A forest sparkling with fairy dust, it’s woodland floor peppered with what can only be called anus mounds; psychedelic collages of body parts flashing before your eye to an electronic beat; poxy-faced characters in absurd and disturbing circumstances as they struggle through the literal muck of life. That muck, which at first looks like your garden... Continue Reading →
mother! and the Art of Sacrifice
Yet another festival film has divided the masses in the way of Darren Aronofsky's latest film, mother! Making its rounds in Europe and playing TIFF 2017 in Toronto, and much like previous TIFF premiere The Witch from over a year ago, critics and viewers either love or hate this allegorical masterpiece that confounds the horror genre and elevates the... Continue Reading →
The Women of Hounds of Love (Spoilers Ahead)
In Hounds of Love, Ben Young’s first feature-length film, a murderous couple in the city of Perth, Australia, stalks teenage girls to fulfil their sexual fantasies. The acts are orchestrated by John (Stephen Curry), a sexual predator who is cold, mean and conniving. His character is riveting because Young gives you just enough to wonder... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Films of the New French Extremity: Visceral Horror and National Identity
Scholars and journalists Alexandra West and Andrea Subissati, hosts of the Faculty of Horror podcast, focus on in-depth analysis of the horror genre with a feminist approach that would sway the staunchest naysayer. With their knowledge and background, it's no surprise that West has recently written a book entitled Films of the New French Extremity: Visceral Horror and National... Continue Reading →
Book Review: The 1990’s Teen Horror Cycle: Final Girls and a New Hollywood Formula
The 90s were a big shiny blur for me. I was a coltish 21 in 1991 and then suddenly I was 30, missing out on being a teen during that decade, but still young enough to consume the teen entertainment up for grabs. During that big shiny blur was a new kind of horror, one... Continue Reading →
The Tokoloshe: Mythology and Modern Trauma
With the South African film industry making new strides to create opportunities for local and foreign filmmakers, director Jerome Pikwane tackles the horror genre with his first feature film The Tokoloshe. Busi (Petronella Tsuma) is a desperate young woman who finds work at a derelict hospital as a night-shift cleaner. She must deal with a predatory... Continue Reading →
Horror Noire: History Lesson, Validation and Hope for Black Horror
I am beside myself with relief, joy and optimism because my life as a black woman horror fan has been validated. When I watched horror films as a young person, I cringed when a black character appeared, certain they were going to be ridiculed, portrayed as a caricature, or something bad was going to happen... Continue Reading →
Bird Box: Translating the Unseen to the Big Screen
The day I’ve dreaded for a long time is finally here. Bird Box, the 2014 post-apocalyptic horror debut novel by Josh Malerman, has been made into a film, and as a diehard fan of the novel, I’m here to give you my verdict after watching the highly anticipated Netflix holiday 2018 release. Malorie (Sandra Bullock)... Continue Reading →
Escape Room: The Right Kind of Franchise Fodder
From derelict buildings to posh Victorian houses, escape rooms are all the rage, and they have been for several years now. Paying for someone to lock you in a room with a group of people so you can figure out an escape will help build spirit you never thought you had plus you'll get a... Continue Reading →
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