Monthly Archives: December 2008

Guillermo del Toro: Visionary Fantasy and Mythic Filmmaker

Given that my family has shifted in the last couple of years to opening Christmas presents on Christmas Eve, and that the vast majority of the gifts that I receive are related to the genres of the fantastic, I really do have a Nightmare Before Christmas. One of my gifts this year has been especially […]

The Unborn: Promising Horror for January 2009

My friends and neighbors who know of my interest in horror and other aspects of the fantastic assume that I enjoy every film connected with the genre. Many times I am asked if I have seen the television ads for a new film and whether I am going, and my answer is often that I […]

Understanding the Appeal of the Fantastic: Escape from the Habitus to Promised Lands

One of my continuing research projects involves an exploration as to why so many people enjoy the realm of the fantastic in popular culture. To be sure, many people enjoy these things for little more than entertainment, but for many others I believe it goes much further. My thinking on this matter has been informed […]

Eric Nuzum: THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST: Stalking Vampires from Nosferatu to Count Chocula

Back in October in one of my many wanderings through Barnes & Noble for my latest literary fix a book in the Culture section caught my eye. Eric Nuzum’s THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST: Stalking Vampires from Nosferatu to Count Chocula (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2008) described itself as a “far-reaching look at vampires in pop culture, from Bram […]

Interview with Scott Derrickson: The Day the Earth Stood Still

One of the classics of science fiction is The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). In this film the alien Klaatu comes to earthwith the warning that humanity must decide to live in peace or face global annihilation brought about through a race of robots such as Gort, Klaatu’s intergalactic traveling companion. This classic has been […]

AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits, Volume 1

I recently received a copy of the DVD AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits, Volume 1 from my friend Miguel Gallego of Crypt Club Productions, Inc. The DVD is promoted with the idea of “All killer – no filler,” and it delivers through seven short films of independent horror, all festival award winners. A preview trailer for […]

Forrest J. Ackerman: Horror Fandom Icon Passes Away

The horror subculture and decades of monster kids mourn as news of the passing of Forrest J. Ackerman circulates in the media. As his legion of fans, old and young, are keenly aware, Forry was extremely influential in the rise of the horror subculture, and in the production of specialized magazines devoted to it, through […]

Top Horror Films Controversy: Definitions, Biases, and Criteria

Ask a group of people what the “best of” may be in any given category and you’re likely to get a diversity of answers. Along with that may come a good deal of disagreement, and possibly controversy, especially if the answers are shared in a public forum. This is exactly the scenario that has taken place in […]

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