Eric Butler's Blog, page 10

What's in the Box takes a look at Hellraiser

So in the first episode of What's in the Box? Donna and I discussed the Clive Barker classic, The Hell Bound Heart. Today we discuss the movie based on that book, Hellraiser. We do a deep dive into it and compare it to the book. I think it's a fun episode; it goes live when I'm asleep so here is the link to the channel so you can find it.

Click here to get to channel.

Our schedule for the discussions on books & movies will be every other Wednesday. On the off weeks, we will have quick hit videos were we suggest books or discuss things that can't wait - like submission calls or time-sensitive news. We will also release our interview episodes those weeks as well.

The first interview was with the guys from Crimson Pinnacle Press, and was filled with good info about anthologies, and authors writing together on projects. It will be out next week.

Well I hope y'all head over to our YouTube page and like, subscribe, and whatever else you need to do to find and enjoy our videos as they come out.

A collection of cryptids looking for a good home

The call of the wild is an alluring one to many people. The vast wilderness of the forests, lakes, jungles, and beyond are often places of solitude and retreat. They are places to become one with yourself and nature, a safe haven to rest, explore, and marvel at something beyond your daily life.

But can we know what truly lurks in those unexplored reaches of our lands? Can we fathom what living rarities may be hidden in those dark caves, and endless lakes? Can we be certain that the peace we seek can be found as we wander into the unknown reaches of the wild?

Splatter Ink Publishing has collected 10 extreme tales of carnage to scratch your Cryptid itch. Look at this lineup ...

1. Packanack Ridge by Joshua MacMillan2. Peppermint and Spice by Megan Stockton3. Hunt For Dobhar-Chu by Nat Whiston4. A Piney's Tale by Laura G. Kaschak5. Wendigo by Allisha McAdoo6. God’s Only Begotten Champ by Josh Darling7. The Last Expedition of the Squatch Squad by Anneliese A. Boyd8. You pray to the Devil, and He will answer by Thomas K.S. Wake9. The Princess of Pope Lick by Eric Butler10. White Sands by P. S. Traum

My story, The Princess of Pope Lick, takes the reader back to Kentucky and the home of the Goat-Man. If you enjoyed The Pope Lick Massacre, I believe you will love this story. So head over to Amazon or Godless and grab an e-book or a paperback.

Let's watch a movie ... or 2

So August 5th, we get a new Predator movie called Prey. It's looking to make up for the last film, Predators.

Blurb - The origin story of the Predator in the world of the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. Naru, a skilled female warrior, fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly-evolved Predators to land on Earth.

I think this is the correct approach. By taking the franchise backwards, we have a better chance to see exactly where the Predators came from and how they've evolved up to the original movie staring Arnold. I'm excited to see this one and hope it holds up .,.

https://youtu.be/wZ7LytagKlc

Since it's the beginning of the month, I have a few more suggestions to kill a few hours. All 3 are on Prime. First up ...

Blurb - When a young boy goes missing in a sleepy backwoods town, a local sanitation truck driver, Donald, plays detective, embarking on a precarious and obsessive investigation.

If you are a fan of the BBC Sherlock series, you might recognize the lead as Moriarty. He is the only reason I gave this movie a shot, and I was glad I did. It's not horror but there are parts within it that are horrific, and his performance is amazing. I love his range, and was curious how he would do in this film. He did not disappoint. If you like mysteries solved by everyday people, you should enjoy A Dark Place.

https://youtu.be/62zQXABj9GQ

Next up ...

Blurb - Five friends head to a remote cabin, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads them to unwittingly summon up demons living in the nearby woods.

Rarely do I find a remake to be as enjoyable as the original, especially in this day and age, but Evil Dead does a spectacular job of paying homage to the original 2 and standing up on its own. This movie hits all the right notes, and plays the scares a bit more than the original Evil Dead & Evil Dead 2. It's a gross and frightening good time.

NSFW - I could only find the red band trailer so you've been warned.

https://youtu.be/ZDbnniZh4X4

Finally ...

Blurb - When a nice new neighbor moves in next door, Charley discovers that he is an ancient vampire who preys on the community. Can he save his neighborhood from the creature with the help of the famous "vampire killer", Peter Vincent?

So in 2011, a completely unnecessary movie came out, or so I thought. I just couldn't see a reason to see the Fright Night remake when the original is so close to perfection. Add in Colin Farrell who at the time I wasn't a fan of, and I saw no reason to plop down my $6 to check it out.

When it came out to stream, I still never saw it, but while I was doing my top horror movies of the year, I read a ton of glowing things about this movie. Most importantly, I read how different it was from the original. My interest was piqued, and I was excited to see it pop up on one of my streaming sites. I'll give it a whirl and do a post breaking it down against the original.

https://youtu.be/txgGhyjPZGg

Go check these out if you haven't and we can meet back up and talk about what we think.

Coming soon - Donn, TX 1978

Donn, TX 1978 is back to the editor for round 2. I'm working on the cover, and hope to have it out in August on Kindle & Paperback. The audiobook may take a while, but I'll have more information on that soon.

If you want to catch up - which isn't necessary to enjoy any of the Donn, TX books - you can check out each year on e-book & audiobook: 1952, 1969, 1865, 1926, & 2002

If you prefer paperbacks, you can send me a DM on Facebook or email me through the site or head over to Amazon and find The Donn, TX Collection Vol 1 (which contains 1952, 1969, 1865, 1926) and Donn, TX 2002.

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Introducing What's in the Box?

First, sorry this post is late. Our 2nd husky, Kittle, had to be rushed to the ER Vet. She's doing fine, but I got mixed up, and it wasn't until this afternoon I realized I hadn't posted today. Luckily, I knew what I wanted to share as I've teamed up with fellow horror indie fan/poet/writer Donna Latham to deep dive into classic horror novels & movies. We also plan on speaking with the unsung heroes of the indie horror world, the behind-the-scenes talent: editors, cover artists, bloggers, publishers, interior designers, and all the others who help indie creators get their words in front of people.

Our schedule will be simple. We will discuss a classic novel/novella/short story of horror. The next episode will be a deep dive into the movie created from that piece of writing. Then we will do a technical episode - here we will either discuss something behind the scenes or interview someone. Then back to a novel. We will try to keep the episodes to around an hour, and if they do go long, we plan on breaking them up.

Our initial novel schedule is The Hell Bound Heart, The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror, Rosemary's Baby, and The Omen.

Check out the first episode, and if you like it please head over to YouTube and subscribe and like. Click Here to go to YouTube.

https://youtu.be/UvA1PGapiF0

If you take 1 thing from the 2020 horror movie post let it be this ...

,Fantasy Island, sucks.

I'll talk more about it further down cause I don't want that nonsense to be the pic the site uses for the post.

So I'm going to be honest. I haven't seen enough movies in 2020 to make a top 10 list let alone a top 10 horror list. Many of these are just ones that either did well or looked interesting, but I have seen a few and my favorite is at #1 ...

I'm not sure I would characterize Guns Akimbo as horror, but it does have some horrific scenes and I guess waking up with guns screwed to your hands would be scary. This movie is fun, loud, gory, and one of my favorite Daniel Radcliffe movies. I tell ya, the best part of Harry Potter is he accepts crazy roles like this without any worry about cost or damage to his "brand". Check it out on Prime.

Blurb - A guy relies on his newly-acquired gladiator skills to save his ex-girlfriend from kidnappers.

https://youtu.be/JggpSpqxS6I

The Hunt is just a funny movie. The idea of people getting rounded up and hunted because of saying crazy stuff on social media is funny. The writers & director do a good job of making it tense, and funny all the way through. I don't think you have to have a political leaning to enjoy this one. You will find people you agree with and that are ridiculous on both sides. Check it out on Amazon's Freeve.

Blurb - Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don't know where they are, or how they got there. They don't know they've been chosen - for a very specific purpose - The Hunt.

https://youtu.be/sowGYbxTPgU

So the guy who did The Fault in Our Stars was handed Marvel Comics' New Mutants and decided to make it a "horror" movie. I'm happy Disney now has full control of the X-Men titles and will put them into the MCU. However, I didn't hate this take on the characters. You can tell they weren't planning to build on the idea, but for a movie, it's a fine use of 90 minutes or so. Check it out with HBO.

Blurb - Five young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves.

https://youtu.be/W_vJhUAOFpI

Movies I've seen some of but haven't finished yet ...

So I own Freaky and sat down to watch it with the wife - who was going to take one for the team - but it started way too gory and I pulled the plug. I just haven't gone back to it yet because I have the attention span of a squirrel. The idea is great - serial killer switches bodies with a teenage girl - and Vince Vaughn looks amazing in the trailer. I bet, if I had seen it, this would have been in the running for #1. You can check it out on HBO. Let's race and see who gets to it first/. 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... Go.

Blurb - After swapping bodies with a deranged serial killer, a young girl in high school discovers she has less than 24 hours before the change becomes permanent.

https://youtu.be/EqPnIcDW9g0

So this was on HBO and looked interesting, so I started it. I didn't finish it and the next day they took it off. The movie is Underwater and I can say the first half is tense and well-acted. I don't think I made it to the monsters yet, but just being that far underwater is scary enough for me. Just like Pattinson, Stewart has been trying to shake the Twilight curse and this picture feels like one of those choices. If it ever comes back to HBO, I'll let you know.

Blurb - A crew of oceanic researchers working for a deep sea drilling company try to get to safety after a mysterious earthquake devastates their deepwater research and drilling facility located at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

https://youtu.be/jCFWEzIVILc

Movies I thought looked interesting enough to buy but haven't watched yet ...

I love a good werewolf movie, and I thought The Wolf Of Snow Hollow might be just that. Of course, I love bad werewolf movies, so it would be a win-win either way. But after buying it to stream, I got distracted and never got around to watching it. In fact, I waited so long that you can stream it for free on Prime now ... great.

Blurb - Terror grips a small mountain town as bodies are discovered after each full moon. Losing sleep, raising a teenage daughter, and caring for his ailing father, officer Marshall struggles to remind himself there's no such thing as werewolves.

https://youtu.be/q03zOoH-hGo

If Psycho Goreman had come out in the 80s or 90s, I would have seen it at least half a dozen times. This was the kind of movie I loved when I was younger and looked forward to seeing now. I waited for it to go on sale and grabbed it to stream, but once again life got in the way. It's from the Director of The Void, which I loved, and I have a feeling it could be at the top of the list once I actually watch it.

Blurb - After unearthing a gem that controls an evil monster looking to destroy the Universe, a young girl and her brother use it to make him do their bidding.

https://youtu.be/yNmngdUaQd8

The Invisible Man was supposed to be a part of Universals' new Dark Universe but then The Mummy happened. Super horror writer/director Leigh Whannell took over and after a change in the script, made a stand-alone horror film. This was supposed to be a Johnny Depp vehicle, but instead, they flipped the script and made the story about Elizabeth Moss's character and her "haunting" by her abusive "dead" husband. Everything about it made me think of Sleeping with the Enemy but with the dude as Invisible. I'm sure it's a great movie, but I'm not dying to see it. You can though on Amazon's Freevee.

Blurb - When Cecilia's abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.

https://youtu.be/WO_FJdiY9dA

So I haven't seen the first one so of course, I haven't watched A Quiet Place Part 2 yet. I'm not a monster who watches movies out of order. So, like every monster movie in existence, we learn that the creatures aren't the only and many times aren't the worst monsters around.

*Leans in "Psst, it's other people."

So watch it on Prime and Paramount+.

Blurb - Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path.

https://youtu.be/BpdDN9d9Jio

I'm one of the most forgiving people when it comes to movies but Fantasy Island sucks. Not just a little, or here and there, but like the whole thing is terrible. Do not watch it, do not encourage them to ever revisit it or make another one. My biggest regret in 2020 is watching this movie instead of one of the others above. Man ... I hate this movie, so no, I'm not going to tell you where to find it.

Blurb - When the owner and operator of a luxurious island invites a collection of guests to live out their most elaborate fantasies in relative seclusion, chaos quickly descends.

https://youtu.be/a6O30nJ02PU

2019 - Some new classics in horror appear

Okay, I have to be honest ... I haven't seen a lot of the horror movies that were offered in 2019 and of those I did watch, many were just terrible. It was a weird year, and I simply missed a bunch. You won't see Ready or Not - I have it just haven't sat down to watch it yet, or Brightburn(I'm sure I would love this), Pet Semetary Remake, or the Child's Play remake, or the Hellboy reboot(which I did see - it was fine).

You for sure won't find It Chapter 2 because that movie is straight garbage - more proof King couldn't get the adult part of that story right. The Dead Don't Die isn't going to make an appearance because you just need to see the trailer to see the only parts worth watching. Just a waste of film & time. Little Monsters is garbage, and I can't believe they tried to remake Jacob's Ladder ...

Well enough negative, I do have some that I want to share and I will note if I haven't seen them but they made the list because of their impact ...

So I had a tough time deciding on my #1. I could have gone either way, but in the end, I enjoyed the experience of Color Out of Space a little bit more than #2. Based on an HP Lovecraft story that many felt was impossible to translate to film, Richard Stanley did just that. You may remember him as the failed director of the 1996 bomb, The Island of Dr. Moreau, where he was removed from the film and then disappeared from the limelight.

Nicholas Cage brings his unending energy to the role of the father and has good chemistry with Joely Richardson & the children. The movie does a great job of building up the suspense of the unknown while producing the necessary colors & special effects to pull you into all the terrible things happening to the family and the surrounding wildlife. You can see it on amc+ & Shudder.

Blurb - A secluded farm is struck by a strange meteorite which has apocalyptic consequences for the family living there and possibly the world.

https://youtu.be/RfYAXMwCpk0

If I was being artsy-fartsy, I'd pick The Lighthouse as my #1 movie. It's beautiful, well-acted, and an amazing story that probably will take viewers multiple viewings to appreciate or even understand. I love writer/director Robert Eggers's films and the techniques he embraces to give us films that send you to the time & place of the story, but they aren't always easy to digest on the first viewing.

That said, and are captivating in their performances. This movie was the reason I had confidence in Pattinson doing Batman. The film is well edited, and the cinematography is breathtaking. It's a must-watch for fans of the cinema. If you like your horror slow burning, and not spelled out - this movie is for you. It's another rent/buy to stream.

Blurb - Two lighthouse keepers try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.

https://youtu.be/Hyag7lR8CPA

Alexandre Aja takes his horror chops and gives us one of the best creature features in the last 2 decades with Crawl(although he did direct Piranha 3D in 2010). I could have put this movie at #1 and there are a few years it would have been without question. Great acting, great location, and super aggressive gators give a very edge-of-your-seat viewing pleasure.

Funny side note, this film was 's favorite film of 2019. It's just a well-put-together thriller. You have to rent/buy to stream this one, but it is worth every penny.

Blurb - A young woman, while attempting to save her father during a category 5 hurricane, finds herself trapped in a flooding house and must fight for her life against alligators.

https://youtu.be/H6MLJG0RdDE

So I love The Shining by Kubrick, so I was apprehensive when I sat down to watch the sequel Doctor Sleep. I assumed we would be getting a movie heavily influenced by what King wanted and not what Kubrick gave us. Director Mike Flanagan delivered, but he had to convince King to back off. He told him people were more familiar with the classic film than the mini-series, and a sequel needed to be compatible with the first film. Thank God.

Rebecca Ferguson is mesmerizing as Rose the Hat, and I think there's a law that says you have to love Ewan McGregor no matter what. He does a decent job as a grown-up Danny. You can stream with TNT & TBS apps and I bet it will pop back on to HBOMax at some point.

Blurb - Years following the events of The Shining (1980), a now-adult Dan Torrance must protect a young girl with similar powers from a cult known as The True Knot, who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.

https://youtu.be/CDf_EnIhojk

The director of Insidious: The Last Key and The Taking of Deborah Logan steps out of the world of the supernatural and gives us a more human-designed horror with Escape Room. While I may have wanted a bit more gore, the film overall is a fun take on an escape room designer gone mad. The actors, for the most part, are fine and have just enough chemistry to make it work. I haven't seen the sequel to see the end game, but this part is a fun popcorn movie. You can stream it with Starz.

Blurb - Six strangers find themselves in a maze of deadly mystery rooms and must use their wits to survive.

https://youtu.be/6dSKUoV0SNI

So the kid who plays Georgie in the It remakes is The Prodigy. He's the reason to watch this film. Kid is simply captivating in this role. I'd watch this 100 times before thinking of watching It Part 2(such a waste of a movie). I saw it on Prime but it's not rent/buy to stream. I think the kid's performance is worth it - and the movie itself isn't bad.

Blurb - A mother concerned about her young son's disturbing behavior thinks something supernatural may be affecting him.

https://youtu.be/BC4cyYRxjFk

Christopher Landon returns for the sequel to Happy Death Day with Happy Death Day 2U. This movie continues with the idea of Tree and other characters reliving the same day over and over again. He does a good job of mixing the horror/gore with the funny in this series and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed these films. You can stream it with FXNow.

Blurb - Tree Gelbman discovers that dying over and over was surprisingly easier than the dangers that lie ahead.

https://youtu.be/THq6KlWgiqw

Jordon Peele continues to create thoughtful and super creepy horror with Us. It continued his dominance at the box office as a horror director. Another film on my to-be-watched list. It's a rent/buy to stream.

Blurb - A family's serene beach vacation turns to chaos when their doppelgängers appear and begin to terrorize them.

https://youtu.be/hNCmb-4oXJA

Another one on my to-watch list but haven't found the time is Midsommar. Something we haven't seen in a while is a movie getting an X or an NC-17 rating but the original cut of this film did. 30 minutes had to be removed to get the R-rating but after its release, they returned the footage to the Director's cut. I'm a big fan of the stars in this film so I know I will sit down one day to check it out.

I think one of the best notes about this movie is when they showed it in Sweden, the audience laughed and thought it to be a terrific black-comedy. You need Showtime to stream it now, but it used to be on Amazon Prime for a while so it might come back.

Blurb - A couple travels to Northern Europe to visit a rural hometown's fabled Swedish mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.

https://youtu.be/l6XWuruEKVM

I'm behind in the Conjuring franchise, but they continue the stories with Annabelle Come Home. Although it is the 3rd movie in the Annabelle series, this movie picks up directly after the 1st Annabelle. They ramped up the scary with the doll, the original is a Raggedy-Ann Doll, and continue with the idea of a haunted/possessed toy. Find it on HBOMax.

Blurb - While babysitting the daughter of Ed and Lorraine Warren, a teenager and her friend unknowingly awaken an evil spirit trapped in a doll.

https://youtu.be/bCxm7cTpBAs

2022 is ramping up at Naked Cat Press

I have a few projects planned to make the rest of 2022 an extremely fun and busy time. I can't get into all the details just yet, but I wanted to share a rundown of what to look out for.

First up, I was given the opportunity to provide a story for No Anesthetic II which should be available within the next couple of weeks. My story "The Fixer-Upper" was in the first volume, and it is an honor to be included in #2. I would love to make this a yearly event as I love the collections Splatter Ink puts out. Plus look at this lineup -

Desiree Byers

Tommy Clark

Christine Morgan

John Baltisberger

Hawker & McHardy

Eric Butler

Brian Berry

Mike Duke

Rowland Bercy Jr.

Liam Carver

Soon after, I will have a Pope Lick Monster tale in Splatter Ink's cryptid anthology. This story is a stand-alone but introduces some characters that will be included in my next Goat-Man novel - most likely coming out at the end of July. I wish I had more to share about this collection or a cover for my upcoming Pope Lick Massacre 2, but you will just have to check back once we get closer.

The next Donn, TX novel has been sent to the editor and I hope to have this out sometime in August or September of this year. It's the longest single-year tale yet and is filled with everything that makes Donn, TX & the harvest so much fun. Get ready for Donn, TX 1978.

Finally, if you think there should be more videos of me out there talking about horror books and movies then you are in luck. Coming soon to Youtube ...

Donna and I will be breaking down the influence of classic horror stories, novels, & movies and if they hold up to today's readers. We will also dive deep into the behind-the-scenes world of indie horror and give you an idea of just What's in the Box?

I'm super excited to get these out into the wild so you can check them all out. I have a few more thing in the works but those will have to wait until I have the green light to share.

2018 brings the heat with these horror movie favorites.

So I had a tough time picking my favorite movie for this list. You really need to put the top 2 side by side because they are so close in my mind. That said, they are 2 completely different films and will scratch different horror itches. Let's get started ...

Damien Leone returns to the director chair and focuses on one of his scarier characters from All Hallows' Eve, Art the Clown. With a new actor in the role, Leone ramps the terror up to 11 in Terrifier. This movie pulls no punches and while David Howard Thornton is said to be kind of an ass, he's brilliant as the mute, psychotic, & possibly supernatural entity known as Art the Clown. This was one of those movies where I found myself sliding forward in anticipation. Check it out on tubi & VUDU free.

Blurb - On Halloween night, Tara Heyes finds herself as the obsession of a sadistic murderer known as Art the Clown.

https://youtu.be/DotHFemS-kg

Upgrade is one of my favorite movies, and though I would consider it more of a science fiction movie, I get why many people call it a horror film. Directed & Written by Leigh Whannell, one of the co-creators of the Saw franchise & the Insidious Franchise, you can see the influence horror has on him throughout the film. You can stream it with FXNow.

Blurb - Set in the near-future, technology controls nearly all aspects of life. But when the world of Grey, a self-labeled technophobe, is turned upside down, his only hope for revenge is an experimental computer chip implant.

https://youtu.be/1-02pDtqOX4

So ignoring everything that happened after the original Halloween, we get the movie Halloween. It takes place around 40 years later and gives us a look into how the original film's events affected the characters over that time. You will have to pay to stream this one.

Blurb - Laurie Strode confronts her long-time foe, Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.

https://youtu.be/ek1ePFp-nBI

If you like a little monster mayhem in your WW2 films, then you need to watch Overlord. Although rumored to be a part of the Cloverfield universe, JJ Abrams announced right before it was released that it was, in fact, not. Stream it with FXNow & Paramount+.

Blurb - A small group of American soldiers find horror behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day.

https://youtu.be/USPd0vX2sdc

I know people like to make fun of Nicolas Cage, but his willingness to tackle any & every project gives us the occasional gem like Mandy. More importantly, no matter the role, he throws his all into it. Prepare to have your mind messed with. Check it out with Shudder & amc+.

Blurb - The enchanted lives of a couple in a secluded forest are brutally shattered by a nightmarish hippie cult and their demon-biker henchmen, propelling a man into a spiraling, surreal rampage of vengeance.

https://youtu.be/rI054ow6KJk

In A Quiet Place, the first line of spoken dialogue doesn't happen until 38 minutes into the film. This movie embraces the unsettling atmosphere silence can create. The girl in this film is actually deaf, and it plays very well into the whole idea of a world where they must stay quiet for survival. You can check it out on Paramount+.

Blurb - In a post-apocalyptic world, a family is forced to live in silence while hiding from monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing.

https://youtu.be/WR7cc5t7tv8

Next up is Anna and the Apocalypse. So I have a soft spot for movies that break into song. I grew up on Grease & Grease 2 - more Grease 2 if I'm being honest ... damn you TMC! So when I saw someone took 3 ideas like Christmas, zombies, and singing & decided to cram them together ... well, I'm in 10 out of 10 times. You can check it out on tubi, Roku, & Redbox w/ ads.

Blurb - A zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven - at Christmas - forcing Anna and her friends to fight, slash and sing their way to survival, facing the undead in a desperate race to reach their loved ones. But they soon discover that no one is safe in this new world, and with civilization falling apart around them, the only people they can truly rely on are each other.

https://youtu.be/dfWIfwKJ7vA

The Insidious franchise continues with Insidious: The Last Key. By now you should know what you are getting yourself into with this possession/haunting series. Another one you have to pay to stream.

Blurb - Parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet, as she is drawn back to her ghostly childhood home, where the terror began.

https://youtu.be/acQyrwQyCOk

Amazon studios greenlit Luca Guadagnino's remake of the classic Dario Argento film Suspiria. To put his stamp on the film, the new director did away with the original film's trademark bright colors, and instead embraced a more "winterish" and bleak atmosphere. He also added almost a complete hour of extra material to the original film's runtime.

You can check out both versions on Prime. I'd start with the original.

Blurb - A darkness swirls at the center of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. Some will succumb to the nightmare. Others will finally wake up.

https://youtu.be/BY6QKRl56Ok

Last up is The Strangers: Prey at Night. It was announced in 2009 to follow up the super tense original, but kind of hung out in purgatory until the 47 Meters Down director got on board even though he is not a fan of slasher movies or home invasion movies. You're going to have to pay to check this one out.

Blurb - A family of four staying at a secluded mobile home park for the night are stalked and then hunted by three masked psychopaths.

https://youtu.be/91-Z20uttEk

Texas Author Con was a success

The first annual Texas Author Con was great fun. Thanks to everyone there, and who came out to support Texas writers. I think the event is only going to get bigger and better. That said I'm wiped out so the top 10 2019 horror movies will get bumped to Wednesday. Here are some picks from the day and links to the writers.

Click on the writer to find their author page, Facebook page, or their webpage. Below that I'll just have some pics from the event. If you couldn't make it to the event, here's your chance to discover some new stuff.

Chris Miller, Patrick C Harrison III, Jaime Hernandez, Richard R Rose, Alathia Morgan, Nik Stanosheck, Merrill David, RJ Hanson, Eric Butler, Linda Anthony Hill, Mike Ennenbach, C Derick Miller, and Rowland Bercy Jr.

If you like the shirt, Joe Garcia has an amazing site filled with cool and hard to find shirts. Go and do a deep dive.

And of course, before the event, the girls helped me get ready