entertained. This is also sly social satire. Our social media brings us all together in such interesting ways.
You can read my full review here. And you can listen to my interview with the director, Roger Sewhcomar, here.
You can find it as Netflix, iTunes, and available as a DVD, at such outlets as Best Buy, as of January 21, 2014.
Filed under Horror, movies, Roger Sewhcomar
Monsters come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There are bad monsters…and there are good monsters. In this four-part Criminal Macabre story, “The Eyes of Frankenstein,” we find more than one reason to see the good in the ghoulish.
Your only price of admission is to know that Cal McDonald is a dead detective who keeps working on cases beyond death and tries to keep the streets safe from all the bad monsters out there, you know, like werewolves and vampires. Of course, there could be a bunch of good werewolves and vampires in the mix but we’re not concerning ourselves with that.
So, focus with me. The main concern here is figuring out who is killing off all the ghouls. As Cal will tell you himself, ghouls aren’t supposed to just die and it’s a pretty sad sight to see a ghoul just, well, just die and all. It’s just not natural! And then there’s the whole thing about Frankenstein popping up out of nowhere, especially since we were so concerned over the unnatural deaths of all these ghouls. What is Frankenstein doing showing up out of nowhere like that??
The reason that a twist of fate should join Frankenstein with Cal MacDonald is pretty straightforward. Frankenstein has no eyes!! I’m serious, something happened to his peepers. And it is up to Cal MacDonald to set things right. Finding new eyes for Frank is only the beginning. Whoever, or “whatever,” took his eyes is probably wrapped up in this whole ghoul killing spree too. Does this sound like a fun story, or what?
This is written by Criminal Macabre’s creator, Steve Niles, and drawn by Dark Horse powerhouse Christopher Mitten. A good story has to do with knowing when to take a moment and build it up and you’re in good hands with these guys. You will believe that ghouls can talk, feel, and even fear death.
Visit our friends at Dark Horse Comics here and pick up a copy of “Criminal Macabre: The Eyes of Frankenstein #1,” out September 25, 2013.
Filed under Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Horror
Happy Friday the 13! You are likely in a good sinister mood and so consider checking out this devilish and delightful series of horror radio shows for the digital age!
TALES FROM BEYOND THE PALE, SEASON 2 LIVE!
Launches with FREE streaming of THE CRUSH by Glenn McQuaid and CAPER by Larry Fessenden
Featuring the voice talents of Sean Young, Mark Margolis, James Le Gros and the regular TALES stable of audio artisans.
All 8 episodes available for download at TALES FROM BEYOND THE PALE right here and on Audible, iTunes and Amazon
(NEW YORK, NY—September 13th, 2013) Yearning for something suitably sinister to do this weekend? Well look no further. Prolific production outfit Glass Eye Pix (I SELL THE DEAD, STAKE LAND, THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, THE LAST WINTER) is pleased to present season two of the cult favorite TALES FROM BEYOND THE PALE, audio tales for the digital age. And to mark the occasion, they’re streaming a double bill of terror — right now, for free!
This weekend check out Glenn McQuaid’s crime suspense shocker THE CRUSH and follow it up with Larry Fessenden’s phantasmagoric heist tale CAPER in a new online listening room at TalesFromBeyondThePale.com. All eight explosive tales are also available for download in the online store and are coming this weekend to Audible, iTunes and Amazon.
Inspired by the classic radio shows of Alfred Hitchcock, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, and Orson Welles, each TALES FROM BEYOND THE PALE is chillingly brought to life by the extraordinary vocal talents of Sean Young, Vincent D’Onofrio, Mark Margolis, James Le Gros, Michael Cerveris, Kate Lyn Sheil, and Jonny Orsini, to name just a few.
Hosted by Glass Eye Pix CEO Larry Fessenden, each thirty-minute episode is written and directed by one of today’s horror auteurs including Joe Maggio (BITTER FEAST), Clay McLeod Chapman (HENLEY), Jeff Buhler (THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN), Ashley Thorpe (THE HAIRY HANDS), Kim Newman (ANNO DRACULA), Glenn McQuaid (I SELL THE DEAD), Simon Barrett (YOU’RE NEXT), and Larry Fessenden (BENEATH).
Conceived during a fog-drenched car ride by Fessenden and frequent collaborator Glenn McQuaid (I SELL THE DEAD, V/H/S), TALES continues the mission at Glass Eye Pix to celebrate and elevate individual voices in the arts and to bring the vast palette of moods that comprises the horror story to fans everywhere.
For more information and the latest news, please visit http://www.talesfrombeyondthepale.com Follow on twitter: @talesbeyond
Filed under Entertainment, Horror, Radio
Jaime Murray and Will Payne in FRIGHT NIGHT 2: NEW BLOOD
Eduardo Rodriguez is the director of the latest “Fright Night” movie and it’s really good. “Fright Night 2: New Blood” has style and a nice mix of horror and humor. I had the opportunity to talk with Rodriguez about his career, horror movies, and even what he’s currently reading. We also chatted about Jaime Murray, who plays the professor with an evil secret in “Fright Night 2: New Blood.” Was it just me, or was I onto something when I suggested that Jaime Murray would make an excellent Lisa in a remake of “Weird Science”? Rodriguez agrees with me, Murray would make a great Lisa. And, just so we’re clear, there will be a remake of this John Hughes classic.
Kelly LeBrock and Anthony Michael Hall in WEIRD SCIENCE
Back to our subject, Eduardo Rodriguez has made some very cool movies with an intense vibe to them, like “Stash House,” “The Messengers,” and “El Gringo.” It is safe to say that he has a taste for action, horror, and the offbeat. It is a treat to get to listen to him relate his student days and then compare that to being a professional. And it’s fun to listen to a pro praise something current like, “The Conjuring.” Clearly, he comes across as someone who loves a good story. And it was nice to have him share with us what he’s currently reading, “Unwelcome Bodies,” by Jennifer Pelland.
UNWELCOME BODIES by Jennifer Pelland
Rodriguez has come a long way in his career. He advises those in film school to cherish their time in school since those days don’t come back. He sounds quite happy with where he is now. It does look like he has a great career ahead of him. I went back and discovered one of the movies that Rodriguez worked on, “The Messengers.” That has got to be a very scary movie. I have yet to see it and will need to get back to you on it. Here’s a trailer:
Here is a link to the full interview:
“Fright Night 2: New Blood” arrives on DVD and Blu-ray on October 1. You can read my review here.
Filed under Eduardo Rodriquez, Horror, movies, Vampires
