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The Crown's Emerald Fennell on Playing Camilla, and Why Life as a Royal Sounds "Horrifying"
"There's something about making her a ray of sunshine—as best as I can. I'm not naturally a ray of sunshine."
By Chloe Foussianes
Des WillieNetflix
There's something different about Camilla. From the moment The Crown introduces the future Duchess, she has a quality that sets her apart from everyone else onscreen. In the hands of writer, performer, and director Emerald Fennell, Camilla takes on a confidence akin to that of a Princess Anne or a Princess Margaret, but stripped of their entitlement—and their titles.
"She's nosy, and she's honest, and she's very open about how deeply weird she finds the whole thing," Fennell laughs. "I think for Charles, that is just unbelievably thrilling." Until it's not. In the show, after learning of Camilla's ongoing interest in Andrew Parker Bowles, the Queen Mother and Lord Mountbatten step in to separate her from Prince Charles. The formidable duo stops just short of strong-arming Camilla down the aisle with Andrew.
As royal watchers well know, that won't be the last we see of Fennell's Camilla. The years ahead for her on The Crown won't be easy, as the show enters into the era of her and Charles's highly-publicized affair. But Fennell has experience handling women in crisis.
Most recently, she stepped into the showrunner role for BBC America's hit Killing Eve, picking up where Phoebe Waller-Bridge had left it at the end of season one: with the titular Eve having just stabbed her nemesis-slash-maybe-love-interest, Villanelle, while they were curled up together in bed. In Fennell's scripts (as with Waller-Bridge's), Eve and Villanelle share a relationship more profoundly messed up than Charles and Camilla could ever hope to have. Killing Eve taps into Fennell's self-avowed fascination with horror, which she often explores in her children's novels, and will take center stage in Promising Young Woman, the forthcoming Carey Mulligan-lead film written and directed by Fennell.
In spite of all this, she's still best known to audiences as Patsy in Call the Midwife, a decidedly above-board series (unless you consider birth a form of body horror). Still, as Fennell well knows, terror can lurk in unexpected places—and as The Crown's Camilla will come to learn, just existing as a royal "is horrifying."
Here, Fennell opens up about playing the divisive figure, the idea of Camilla watching herself depicted on The Crown, and the curious lack of axe murderers among the Windsors' ranks.
Fennell on the set of Killing Eve.
Aimee Spinks/BBCAmerica
If the future king invited you to a dinner date at the palace, how do you think you'd handle it?
I would probably handle it the same way that Camilla did, which is wear a skirt that's too short, trip up the stairs, and then spend the whole time underlining the colossal weirdness of the whole thing.
I actually don't think I'd go. I think I'd be too nervous to go. I mean, I might go just to steal an ashtray, but that would be about it for me.
I understand that early on, you told your agent that you were interested in playing Camilla. What was it that drew you to the role?
I think it's the public perception of her. The perception that is in the press seemed to be very much at odds with who she actually seemed to be.
I'm just very interested in playing someone whose personal reflection of themselves—and who they are—is very at odds with with the character that's been created for them by someone else.
There's been a lot of interest recently in retelling the stories of women who were vilified by the press. Do you think Camilla's story in The Crown falls into that category at all?
I think even in one episode you go a big way between being clearly sympathetic to quite cross with these characters, and it's interesting... I just didn't know [Charles and Camilla] had been together before the affair, and it kind of reframed everything. I mean it's really difficult, because the collateral damage of what happened with that affair was obviously catastrophic for everyone involved. And I think everyone has their part to play in it, really.
The thing is, with The Crown, we are dealing with like a fictionalized version of this family. And I think, really, my job is to just look at the Camilla that [showrunner] Peter [Morgan] writes and make her real... I don't think there's an agenda that he has in mind; I think he just likes to play it very straight, in a way.
Prince Charles (Josh O'Connor) and Camilla Shand (Emerald Fennell) in The Crown.
How would you describe the Camilla that Peter Morgan wrote?
Oh, I would say fun. I think certainly acts before she thinks. Kind of sensitive. I think there's a very particular type of British woman, who is happy in the country, chain-smoking, hard drinking. You know, always kind of looking to have a laugh.
And I think that that's such an unusual character for this show. It's categorically the opposite of everything [the royal family is] allowed to be. They have to be thoughtful and reticent and quiet... They aren't really allowed to talk.
The thing about, certainly this Camilla, is she's nosy, and she's honest, and she's very open about how deeply weird she finds the whole thing. I think for Charles, that is just unbelievably thrilling. I don't think he's met anyone like that.
And the Camilla that you played? How did you physically express her character?
There's an interesting thing about an empathetic person. So, someone like Camilla tends to listen with her whole face, which was kind of an interesting thing. So her eyes, she's very engaged, miming, nodding, kind of with people. That was really useful.
She's also lot looser than a lot of period drama characters we see. You know, she's smoking at the bar, but she is running around... The thing I keep going back to was that she head girl of her school, and she was really, really popular, a debutante. She's one of those people who's got a physical presence, and naturally people gravitate towards.
There's something about making her a ray of sunshine—as best as I can. I'm not naturally a ray of sunshine.
Fennell's portrayal of Camilla (left), compared with the real-life Duchess of Cornwall (right).
Getty / Netflix
Obviously you have a lot of experience on the other side of the camera as well, and writing for TV. How is it different trying to realize someone else's script as opposed to creating your own?
I've been saying for a long time that it doesn't feel like too much of a different thing. But I mean, the really good this is Peter Morgan is just an extraordinary genius, really.
It doesn't sound like you were adding a lot of notes to the script or anything.
Oh no. Oh God! Never ever.
You've previously mentioned you were a little anxious for the show to come out. Was there anything in particular about it that made you antsy?
I don't know, actually, because I think that what's really lovely about this show is that it's really fair to everyone. I think it's a function of the show itself—it's such a phenomenon, and I'm actually quite private. What's so lovely, though, is that the cast is so big and so brilliant. It feels like such a collaborative thing, and there are so many of us, so maybe that has been less scary than I thought.
But, especially when it's a show that everyone loves so much, you feel a responsibility to do an extra good job. Because you don't want to be the person who's coming to Buckingham Palace and painting the walls bright pink.
It's been reported before that the real Camilla watches the show—
Oh, really? Uh-oh.
Camilla Shand (Emerald Fennell) marries Andrew Parker Bowles (Andrew Buchan) in The Crown.
Des Willie / Netflix
How would you feel about Camilla watching you play her?
I do think that Peter's vision—and all of our portrayals, as actors—they tend to be even-handed and fair. The thing is, I'm sure anyone watching a fictionalized version of themselves would be like, "That's not right!" I'm sure if someone acted everything that I did yesterday, to a perfect degree, I'd be like, "I didn't say that!" So I think it would be weird to watch anyone play you.
But I don't think I would take a job, even a fictionalized [role], if I felt that somebody would be unhappy with what I had done.
What other royal would you like to play?
I'd want to play someone really scary. I think there was a kind of amazing Eastern European Queen who bathed in virgin blood. I think I'd go for that. A real terror.
I read something you wrote about your interest in horror. I'm guessing that's not something you get to explore much on The Crown?
I mean it sort of depends, doesn't it? I think, certainly, living in the royal family is horrifying, probably. It's very, very difficult. And what's so brilliant about this show is it's dealing with people who are living with immense privilege and wealth and every trapping that could ever exist. And I think what's so clear is the price that that comes with. For lots of us who get to live a normal life, it does seem quite frightening. The scrutiny that they're under.
As far as I know, there are very few axe murderers. But you know, we can't be sure.
You never know what's lurking in the past.
You never know.
The Crown's Josh O'Connor Is Still a Republican
Why Prince Charles Wasn't Allowed to Marry Camilla
Camilla Shand's Wedding to Andrew Parker Bowles
Chloe Foussianes News Writer Chloe is a News Writer for Townandcountrymag.com, where she covers royal news, from the latest additions to Meghan Markle's staff to Queen Elizabeth's monochrome fashions; she also writes about culture, often dissecting TV shows like The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Killing Eve.
More From The Crown
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Why Camilla Doesn't Go By 'Princess of Wales'


The different types of ballroom dance are a fantasy for most of us because they look romantic from afar, and in recent years, they are no longer just an old art form.
New and exciting dance steps have upgraded the good old ballroom dancing. If you are planning on learning and getting to know the easiest ballroom dance to learn, we are here to help.
Whether you are planning to perform a dance sequence on your wedding or any other important event of your life, or you want to start your professional ballroom dancing career, there are a few things to remember.
Firstly, identify the different types of ballroom dance correctly. This is the best way to realize which ballroom dance is easiest for you. The numerous dancing styles have their own pros and cons.
Relax your body and let the music and its rhythm flow through it before you even take your first step. Familiarize yourself with the beat of the music.
Learning to dance is just like any other fun activity, so don't overburden yourself with competitive thoughts. Let it come to you naturally.
Follow your dance teacher with your eyes and focus on their movement. Ask questions when you feel the need.
Look closely at the posture and movements required for the dance.
Repeat the steps in front of a mirror because this will build your confidence.
As what they always say, practice makes you perfect or master skills so can be said for ballroom dancing.
Jive is a fast variation of the swing dance that got popular in the 1930s and was introduced by Cab Calloway.
He was an American dancer and singer who loved the happy and energetic dance moves required by jive. This is a great dance style for young and energetic individuals.
Jive is a sassy ballroom dance that will get you going, and you will definitely enjoy its steps.
The footwork is tricky starting from the left foot and then moving one foot behind the other foot and lifting the front foot up. This is called the rock step.
Next, you need to perform triple-foot action, moving from left to right which is called chasse movement.
End with the rock step.
The hand movement of the partner changes as they move to and fro.
History tells us that foxtrot was introduced in 1910. It is a slowly progressive ballroom dance that is easy to learn for beginners, especially since it has simple steps.
Start with your left foot and walk two steps forward.
Pause and take a quick step to your left.
Repeat the first step in forwarding motion.
The steps work in opposite order for the female, and the dance starts with backward motion and right foot.
You really don't have to be the perfect dancer to perform waltz, and that is what makes it even effortless.
Derived from the German language, waltz means to roll or glide along. Originated from Austria, this dance is now widely accepted and performed all over the world.
You might not know this, but waltz has been massively criticized. Professional dancers disliked it because it lacked any complicated dance movements or postures and was simple to learn; thus, ending business for them.
Religious figures also considered it obscene and vulgar due to the closed position of partners.
Starting off, you have to move forward with one foot and then bring the other foot forward.
Then move to the right.
Now move backward in a similar pattern and then step to the left.
In case you are looking forward to some flirty ballroom dancing, Rumba is more of your style.
It is an incredibly romantic dance form with slow movements that are easy for the newbies.
Originating from Cuban dances, it is perfect for the bride and groom at the wedding.
Start with most of your weight on the left foot and then sway to the right side.
Then bring the right foot in.
Change weight from the left foot to the right foot once.
Now end with bringing the left foot back to starting position and then bring the right foot in.
Now shift weight between the right and the left leg.
Cha Cha is a Cuban ballroom dance that generated from mambo and danzon dance styles.
When the dancers' feet touch the ground, they make a funny noise like Cha Cha, and that was how the dance form was named.
Move to your side with the left foot.
Glide the right foot to the left foot.
Quickly move the right foot behind the left foot by taking a step backward.
Now bring the right foot forward and take a triple step as you sway your hips from side to side.
Now take a step forward and sway your hips thrice.
Take a step back and sway your hips thrice and come back to the starting position.
Now that you have grasped the basics of the easiest ballroom dance to learn, making a decision is simple.
Choose a dance form that you connect with whether it is the sensual rumba or the more classic waltz.
Relax and enjoy the music as you sway with your partner and glide along the floor confidently.
Remember, it comes naturally, and the more relaxed you are, the easier it will be to dance impeccably.


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R.I.P. (Read In Pieces)— Here Lies the Full Film Review Archive
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Tagged Lucio Fulci
[The Twisted Parallels of Cinema] Edition #13: American Horror Story (Vol. IV)
The latest edition of Twisted Parallels looks at visual references found in American Horror Story's "Apocalypse" & "Cult."
Words: Father Gore
Clown Mask
Marshell Herff Applewhite
Neon Cross
[The Twisted Parallels of Cinema] Edition #3
Edition #3 looks at some great horror v. non-horror comparisons + some popular horror paralleling each other.
Antonia Bird
Cinematic Parallels
Movie Frames
Mr. Smiley
Father Gore's October Recommendations – Vol. 4: Supernatural
A supernatural feast fit to make any Halloween season movie marathon real freaky
Amando de Ossorio
Amityville II
Horror Movie Recommendations
Night of the Seagulls
Starry Eyes
American Horror Story – Coven, Episode 5: "Burn, Witch. Burn!"
FX's American Horror Story
Season 3, Episode 5: "Burn, Witch. Burn!"
Directed by Jeremy Podeswa
Written by Jennifer Sharzer
* For a review of the previous episode, "Fearful Pranks Ensue" – click here
* For a review of the next episode, "The Axeman Cometh" – click here
This episode begins back when Madame LaLaurie (Kathy Bates) brings a possible suitor for her daughter through a nasty little chamber of horrors, featuring real eyeballs, bloody entrails and such. While the big party rages on, her own flesh and blood are plotting to get out from underneath the wretched reign of their mother. Borquita LaLaurie (Jennifer Lynn Warren) and her sisters are brought to the place where the slaves are caged up and tortured. Mama LaLaurie promises to let them out: next year.
Cut back to current day. LaLaurie is seeing her own daughters, risen from the grave, banging at the door. Inside, Nan (Jamie Brewer), Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe), Luke (Alexander Dreymon), and Zoe (Taissa Farmiga) try to keep them out.
We can't forget, poor Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) was attacked with acid, right in the face, while she and Fiona (Jessica Lange) were out having drinks. I feel as if Cordelia's whole acid burned clouded eye look is Lucio Fulci-esque; anyone agree?
At the hospital, the doctor tells Fiona her daughter is blind, her face is scarred. Nothing we couldn't have already anticipated.
But the main problem is back at the school, where the zombies shamble more and more towards everyone inside. Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett), meanwhile, is levitating and doing some crazy shit to conjure up the undead hordes. Furthermore, a couple young dudes wander onto the lawn of the witches school, and Luke is out trying to reason with the zombies. SO much happening. Brave Nan tries her best to help Luke, too.
At the same time, Fiona is wandering around in the hospital on an especially dismal, grim floor. A patient wanders by and mumbles: "You didn't throw the acid but you might as well have." Then Fiona finds her way into a room where a woman had a stillborn child. All the guilt of her life tumbles down, right on top of her. She makes the woman hold her baby, and conjures up the life inside it again. It's a strange yet touching moment. While Fiona's daughter is blinded, scarred for life, this woman has a fresh start, her daughter allowed new life. Fiona's done too much damage to her own daughter, at the very least she can give another woman a new one.
Zoe helps lure the zombies away from Nan and Luke, cowering in a smashed up car, but backs herself into a corner. In the house, Spalding (Denis O'Hare) helps get Queenie settled away. Downstairs, LaLaurie confronts her dead daughter Borquita face-to-face, or rotted face to living face. It's a sad scene, even as terrible as Delphine was before immortality and all that followed. Borquita, the walking dead, doesn't care either way. She attacks and chokes her mother. Upstairs, zombies keep pressing towards Spalding, then Queenie. Though in the end, LaLaurie saves the day somehow, fire poker-ing the corpse to (its second) death.
Managing to get her hands on a chainsaw, Zoe cuts through a ton of the zombies, saving Nan and Luke. Too much zombie guts and juice in the chain, so the thing goes dead at the worst time. But all of a sudden Zoe hauls out a strange sort of spell, a strong one, knocking Marie Laveau out of whack and stopping the march of the corpses.
When Cordelia finally wakes up, she has a further sight, despite losing that of her eyes. Husband Hank (Josh Hamilton) touches her hand, and Cordelia sees all his indiscretions.
All the corpses are burned, things are being put back together at the witch house. Worst of all, the Council has arrived once more. Quentin Fleming (Leslie Jordan), Cecily Pembroke (Robin Bartlett) and Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy) show up to unseat Fiona from her title of Supreme. Clearly things have unraveled, to the furthest degree. However, Fiona has things to say. She believes the one who blinded Cordelia was Myrtle. What? Seriously, Fiona? I'm more inclined to believe she's off her rocker right now, than to see Myrtle as a murderer. Especially once Fiona starts dropping information about Myrtle being in town before anyone else knew, about Myrtle hiding in a motel under a false name. Fiona reveals Myrtle's hand: burned, presumably from the acid used on Cordelia.
So the witch shall be burned! "Right Place, Wrong Time" by Dr. John plays as Myrtle is lead to the stake, the entire coven along to watch. Then Fiona tosses the last of her cigarette, igniting her old rival into a flaming pillar. Nasty, brutal way to go. Did she really disfigure Cordelia? Or is it more Supreme magic on Fiona's part?
We find out quickly it was Queenie who helped Fiona – some voodoo doll type stuff. Queenie keeps seeing Myrtle burning, smelling it on the air. She obviously is traumatised by Fiona's violent ruling of their coven. The older witch convinces Queenie that she could possibly be the next Supreme, putting ideas in her head. I can venture to say this is more of her fiendishness. She needs others along for the ride in order to get the mean deeds done.
In other news around the weird house, Spalding sprays down his room a good deal. In the treasure chest still sits Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts), long dead, rotting away. In fact, trying to pull her out Spalding tears an arm clean off.
Speaking of corpses, Misty Day (Lily Rabe) finds the charred remains of Myrtle at the stake. She lays hands on her, and the eyes come alive.
Myrtle's back!
Next episode is titled "The Axeman Cometh".
DEATH TO VIDEODROME - LONG LIVE THE NEW FLESH!
Denis O'Hare
The House by the Cemetery: Victorian Era Scientific Basement Horrors
The House by the Cemetery. 1981. Directed by Lucio Fulci. Screenplay by Lucio Fulci/Giorgio Mariuzzo/Dardano Sacchetti, from a story by Elisa Livia Briganti.
Starring Catriona MacColl, Paolo Malco, Anioa Pieroni, Giovannia Frezza, Silvia Collatina, Dagmar Lassander, Giovanni De Nava, Daniela Dora, Gianpaolo Saccarola and Carlo De Mejo. Fulvia Film. Rated R. 87 minutes.
★★★1/2
I came to Lucio Fulci about ten years ago, after seeing City of the Living Dead. His classic look, the effects, an insanely nasty sense of style – how could I not enjoy his films? After that one, I found The Beyond, which is tied with A Lizard in a Woman's Skin as my favourite of his work. So I made my way through everything by him I could find. Though his movies aren't perfect, I find them perfect for me, for horror. They're not full of grand metaphor, they aren't even particularly complex in plot. What Fulci offers is a visually pleasing aesthetic, crossed with the brutal qualities of his own personal horror movie madness.
The House by the Cemetery isn't his best, though, it's nowhere near his worst. While many might have you believe it's overrated, or that it's "typical Fulci", I say that's nonsense. Especially those who think it's "typical" of him – what's wrong with typical Fulci? He's a classic horror filmmaker, his style is all his own. Added to that, there are always solid gore effects, you can count on that. This film has all the earmarks of Fulci with a bit of inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft and other sources.
Essentially, this is Fulci's version of the haunted house horror.
Norman and Lucy Boyle (Paolo Malco/Catriona MacColl), along with their young boy Bob (Giovanni Frezza), move into a home belonging to a colleague of Norman's who committed suicide; he plans on researching the house itself, as well as the other previous owners. Soon enough, Bob sees a young girl named Mae (Silvia Collatina), but only he can see her. She tries to warn him of the danger in the house. No one will believe him, certainly not his mother. Eventually a woman comes to take the position of babysitter for Bob – Ann (Ania Pieroni) shows up out of nowhere for the job.
Things slowly get scarier in the old house, as Norma and Lucy discover a Dr. Freudstein once lived in their new home, around the turn of the century. He was a Victorian era doctor who performed illegal surgeries and experiments. This leads to more gruesome discoveries around the property, as the past comes alive and tears its way into the present.
When the movie's filmed in English, yet still dubbed in post-production for some odd reason, you can't expect it to be an outright masterpiece. Can you? No. So, when you watch The House by the Cemetery I'm not saying you'll be blown away by all the technical aspects. Nor am I saying the story makes perfect and complete sense. Not in the slightest. What I am saying is that Fulci manages to do excitingly eerie things with atmosphere, as well as the fact he does his best to include some proper gore to wet the whistle of all those gore hounds out there.
My favourite part of this film is that atmosphere. The overall tone is grim. There's something common to Fulci, I think. Every movie feels hopeless, not an ounce of actual happiness and figurative light manages to make its way into these stories he tells. Which is perfect for horror, and why I'm always inclined to enjoy so many of his films. The House by the Cemetery has the pretense of having those happier moments in the beginning, but the immediacy in Fulci's presentation of the horror going on inside the house sets the tone quickly. It reminds me of how George Romero starts Day of the Dead with that neat, brief little dream sequence; sets us on edge from the start, almost like a visual manifesto. From there, Fulci works on us with his imagery alongside an unusual and exciting score from Walter Rizzati. The aesthetic of the film is, again, very Fulci.
I mean, even the scene where Norman (Paolo Malco) gets attacked by a bat becomes something intensely horrific. It latches onto his hand for what seems like ages. Finally, after a tough wrestle with it as everyone watches in horror, Norman stabs the things, blood pumping everywhere. The mark it leaves is savage. Such a normal event like finding a bat in the basement – something which happens plenty to people around the world – transforms into the stuff of nightmares. Such is the power of Fulci. He doesn't have to be doing anything extraordinary in terms of plot or story in order to make things interesting, or in this case pretty nasty.
I've seen a lot of people complain about the story, like the plot is completely nonsensical. Not sure why so many complaints. There's not much going on here to really need to comprehend. It's a haunted house style horror movie, there are reanimated corpses in the house – chaos and supernatural terror ensue. What's so tough to get? Not saying that everything is tied up into neat little packages and the screenplay rounds off every edge it fashions. But seriously – I don't get the labels of incoherent other reviews have put out there. Does not make sense. There's a surreal nature to this creepy house of Fulci's, I feel The House by the Cemetery is like a fever dream full of haunting images. As I said earlier, this is like the past meets the present. The visceral entities of the house's past come alive to keep taking lives, to keep Dr. Freudstein in business and corpses for experimentation, surely. Is that not the whole point? Just can't get my head around why people feel the need to criticize Fulci here when the movie isn't trying to be anything more than it is: a creepfest with nasty kills and a grim tone.
Despite all my love for this Lucio Fulci film, I do find a lot of the acting – aside from Catriona MacColl who is always fabulous – pretty damn bothersome, and tiring most of the time. Regardless, I still say this is a 3.5 out of 5 star horror movie. It's got a nice dose of gore, the typically awesome and gnarly horror expected of Fulci. Not only that, the story is creepy enough to keep things going; no matter what people say about its supposed incoherence. Mainly, it's just not an overly complex plot or anything. It has the goods to satisfy a haunted house movie craving, on top of that the blood and vicious bits will keep the hounds at bay. Not Fulci's top horror, but like I said it's light years away from being the worst. This is a good flick for Halloween and it's a generally good one to take in if you're getting into Fulci, or if you're into him and have yet to see it because of Negative Nancies and Davie Downers saying this is overrated, or yadda yadda whatever else they say. Judge for yourself! Let me know what you think in the comments, I'd love to hear other perspectives, as long as you're civil – then this Dude abides.
Dardano Sacchetti
The House by the Cemetery
A Lizard in a Woman's Skin
Catriona MacColl
City of the Living Dead
Dr. Freudstein
Elisa Briganti
Giorgio Mariuzzo
H.P Lovecraft
Paolo Malco
Reanimated Corpses
Living Dead Halloween Horror Marathon
Without going for too many of the obvious choices, I wanted to come up with another list of horror for the Halloween season.
Opting to go with anything from traditional zombies to the Romero zombie to infection films and so on, there should be something for everybody on this list. Maybe the more seasoned horror veterans out there have seen just about all of these. But I'm hoping those of you out there looking for a few good flicks to indulge during the lead-up to Halloween might get a good new scare for yourselves and find something new.
These aren't in any kind of order, just in a list. I'm not saying these are all my favourites either, though, I'll let you know which ones I love most.
Nightmare City (1980)
For a full review, click here.
This Umberto Lenzi classic is the genesis for fast zombies. It's been said already – the remake of Romero's Dawn of the Dead? Would never have been without Lenzi. Sure, someone would have made zombies fast in a cool way, but I still think Zack Snyder owes a ton to Lenzi's film. There's something about this one that will get you from the star. Immediately, there's a sense of chaos, and then the streets are flowing the undead, moving at a face past, fighting the living.
When it comes to zombie films, fast or not, Nightmare City packs the goods. This is a real great movie to put on and watch with a few people or a big group, as you'll be hooting and hollering at some of the undead action going down under direction of a master like Lenzi.
It's hard to pick a favourite out of George A. Romero's films, even considering his others outside of the Dead films; The Crazies and Martin are both pretty excellent, more so the latter, and Creepshow is a wonderful collaboration between him and Stephen King.
But honestly, even above the two previously amazing films, Day of the Dead is my favourite of Romero's zombie work. There's something truly dystopian for me above this one. As always, the plot keeps things claustrophobic, even worse the characters are in an underground military base. The best, though, is Bub – Romero introduces a zombie who has essentially been taught, like a primitive human or an animal, to respond and do things more than just eat brains. And if you look at the progression of Romero's zombie series, include Land of the Dead and how active the zombies become there, I find there's a lot to enjoy. Plus, you get cool imagery, a great colour scheme as is always the case with Romero, and lots of zombie goodness.
City of the Living Dead (1980)
Lucio Fulci will often turn up on any horror list I make. Not because I think his films are all the best made, though some I think are fucking incredible, but mostly it's because Fulci swings for the fences on just about horror film he's made.
In City of the Living Dead there are a bunch of practical horror effects which are going to blow your face off. While I don't think this is one of Fulci's best, I do feel it has some of his wildest blood and gore.
From throwing up internal organs, priests committing suicide and dead babies, to heads being torn apart or heads being subjected to power drills, this is one zombie flick you'll most certainly want to watch around Halloween. Any time you look out and see kids roaming the streets on the 31st, it's always creepy in a way. After this Fulci film, it might look even creepier.
From a screenplay by Ronald Shusett and Dan O'Bannon (particularly of Alien fame), Gary Sherman crafts a pretty unique and horrific film which you can definitely consider one of the living dead variety.
In a small New England town, Potter's Bluff, visitors seem to be continually murdered and Sheriff Gillis (James Farentino) is trying to get to the bottom of it. Unaware the other townsfolk have an idea about what's been happening, Gillis may or may not survive the events transpiring in his own little jurisdiction.
To say a whole lot more than the simple plot synopsis would do you, the viewer, a disservice. Ultimately I'll say only this – Dead and Buried has a wonderfully dreadful atmosphere, like a bad nightmare torn out of The Twilight Zone, and there is a classic type of feel to the film which makes it feel almost at home amongst William Castle flicks and the Hammer Horror catalogue at times. Perfect for a bunch of friends, but it does have a nice plot so it isn't only horror-tainment; it also has some horror teeth with a solid script, full of dread and terror.
Shock Waves (1977)/ Dead Snow (2009)/ Blood Creek (2009)
This is honestly a pretty gnarly triple feature. A lot of people would tell you Dead Snow is the only real great movie out of these three. Me? Oh, I'd disagree with that.
First, Shock Waves takes us to an island where Peter Cushing plays a former SS Commander out of Nazi Germany, in charge of a troop of aquatic zombies. There's lots of madness on the island, lots of almost gothic-like stuff going on.
You can never go wrong with Cushing in a horror, for me anyways. He is classic. Here bringing some of that class to a Nazi zombie movie, a precursor to the next film – Dead Snow.
A newer Nazi zombie flick out of Norway, this one sees a group of friends on Easter vacation in the mountains at a cabin; unfortunately, they run afoul of some buried Nazi troops who are more than happy to unfreeze, come back from the dead, and lay siege to the cabin and the unsuspecting friends.
This is a happily, unapologetically gory film, tons of splatter, blood everywhere. But it's not one of those types of horror movies where it starts to get boring, because who doesn't want to see Nazis die? Only Nazis, one could imagine. So get your fill here with tons of nasty horror kills.
Next up is another Nazi horror, though, in a vastly different vein. Blood Creek, also known as Town Creek, did not make an impact in theatres on a limited release, it hasn't particularly enthused a lot of others since. But I thought it was a nice bit of fun. Featuring Prison Break's Dominic Purcell and Superman himself Henry Cavill as brothers out for revenge, as well as an incredibly low key and make-up'd Michael Fassbender (of whom I've been a big fan for a while), this is mostly a good popcorn romp in the horror genre, with a nice dose of Nazis to boot. Fassbender plays a Nazi officer who was dispatched to track down ancient runes, eventually becoming a nearly immortal, terrible and undead monster whose entire being consists of consuming human blood, and other creepy, nasty, Nazi business. Don't expect director Joel Schumacher to do anything hugely innovative, but throw this one on after the others to give a different spin on the Nazi living dead sub-genre.
I honestly recommend this as a triple feature. You would not regret it, especially if you're looking for a group movie night!
[REC] (2007)/ [REC]2 (2009)
For a full review of [Rec], click here.
These are subtitled Spanish films, so those who don't dig on that may want to move on. Though, I stress as I usually do: if you only watch English language movies, you're not doing yourself as a filmgoer justice. Horror has some amazing stuff going on in other countries.
Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza take the found footage sub-genre and horrified audiences with their infection horror film [Rec] which takes us inside a fire station with a news crew, on a night when they're called to an apartment building where all hell breaks loose; inside, an epidemic begins. The second film [Rec]2 begins straight after the events of the first, taking a GEO team inside the same apartment building in order to combat the infected humans that are beginning to swarm the entire building and threaten to turn the whole city into a massive horde of infection. But it turns out there aren't only the interest of police and medical authorities at play, as the Vatican has their hand in things.
Both of these movies do found footage proper justice. So many of the low budget efforts in this sub-genre come out terrible, while only a small number are excellent and more importantly effective; these two movies are in the latter category. Amping up on suspense and tension, Balagueró and Plaza really grind home the terror from beginning to end. There's a lot of scary moments and the zombies/infected are creepy as all hell! Love the blood and gore here, as well as the jump scares; I don't often say that, but the jumps here aren't cheap, they're the result of good atmosphere and tension, as I mentioned before. Great movies. More for a solo viewing, or just a pair; you don't need a crowd talking a bit here and there during these, ruins the mood. But you'd be wise to do a double feature viewing on these two movies – awesome continuity and you'll get your fill of zombified mayhem.
Return of the Living Dead (1985)
More Dan O'Bannon, this time he's directing.
Honestly, if you're a horror-comedy fan (I'm actually not a huge one) and you don't know or enjoy Return of the Living Dead, I don't know what's going on with you. I mean, this is just about the perfect marriage of zombie horror and hilariously foolish comedy. On top of all that, it's slightly meta-fictional in a way.
After two bumbling meatballs end up releasing toxins from the government, which inspired Night of the Living Dead, the living dead begin to rise once more and the world is threatened by zombies walking the earth, tearing and eating human flesh, consuming all which stand in their way!
A classic entry in the zombie sub-genre of horror, this is not one to be missed. Great for a pair or a crew of people, you can never go wrong with this one. There is plenty of goofball comedy and lots of zombie nastiness to boot, not many as great as this out there.
The House by the Cemetery (1981)
Lucio Fulci returns on the list! This time with a different take on the living dead horror movie.
When a new family movies into a house and begins discovering a bunch of unsettling, the house's past lurches forward from the darkness and into the present.
Victorian era illegal surgery, zombified and rotten corpses, neck stabbings, slashed throats and decapitated heads – Fulci is in fine style here, a (pardon the pun) full-blooded horror.
This is a nasty one with plenty of the director's signature style. You could also say this fulfills the haunted house quota, even though it's more of a living dead horror, but still – lots to take in for an October evening, better yet on Halloween night.
Mutants (2009)/ Open Grave (2013)
Another double feature, slightly different; these aren't exactly the same type of zombie/infected horror movies, though, I think a certain vein runs through the both of these gnarly flicks.
Mutants is a French film about an epidemic turning human beings into mutant-like creatures, basically zombies. The plot concerns a young couple, Marco and Sonia (who is pregnant), attempting to find refuge in a military base. But when Marco contracts the virus, Sonia has to defend herself against her husband, best friend and lover in order to try and survive; for herself and for their baby. So you get a mix of zombie horror, emotional and personal drama, as well as a good deal of horror-action throughout the film. A high intensity and at times downright scary epidemic film.
In a similar more personal sense, Open Grave starring Sharlto Copley examines the epidemic sub-genre of horror through the eyes of a man who wakes up, with no memory, in a pit of corpses, only to eventually come across a group of others who woke under similar circumstances.
I can't say much else about the plot, and honestly saying that it's an epidemic/zombie type movie is saying too much, but just know Open Grave packs a real good punch. Copley adds lots of authenticity to the film playing a very believable, real type character. But the screenplay itself is the strongest bit of the movie and drives everything, making this one of those horror films that's really going to draw you and keep you interested, riveted from the top until the impressively tense finale.
These two movies would fit together in a great way for a double bill, I highly suggest you try these out even if on their own, though. Both a good and terrifying ride.
Night of the Comet (1984)
If you want an interesting, tongue-in-cheek style horror with comedy, then look no further: Night of the Comet is the film you're searching out!
When a strange astral event involving a comet happens, much of humanity is devastated leaving two young ladies to deal with the few humans, madness, and zombies which remain.
A true classic '80s movie, this one will satisfy a ton of criteria depending on what you want – there are zombie types, there is throwback music, there are funny women, and there is science fiction abound.
This is a lot of fun and I think it's definitely a zombie movie, just in its own way. You're not going to find a ton of gore or anything like that. This is first and foremost a retro comedy with horror and science fiction thrown in, but the post-apocalyptic landscape of Los Angeles and the living dead roaming the streets makes this a proper entry on this list.
The Signal (2007)
Honestly I don't know how this movie hasn't gotten huge. That's all right, though. Some movies are meant for a cult classic status, in another 20 years this will find the proper appreciation, the kind it deserves.
The Signal takes place in several sections, taking place in a city after an epidemic occurs spurred on by the signals transmitting through radio waves and television sets, et cetera. One woman tries to make her way to meet a lover after her husband and everyone seem to go crazy from the signal. For her, it becomes an absolute struggle for survival. As her lover does his best to track her down across the devastated city, they both encounter their own trials and tribulations.
When I first saw this one I was blown away. The acting is solid, which helps put the plot over; notably, a favourite actor of mine A.J. Bowen does a spectacular job with a menacing character. Most of all it's the mix of science fiction and horror I find real interesting. Lots of weird infected-zombie-like action happening, as the citizens of the city all start to just revert into animalistic, primitive men and women only concerned with fighting and killing the next person before they themselves are fought or killed. Scary stuff, but also there's a good, organic love story built in which I enjoy – when the love stories are forced into horrors or thrillers, I find it so tiring, this one is primarily a romance honestly yet the horror/sci-fi becomes a huge part of it and makes this an epidemic sub-genre film, absolutely. You could do a lot worse than this one, it's going to find a bigger audience as time goes by. Good one for two partners who want to watch something creepy while also wanting to watching something together: ideal for the pair who've got different tastes slightly. Something for everyone here with this romance-horror-science fiction hybrid.
Splinter (2008)/ The Battery (2012)
One last double feature for the horror hounds. This one is the ultimate indie horror tag team, two vastly different movies but very much innovative and lots of fun in their own respect.
To start is the 2008 Splinter – a couple find themselves trapped in a gas station with an escaping criminal, all trying to find off a virus which splinters the bones and insides of its victims, contorting them into awful, terrifying shapes.
This one is nasty and also has great drama going on. The splinter parasite/virus was so intriguing, adding something fresh to the zombie/living dead sub-genre. A fantastic indie film you really have to see.
Then, you'll need to throw on The Battery, another hugely satisfying indie horror with a premise not always tackled. While still in a zombie apocalypse, this film goes for a much more microcosmic view of the dystopian-horror landscape: two former baseball players try and make their way through the living dead infested countryside of New England, each with their own grating personality to test the other's patience. This one also has tons of nice drama, while it continually pushes into the zombie sub-genre with good use of the deadheads in the background. First and foremost, you find yourself interested immensely with the relationship between these two men trying to survive in the post-apocalyptic, zombie world. Second, the zombies, the death and the loneliness of the epidemic stricken world all makes this a worthwhile horror.
Two awesome indie horror movies which fit together real nice! A good double bill, fit for a solo viewing or with a friend. These will suck you in and keep you interested with that indie screenwriting, but you're going to get a nice swift helping of horror to ring in Halloween right here!
Not all of Stephen King's wonderful stories end up translated onto the screen appropriately. I'm a huge fan of his writing, yet there's always problems with the films adapted into film from his work.
Pet Sematary, for me, does not fall into the category of problem films. Some others say differently, I'm pretty sure even King himself isn't a real fan at all, but this one did a number on me, still does each time I see it again. Of course there are parts that could've obviously been better executed (maybe this would be fitting for a remake nowadays other than the endless films being remade which don't need to be). Still, bottom line is that this horror is actually horrific; its tension is there, the atmosphere of dread pervades almost each solitary scene to which we're treated, and some of the imagery is truly scary.
One scene in particular, involving the wife's now dead sister, still scars me to this day. Even when I think about it (she's in the bed forgotten in a room of their house calling out for help; she looks hideous like a person twisted into a monster), the hair raises on the back of my neck. And the rest of the film is pretty chilling, to say the least. Ignore a few of the flaws and you'll find yourself taken away into a land of terror. The living dead angle of Pet Sematary is another much more personal, intimate take on the whole sub-genre, in a way only Stephen King can tap into so emotionally. Not all of his original novel makes it through in translation, though, I can't say there's any missing horror.
Here's to hoping you've enjoyed some of these films before, or that you discovered them here/somewhere else similar and now have come to love them the way I do!
Cheers to a good October and I'm going to have myself an epic movie marathon over the last week leading up to Halloween. Check back for more lists and movie reviews as we get closer to that beloved devilish night of candy, fun, horror and mayhem.
Dan O'Bannon
Epidemic Movies
Living Dead
A.J Bowen
Dead and Buried
Nazi Zombies
Open Grave
Triple Feature
Umberto Lenzi
31 Days of Horror for Halloween Season
In an effort to try and diversify, I've done my best to not include anything I included on last year's Halloween List. Not to worry: plenty of horror for you here.
Wade on in to find yourself something creepy; one title for every day of the month in no particular order but merely numbered for order.
I've tried not to do anything too obscure. Most of these titles you should be able to track down somewhere. But regardless, I wanted to try and name at least a few movies other lists don't suggest this time of year. Huge fan of John Carpenter's Halloween (my review here) and even the rest of the series honestly, except for the last couple entries. They're the ones you always hear about! I'd rather try to go for some titles you either might not know or wouldn't think to watch.
Now… Let's get spooked! October is upon you. I watch horror just about every single day of the year. Though I always get excited to share that passion with everyone else leading up that creepy day we all know and love.
1) Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)
An obviously low budget movie, this 1971 underrated gem takes us to the depths of the line between sanity and madness.
To say much of anything would ruin this for you, but the movie follows a young, emotionally and psychologically unstable girl who goes out to a little farmhouse with her husband and their friend, only to experience a living nightmare of sorts after meeting another young redheaded woman who is at the house, drifting and living there.
Some people say this is a vampire film, though, I think it's mostly because there's a legend of vampire activity in the story itself. Me? I'd say this is psychological horror at its finest with emotional problems and local legends at its root, driving everything that may (or may not) be happening in the plot. Check this one out! It's been called one of the scariest films ever, as well as the fact Stephen King has often talked about it in various interviews and I'm always keen to see the movies he thinks are scary. But regardless, I find this is a creeper. I watch it, then there's always a hesitation to watch it again the next time because it's that damn unsettling.
2) A Horrible Way to Die (2010)
* My full review is here
Director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett have teamed up since this one to make an excellent slasher infused with dark comedy (You're Next) and one of the best action-thrillers of the past few years with a throwback aesthetic (The Guest).
But honestly, it's this film of theirs which really gets me in the gut, punches me hard and sucks the wind out of me. Some complaints I've seen are directed at Wingard's directing, believing the handheld and more chaotic style of the film to be either distracting or simply not enjoyable.
For me, I think the handheld vibe helps A Horrible Way to Die because out of it comes a very intimate feeling. In every scene, whether it's the serial killer (played by fabulous actor A.J. Bowen) or his sweet and emotionally devastated wife (played by an equally fabulous actor Amy Seimetz), no matter if it's just them or they are onscreen with another character(s), there's an incredibly intimacy from the style Wingard chooses to go with that really nails home the visceral feeling of this movie.
Not only that, Barrett's screenplay is pretty great. It's sparse and it doesn't particularly telegraph a whole lot where the plot is headed. Then once the finale kicks in, again, it's like a gut punch. It hits you hard, not once but twice before finally you can't help but be in awe of how everything plays out. At least I didn't see it all coming. I thought things were headed in a much different direction. This is one chilling movie; not really a date horror movie, not necessarily something you'll want to watch with a group of friends, but rather a film you might consider taking in alone, a bit of a personal and riveting experience for a creepy fall evening.
3) Alone in the Dark (1982)
First off, this is clearly not the Uwe Boll shitfest of a video game adaptation.
1982's Alone in the Dark is possibly one of my favourite ensemble horror cast movies, at least it's near the very top. Featuring not only Donald Pleasence, we are treated to some horror with two other powerhouses: Jack Palance and Martin Landau.
I mean, isn't that just the strangest combination for a slasher horror you could ever imagine?
Simple premise: when a massive power outage happens, a bunch of psychopathic patients from a mental ward break out, searching for the new doctor whom they falsely believe to have killed their old doctor. Honestly, it's a top notch '80s era slasher. Not to mention the fact, again, that the three top actors are amazing. For me, a lover of the first Batman from Tim Burton and many of his other works, it's awesome to see Palance as a crazy, nasty maniac here. There's one scene in particular where they're driving around in this truck, or some sort of vehicle, and they're just tormenting people like the mailman, et cetera; it's classic dark comedy/horror. Great one to get your murder spree fix, especially if there's a crew wanting to watch a fun and at times horrific slasher.
4) Carnival of Souls (1962)
This is one of the best, creepiest, most unnerving low budget horror movies I've ever seen.
Basically, a woman experiences a car crash, flying into the water off a bridge, and after she survives begins to experience strange happenings: she sees people, a man in particular, pale faced, walking after her, stalking her, appearing almost everywhere she goes. She's also being drawn to a rundown pavilion, an old carnival, where it seems the strange man and other ghostly people are living.
I have no problem with low budget look, as long as the story and the atmosphere of the film can still be achieved. Carnival of Souls does have a highly independent look, but it doesn't deter from anything. It's all black and white, which only adds to the creepiness. Director Herk Harvey uses his imagery in a great way, plus the story itself and the plot maintains its effectiveness. Pop this on for an irregular ghost-like story with some shots that will – I guarantee – haunt your dreams, if you let them.
5) Zombi 2 a.k.a Zombie a.k.a Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979)
* My full Blu ray review is here
Despite the often confusing titles of the film, this is not a sequel, but merely a victim of silly, opportunistic marketing.
Lucio Fulci's 1979 Zombie is one of the most incredible flesh eating films you'll ever see! Fulci is classic. He was one of those horror filmmakers who went for broke and sought to bring as much bone/eyeball crunching, blood spurting, neck biting, flesh peeling action as he possibly could in an hour and a half or so.
This movie is no more elaborate than any other in the sub-genre – people are being turned into zombies on an island, the disease itself making its way towards New York City on the boat of a scientist. Horrific madness ensues.
If you're a zombie enthusiast, or a horror fanatic in general, and you have not seen this: you need to, it is mandatory. You've not seen zombies until you see this!
6) The Beyond (1981)
Another Fulci classic – it's hard for me to decide, though, if pressed The Beyond would be my top pick for his masterpiece (tied with A Lizard in a Woman's Skin).
Beginning with a woman inheriting an aging hotel in Louisiana, soon it becomes clear the Gates to Hell – The Beyond – sit just below its foundation. When she and a doctor try to escape, they discover The Beyond and earth are becoming one, as the gates have opened and the dead are walking the earth.
This is more of Fulci's savage and visceral horror mixed with an awesome dose of the supernatural, and yes – zombies! Or at least undead, whatever you want to call them. Others may not agree, but I do honestly think this is Fulci's best. It's my favourite, anyways, and I'm always keen to tell people this is a great film for Halloween!
7) In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
John Carpenter is truly one of the masters of horror, up there with the greatest. He's also got an excellent, darkly comic tone in many of his films. Plus, he does wonders with thrillers; he knows suspense and tension more than anyone else in the horror genre.
In the Mouth of Madness is often described as Lovecraftian, as it plunges into familiar territory to the amazingly creepy H.P. Lovecraft. Sam Neill plays an insurance man sucked into looking for a famous horror fiction author, eventually coming face to face with the author's own creations all crammed into a tiny, supposedly fictional town. It is one amazingly terrifying movie, at times downright chilling, at others there's that dark comedy Carpenter does so well. The whole time, though, you'll find yourself beginning to question – like the main character – what exactly is reality and what is imagination. For a weird and involving bit of horror, take this one out on a scary night.
8) Session 9 (2001)
For me, this is one of the scariest movies of all time. Yes, there are a couple rough moments (re: acting), but you can pin that badge right on David Caruso; I actually don't dislike him, though, I can't defend him here. Most of the time he's good, it's just a few real stinkers sneak out here and there.
Peter Mullan is who you want to pay attention to. Even while Josh Lucas (before he got big) and Brendan Sexton III give two extremely solid performances, Mullan holds this all together.
Directed by Brad Anderson, written by him and Stephen Gevedon (who also plays a nice role in the film), Session 9 is a slow burn horror, which will gradually push itself under your skin like a splinter. By the time you're near the end, after the climax has really rocked you and the finale begins, there's this quiet sense of trauma you might feel. That's a good thing; means this movie does its job.
Scene of note: when Jeff (Sexton) is running through an underground tunnel while the lights are going out behind him, one by one, his screams drifting out of the darkness, I honestly feel my heart race. Terrifying film, but this scene gets me something fierce.
9) The Sentinel (1977)
Haunted house horror movies are a dime a dozen. There are plenty I love, and even more I don't like at all. However, The Sentinel is one of the most perfect haunted house stories, to me, on film yet.
When a fashion model moves into a Brooklyn apartment, an old building, terrifying appearances begin to emerge, people who are no longer living seem to be still inhabiting their apartments, among other things.
There's something about this movie which will always draw me in. I only saw it for the first time about 4 years ago and it floored me. It's a mix of supernatural horror, religious superstition, and psychological trauma/character study. Amazingly creepy at points, plus there are a handful of amazing actors here from a young Christopher Walken to Chris Sarandon to Ava Gardner and John Carradine, Burgess Meredith, and the delightful Eli Wallach. Oh and a mysteriously dubbed over Jeff Goldblum, which is kind of hilarious, and Jerry Orbach. Perfect haunted house film for when you've got a stormy night outside – this will draw you in and creep through your bones!
10) Prince of Darkness (1987)
Already we're back to Carpenter. But with good reason. Plus you may as well get used to it because there's at least one more on here; not the one you'd expect, either.
1987's underrated, overlooked, and only cult appreciated Prince of Darkness has a little bit of everything: religion, zombie-like people, Alice Cooper, Donald Pleasence, '80s babes with hair to match, and of course – Satan!
When a green ooze is discovered in a canister (no you're still on the right page this is not a review for the second live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film) below a church, a priest assembles a team of mathematicians and scientists in order to study the contents. Turns out, the ooze is as old as time itself: it is the devil, evil in pure material, sensory form. When the ooze begins to make its way out gradually, people are taken over by its terrifying power, from the homeless people wandering around outside the church to the mathematic-scientific team working inside. What begins is a struggle between good and ultimate evil.
This is just a downright awesome movie. Carpenter, as I said, knows how to really build up the suspense and execute his tension in the appropriate way. There are incredible effects (on the Blu ray Carpenter explains them in typically excellent Carpenter fashion; one involved the mercury from a crane, I believe, or something similar they were doing highly unsafely), the acting is good, and Carpenter's writing is also spot on here – he merges the superstitions of religion, the idea of a pure evil, and brings it into the scientific, intelligible world. Interesting stuff and it's a creepshow of a movie with more of Carpenter and his dark wit. Good for when you want a movie about good/evil/the devil without all the typical stuff.
11) Mr. Sardonicus (1961)
Another movie it took me years to see, one of William Castle's best, Mr. Sardonicus tells the tale of a man who digs up his father to find a winning lottery ticket with which he was buried, only to also discover his face has become distorted into a permanent and grotesque smile. When he makes a doctor treat him, the results might be worse than the smile itself.
There are certain classic horror movies you always hear about – anything with Vincent Price or Boris Karloff particularly, and so. Yet there's never enough buzz about this brilliant Castle flick. I also love his gimmicks, he truly knew what audiences wanted. Screw all the same old 3D movies we see nowadays – Mr. Sardonicus let the audience use the 'Punishment Poll', letting them determine what Baron Sardonicus received ultimately as his punishment!
But this isn't just gimmick. The movie is a gothic romp through the eyes of greed and jealousy and heinousness. Fitting for any wild Halloween night. Definitely a good one for a crowd or pair!
12) The Fog (1980)
We're back to Carpenter. Yet again! Of course we are.
This is another of my favourite Carpenter films, especially in terms of his pure horror. A great script, great actors, on top of the truly creepy zombies. Or whatever you want to call them – zombies, undead, ghosts, I don't know.
The story is simple yet very scary – a coastal town's long buried history literally unearths itself when the members of a disrespected and murdered leper colony return from the dead to come, in the fog, to kill anyone and everyone in their path.
Carpenter creates a wonderful sense of dread with all his tension and then the terror comes on hard once people start to die, once the fog knocks at each door and surrounds every little thing in sight. Pop this on for another spooky, stormy October night. Definitely will get you in a Halloween-y mood.
13) A Clockwork Orange (1971)
I've got a sneaking suspicion most of you by now have seen Stanley Kubrick's shattering dystopian classic A Clockwork Orange. I won't bore with a recap of the plot. What I will say is this: Kubrick makes this story into a carnival of horrors. Perfect for any October evening, as the masks and lights and colours, the mayhem, the carnage of this film truly speak to Devil's Night in many ways. Throw this on and get your fix of madness.
14) Livid (2011)
I know not everyone is into subtitled films, but when it comes to horror you're seriously missing out if you only watch English language movies. So I opted to only include one foreign title on this year's list.
Livid is a French film about a young woman who begins training as a live-in caregiver to an old woman in a virtually eternal coma; discovering she has some kind of fortune kept hidden in her massive estate, the young woman and her two friends try searching for it. But when they make it inside during the night, things start to get extremely strange for the intruders. They discover it is not mere money, nor jewels, which is the actual treasure in the old lady's home, but rather something far more sinister.
This is one savagely macabre film at times. There are great elements of a thriller, as well as lots of gothic style stuff happening. I can't think of a creepier flick to add on to the haunted house viewings already on the list; it may not reinvent the wheel, though, it spins one hell of a tale. Lots of scary stuff lurking in this one, fit for any Halloween celebration when you want something aside from the regular tired recommendations on other lists. Even on mine, this one stands out.
15) Feed (2005)
This is perhaps the weirdest of all the films on this list. Absolutely no way to truly describe it without a full-on description and I don't want to ruin ANYTHING. So go in without a trailer, but I'll try and give you a bit of a… taste.
Cross a gritty cop thriller with strange and deadly fetishism, you've got Feed: a law enforcement agent falling off the deep end, after too long exploring the savage and rampant sickness floating around the internet, and comes up against one of the most depraved serial killers he has ever known.
Have you ever maybe heard of 'feeders' or a similar term? These are men who enjoy feeding women; they like to see them gain weight, they love to watch them consume food and drink, it turns them on. Not sure about the psychology, but it is certainly something different. Well, take that fetish to a truly deadly length.
Put this in only if you're ready to be tested. While there's very little blood, barely any at all to speak of, this is still a damn nasty horror. Though, there's lots of interesting stuff happening. Plus you get a weird and wild performance from Alex O'Loughlin.
16) Angel Heart (1987)
I always hear people talk talk talk about both Robert De Niro and Mickey Rourke, yet there's rarely ever a reference to the fabulous 1987 Alan Parker directed Angel Heart. Recently it went up on Netflix Canada, so I suppose more minds will end up falling into this one. There needs to be more recognition for this one. It's almost not really a true horror, rather a twisty supernatural thriller more than anything. Above all, I find the performance of De Niro absolutely fascinating – one role out of his vast filmography I believe is different than the rest and also like the film itself doesn't receive the credit which it deserves – and Mickey Rourke gives us a level-headed effort which gives his character, aptly named Harry Angel, a very real, very sensible place in an otherwise unreal filmic space.
If you're craving something dark, macabre, dripping of the filth and sleaze of a New Orleans underbelly packed to the brim with voodoo, murder, and double crossing criminal types, this is the film for you. There are some wonderful themes in here which I find fit the Halloween season perfectly.
17) When a Stranger Calls (1979)
* For my full review of this movie's terror – click here
There have been films before this (think: original & fantastic Black Christmas) and after which use the 'killer calling from inside the house' trope. Almost none better than 1979's When a Stranger Calls.
Babysitting one night, young Jill Johnson is terrorized by a psychopath who kills the children she is meant to be looking after. Traumatized by the experience somehow she manages to go on and live her life normally. Then seven years later, the same madman comes back to haunt Jill again; now older, a little wiser, she must somehow survive her second brush with insanity.
The best part about this movie, for me, is the fact it replaces the masked or hidden killer and early on in the film we see the killer – we know who he is, in fact we're treated to a good portion of the plot where the focus is him, his mind, his life or at least his attempt at trying to have one. So instead of seeing a maniac without any real reason behind him, the killer here – played by Tony Beckley in fine fashion – is not so much sympathetic, as much as he is utterly, scarily, and wildly human. That's the scariness here: without a mask, we're forced to watch this killer be himself, we're forced to see who he is and deal with everything it implies. Instead of forcing our feelings of fear off on a masked slasher, our fear is right in our faces.
When you need a slasher but want something actually terrifying without the need for jump scares and all the modern bells/whistles, When a Stranger Calls is calling you: view this one and you'll no doubt find yourself checking the empty, dark bedrooms before heading to bed on Halloween.
18) Hellions (2015)
Only recently did this become available on iTunes, but what timing! This is a perfect viewing for Halloween; in fact, wait until the actual night, not just during October. This one is set on Halloween, it pushes the fears of masked unknowns roaming neighbourhoods on Halloween, and there is so much going on.
After discovering she's pregnant, a young teenage girl finds herself home alone on Halloween, when a group of masked children lay siege to her house. Initially undecided about the child inside her, Devil's Night will shape her decisions to come after coming face to face with pure evil in pint-size costume and form.
This is a unique movie and will not be for everyone. Director Bruce McDonald – a homegrown Canadian talent – used infrared cameras during the filming, which gives several extended sequences and a good bulk of the movie a pink-ish hue, with the whites, greens, and other colours becoming extremely vibrant. There's an unbelievable Halloween feel through this technique, apparently it was meant to mirror the effect of the Blood Moon (the script set Halloween on such a lunar event). Not only that, the horror and the terror are all there, in spades, from the creepy creeps to insane moments of blood/gore.
You need a nice savage fix for Halloween? You've found the one. Support this one, support Canadian/independent film. Hopefully this will bring the fear, too.
19) Spring (2014)
This is one of the best horrors I've seen in a few years, honestly. Up there with some other great titles. Even further than that, you don't get too many horror-romance hybrids, other than the awful excuse for whatever you want to call it in Twilight. This film from indie pairing Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead is a true mix between Lovecraftian style horror and a dramatic romance movie set abroad.
When Evan (Lou Taylor Pucci) flees to Italy from his home in the U.S, precipitated by the death of his ill mother, he is not prepared for anything that's about to happen. First, it's more of an exciting, exotic adventure to a new place on a whim. But then he meets a mysterious woman named Louise (Nadia Hilker) and his life heads into a spiral; down into love, down into something deeper, more dark than just love. Louise is not who Evan thinks she is and soon he'll figure it all out.
Part of Spring is Lovecraftian as I've mentioned – you'll figure out how on your own. There's good horror with an eerie atmosphere of dread hanging over every last scene, even in the more beautiful bits. Part of Spring is also a touching character piece of a man sort of running away from himself, running away from even being human – having to live and love and let people go – when he meets a woman who changes everything. There's a lot to enjoy here. You'll get something romantic, in a strange sense, as well as a good dose of creature feature-like horror. Looking for an interesting twist on the horror genre? Definitely find this one and give it a go (decent price on iTunes), it's a unique piece of film from two interesting filmmakers.
20) The Last Man on Earth (1964)
Ever see I Am Legend and just think to yourself: this would be way better if it was Vincent Price?
The Last Man on Earth is an all around better film than that mediocre bit of post-apocalyptica. Taken from the same source material – Richard Matheson's I Am Legend – this 1960s era horror/science fiction classic sees Vincent Price as Dr. Robert Morgan, the titular last man alive. Or is he?
What I like about this is the subtlety. I mean, the Will Smith-starrer was in a post-apocalyptic landscape, yet still there's this huge blockbuster style as if Michael Bay were sitting behind the wheel. Honestly, it's just not right. Yet in The Last Man on Earth, we get a real quiet, desolate feeling from start to finish. Even better, I love the way the vampire-humans look and act in this, as opposed to a bunch of CGI'd zombie-like infected humanoids. To each their own, but this is a far spookier vision of Matheson's original novel than its more recent incarnation. And who can't love Vincent Price? Here he's a little less hammy than usual, which I love anyways, though don't kid yourself – there's always ham with Vincent. Part of his charm. Most of all this is a seriously creepy picture of a decimated world roamed by a single man and hordes of vampiric humans. Want to get creeped out, put this on alone and let yourself be drawn into the world of this terrifying post-apocalyptic vision out of a 1954 novel from one of the great science fiction writers of the 20th century.
21) Candyman (1992)/ Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995)
So what's Halloween season without a couple double features? This is the first of three you'll find in the last heap of this list.
Candyman is one of the first horror movies I remember seeing as a teenager which actually scared me bad enough to give me a nightmare. There's something about Tony Todd's performance, his voice and his demeanour all together that creeps the hell out of me. And the story itself, adapted into screenplay by director-writer Bernard Rose, is from Clive Barker originally titled "The Forbidden" out of Volume V from his Books of Blood. That in itself makes things interesting, but this is adapted well and the original story is just solid, so you can't lose.
Basically this is an urban legend brought to life by the supernatural, as two women research a legend at Cabrini-Green housing projects in Chicago, it actually comes into existence. The Candyman, long ago persecuted, begins to kill people and drive one of the women completely mad. The second film, subtitled Farewell to the Flesh, sees a family torn apart by the Candyman and a young woman become a target of his horrific longing.
I love Candyman, and I even love the sequel. Though, the first is still best. Part of it is Tony Todd, hands down. But apart from that, Bernard Rose does amazing stuff and creates a whole scary aesthetic, from the terror of the visuals to the creeping sound design and score. A scary, dark night is the right one for these two films. You should honestly watch them one after another in a double feature, they're stellar and will chill you to the bone.
22) Black Death (2010)
Oh man, what a work of horror this is – set in medieval times, as the black plague is spreading, an English monk is tasked with heading to a remote village, alongside a knight and his crew of nasty outsiders, in order to figure out where the witchcraft originating the disease is hiding.
There's sorcery and witchcraft, action involving medieval misfit bounty hunters; there's Sean Bean being a bad ass; there are medieval zombie corpses; and much, much more.
What I love in this is the story, the plot, as well as the solid acting from Bean and Eddie Redmayne, along with others you'll surely enjoy. Medieval times are ripe for horror and do not get used enough, at least not correctly. This film in particular, directed by Christopher Smith (Triangle, Severance, Creep), gets just about everything right for this savage period piece. Plenty of weird darkness happening, lots of bloody horror, and you'll love the finale: it's a god damn barn burner!
23) The Wicker Man (1973)
Ever see a movie you'll never forget? One that leaves a mark on you forever?
The Wicker Man is one of those for me. About 15 years ago, I saw this one very late at night and during the climax of the film was absolutely jarred. Stuck to the screen, what happened in the final moments really leapt out at me and latched on, never letting go. Every time I watch this, I can't get it out of my mind for a good while afterwards.
I won't say too much, just in case you've yet to see it, trust me – it is a really unique experience. With Christopher Lee playing an absolutely delightfully demented local leader, a sort of enigmatic and lord-like cult figure, you're sure to find this unsettling. Give it some time. At first, and for a little bit, the movie might seem to be something quite unlike any horror you imagined. But once things start moving, the horror is evident underneath it all. Put this on for a real fall-style horror night. Maybe in the early evening, as the changed leaves are hanging in shadow, and the October weather outside seems delightful… this horror thriller, set in the Scottish countryside, will change all that.
24) Starry Eyes (2014)
Never has the quest for fame ever been displayed so intensely and terrifying as it is in Starry Eyes. Following a young woman trying her best to break into Hollywood, or at least the outer fringes, the story takes us on an aspiring actress' journey in the film world, which becomes more like a descent into the lower bowels of Hell.
This indie film was on my radar for a year or more before it came out, simply because the poster art was glorious and the synopsis looked to be pretty intriguing. Was I surprised, though! Most of all, amongst the horror and the insane body-horror coming out during the finale, Alex Essoe – who plays main character Sarah – cranks up the bar for indie film acting with her performance. There's nothing else I can say without giving up too much. Go in without watching a trailer even and you're going to see something unexpected. This will rock you. A good one for a group of friends, a pair, or solo; just let it grab you and the horror will blow you away.
25) Don't Go in the House (1979)
A lot of people will probably say this is a horrible attempt at the slasher sub-genre. Somewhere, though, I remember reading one of the best analyses of Don't Go in the House, and it accurately described how this movie was almost the film metaphor of the death of the 1970s. I won't go on too much more, just consider that while watching.
Simple pitch? This movie sees a young man, whose tortured childhood under a ruthless and sick mother who burned him (literally and figuratively), stalk women, bring them to his home, then trap them in a steel room downstairs where he'll burn them alive.
Nasty enough for you? There's lots of silliness here, no doubt whatsoever. But there is more to it, there is some kind of really palpable atmosphere here amongst everything else. With disco music and burning humans, there is certainly a bit of Halloween-y goodness happening in a good portion of scenes. Naturally, there is '80s cheese, too.
An amazing flick to choose if you're going to have a few people over to watch some movies. Have a laugh with this, but remember – keep in mind there may be more to it, no matter how low budget or whatever else you deem it the movie may be. Despite any of that, there's lots of nasty horror here in slasher movie form to please your needs and wants this Halloween season.
26) Asylum Blackout a.k.a The Incident (2011)
* For a full review – click here
This one came out of nowhere for me. Usually I like to pride myself on keeping an ear to the ground for all sorts of horror; even the most diligent of us fanatics fall short some times, right?
Well Asylum Blackout, while deemed amateurish by others, is an awesomely creepy piece of horror.
After a power outage knocks the communications and electricity out at an asylum, the guards and staff members must band together in order to try and survive through the night, or at the least until some sort of help and hope arrives in the form of police. But the inmates overcome the main guard and some of the others, leaving only the staff, the young stoner musicians in the kitchen to face off against the violent and mentally unstable patients running amok in the corridors.
There's lots of style in this one, but also some nice bits of substance. We get more character than you'd expect, though it isn't exactly sprawling – still, it's nice to get any when it comes to modern horror, so many movies opting only for scares and style without anything beneath as its foundation. With this movie, I found myself really falling into feeling for the guys in the kitchen, they weren't all the smartest or all hugely stand-up guys, yet they were sympathetic characters and I was putting myself right in their shoes. The very last shot is a bit foolish and I wish the filmmakers opted for a different close. Other than this moment, I loved everything else.
Close to Halloween, when the mood is right, put on a copy of this one (available through Google Play at a great price to rent or buy). A group watch is definitely recommended; you'll be talking to the characters, laughing at times, gasping at others. Hopefully this one will terrify you because it certainly pulled a number on me.
27) Murder Party (2007)
Admittedly I'm not huge on horror comedy. I love dark comedy in horror, and I do love comedies (obviously a horror hound). There's just something about horror-comedy I'm not always game for, but time and time again there are movies which prove as exceptions – big time – to this self-imposed rule of mine.
One such film that many people I know haven't yet seen, or even heard of, is Murder Party. This is a fantastic little indie horror-comedy from director-writer Jeremy Saulnier; you may have heard of his impressive indie revenge-thriller Blue Ruin, or perhaps the film I'm DYING TO SEE, his new Neo-Nazi versus punk band concoction Green Room.
Beginning with a nice, quiet guy who finds an invitation to a Murder Party on the street, this movie is full of hilariously hipsterized characters (who you'll be aching to see perish), nasty horror effects done practically and wonderfully, and then there's the main character's journey which will make you laugh and cringe at times.
If you want a good movie for Halloween day/night, this is perfect! A great comedy with equal amounts of fun horror, this is not one you'll regret spending time to watch. Lots of fun for the 31st here! Maybe even one to put on whilst the little trick or treaters make their way to and from your door.
28) Maniac (1980)/ Maniac (2012)
Another double feature, this time a horrific, savage opus – the 1980 William Lustig-directed, Joe Spinell-starring Maniac versus the Alexandre Aja-produced, Franck Khalfoun-directed 2012 remake. Honestly, I'm a huge fan of both, for different reasons.
The original is a character study in absolute depravity, focusing in on Spinell's version of a real, raw, genuine maniac whose issues with women have turned into something absolutely awful. There's something painful about this character, which Spinell brings across in such a clear way it almost hurts you to see him resorting to the murders he commits out in the night, stalking the city streets.
Then in the 2012 remake, there's not just Elijah Wood doing a great job with a partly sympathetic but mostly vile and horrible character, Khalfoun further makes things interesting by employing the use of 1st-person P.O.V throughout the entire film. There's something really creepy about finding ourselves directly behind the eyes of the killer, only stepping outside his immediate perspective in a few brief shots.
Each of these movies has its merits, but for me I'm a bigger fan of the 2012 version. Seriously. I bet I'll piss off tons of so-called horror movie purists. Whatever. I haven't the time or effort to pretend I care. I love Wood as the character, even more than Spinell whose creepiness is astounding – and he's a good actor generally – there's something in this new one that just gets to me further. I think Spinell lent himself to the role because of his natural appearance and also his acting talents, but Wood's boy-nextdoor appearance countered with the maniac in him becomes something wild over the film's runtime.
Want gore and depraved characters, plus really incredible practical makeup effects? You've come to the right place. Double feature these two and you'll be set for a Halloween season night when full-on, balls out horror is knocking at your door.
* My full review of the 2012 remake is here
29) Shivers (1975)/ Rabid (1977)
This last double feature is from a favourite director of mine, a fellow Canadian – David Cronenberg. The master of body horror, a true auteur.
His 1975 film Shivers takes psychosexual horror to another plateau, as an apartment complex becomes overridden with zombie-like humans – not dead, these are humans with pulses. However, these living, breathing people are sex crazed, and they're passing on a terrible virus, multiplying, over and over.
If there were ever a pre-It Follows classic concerning sexually transmitted disease – hell if there were ever a precursor to some of the epidemic films we see today – Shivers is one of the most significant out there. Word has it Dan O'Bannon saw this film and loved it, inspiring in part his ideas for Ridley Scott's Alien four years later. You want to get terrified of sex and the human body? Shivers will get you and it will work its way under your skin, under your nails; it will get inside you.
Two years after Shivers, Cronenberg came back at it again with Rabid starring Marilyn Chambers – the story of a young woman whose experimental plastic surgery after an accident turns her into a unsatisfiable zombie-like creature, rabid, seeking out blood, and this soon becomes a city-wide infection, reaching far and wide.
Another foray into the epidemic sub-genre of horror, Cronenberg's Rabid is a low budget, fierce piece of work that is very much a visceral experience. As is usual, this movie is all-out body horror right from the start and Cronenberg is right at home in this area.
I think if you're looking for zombies this October/Halloween, forego all the typical stuff one night and opt for the David Cronenberg epidemic duo of Shivers and Rabid; a healthy meal of zombie-styled horror in a devilish, excellent Canadian wrapper.
My full review of Shivers is here.
30) May (2002)
Lucky McKee attracted me immediately to his work with this modern reinterpretation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
May follows the young alienated titular woman whose only friend is a doll she's had nearly her entire life; it helped her get through all the tough life moments, especially difficult for May with her lazy eye problem and distant nature. She has an obsession with hands and meets an interesting young guy whose love of all things weird draws her close. But after his rejection, May is determined that each person is horrible except for ONE SINGLE PART; or in this man's case, two small parts. From there, her journey to find and create the perfect companion, the perfect friend and lover begins, and there is no telling how far May will go in order to secure a happy and fruitful relationship.
What I love about this? Everything. The acting, the plot, the writing, plus it has a great soundtrack to boot. Including a few costumes on Halloween, this is a perfect movie to spook you out, as well as make you laugh inappropriately a ton and feel awkward a little. What good horror doesn't do those things? Okay, well not all make you laugh, but a real horror movie is absolutely going to make you feel uncomfortable at least once or twice. Dive in – this one is unique and a nice spin on an old story.
31) The Others (2001)
From the director of another fabulously chilling work of horror, Tesis, this is a stellar story of despair, ghosts, and haunted places. While you could say this is a haunted house style film, I think it's more strictly about ghosts than an overall haunting. I say that for a particular reason, which I'm sure you'll understand after watching.
The Others gives us a story of a reclusive family and their new caretakers, all of whom end up dealing with spooky presences all about the large estate on which they live. While the husband is off with the war presumably, the mother of the family looks after her children, doting on them, protecting at all costs. Once ghosts begin to all but leak from the very walls around them, the mother tries to discover exactly what is going on.
The performance from Nicole Kidman is solid, the music and atmosphere are all perfectly sinister and beyond scary with lots of suspense and tension. There's nothing I can complain about here and it makes for some fine ghost story telling. The ending still surprises me now, even though I know it, simply because I find myself gripped by the plot and the aesthetic of the film overall just really works its magic. Perfect ghost film for an October night, certainly for Halloween when the night is dark and people are roaming the streets, sounds filtering through the windows in bits and pieces. This really has a fitting atmosphere for that type of evening.
I hope everyone found something worth watching off the list. If you've got any suggestions, I'm likely to have seen them but still want to hear what everyone else likes to watch for October and the Halloween season of fright.
Drop a comment if you want and I'd love to hear what you're watching, as well as if you've been digging the movies here.
Happy Halloween to all, my friends!
Aaron Moorehead
Asylum Blackout
Bernard Rose
Body Horror
Bruce McDonald
Candyman Farewell to the Flesh
Don't Go in the House
Franck Khalfoun
Justin Benson
Mr Sardonicus
Simon Barrett
Tony Todd
Fulci's Zombie: Because a Zombie Had to Fight a Shark Someday
A classic zombie flick if there ever were one! All hail Fulci!
Classic Horror
Zombie Flesh Eaters
Seek & Ye Shall Find
The Juiciest Gore
The Twisted Parallels of Cinema— A Series
Father Son Holy Gore's Interview with Larry Fessenden
[Trailer Debut] NEW WOMAN: Newfoundland Short Film Goes Gothic
SUSPIRIA Bathes in (Blood &) the Power of Women
"No more pain, no more death": Fatalism, Free Will, & Fighting the Past in THE RITUAL
Destructive Legacies of Fatherhood in Larry Fessenden's DEPRAVED
Jenn Wexler's THE RANGER: A Punk Rock Manifesto for Women
BLOOD RAGE's Gory Freudian Nightmare
Make a Case #2— Wes Craven's SHOCKER (1989)
FEAR: Queasy Male Jealousy and Patriarchal Control
PEEPING TOM Implicates Us All
STARFISH's Apocalyptic Grief and Unexplored Spaces
An Interview with STARFISH Director Al White
HEREDITARY's Dark Heart of Grief and Mental Illness
Trip Into a Horror of '80s Fears with MANDY
UPGRADE: The Abject Anxieties of Bodies + Technology
[Essay]"Fear is a place": SESSION 9's Gothic Madness in Uncanny Places
KILL LIST: Gothic Nationalism's Violent Erasure of Modernity
UNSANE Exposes Our Sad Society of Disbelief for Women's Realities
Violent Evolution + Cycles of Life/Death in ANNIHILATION
VENOM: Socialism's Accidental Super-Antihero
BORGMAN: Kabbalah and Marx in the Garden of Eden
[Video]Father Gore's 5 Scary Flicks
SLEEPAWAY CAMP and the Horror of Enforcing Gender Roles
SLICE: Mediocre Horror Doubles as Killer Modern Satire
PYEWACKET— Or, How to Destroy Yourself + Others with Grief
Unhealthy Fetish + Sexualised Trauma in Brett Leonard's FEED
FRONTIER(S): Post-WWII Gothic and Political Invasion of the Body
Prayers to a Consumer God: American Decay + Ideological Control in THEY LIVE
Taking Back the Night with MS. 45: Gendered Fear in City Spaces
Multicultural Hope from the Gutters of America in LOWLIFE
[Essay]Stephen King— Modern Folklorist and Old School Storyteller
The Male Gaze & Violent Religion in REVENGE
BLOODLANDS: An Albanian Parable
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK: Carpenter's Hyperviolent Dystopian Prison State
[Essay]FUNNY GAMES: Confront Yourself
THE FIRST PURGE is a Dark Mirror of Current America
Hidden Digital Lives in SEARCHING
SADIE and the Child Soldiers of America
TYREL: Relative Terror in Black/White
CAM: This (Postmodern) Woman's Work
Mackenzie and Pine De-Mythologise Robert the Bruce in OUTLAW KING
Damaged Masculinity + Small Town Fates in BACK ROADS
"We should have never come to this house": Freud's Uncanny & the Modern Gothic in SINISTER
Transgenerational Wounds of Post-Pinochet Chile in TRAUMA
The Gorgeous Face of Catharsis in HAPPY FACE
Dichotomies of Violence: Abuse, Autonomy, and BDSM in Nicolas Pesce's PIERCING
HBO's The Outsider
The Hills Have Eyes II: Horny Mutants
The Gloaming— SEASON 1 FINALE: "The Night of the Mothers
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Father Gore
Father Gore is first and foremost a passionate lover of film— especially horror. He's also a PhD candidate at Memorial University of Newfoundland with a concentration in postmodern critical theory. He wrote for Film Inquiry frequently during 2016-17, and is currently contributing to Scriptophobic in a column called Serial Killer Celluloid focusing on film adaptations about real life murderers. As of September 2018, Father Gore is an official member of the Online Film Critics Society, and as of April 2019 he's currently listed as a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. He has covered major film festivals such as Fantasia Festival and Fantastic Fest. During September 2019, Father Son Holy Gore will be one of several media outlets helping to present Randfilmfest in Germany.
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Due to unforseen circumstances and the seemingly global challenge that sites like AirBnB have brought to the rental market we are as yet unable to secure a correctly zoned property for a summer season rental.
This means that we don't want to offer our Whistler Expereince catered and guided holiday package without having a suitable property signed, sealed and locked in!
For 2018 Will be focussing on building packages around town homes for larger groups and B&B options for smaller groups as well as making good use of our commercial recreation tenure as we remain the only government approved guiding company able to explore the superb trail riding throughout the Whistler valley!
We know we can still offer great alternative options with most of the logistis in place to help you get the most out of your trip to Whistler.
We will be working on returning to the Whistler Experience package in a suitable property for 2019 but taking time to ensure we find a property that allows us to continue provide our excellent holidays to our superb guests.
Looking at plans for 2018? Lets us know what your needs are!


text:
Photo, above: Rafik and Lina Hariri. See: Hour 1, Block A, Michele Dunne, vice president and director of the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East at the Atlantic Council; the distinguished and much-beloved Hariri was assassinated on 14 February 2005, when explosives equivalent to around 1800 kg...
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Photo, above: "Arab intellectuals facing the challenge of change" - Sayyid Qutb was an Egyptian author, educator, Islamic theorist, poet, and the leading member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood in the 1950s and 60s. See: Hour 3, Block C, Eric Trager, Washington Institute and Wall Street Journal...
Photo, above: Sarah Bernhardt as Theodora JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW Hour One Sunday 21 July 2013 / Hour 1, Block A: Heaven's Bride: The Unprintable Life of Ida C. Craddock, American Mystic, Scholar, Sexologist, Martyr, and Madwoman... by Leigh Eric Schmidt (1 of 2) Ida C. Craddock was a 19th-...
Photo, above: The famous typewriter of Alger Hiss. See: Hour 4, Block A, Ron Radosh, Hoover, on the Hiss case and Whittaker Chambers JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW Hour One Saturday 20 July 2013 / Hour 1, Block A: Black April: The Fall of South Vietnam, 1973-75 by George J Veith (1 of 4) Saturday 20 July...
Picture, above: American taxpayers currently hand out about $23 billion annually to farmers, and not the fellow trying to make ends meet with six chickens and an acre of corn. Mostly, those monies go to well-financed, prosperous farm households. Vincent Smith, in a report for the Mercatus Center,...