And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all. -Edgar Allan Poe Familiar TerritoryIf you've heard one plot description for a Friday the 13th film, you've heard them all. Young people go to or near Camp Crystal Lake, don't take the warning seriously, and are slaughtered in a variety of ways. There is always one character who is a little more in tune with what's going on, and that character is the one who overcomes Jason and lives to see another day.The formula might not be the most original, but for almost 40 years audiences have continued to embrace, and love it ..read more

Humanity is constantly evolving, which causes both conscious and subconscious unrest among us. As a species, we aren't too comfortable with change, and we seek control in the midst of perceived chaos. We often turn to entertainment to help us unplug from, and deal with, our problems in a safe way. We want to watch and read stories that we can identify with, and that resonate with our humanity. Stories effect us on many levels, but the deepest impact is on our emotions. Good movies make us feel things, and sometimes, they scare us. FearFear is perhaps is deepest and most primal of our emotions ..read more

Fall is my favorite, but there's no denying the magic of cooler weather, longer nights, and Christmastime. Although it's full of all kinds of wonderful festivities, the most wonderful time of the year has always had it's dark side. And if you're like me, you can only handle so many shopping sprees, sugar cookies and caroling neighbors before you start to lose it. If you do a little research, you'll find that there are TON of Christmas themed horror movies. Most of them are quite ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with a "good" B movie, and many of those films have amassed a cult following, but ..read more

I've been watching westerns almost as long as I've been watching horror. My Mom introduced me to the scary stuff, but my Dad is responsible for westerns. We spent many a family night snacking on potato chips and watching John Wayne conquer the great unknown.Westerns offer a grand cinematic escape into a world filled with adventure, danger, justice and hope. They are uniquely American, and present an idealized culture unlike any other genre. Danger and violence are in an important part of the western formula, but much of it is diluted. When the black hat gets shot, or hung, it's largely quick a ..read more

Halloween Horror Nights is usually a event we go to every two or three years. It's quite a bit of money for one evening's entertainment, considering we add on the Express Passes and stay the night at a hotel. Last year's event was fantastic. They offered several interesting houses, and executed them very well. You can read all about that in my HHN 26 review. I was very excited to see that they did it again this year, pulling me in for back to back events instead of waiting it out.Having Express Passes means you are basically guaranteed to have enough time to do all the houses. When you have to ..read more

I work at a small advertising agency, and I sit in a cubicle right in the middle of the office. This seating arrangement, along with my introverted tendency, has bread the need for headphones. My workday listening started with music playlists, but quickly evolved into podcast binging. I've found that my favorite podcasts are the ones that tell stories.These tales are the audio equivalent of curling up with a good book, and spooky season is the perfect time to explore these campfire stories for the digital age. Please beware that some of these podcasts contain explicit content, and listen at yo ..read more

First it was September, then came the first day of fall, and now here we are in October. Just like that, we have arrived at the Halloween season. If you're a serious horror fan like myself you watch scary stuff all year long, but October viewing is special. It's when you break away from "serious" critique and just watch your favorites. Nostalgic settings, gore fests, guilty pleasures, cliches and classics all have their place at this time of year. It's also a time when the rest of the world gets on board and asks YOU what movies they should be watching this Halloween. And we are more than happ ..read more

What is it that makes a child believe? Children love to play pretend, because they are believers. They believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, happily ever afters, ghosts, the monster under the bed, and the boogeyman.I suppose we believe in so many things as children because we haven't experienced enough disappointment to become realistic and cynical. The world is large, and full of wonderful possibilities. Because in all our storybooks, the good guys win, evil is destroyed, and the world is always set right. When we are children, it's easier to be hopeful, and to believe.Perhaps this is als ..read more

Summer is not my favorite season. I prefer spring thunderstorms and crisp fall air to the relentless heat of the summer sun. I grew up in the South and now live in Florida where It's always hot, always humid, and the sun is always beating down on you. But despite my objection to the sun, I will admit that I have spent many a happy summer day lounging by the pool, vacationing with family, and floating out on a lake somewhere. Lake Ouachita | Hot Springs, AR | 2010 Desp ..read more

I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter. -Walt DisneyFantasy + FearI love Disney almost as much as I love horror. Like most kids, I was eager to see the latest Disney movie every summer, and was mesmerized by the worlds and characters that were so artfully presented to me each year. And while I certainly loved the heroes and underdogs in each film, I also found myself fascinated by the evil queens and monsters lurking in the shadows. Princesses are inspiring and talking animals are fun, but I've always found villains ..read more