David Moody's Blog, page 55

What We Do in the Shadows

It’s been a while since I’ve recommended a movie, and what better day to put that right than today. I don’t know what it’s like elsewhere but, here in the UK, Halloween is increasingly over-commercialised and family friendly. It’s about sweets and toys and parties now, with the true horror of the season and its dark origins long-forgotten.

Today I present for you a no-holds-barred, warts-and-all documentary about that most revered and reviled of monsters, the vampire. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS is a chilling and revealing peek into the dark, depraved and sordid lives of the undead. Actually it’s not. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS is, in fact, that rare movie beast: a horror comedy that works. It’s bloody hilarious, actually, and I don’t hesitate to recommend it for your Halloween evening viewing pleasure.

Follow the lives of Viago (), Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and Vladislav () – three flatmates who are just trying to get by and overcome life’s obstacles – like being immortal vampires who must feast on human blood. Hundreds of years old, the vampires are finding that beyond sunlight catastrophes, hitting the main artery, and not being able to get a sense of their wardrobe without a reflection – modern society has them struggling with the mundane like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.

Coming from the creators of FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS and BOY, you know WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS should be good, but it’s just how good it is that really took me by surprise. This is a superbly paced, brilliantly performed, non-stop funny movie which I genuinely adored. The mockumentary is a difficult movie form to get right, but the film-makers involved here have experience and it shows. Chief Conchord Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi co-write and co-direct as well as playing two of the main bickering flatmates/ immortals, and they strike just the right balance between subtlety and out-and-out stupidity. The movie takes its ridiculous premise and exploits it to the full (plenty of crucifix and daylight-avoiding jokes) whilst somehow incredibly also managing to show restraint. There are plenty of visual effects on display, for example, but they’re never the sole focus of the scene. This is a film about idiots who happen to be vampires, not vampires who happen to be idiots, if that makes any sense.

Stealing the show for me, though, is as Anton, leader of a pack of local werewolves with impeccable manners (‘we’re werewolves, not swearwolves’ he tells one of the pack who dares to curse).

Again, WHAT WE DID IN THE SHADOWS took me completely by surprise, but it’s no surprise to hear there’s a sequel on the way (focusing on the werewolves, no less). The film’s available on Netflix here in the UK and I’ll repeat what I said earlier: if you’re looking for a movie to watch this Halloween, I thoroughly recommend it.

What We Do in the Shadows is a post from: David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER

It’s Horror Week on Goodreads…

…and I’m one of the authors answering questions. Alan Moore, Clive Barker, Justin Cronin, Brian Keene, Scott Sigler – click here to see the list of horror authors taking part.

The HATER movie, the new HATER books, AUTUMN, STRANGERS, THE SPACES BETWEEN – this is your chance to ask me anything (within reason). Click here and ask away. I’ll be answering throughout the week.

It’s Horror Week on Goodreads… is a post from: David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER

Halloween event at Waterstones Birmingham – this Friday!

Just a few days now before our huge Halloween event at Waterstones, Birmingham New Street. We’ve got loads planned for the evening including exclusive readings and announcements, special guests and more. You can win stuff by liking and sharing this Facebook post. Click the image below to find out more. Remember – the event is free admission, but we recommend you tweet @WstonesNewSt to reserve your place. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Halloween event at Waterstones Birmingham – this Friday! is a post from: David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER

The Black Fang Betrayal – Booktrack competition

Remember THE BLACK FANG BETRAYAL? It’s a great collaborative novel that I co-wrote with a host of incredible authors last year. The book was put together by James Thorn, and featured connected stories from TW Brown, Michaelbrent Collings, Mainak Dhar, J.C. Eggleton, Glynn James, Stephen Knight, T.W. Piperbrook and J.R. Rain. BOOKTRACK are running a BLACK FANG Halloween competition you might be interested in. Click here or on the image below for more information. You can win a heap of goodies, including a writing class with Thorn and a few free Booktracks written by some guy called Moody…

Have you heard of BOOKTRACK before? It’s a really cool concept. Described as a movie-style soundtrack for ebooks, it adds a whole new level to your reading experience. It’s something I’m very excited about, and I’m even more excited to announce that the first wave of Infected Books Booktracks will be live on the site shortly. More news coming soon.

The Black Fang Betrayal – Booktrack competition is a post from: David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER

HATER – US and Canada ebook price drop

Not read HATER yet? Need to get into the series in readiness for the new books coming soon? Want to read the story again ready for next year’s movie? Now’s the perfect time to do it. The price of the ebook version of the book from St Martin’s Press has just been slashed to $2.99! Get in quick! Get it from Amazon, B&N, or iBooks.

HATER – US and Canada ebook price drop is a post from: David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER

Announcing THE FRONT

When things are quiet here, it’s usually because I’m working hard on stuff in the background (honest). Right now I’m dividing my frustratingly limited writing time between a few major projects: ONE OF US WILL BE DEAD BY MORNING (HATER book #4), a huge Infected Books initiative for 2016, THE SPACES BETWEEN and this one.

A short while ago, top writers and good pals TIM LONG and CRAIG DILOUIE invited me to contribute a book to a brand new three volume World War II zombie series called THE FRONT. How could I refuse? I can’t say too much about it right now, so I’ll just let the cover of volume one do the talking. Tim’s writing this one, and it should hit the shelves in December. My book will be next up in the early part of next year.

Exciting, eh? So I’m sorry if I’ve neglected the site a little recently, and I apologise if I’m taking far too long to reply to any emails or messages you’ve sent this way, but at least it means 2016 should be filled to capacity with apocalyptic horror. I can’t wait.

If you want to hear more about this and other projects, don’t forget to come and see WAYNE SIMMONS and I in conversation at Waterstones, New Street Birmingham on 30 October at 7pm. Full details are here.

Announcing THE FRONT is a post from: David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER

There’s more to zombies than the Walking Dead…

Thanks to the staff at Waterstones Merry Hill for their kind words (and equally kind pimping) of AUTUMN. Much appreciated!

There’s more to zombies than the Walking Dead… is a post from: David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER

TOO YOUNG TO BE OLD – final parts available to read now

Just a very quick post to let you know that the final two parts of my 5TH WAVE story – TOO YOUNG TO BE OLD – are now available to read at Wattpad. If you remember from my last post, I was approached by Wattpad and Sony Pictures to write a UK-based story as part of the publicity campaign for the forthcoming 5TH WAVE movie, and this is the result. I hope you enjoy it.

The 5TH WAVE movie hits the screen worldwide in January 2016.

TOO YOUNG TO BE OLD – final parts available to read now is a post from: David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER

The 5th Wave – London Under Attack

Have you heard of THE 5TH WAVE? It’s a wildly successful apocalyptic YA book series by Rick Yancey. The novel first caught my eye thanks to a pretty spectacular trailer which accompanied its release back in 2013, and a big-budget movie adaptation (starring  and ) hits the screens early next year. When WATTPAD and SONY PICTURES asked me to write a UK-based short story about the first wave, I leapt at the chance.

You know, I think I’m generally pretty hard on my characters (and let’s face it, most of them deserve it), but I have nothing on Yancey. The 5th Wave deals with an alien invasion where the invaders inflict the titular apocalyptic waves on the planet in quick succession. The first wave – lights out – is an electromagnetic pulse which knocks out all electricity around the globe. That’s swiftly followed by literal waves as a series of tsunamis are triggered. As if that’s not enough, a devastating pandemic is then unleashed. The fourth wave is more subtle but no less deadly as the aliens appear among us, disguising themselves by taking human form. And the fifth wave…? Who knows. All will soon be revealed. The final book in the series is due out next year.

The first two parts of my story (called TOO YOUNG TO BE OLD) are available to read right now at Wattpad. Please head over and check them out or use the widget I’ve embedded below. The final two parts will follow later this year. It would make me very happy if you’d read, vote, comment and share the story.

And to get you in the mood and whet your appetite, here’s the trailer for the movie:

And here’s the story:

The 5th Wave – London Under Attack is a post from: David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER

SCREAM issue 32

I owe my friends at SCREAM MAGAZINE an apology. I’ve been meaning to post for a while to let you know that issue 32 is out, but various things have conspired to get in the way and I’ve not had chance to put anything together until now.

As usual, this month’s issue is filled with great articles including a feature on the classic Hammer horror films THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, LUST FOR A VAMPIRE and TWINS OF EVIL – known collectively as The Karnstein Trilogy. There’s something timeless and unique about Hammer movies. This box set is one of my prized horror possessions, and I’d recommend it without hesitation to anyone with even a passing interest in the horror genre. Required viewing.

Back to the mag and, as always, the team behind SCREAM have proved their horror credentials. Where else could you find an interview with Mike Christopher aka Hare Krishna zombie in .

From the earlier days of the zombie sub-genre to the bang up to date. SCREAM 32 includes a piece on FEAR THE WALKING DEAD which features interviews with Robert Kirkman and others. I recently watched the first episode of FEAR and was completely underwhelmed. if you’ve been watching, answer me this: should I stick with it?

To get hold of SCREAM, visit www.screamhorrormag.com. You can also pick up the magazine from any branch of HMV, Forbidden Planet, or any of the newsagents listed here. SCREAM is also available digitally as iSCREAM!

SCREAM issue 32 is a post from: David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER