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 […]
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 […]
Jennifer’s Body vs. Buffy’s Body
From time to time Religion Dispatches includes articles and commentary that dovetail with the interests and perspectives of TheoFantastique. This was the case recently with an article by W. Scott Poole titled “Jennifer’s Body and Why I Like Buffy’s Body Better.” Poole situates Jennifer’s Body within the context of previous horror films that have incorporated a “raft […]
Bryan Stone: Changing Religious Imagery in Horror
As regular readers of TheoFantastique are aware, some of the facets of the fantastic genres discussed on this site are religion and spirituality. A while back I came across an article by Bryan Stone of the Boston University School of Theology that touched on this topic titled “The Sanctification of Fear: Images of the Religious in […]
PET SEMATARY: “Resurrection” Gone Wrong and Parental Loss
One of the programs I watch every time it’s replayed is Bravo’s “The 100 Scariest Movie Moments” (2004). Although I certainly find my areas of disagreement in the program’s selection of moments (for example, Jaws listed as number 1, the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz being included, and inclusion of the psychedelic boat scene […]
Horror, Pop Culture, and Current Events
In the past I’ve connected aspects of the fantastic to popular culture and current events. With this post I do so again, first in serious fashion, and second with tongue in cheek. In a recent post I asked readers to consider America’s continuing struggles with the legacy of racism through reflection on Conquest of the […]
Entertainment Weekly, Again: Vampires!
With another post inspired by a feature in Entertainment Weekly, indeed, back to back posts, readers may wonder about my magazine reading habits, or think that I am on the payroll for EW. Neither situation should be of concern, but it is interesting that the magazine has now featured aspects of horror in two consecutive […]
Entertainment Weekly: Women and Horror
A recent copy of my wife’s ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY magazine for July 31, 2009 includes an article with information that I found surprising. The piece is titled “Horror Films…and the Women Who Love Them!” by Christine Spines. I was not surprised to find an increasing presence of the feminine in horror, and that this has reshaped […]
Bride of Frankenstein: Censors, Perversity, and Religion
In my last post I mentioned one of the treasures included in my anniversary gifts from my wife. With this post I share a few reflections on the second gift, The Legacy Collection of Frankenstein by Universal Pictures. When I grew up I had an appreciation for various schools of horror films. I know that […]
Essay Accepted for Butcher Knives & Body Counts
I am pleased and humbled that my essay contribution to Butcher Knives & Body Counts: Essays on the Formula, Frights, and Fun of the Slasher Film (Dark Scribe Press, forthcoming) was recently accepted. The essay is titled “Slasher Films As Modern Chaos Monster Myths.” The piece touches on the ancient chaos monster which was conceived […]
