-
Haxan Review: Documentary or Psychological Horror? That Which Used to Scare Us
Haxan: Witchcraft through the Ages, is a silent 1922 Swedish and Danish co-production, directed by Danish director Benjamin Christensen, whose filmography ran mostly through the silent era, including a five-year stint in Hollywood. Haxan, which was also written by Christensen, takes is a lecture/docudrama in seven parts, covering the Middle Ages, the Inquisition, and the modern era. Unfortunately, it must be said that much of part one will bore the impatient viewer, as it really is a lecture (complete with a pointer!) on the origins of witchcraft. Luckily, the sheer number of paintings, drawings, and woodcuts used to illustrate his points throughout the section is impressive, and even foreshadows some…
-
The Ultimate Lifestyle Shopping Experience: Horrorstor
Have you ever discovered a new author, gotten really into their book, praise them as a new find to anyone who’ll listen, puffing out your chest because no one else knew about them? You can go on for weeks about your discovery, and how they should be praised from the mountaintops and given movie deals and so on. Well, that’s my story with Grady Hendrix. (‘No one else’ in these stories usually means ‘tons of people, just not you’). Awhile ago I came across his amazing history of 70s and 80s horror, Paperbacks from Hell, and was instantly hooked on his writing style. Then, last year, I received My Best…
-
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark–Humdrum Horror
Before I begin, let me address the elephant in the room—I am not the target audience for this movie. The source material became popular long after my school days. While I was growing up, there was precious little available for mid-level horror—it went from Scholastic collections of ghost stories to Stephen King, with nothing in between. I read The Shining when I was 12, and will forever have ‘roque/stroke’ burned into my memory. I mention this for a couple of reasons—first, because I WISH I’d had horror that was tailored for my age group, and that I went into this movie without any expectations. There’s no nostalgia factor here to…
-
A Very 80’s Exorcism
In a just world, Grady Hendrix would be seen by all as an up-and-coming horror writer, with big ideas and the writing skills to match. My Best Friend’s Exorcism is Hendrix’s second novel, published by Quirk in 2016, and takes the reader on a fast-paced, roller coaster ride of suspense and terror that subverts the tropes of the genre while simultaneously celebrating and paying tribute to them. Hendrix throws us right into the deep end of the world of our high-school protagonist, Abby. It’s a stressful life she leads, but she has her best friend of the title, Gretchen, to support her and keep her feeling loved and complete. Then,…