pop culture
Pop culture for horror junkies; all about the famous films, creepypasta tales, trends and tropes that bled from the fringes of fright into the macabre mainstream.
Stephen King's 'IT,' Homophobia, and Charlie Howard
** Disclaimer: This post contains spoilers for the novel IT by Stephen King **Trigger Warnings for: Homophobia, Violence** Stephen King has never been one to shy away from hard hitting topics. One of his most famous novels, IT, is no exception. Today I would like to talk about one scene in particular, or rather the real life story that inspired it.
By Nathaniel Corns8 years ago in Horror
Can We Have a 'What We Do in the Shadows' but With Every Mythological Creature?
As of recently, FX confirmed a 10-episode TV series adaptation about the acclaimed Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's What We Do in the Shadows (2014), and both of them are working on a spin-off of the movie called We're Wolves. The horror comedy focused on the lives of a group of vampires that live in Wellington, New Zealand, recorded as a mockumentary. So, think of The Office but with vampires, which is the best concept possible. If they approached vampires, and now wolves, it raises the question: why not every single creature possible? To take a myth or creature, add comedy and an unusual setting for them, and somehow make it work. As a contribution, here are some of the endless possibilities I've thought about.
By Andrea de Lera8 years ago in Horror
Darker Disney
We’ve all seen these Disney movies, but I bet you haven’t seen them like this. 'Cinderella' After Cinderella gained two awful stepsisters who were desperate to be the prince’s bride, her father passes away and her evil stepmother forces her to become the housemaid. When the big ball comes up, Cinderella finds that she now has a fairy godmother who tailors her a beautiful gown and gives her a pair of glass slippers all to wear to the party, but she loses one of her shoes on her way out. The prince takes off with the shoe, after falling in love with her, and tries to find the foot that fits. Yet this fairy tale is actually gorier than told, for it’s not a fairy godmother who brings her what she needs—it’s actually little birds that grant her wishes and bring her gold slippers rather than glass. And when one of the stepsisters tries to fit her foot into the golden slipper, to prove she is the prince’s meant-to-be bride, she can’t fit her big toe in. So her mother gives her a knife and tells her to cut it off because when she is queen, she’ll never have to go anywhere on foot anyways. She does as her mother has said and it fits. Then she’s busted when the little birds tweet to the prince, “Turn and Peep, Turn and Peep, There’s blood within the shoe. The shoe it is too small for her, The real bride waits for you.” With the second sister, it’s the same result except for this time, the problem is her heel, so she slices it off, for her mother tells her the same thing. But the prince eventually finds Cinderella.
By Sydney Essex8 years ago in Horror
What Frightens Us in Films and TV?
The Oxford dictionary defines “horror” as “a literary or film genre concerned with arousing feelings of horror” (Oxford Dictionary, 2018). The horror genre has been a staple of entertainment since before the advent of the moving image. Authors such as Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, and Stephen King are all proof that images aren’t a necessity when eliciting emotions of fear. Yet directors have created many landmark pieces of pop culture within the horror genre, using the medium of film to create new and equally enticing works of art. But why do people enjoy scaring themselves? Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein argues that “people go to horror films because they want to be frightened… you want it to affect you... entertainment products like horror films... have big effects” (Psychology Today, 2015).
By Henry Jones8 years ago in Horror
'Stranger Things Series 3' Initial Plot Details Revealed
If you’re still caught up in the nostalgia of Stranger Things Season 2 and haven’t yet seen Ready Player One then this should come as very welcome news to you. Early plot details have been revealed that confirm that production has begun on the highly-anticipated third season of Stranger Things and it will include all our favourite characters.
By Tim Horton8 years ago in Horror
Escapism Through Horror
People watch horror films for many different reasons. Maybe they like the idea of being scared s***less, maybe their interest lies in the special effects and the creation of gore, or maybe they watch horror because they believe in the paranormal/supernatural. Whatever the reason, the horror film industry is huge and new titles are being released every month.
By Catriona Boardman8 years ago in Horror
One Simple Mistake Cost This Horror Classic Everything
If you live on Earth and you haven’t spent your life under a rock, chances are high that you’ve heard of the movie Night of the Living Dead. The original movie, released in 1968, was ultra successful, although also extremely controversial for that time. Night of the Living Dead was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry as a film deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant,” however it was also greatly criticized. Variety labeled Night of the Living Dead an “unrelieved orgy of sadism” and questioned the “integrity and social responsibility of its Pittsburgh-based makers.” Now, being from Pittsburgh and knowing “Johnny” personally, reading statements like that makes me smile a little.
By Matthew Clancy8 years ago in Horror
Why Does Hasbro Make Ouija Boards?. Top Story - January 2018.
Hasbro Inc. is one of the best known toy companies in the entire world. They are responsible for manufacturing Nerf products, Baby Alive dolls, the Easy Bake Oven, and beloved board games such as Candy Land and Clue. Founded in 1923, the company has been manufacturing childhoods for almost 100 years. So it might surprise you to discover what else they manufacture.
By Skylar Banach8 years ago in Horror
Bedtime Stories
Are you ready for something scary, bizarre, or just plain weird? Well log on to Bedtime Stories on YouTube and prepare to get scarred. The vidcast which is both written and narrated by Richard While retells stories that are paranormal, supernatural, or urban legion in origin. The series consist of artwork by Mikey Turcanu and music by Keven McCloud. The Vidcast is presented in 15 to 25 minute formats which consist of a audio narration and series of illustrations in the video portion. There is also written narration that appears on the video portion of the vidcast. It is usually at the top of the image and is word for word monologue from Richard While. Although the video is a series of illustrations, on occasion the presenters will post still photos or a few seconds of video for some episodes. Each story is starts out with a narrative of events and then some possible explanations that range from the paranormal to the skeptical. Finally they invite the viewer to decide as to what the explanation is. The vidcast has lasted for about 3 seasons with about 10 episodes each. The entire series has been on YouTube for about one year and the host asks for viewer support to help "keep this channel alive."
By Edward German8 years ago in Horror
