Orbit Books brings me my first real creepy novel of 2023, Episode Thirteen. Using the familiar structure of the found footage genre, something that has been co-opted successfully for all of the ghost-hunting shows that seem to plague reality television, DiLouie compiles a literary found footage film, offering up video transcripts, EVP recordings, text messages,…
Tag: poltergeist
Insidious (2010) – James Wan
Director James Wan, and writer Leigh Whannell’s Insidious is a fairly solid ghost story, though it took me forever to come around to it. My first experience seeing it was in the theatre, where I couldn’t get over how a couple in front of me was scared by everything that was happening on the screen….
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) – Brian Gibson
A number of cast and crew (including composer Jerry Goldsmith and visual effects artist Richard Edlund) return for Poltergeist II: The Other Side and while Julian Beck seems truly terrifying as Kane, the film doesn’t have the Spielberg or Hooper magic that made the first film such a hit. The Freeling family, Diane (JoBeth Williams),…
The Conjuring 2 (2016) – James Wan
The second film in the Conjuring series once again focuses on a case investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren (portrayed in the film by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) and unlike the Annabelle stories, these films lean towards the smarter, filled with a well-crafted story, and some legitimate jump scares and actual terror. The film…
In Conversation with John Landis
Today is my birthday, so it seems like the perfect moment to share this wonderful gift DK Canada gave me. Director John Landis has overseen the compilation of a new anthology, Haunted Houses, and it is perfect reading for the Halloween season. It’s a fantastic collection, and DK Canada arranged for me to speak with…
Fright Night (1985) – Tom Holland
One of my favorite vampire movies is the next title up in the Monsters in the Movies book from DK Canada. Tom Holland’s Fright Night starring Roddy McDowall, Chris Sarandon, Stephen Geoffreys, Amanda Bearse and young William Ragsdale in the lead in this wonderful suburban update on the vampire legend. I came to horror movies…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Remember Me, and Legacy
Captain’s log: stardate 44161.2 Gates McFadden gets a long overdue Crusher-centric episode that was written by Lee Sheldon. This episode first aired on 22 October, 1990. The Enterprise arrives at Starbase 133, where Dr. Crusher meets up with an old friend, who is catching a ride home with them. Unfortunately, he disappears, and seemingly has…
The Twilight Zone (1962) – Little Girl Lost, Person or Persons Unknown, and The Little People
Buckle up, folks. It’s time for another trio of episodes from Paramount Pictures superlative The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series blu-ray collection. Up first is Little Girl Lost. Richard Matheon wrote this eerie tale that first debuted on 16 Match, 1962. Chris Miller (Robert Sampson) hears his daughter call out in the night, and goes…
Monsters in the Movies – 100 Years of Cinematic Nightmares (2011) – John Landis
How much do I love this book? Let me tell you! This gorgeous, coffee table book, available from DK Canada, penned and compiled by director John Landis (who directed my favourite werewolf movie of all time, An American Werewolf in London, though I was introduced to him through the Thriller video first) has created a…
Trailer Tracks: Poltergeist (1982) – Tobe Hooper
Whether Hooper or Spielberg directed this movie has been up for debate for years, I do know that it is one of my all-time favorite haunted house movies. I’m a little anxious about the remake, but hopefully they don’t try to overdo it too much. This one works, because it feels like it could…
The Mind Reels 