Michelle Scott's Blog, page 5

Is Hellraiser 2022 too Woke?

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, my plan for this Halloween season was to watch Hellraiser. After watching it, I checked my favorite on-line horror discussion board to see what others thought of it. To my surprise, there was a backlash against the movie, calling it too ‘woke’. I’m never surprised by audience reactions to movies, but this one stunned me. Is Hellraiser 2022 really too ‘woke’ for modern audiences?

Previous Hellraiser Sequels

One of the things I liked best about the Hellraiser series of movies is that each one is unique. Clive Barker’s original movie set up the basics for the sequels, but other than the box and Pinhead, there is very little similarity among them. Although Hellraiser 2 incorporates a few of the characters from number one, consecutive sequels have their own take on the box, Pinhead, and the cenobites.

Most of the sequels take a great deal of creative license with Barker’s original story. The sequel that I found most interesting (but ironically liked the least) was Bloodline (or, as I like to think of it, Pinhead in space). But there have also been gumshoe detective sequels and one with MMORPG players. I might not have liked every sequel, but I do applaud the sheer inventiveness of each of them.

Hellraiser 2022

Which brings us to the 2022 version. Yes, it is more modern than the other sequels. There is a gay couple who become involved and Pinhead is a woman this time around, but the movie doesn’t pander to a ‘woke’ audience. All it does is reflect society as it is—progressive. In fact, next to the original movie, the 2022 version is my favorite.

If you remember, I was on the fence about Peacock’s release of Them. I thought that the movie’s message sometimes eclipsed the actual horror movie. As a writer, I believe that a creator’s message should take a backseat to the story. But in Hellraiser 2022, the gay couple and the female Pinhead blend into the background. They don’t take center stage. This movie isn’t sending a message to the audience, it is simply doing what every other version of Hellraiser has done: created an entertaining experience for the audience.

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My October Film Picks

It’s finally October, my favorite month! For spooky people like myself, October means the real beginning of fall. Crisp weather, cozy nights, and pumpkin spice everything! It also means I can celebrate Halloween every day until the 31st. Part of my celebration means movies. Lots and lots of movies. Which is why I’m offering you my October film picks.

Do you stream Hulu? If so, Huluween is always fun. For the month of October, Hulu offers movies and shows for those of us who enjoy a good scare. It’s always my first stop for horror movies. This year, I plan on watching an old favorite, Hellraiser. Based on the novel by Clive Barker, Hellraiser scared me to death back when I saw it in the 80’s, and I can’t wait to relieve the experience.

Another one of my October film picks from Hulu is Candy with Jennifer Biel. Although this is a show rather than a movie, it seems like the perfect mix of The Stepford Wives and a scary thriller. I always dig things set in the retro 80’s, and I can wait to watch this one.

Last, but not least, I want to watch a more recent movie. Black Phone has been on my to-watch list for quite a while. I wasn’t able to see it in the movie theater, unfortunately, but since I’m in the mood to celebrate Halloween, it’s time to stream some Peacock.

Black Phone is a new Blumhouse movie, and if you know anything about horror movies, you’ll know that Blumhouse creates some of the best ones.

The problem with picking what to watch in October is that there are so many great movies to pick from! I’ll be watching more than what’s on this list, of course, but these are the top picks.

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Book Review – Jackal by Erin Adams

This novel immediately plunges the reader into a thrilling nightmare where you never know what’s around the corner. I loved the setting since I have visited the mountains in Pennsylvania before, and have also thought of the woods as threatening. Right away, the author drew me into the mystery of the missing Black girls. I was also very angry that no one apparently cared that these girls had gone missing.
I was a little confused by the second half of the book. No spoilers, but I had trouble understanding how the true villain came to be. The author hinted at it, but I was left with questions.
Overall, though, this was a good read. Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.

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Dark Academia—My Latest Obsession

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My Favorite Witches

From Shakespeare’s Weird Sisters to Sabrina of Greendale, witches dominate our fictional landscapes. Some of them are frightening, while others make us laugh. I always enjoy a good witch story (one of my favorite horror movies is The Witch by Robert Eggers), but here is a short list of some of my favorite witches.

#1—Witch Hazel

I grew up watching Bugs Bunny cartoons, and I loved Witch Hazel. She was the villain, of course, but her antics always made me laugh, especially when her hairpins went flying. Hats (or hairpins) off to you, Witch Hazel!

#2—Snow White’s Witch

This witch terrified me as a child! Disney’s Snow White probably did as much psychological damage to me as a kid as The Shining did to me as a teenager. When the queen turned into the witch, I couldn’t stand to watch. So, yes, this witch holds a place in my heart.

#3—The Grand, High Witch

Have you ever seen the 1990 movie The Witches based on Roald Dahl’s book? If not, I highly recommend it! Angelica Houston makes an excellent evil, yet elegant witch. She’s the perfect combination of upper-class snob and terrible witch. She’s so much fun to watch in this movie. It’s a definite must-see for Halloween.

#4 – Zelda Spellman

Speaking of elegance… There is no equal to Zelda Spellman from the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Sure she’s haughty as hell, and she has a penchant for killing her sister (who always comes back to life), but Zelda is a treasure. She’s always cool and in charge. Sabrina is lucky to have her as an aunt. Zelda holds second place among my favorite witches.

#5—The Wicked Witch of the West

I saved my favorite witch for last! Talk about scary! The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz terrified me as a kid and, to be honest, haunts me even now. Never was there such an evil villain. I loved her cackle and her terrifying flying monkeys. This witch really knew how to dominate the screen.

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Historical Horror Fiction—an Underrepresented Subgenre

As a horror writer myself, I try to read as much horror as I can. A large part of this is because I simply love the genre (which obviously makes sense!) Another reason I read that genre is that I want to explore different subgenres within the realm of horror. Haunted houses are great, as are vampires and ghosts, but over the past year, I’ve come to enjoy historical horror fiction.

In historical horror fiction, authors reimagine an actual, historical event and add elements of horror. My favorite representation of this genre is Dan Simmons’ The Terror. The Terror tells the story of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition, which was looking for the fabled Northwest Passage in 1845. Although there’s a creature lurking among the icebergs, the Arctic itself almost seems like another monster. The conditions are inhospitable, and as the crew faces starvation, scurvy, isolation, and fear, the stakes continue to rise.

The Appeal of Historical Horror Fiction

History fascinates me, and a well-researched historical horror novel teaches me so much (all the while allowing me to enjoy the thrills of monsters and ghosts!) I learned a great deal from Simmons’ book, such as the poor condition of the canned goods fed to the sailors, and the generally awful conditions of living on an ice-bound ship during an arctic winter.

Another interesting novel is The Hunger by Alma Katsu. This author offers a supernatural explanation for the real-life horror story of the Donner Party, one of the most infamous wagon trains in American history. This was both a fascinating and traumatic read. The real story is tragic enough without adding a monster, but Katsu’s interpretation makes for an engrossing read. Earlier in the year, I’d read a nonfiction book about the Donners, The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown. Katsu’s book remained as true to the real story as it could, but some of the disparity of the real history versus the novel did throw me off. Overall, I preferred The Terror.

If you haven’t tried reading this particular genre, I encourage you to try. Branching out into new genres can be rewarding. You might even become a fan!

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Stage Fright Deep Dive

Take a Stage Fright deep dive!

Think back to the early 2000’s. Sookie Stackhouse and Bella Swan were swooning over their vampire boyfriends, and every bookstore you visited contained volumes of vampire romances. As a writer, I couldn’t resist joining in the fun. Hence, I wrote my Bit Parts series featuring Cassie and Isaiah.

Cassie is a wannabe actress who is desperately seeking her first big break. Unfortunately during an audition, she faints on stage and ends up blowing her chance. When she wakes up, she’s a changed woman. Each time she gets on stage, anxiety overwhelms her, forcing her to run away.

Cassie knows that something terrible happened to her while she was passed out, but she has no clue what it was. Every day, anxiety grips her, and she struggles to go through the motions. (Thank goodness, her bff Andrew is so supportive!) Then she meets Isaiah. A heartbroken hero himself, Isaiah opens her eyes to a whole new world, one full of vampires. As Cassie regains her mettle, she also discovers that loving a vampire hunter goes a long way to heal her wounds.

The Magic Bag Theater

Like many of my novels, Stage Fright is set in Detroit, Michigan. I love my city, and it’s fun to explore it alongside my characters. Stage Fright haunts the theater scene, and much of it takes place in an old, broken-down theater. I modeled it after The Magic Bag in Ferndale, a suburb of Detroit. I never saw a vampire when I went to shows there, but the place has plenty of character.

After taking this Stage Fright deep dive, I hope you’ll enjoy this vampire romance throwback. I’m giving away FREE copies of the book during the month of September. If you subscribe to my e-mails, you will have the chance to get copies of my other books for free as well.

Download Stage Fright for FREE!

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The Legend of the Nain Rouge

Courtesy of the Detroit Metro Times

As a horror writer, I love setting my books and stories in Michigan, especially in Detroit. There is plenty of urban energy in the city, and if you’ve been reading my work, you’ll know that monsters love dark alleys and abandoned buildings. Monsters such as the legend of the Nain Rouge.

The Nain Rouge (aka the red dwarf or the ‘demon on the straits’) strikes terror in all who see it. It’s the size of a man with a fearsome, red face, fangs, and pointed ears. It dresses all in bad-ass black. But it isn’t the creature itself that frightens its victims; it’s the knowledge that the demon fortells disaster.

The stories surrounding this creature go back to the 1700’s when the founding father of Detroit,  Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, encountered the beast and struck it with his cane. Big mistake. The demon cursed him (and the city), which resulted in Cadillac losing his position and his fortune. He definitely should have listened to the fortune-teller who told him to appease the demon instead of attacking it.

Since then, the legend of the Nain Rouge has continued through the centuries. It’s told that the red imp appears as a harbinger of doom and if you see it, bad things are sure to follow. It was spotted right before the great fire of 1805 nearly burned the city to the ground. Then again in 1812 when British forces began bombarding US forces stationed there.

The Legend of the Nain Rouge in Modern Times

The most recent spottings of the demon of the straights occurred in 1967 before the start of the race riots. Then again in 1978, when an ice storm devastated the city.

This brings us to 2022 when a group of Detroit residents decided to take the advice of the old fortune-teller and give the Nain Rouge the respect it deserves. Since everyone loves a parade, the Marche du Nain Rouge was born.

Nowadays, people in costumes and those on floats travel the famous Cass Corridor while folks on the sidelines hold signs supporting the Nain. At the end of the festival, an effigy of the demon is burned.

Like many stories, the boundary between truth and fiction remains unclear. However, the entertainment factor (and in my case, inspiration factor) are worth a great deal.

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Does They/Them on Peacock Deserve the Hate?

Kevin Bacon in They/Them on Peacock

Whenever a horror movie gets terrible reviews, I instantly want to see it. I need to know what would provoke viewers into that level of hate. That’s why, when I saw the 2 and 3 star reviews of They/Them on Peacock, I immediately streamed it.

Like many of my favorite slasher movies, They/Them takes place at a summer camp. The twist being that this camp is a gay conversion camp that aims to ‘pray the gay away.’ The reality of these kinds of camps is horrible enough. However, this slasher movie uses the grim reality for a new twist.

A New Type of Character

The key characters in Peacock’s They/Them were among some of my favorites. I’ve always loved , and he doesn’t disappoint. He’s a charming villain, even when he’s doing his worst to the kids in the camp. Then there’s Theo Germaine. He shines in his role as a strong-willed camper.

The movie itself is a rather typical slasher film. The campers get trapped in the woods. The killer appears. People die. The end isn’t a surprise so much as a well-done conclusion. What makes the movie unique, of course, is the introduction of a mostly LGBTQ+ cast of characters.

The Final Verdict

And that’s the problem with the movie. Not the fact that They/Them revolves arounds a conversion camp, but because the movie wants to promote an agenda rather than create a thrilling horror movie. Don’t get me wrong – I appreciate both the diverse cast and the movie’s message. However, the movie literally breaks into song several times and becomes more of a Glee-inspired flick rather than a slasher flick. Because They/Them on Peacock doesn’t know what it wants to be, it ends up being nothing.

Still, I think the hate is undeserved. 2 to 3 stars is harsh judgment on a movie that dares to step out of the typical horror conventions. Even though it isn’t quite the slasher film I’d hoped for, it delivers plenty of tense moments. Personally, I would rate it as a 5.5.

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6 Free Bookmarks

Enjoy your summer reading with these 6 free bookmarks. You are welcome to download and print them as many times as you like.

I’m partnering with my Etsy shop, New Leaf Digital Designs, to offer you these 6 free bookmarks. All you need to do is download the .pdf file , print them on high-grade paper, trim, and enjoy!

Bookmarks-6-22-22DownloadDon’t forget to pre-order The Demon in the Tower The Demon in the Tower – an occult thriller

The clock tower at Westerdale College is forbidden for a reason.
Rumor has it that Westerdale’s bell tower is haunted, but only psychic Nigel Smyth knows the truth. On a dark, October night five years before, he climbed up to meet his lover and discovered Thomas’ ravaged body at the foot of a demonic altar. Only luck saved Nigel from a similar fate.
Now, as Nigel reluctantly returns to Westerdale, he worries the demon will hunt him down again. This time, however, he’s not the only one in the crosshairs. Other Westerdale students are meeting their own terrible fates as well. As Nigel forges a plan to kill the monster, he worries that his earth magic skills won’t be strong enough to conquer it. Then he meets Jack Lewis, and his desperation turns to hope.
Although Jack is too practical to believe in the paranormal, he can’t explain why he was savagely bitten while in the tower. Nor can he account for the terrifying shadow that haunts him wherever he goes. It’s only when he meets Nigel that he finds an ally against the dark forces surrounding him.
Though billionaire Nigel and reluctant criminal Jack have little in common, together they make a formidable team of demon hunters, and an unlikely pair of lovers.

The Demon in the Tower, an occult thriller, will be released on July 11. Order it now at the special, introductory price of $1.99.

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