Anyone who loves film and follows the awards season circuit is already aware of the absolute catastrophe that the upcoming out-of-touch Academy Awards 2019 has brought upon itself. First, the Academy announced that they would introduce a “Best Popular Film” category,
(Pic courtesy of US distributor Magnet Releasing, 2008)
Original post is located under “Articles” at NightmarishConjurings.com
Horror lovers know that there is a clear distinction between what Hollywood constitutes as a romance movie…and what horror filmmakers consider a romance movie. Hollywood chooses swooning and last minute declarations of love within happily-ever-after endings; while horror films consist of blood pacts and killing the enemies of characters’ loved ones– just to show how much he/she really cares. If you’re anything like me, Tomas Alfredson’s 2008 dark romance film Let the Right One In is the quintessential love film for a misfit kind of love that we all secretly crave, which is why I suggest you revisit this modern classic for your Valentine’s Day horror film viewing.
“Black history is Black horror.” – Author Taranarive Due
Rachel True in Horror Noire (Shudder)
For a genre that has found much of its footing from being loved by a culture of rejected, misfit fandoms, horror has always struggled with playing fair when it comes to its equal inclusivity of shades of people within its films. Women, LGTBQ+, and People of Color alike have always questioned their worth within horror– as so much of it has both glorified and been created by straight, White men– and in Shudder’s exclusive documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, we gain thought-provoking perspectives from a group of Black Americans that have worked in horror, about what it means to be a fan of a genre that has not always been so good to them.
While I was stuck in bed and dying from the stomach flu last week, I caught up with three films that I’ve been highly anticipating for this early half of 2019– and one that I threw in for good measure that has drummed up some quieter buzz amongst the horror critics circles. (In between my fits of nausea, shaking, and pressing pause countless times to doze off into sick-induced sleep oblivion, I jotted down just a handful of notes for each, which is why they’re only getting mini reviews as opposed to a full page for each of the four.) All are solid recommendations at the very least– with a couple being more surprising standouts over the others…
Original post is under the “Articles” archive on NightmarishConjurings.com
(A24)
As Women of Horror Month befalls us, and we reflect upon all of the distinctive female actresses that make up the singularly-dubbed “Scream Queens” of the horror community, few have delivered as many grappling performances as the beloved Aussie and acting chameleon known as Toni Collette.
Original review posted under “Short Film Reviews” on NightmarishConjurings.com
(Panic Fest)
Do you ever sit and wonder what exactly happened to your very first Nokia cell phone from the early 2000s? Or reminisce about where exactly your old cassette player went, when you moved out of your family home? In a 21st century world, in which our computers have been upgraded into laptops, our MySpace accounts upgraded to Instagram profiles, our VHS tapes have become Netflix streaming, and our MP3 players have turned into Spotify apps, technology has become a significant marker into the various chapters of our lives. As we struggle to keep up with the various updates of the techy items that are supposed to make our lives increasingly easier, we often forget about the simpler, outdated items that no longer serve us purpose— even though they may hold years of cherished memories for us.
In Spike Hyunsuk Kim’s charming short film PINKI— which was recently shown at Kansas City’s Panic Fest— these questions about our old pieces of technology that we have since moved on from are begging to be asked.
Original review posted in “Short Film reviews” over at NightmarishConjurings.com
(Horror House Media)
After releasing their effective short film Soundbite last year, director Michael Coulombe and writer Brantley J. Brown are back with another short entitled STALK, which serves as a horror hybrid that draws influence from some of your favorite classics.
We open with a title card that draws inspiration from Stephen King’s novel IT, (and Stranger Things too) containing bold, blood-red font, which brings upon the feeling that we are about to be transported into an iconic ‘80s slasher.
Horrormonal 