Features
Please Stop Using the Term ‘Elevated Horror’
The term ‘elevated horror’ has been frequently used in the last ten years. It refers to horror films that are thought-provoking, have deep commentary, and push artistic/cinematic boundar...
Why ‘Hellraiser II’ Is a Surrealist Nightmare
There was a lengthy period of time when Hellraiser II was considered one of the best horror sequels of all time. I’ll readily admit that I discovered it during that time and it probably colored...
‘Terror Train’ is a Surprisingly Innovative Slasher
The slasher subgenre boomed after the release of John Carpenter’s Halloween. Where no one was even really sure that Halloween would work—at least not in the way that it did—once i...
Why ‘Hostel’ Shouldn’t Be Dismissed as Mere “Torture Porn”
A 2006 New York Magazine article notably coined the term ‘torture porn’. It referenced films like Saw, Hostel, and The Devil’s Rejects. I won’t name them, but there are horror...
Six Great Moments from Bad Horror Movies
It takes a lot to make a good horror movie, but at the same time, it takes a lot to make a horror movie truly unwatchable. One of the greatest distinctions about the genre is that the good and the bad...
Welcome to Autumncrow: Cameron Chaney Discusses Building The Spookiest Town In America
The town of Autumncrow Valley, Ohio, is a magical place referred to as “The Spookiest Town In America.” In Autumncrow, practically every day is Halloween. Summer quickly comes and goes; th...
The Weird, Unspoken Double Standard of Horror Movies
We live in a time when Hollywood is completely and totally defined by Intellectual Property. We have more IP-based features than ever. Absolutely everything made at the studio is a franchise and if it...
Are Horror Movies Ruining Our Children?
Most parents actively shield and protect their children from the harsh realities of the world. Through the years, there have been claims that early exposure to certain types of media is severely damag...
How Horror Ushered in the Age of the Comic Book Movie
Believe it or not, comic book movies did not always dominate the box office. There was a time when they weren’t all that popular and before that a time when they were barely getting made at all...