Posts in tag

Shudder


The older I get, the earlier Christmas seems to start each year. Businesses certainly look to make the most of it, seamlessly transitioning from Halloween into the festive season. This is great if you’re a big fan of the holidays. Not so great if you’re more bah humbug than ho ho ho. The endless forced …

Now into his 80s, Dario Argento was one of the most visionary, distinctive and inventive filmmakers working in genre cinema during the 1970s and 1980s. While his output has slowed down somewhat over the years, he’s still writing and directing. Although he’s approached his subjects from slightly different angles, the Italian maestro’s output is instantly …

The evolution of technology and the internet has made it easier than ever for anyone with a few gadgets and a bit of kit to broadcast themselves to the world. It’s becoming increasingly clear that this is not necessarily a good thing. Indeed, the cult of the influencer, a person normally peddling an idea, ideology …

While novels, film and TV often paint a utopian picture of childhood, in reality this is usually very far from the truth. Life is very far from the kind of idyllic playground depicted in much of classic literature. The same can be said for schooldays. Education is an experience which you either enjoy or hate, …

When we talk about mythology, it’s usually around the ancient Greeks or Romans. However, while much of it might have disappeared from modern religions, the major ones have a much greater connection with the supernatural than you’d expect. Judaism is a prime example of where a belief system has changed and yet many in the …

You may never have heard of The Erinyes, but it’s likely that you know them by another name – The Furies. While Greek mythology is full of disturbing and alarming characters, few are more compelling than the ‘three’. These vengeful female deities have sworn an oath to exact punishment on men who abuse their power …

When planning your movie, location is key. Scouting for the perfect place to stage your production can be the difference between success and failure. Finding a set which both manifests the essence of your story but also adds to it. One of the most famous examples is the Overlook Hotel in The Shining, which is …

While new religions might have taken-over the job of social control in most countries nowadays, folklore used to play a huge part in community life. While the new god(s), on the face of it at least, are more palatable, the old ones preyed on fear. Lurked in the dark, waiting to pounce. Demanding tribute or …

Movie poster

You might never have heard of GWAR but if you’ve ever seen them live you would never forget the experience. There is certainly no other band quite like them. Formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1984 by a loose collective with a shared punk ethos, GWAR is a heavy metal band who go on stage as …

Iris hiding

While there’s always been a certain amount of horror conjured-up by the idea of a virus-driven pandemic, the last few years have brought the prospect into stark relief. Not that COVID-19 turns its victims into mindless zombies wild with bloodlust or a hunger for brains, but it’s still very scary. Making films based on this …