horror – Positively Natalie

May 9, 2016May 31, 2016

Film review – Pandorica

Pandorica could be categorized in a number of ways – thriller, horror, apocalyptic, dystopian – and I think that’s one of the really appealing aspects of the film.

It picks up several generations after what they call The Great Reset, some sort of worldwide disaster that decimated all but the most isolated communities. Three youth of the Varosha tribe – Eiren, Thade, and Ares – are preparing to take part in a selection test, during which the tribe’s current leader Nus will select his replacement.

March 1, 2016

Film review – Refuge

If you’ve been around the blog long enough, you’ll know that I’m a sucker for an apocalyptic tale. Even though I tend to gravitate to zombies, I’m an equal opportunity end-of-the-world enthusiast. In fact, having spent six years living in Beijing (with a population of over 20 million crammed into tight quarters), I really connect…

February 23, 2016February 23, 2016

Film review – The Witch

There has been a lot of buzz floating around about The Witch ever since it hit the festival circuit last year. Rolling Stone promised it would “scare the hell out of you” and declared it “a crafty calling card brimming with beauty and terror” for first time writer/director Robert Eggers. The Atlantic gushed over it, saying it was…

January 3, 2016January 4, 2016

The year in reviews

Recently I’ve had a bit of brain spark on an idea for a novel that has been stewing in my head for a while. I’m going to try to focus my creative energy on outlining it, which probably means fewer blog posts for a few weeks. Rather than leave you in the lurch, I thought I’d pull together everything I’ve recommended you watch over the past year.

October 23, 2015October 5, 2016

The nine lives of Pinhead – a Hellraiser experiment

A few weeks ago, I had a bit of a random thought – It’s been ages since I’ve seen Hellraiser. I don’t know where the thought came from (probably some strange hypnotically suggestive Pinhead fever dream), but I figured I’d check out Netflix and see if it was available to stream. Not only is it available,…

October 4, 2015October 4, 2015

Film review – Love in the Time of Monsters

Love in the Time of Monsters is campy horror at its finest – Anchored by skilled veteran actors, punctuated by snappy dialogue, and propelled forward on continuous waves of gore.

September 12, 2015September 18, 2015

Film review – Zombeavers

Zombeavers is comedic horror that is more self-aware than meta. They know they’re campy, they’re proud they’re campy, and they’re just going to keep dialing up that camp-o-meter until they break off the knob.

April 7, 2015February 24, 2016

Film review – It Follows

When I visited Detroit last summer, my first impression was that it would make an amazing setting for a horror movie. I’ve never driven through such a large city that seemed so empty, void of both cars and people. And it wasn’t just a regular kind of empty. It felt stuck in mid-stride, as if it were…

March 21, 2015April 7, 2015

Book review – Horrorstör

There are few pastimes in this world that make me happier than reading scary books or watching scary movies. One of those few happens to be strolling through Ikea. I know it’s probably indicative of some sort of psychosis, but I find Ikea very soothing. The second time I moved to Beijing I lived pretty close to one of…

February 17, 2015April 7, 2015

Snow day sampler

A three-day weekend (thanks, dead presidents) has now turned into a four-day weekend (thanks, snow), which means I’ve had lots of time to write. Just kidding, it means I’ve plowed through my Netflix watch list and clicked my way through at least 60% of the internet. It’s possible I also watched the first two Twilight movies…