Karin Beeler: Seers, Witches and Psychics on Screen
Another book that touches on the psychic realm caught my eye when thumbing through the catalog by McFarland. It is Seers, Witches and Psychics on Screen by Karin Beeler (McFarland, 2008). Beeler is an associate professor in the English department and Acting Director for the Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Technology at the University of […]
The Box
THE BOX: Movie Trailer I’ve seen a trailer for a movie, The Box, that looks intriguing that I’ll pass along here. Following is the plot summary fromt the Internet Movie Database: Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable […]
The Old West Meets the Undead: PCA/ACA Call for Papers
The combination of certain genres don’t work for me. In this case the Old West connecting with horror, specifically in the form of cowboys combined with zombies, vampires, and other horror icons, but apparently they work for some people and have become the focus of academic consideration. Following is a call for papers from the […]
October Shadows Halloween Art Show: Updated
Gallery Nucleus and Creature Features presents: October Shadows, Saturday, October 10. For the past two years, October Shadows has been known as Creature Features’ annual homage to the Halloween spirit. The exhibit and book by the same name will feature a prestigious group of artists from all facets of fine art, illustration, comics, film, TV, and animation, […]
ZOMBIELAND: Great Comedy-Horror, and a Little Bit More
Last weekend Zombieland hit theaters in its debut and went on to defy a recession diminished box office, and in the process earned critical praise. This comedy (which also includes elements of road-horror, teenage angst, and coming of age films) takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a mutation of the swine flu virus has turned […]
Paul Meehan: Cinema of the Psychic Realm
Paul Meehan is one of my favorite writers dealing with the fantastic in pop culture. He is the author of a number of books, including Saucer Movies: A UFOlogical History of the Cinema (Scarecrow Press, 1998) which he discussed here in a previous interview, Tech-Noir: The Fusion of Science Fiction and Film Noir (McFarland, 2008), […]
“Midnight Dance” Animation: An Interpretation of Danse Macabre
As readers are aware, this blog is devoted to the exploration and enjoyment of various facets of the fantastic in pop culture. Most of the time I pursue in-depth exploration, and through this receive a level of enjoyment. Hopefully my readers do to0. But with this post analysis steps aside in order to enjoy a great […]
October Welcome, Halloween Anticipation
After a year’s worth of anticipation, amped up slowly over the last few months, October is upon us, and with it, Halloween just around the corner. To begin the celebration I refer readers back to a few notable posts of the past related to the holiday. First, is an interview with Jack Santino who has […]
SURROGATES Again: Wealth and Play, Crime and War
I recognize that with this post this brings the total to three that interact with the new film Surrogates, but given the wealth of material within it for cultural reflection I ask the reader’s patience as I explore a few other facets. By way of background to the film, Surrogates presents a quasi-utopian world in […]
Cinefantastique Online – SURROGATES: Sci-Fi Thriller’s Reflections on the Self and the Synthetic
My latest essay for Cinefantastique Online is now available, titled “SURROGATES: Sci-Fi Thriller’s Reflections on the Self and the Synthetic.” Here is an excerpt: Although SURROGATES will likely not set great box office records, in my view the film is a significant one. Many times I build up great expectations based upon film trailers and […]
