It is almost that time of year again! Our favorite eerie season!
Once again I will be publishing an article/review/podcast or video a day.
But this year I will also be doing 31 days of giveaways! Because I want to give back and make it fun for my readers! Not to mention, we all deserve a little horror love this time of year!
I’d love to give people plenty of time to enter so that each day I can pick someone by random so I’m including the entry form now!
There will be quite a variety so it should be fun! Physical gifts (movies, collectibles, comics, swag), virtual, and a few surprises! LETTERBOXD Patron subscription anyone?
Thank you all again for coming to my site and celebrating my third Haunt-Tober!!
Rules: Enter on the submission form. It is possible to win more than once!
All winners will be featured on the site and given our discord!
All prizes will be sent within 15 days of the winners picked!
All come with a personalized note.
All that’s required is a shoutout when received and answering questions in submission form (promise they are all fun!)
Disclaimer: if you aren’t comfortable with being featured on the site or in any collaboration gift ideas please let me know and we can find something else for you!
Please be respectful and kind in your responses. This is a small site that is close to my heart.
You can find the entry form here. The deadline to enter is October 15th!
When you have a deep love for the novel Dracula by Bram Stroker the obvious thing to do is to make a trilogy of films (started over thirty years ago) dedicated to a modern retelling of the tale. That’s exactly what writer and director Bryan Enk has done, starting with his first two titles from when he was still in college, 1993’s Dracula and 1994’s Dracula Returns. Of course both of these were made on a budget thinner than any thread known to humanity and shot on VHS using camcorders. When you have a love for storytelling, it doesn’t matter.
That brings us to this year and the film we are here to talk about, Blood Daughter, in a way a legacy sequel to Enk’s own films from the 90’s. The movie takes a few minutes to get going but once it does we learn that there is a cult that has been routinely recruiting people to be sent to the tower and become food for Dracula and the titular Blood Daughter (played by Alexandria Johnson). That’s just one of the many plots and subplots the film introduces us to, slowly bringing them all together at the end.
I Am All In A Sea Of Wonders
The film takes ideas and themes directly from Bram Stoker’sDracula in order to inform the narrative of the piece, often taking lines directly off the page. At times the film had a very campy feel for everything that was happening until it hit me what I was watching. If you just let go and allow things to unfold (while reserving judgment) the movie is very much a stage-play. Sure, it’s filmed and the camera moves inform what it is that we are to be paying attention to but at the heart of Blood Daughter, it’s very much a play. An over the top one that didn’t take itself too seriously at times, but a play none the less. In a way, that’s what ended up making it fun for me.
The cast is extensive (all friends or favors that were called in by Enk) and included almost everyone that was involved in the original VHS epics from the 90’s. Returning for the conclusion of the tale were; Aaron Sinclair (Harker), John Klump (Renfield), Chuck Johnson (Van Helsing), and David Jarrell (Lord Henry). Whether you enjoyed the varying levels of acting talent from those involved or not, the one thing that you cannot argue with is, they were having a blast. It was like watching one of the home movies that we all made when we were younger but made by adults who haven’t yet forgotten how to have fun. We should all make at least one of these films if we truly love cinema.
Conclusion
Blood Daughter won’t win any awards, and it certainly won’t change the landscape of Hollywood for better or for worse, but that’s kind of the point. Enk rounded up the people he wanted to work with and went out and made the film that he wanted to make. It was a pure passion project by everyone involved and when you have art like that it doesn’t deserve to be ignored or ran into the ground, it should be seen and enjoyed for what it is. Someone’s hard work, finished and put on screen. It takes a lot to see something through from start to finish so for that alone it’s worth a view.
I will say that despite the fact that I wasn’t completely on board with the acting or the camera moves (or lack of camera moves) or the sound design and effects, the movie did exactly what it set out to do. It made a campy little conclusion to the films Enk made in college and even expanded on the lore a little. It had a definite beginning, middle, and end, and it was entertaining.
I do like stumbling upon movies like this, they’re like little secrets that only a handful of people are in on. In this case I think if you have just under two hours to kill, you should seek Blood Daughter out and give it a watch. Supporting Indie filmmakers is always important and this film can use the word of mouth. They all put in their time, you can give them a little of yours.
Sleep is a riveting, haunting, and thought-provoking delight. It’s one of my favorite films thus far during this year’s Toronto Film Festival and was quite a surprise.
I’m still thinking about it now, wondering what I believe truly occurred. The staying power alone makes me recommend this one to the masses.
Sleep follows the lives of Soo-jin (Jung Yu-mi) and Hyun-su (Lee Sun-kyun), a blissful couple awaiting the arrival of their first child.
Their serene life takes an eerie turn when Hyun-su, in the middle of the night, whispers the chilling phrase, “someone’s inside.” This sets the stage for a sequence of events, each escalating in intensity and creepiness.
Under the expert direction of Jason Yu, the film exudes an unnerving discomfort that is both immediate and relentless. The plot oscillates between Hyun-su’s perceived paranoia and the potential of a supernatural occurrence, suggesting that he might be possessed. However, as he begins to see a doctor and take medication, his condition shows signs of improvement, infusing the narrative with a gripping uncertainty.
This element of unpredictability fuels the intrigue of this psychological thriller, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting a catharsis. It slowly irks toward the finale and while the ending may not pack the sort of punch one might hope for, it’s still effective.
The fragility of new parents, distrust of spouse, especially with a new mother potentially dealing with postpartum depression and the question of one’s own sanity, are powerful thematic elements.
While there are some terrific jump scares it is the additional inertia of certainty combined with an overwhelming desire for such answers, that makes this a potent psychological cocktail.
This feature debut exudes an undeniable prowess, leaving me eagerly anticipating future projects. The cinematic framing is executed with remarkable finesse, and the performances are nothing short of mesmerizing. I challenge anyone to identify another film from this year that demonstrates the same audaciousness and daring originality that this film so boldly exhibits.
The meticulously crafted screenplay, combined with the exceptional acting performances and the masterfully set mood, elevates Sleep as one of the best horror films of the year.
Sleep had its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Under the direction of Ariane Louis-Seize, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person interrogates a novel premise: What if a vampire harbors an inherent distaste for consuming human blood? This unique narrative is wonderfully woven with elements of compassion, humor, and ingenuity.
The narrative orbits around the adolescent vampire, Sasha (Sara Montpetit), who finds herself wrestling with the morbid expectations of her lineage. Her vampiric pedigree necessitates a diet of human blood, yet she finds herself at odds with this gruesome reality. Especially when it comes to taking a life.
From the first frame, I was instantly drawn in by the film’s quirky introduction. Sasha forms an unexpected emotional connection with a clown at her birthday party, oblivious to the fact that he was intended to be her inaugural feast, a tradition anticipated by her vampire kin.
The film deftly navigates the tumultuous waters of emotional trauma and compassion. Sasha’s father (Steve Laplante) exhibits empathy for her quandary, while her mother (Sophie Cadieux) insists on adherence to their vampiric tradition. Sasha’s refusal to succumb to her nature threatens her existence, leading her to find solace in meetings for individuals coping with depression. Upon crossing paths with the suicidal teenager, Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard), Sasha perceives a potential resolution.
Their relationship evolves into an unconventional alliance, with Sasha striving to circumvent the necessity of ending his life. She posits the fulfillment of a final wish – to retaliate against his oppressor, Henry.
Despite some of the macabre elements, it exudes an endearing sweetness, effortlessly dismantling the barriers of societal norms. It encapsulates the essence of adolescent romanticism and life’s tribulations through a lens of humor and poignant commentary.
source: Toronto International Film Festival
The film’s subdued color palette aligns with its tonal subtleties, while the remarkable performances of the young leads imbue the narrative with a sense of depth.
This melancholic dark comedy breathes new life into the vampire subgenre and emerged as an unexpected gem at this year’s festival, which I found utterly captivating.
Christine Doyon‘s script is a triumphant display of wit and deadpan humor. Sophie Cadieu delivers a stellar performance, her stoic resolve gradually unveiling a captivating expressiveness.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person intertwines elements of romance and a profound exploration of humanity. The film is a heartwarming and inventive cinematic experience that offers a refreshing deviation from conventional vampire narratives, proving both enthralling and unforeseen.
Simultaneously presenting a tale of supernatural creatures and an exploration of the human psyche, it leaves a lasting impression.
With an artful blend of dark comedy, fantasy, romance, and humanistic exploration, it’s a beacon of inventive filmmaking and is certain to delight discerning viewers.
Let’s breathe new life into familiar tropes or rather… get some fresh blood.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person had its premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
What would you get if you bred the television show Sons of Anarchy with the movie John Carpenter’sVampires? You would get the latest release from Storm King Comics, Night Terrors: 13 Horsemen. Packed with more demon slaying than you can shake a stick at thanks to a monster hunting band of outlaw bikers, this book calls for blood on every level.
Night Terrors: 13 Horsemen wastes no time jumping right into the action and introducing us to the core group of slayers lead by the grizzled vet in the game, James. His introduction into this world came years ago when he was forced to watch his wife’s murder at the hands of the demons from hell and it was then that he made revenge not only his goal but his purpose in life. Following a priest that everyone calls Father, the group are constantly on the lookout for who they believe is the main threat called Corbin. There is of course a prophecy that seems to be coming true and if they can’t stop it, it will mean the end of days.
This book moves fast from one blood and gore soaked scene to the next. From one rescue to another, always with the end goal in mind, to find Corbin and stop the prophecy. There isn’t a lot of downtime and never a chance to breath, the action is swift and intense because the 13 Horsemen can’t allow anything slow them down. The fate of the entire world is at stake after all.
From The 9th Circle
Night Terrors: 13 Horsemen is the brainchild of Nat Jones. He had double duty on this one, not only doing the amazing art (every page in this book is just as beautiful as any he has done in his many collaborations with Steve Niles) but he also conceived and wrote the story. So, let’s talk about the writing first.
This story is a very interesting take on the hunting genre of horror, whether that be monsters or vampires or in this case, demons. The element of the biker gang added a lot of flavor to a trope that we’ve seen a lot over the years, opening up the world to where there are no weak characters. Everyone is very capable of handling their business and that’s especially important here, with each turn of the page the problems literally become bigger and bigger.
The art, well, what can I say about the art of Nat Jones that hasn’t already been said over the years. He has a very unique style that is often imitated but never duplicated. The man is in a world of his own when it comes to how he renders a page. Everything is always in motion, I dare not ask the question “is he’s capable of doing a still life,” because he would probably draw a vase of flowers but place it in the bed of a speeding truck, or in this case, on the back of a motorcycle. But seriously, the art is once again amazing and there are many pages I would love to have as a poster in my office.
The other contributor to the book was the always amazing lettering of the one and only Janice Chiang. She was once again able to match the tone and feel of the artist and still find room for her own voice among the chaos. Dare I say, she never misses?
Final Thoughts
Night Terrors: 13 Horsemen was a thrill ride of a read. I consumed it in one sitting because putting it down just simply couldn’t be done. It made me want to grab my leathers and my crew and head out to battle the demons of the night until I remembered that I didn’t have any leathers nor a crew and as far as I’m aware the only demons of the night are my children when it’s time for bed.
I’m slowly starting to think that Storm King Comics doesn’t believe in publishing subpar stories because everything I get my hands on is top notch. Imagine that, a publishing house that puts out original stories and creator owned work, surrounding themselves with the best of the best. Night Terrors: 13 Horsemen just solidifies my hypothesis, it’s a fantastic addition to any graphic novel collection. Jones and Chiang knocked it out of the park.
Science fiction (when done well) has always held a special place in my heart. If you think about it, most of the DNA you’ll find in the best horror stories factor heavily into everything that makes for a great science fiction tale.
An other-worldly presence, a mysterious figure pulling the strings from the shadows, an end of the world type scenario, it’s all there front and center in both. In John Carpenter’s: Tales of Science Fiction: Civilians (the latest from Storm King Comics) we get plenty from each of those buckets.
The opening words, the very first thing we see on page one, set the tone nicely and let us know exactly what kind of a journey we were in for. It begins, “it was a nice day for a mass casualty event,” I think that sums up quite perfectly everything that followed. The ending to that scene was chilling and had a beach full of people walking helplessly into the ocean, not knowing why they were doing it, yet, powerless to stop themselves. A crackpot on YouTube has a theory as to why that happened (as crackpots on YouTube tend to do) but nothing that could be taken seriously… could it?
After the tragedy at the beach we are introduced to the mother of one of the victims as she’s making her way through the airport the following day. Elsewhere it’s raining homeless people off of an overpass. That event was followed up by a group of seemingly normal people going blank and trying to steal anything that wasn’t nailed down in Beverly Hills. These events bring together three very different people, all who have a good reason to get to the bottom of what’s going on. What follows is one strange happening after another while these strangers search for the truth, for the cause of all this madness.
The architects of the apocalypse
Civilians was written by Duane Swierczynski and the influence of the great science fiction shows of the past is apparent on every page. Maybe this is only me projecting but this book felt like a top-tier episode of The Twilight Zone. Swierczynski wasted no time jumping right into the story with a wild event that sucked me in from the word go. Even the way the mystery was slowly unraveled, like a ball of yarn slowly being unwrapped, was reminiscent of that 1960’s sci-fi staple. No, he doesn’t leave the ending or the cause of the crazy up to us, the reader, the information is very deliberately withheld until we needed to know. It wasn’t what I was expecting and for that I loved it all the more.
Besides the great story that was told here, the book itself is absolutely beautiful to look at. For that we have several people to thank, the first being the man behind the pencil, Andrea Mutti. His character designs were, as always, on the border of animation and live action. He somehow manages to make these 2D people feel real even though we know we’re reading a comic. It’s always a pleasure getting to look at his work. With that said, we have to give credit where it’s due, to the inker on the book, GigiBaldassini. The lines were always tight and the shadows were always deep, it was great work.
ValerioAlloro followed those two by bringing the color to the page. One thing I’m always interested in when I read a book like this is how the artists choose to use color. It can vary greatly from title to title from very muted and moody to bright and fun. Civilians falls somewhere in the middle of those and has the perfect balance of both worlds. Like I said, it’s a beautiful book. The final piece of this puzzle is of course the lettering and it was laid in with expert precision by Janice Chiang. I don’t have the best vision in the world and I never found myself squinting or trying to guess a letter, that’s a huge win in my book. It was fantastic.
Final Thoughts
Civilians was a throw back to the science fiction tales of the past that managed to keep a modern day feel. Once it started (on page one) it didn’t let up until the horrifying conclusion, and even then, it only relented because it was over. This was very much a quick and fun read where I never once found myself bored or wanting to do anything but propel forward—the mark of any great story. It had been a while since I’ve been able to read a science fiction story that I cared to finish so this was a great breath of fresh air.
Some people believe that if it doesn’t involve space or aliens or time travel then it can’t be a science fiction story and I never understood that stance. Sci-fi is as broad a medium to work in as drama or comedy or horror and when it’s done well, you can’t beat it. This is very much one of those times so, if your life has been missing a good science fiction yarn, if your heart has been yearning for an original tale to make you think and keep you entertained, then you need to give this book a chance. Civilians was the best sci-fi story I’ve consumed this year.
Storm King has a rich and storied history of releasing unique and fun horror and sci-fi comics and that tradition continues in a big way in their new graphic novel; Night Terrors: User Down.
The story centers around Dana, a psychic who sometimes works with law enforcement by helping them to discover or find the bodies of the deceased. While she’s walking her dog a storm pushes them further into the forest and when Dana gets knocked into a rushing river, everything changes for her. Dana is sucked into a hole and finds herself deep underground, face to face with Poe’s fabled House of User.
Broken into two pieces (like the Titanic it is stated by more than one character) Dana finds it hard to believe what she is looking at. The house appears to be stuck in time and from all appearances, extremely haunted. Dana is fairly quickly rescued but immediately recruited to lead an expedition back to the house to explore and try to find out just what the heck is going on there by Bernice, a government agent.
Going back is a tall order for Dana but she agrees and quickly the team finds out that the house is haunted not only by ghosts but by time itself. Things are constantly changing, sometimes in horrifying ways, like something you would see in a Silent Hill video game. It’s very cool.
The architects of madness
Putting the pen to the paper was Jason Henderson. His writing really shines in several ways in UsherDown, the one that resonated the most for me was his ability to layer the mystery. Nothing is quite as it seems upon first glance and it is very clear that when he said he took inspiration from; The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting, and Rose Red, he meant it. It bleeds through in the best ways. Henderson never pulls down his sunglasses, sitting at the poker table and pushing his chips all in when he’s ready. His use of a strong female lead was refreshing in a genre the can sometimes lack such representation. My only question is, what does he have cooking next?
The art was quite masterfully done by Greg Scott who managed to put together a consistent look for the book that was somehow both realistic and stylized. It really pops off the page and forces you to look for the tiny details. Breathing life into his work was the colorist, in this case, Felipe Sobreiro who chose a pallet that was just muted enough that when he really wanted to draw your eye he would add a brighter splash to make sure nothing was missed. I loved the colors in this. Of course no story could be told without the words and the lettering here by Ed Dukeshire. Always easy to read, he gave each character their own style so that even if there weren’t dialogue bubbles, we would know who was speaking. Extremely well done, this team needs to work together, so many more times.
Final thoughts
Usher Down surprised me, it shouldn’t have because Storm King continues to impress with each and every release. It just solidified Storm King as the undisputed champion of horror publishing. The story was a quick read because it forced me to keep going, much like the characters, I was afraid to stop. I wouldn’t know what would happen if I did and I needed to know. The writing and the art are perfectly married in this book and there isn’t a single aspect that makes it anything but a pleasurable experience.
Also, selfishly for me, there aren’t many horror stories that are set in Virginia and as a Virginia boy myself it was quite fun to be reading something that took place in my home state. It made everything somehow that much more familiar and really raised the stakes.
Usher Down was just another perfect example of what is possible in the graphic novel medium, you don’t need to spend millions of dollars on an effect heavy movie when reading (in this house at least) is still very popular, cheaper, and sometimes for my money, more fun. Usher Down was like taking a guided tour through Henderson, Scott, Sobreiro, and Dukeshire’s collective nightmares and it was a dreamscape that I would be happy to revisit. You need to pick up a copy of this book.
It is almost that time of year again! Our favorite eerie season!
Once again I will be publishing an article/review/podcast or video a day.
But this year I will also be doing 31 days of giveaways! Because I want to give back and make it fun for my readers! Not to mention, we all deserve a little horror love this time of year!
I’d love to give people plenty of time to enter so that each day I can pick someone by random so I’m including the entry form now!
There will be quite a variety so it should be fun! Physical gifts (movies, collectibles, comics, swag), virtual, and a few surprises!
Thank you all again for coming to my site and celebrating my third Haunt-Tober!!
Rules: Enter on the submission form. It is possible to win more than once!
All winners will be featured on the site and given our discord!
All prizes will be sent within 15 days of winners picked!
All come with a personalized note.
All that’s required is a shoutout when received and answering questions in submission form (promise they are all fun!)
Disclaimer: if you aren’t comfortable with being featured on the site or in any collaboration gift ideas please let me know and we can find something else for you!
Please be respectful and kind in your responses. This is a small site that is close to my heart.
You can find the entry form here. The deadline to enter is October 15th!
Sour Candy (great title) is a horror-filled story that keeps its finger on your pulse as it sustains its curated, perpetual unease.
In a twist of fate (perhaps) Phil Pendleton crosses paths in a grocery store one day with a young boy named Adam and his mother.
Soon after, his mother is in an accident and suddenly, he’s responsible for this strange child who refers to him as dad.
The story’s first page teases a troubling future for Phil and a promising page-turner as four months in the future, his teeth have fallen out. His face is weathered and it’s clear that this has taken a toll.
The life he knew is turned upside down and now he’s unsure if he’ll be able to survive at all. Who is this boy? What are his intentions? Is he even a child at all?
It’s a freaky little joy to find out these answers. Phil is a sympathetic and interesting character to follow which makes the journey an easy one to devour. There’s also some really fascinating lore built in that shows the level of creativity at play here. It encourages a variety of emotions while being genuinely creepy at times, which isn’t easy to do.
Nothing bad can come from eating candy, right?
The comic is nightmare fuel come to life as it takes the commonality of a shared dream most of us will have at some time and makes it a dread fest. What Phil soon learns runs deeper and darker than he could have ever imagined. First his teeth, but what’s next? When will he no longer be of use?
In many ways, the storytelling in Sour Candy feels more cinematic than some of the other comics I’ve reviewed. While it is easy to visualize because of the stellar artwork, it also leaps off the paper, hopefully luring someone, somewhere, to adapt.
Written by Kealan Patrick Burke, it flits by, becoming weirder with each scene that combines more intimate psychological thrills with the scope of gods and monsters.
The artwork is interesting. It isn’t always consistent, but it has moments that compel some very powerful imagery. This hellish trap that Phil gets stuck in is brutal stuff and the visuals and narrative symbiosis make it a winner.
It’s hard to put down, just strange enough to raise a brow and creepy enough to drop a jaw. Sour Candy is a compelling slice of chilling child fare that might just be effective enough to have you avoiding the candy aisle.
For more information on Storm King comics click here.
For a special episode this fall we want to hear your stories! Send in a voice message with your name and tell us what made you fall in love with horror to be included!
No requirement, just any length you are comfortable with!
Wonderfully Weird & Horrifying 