Recent musings…
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BYSTANDERS is evidence of the future possible when survivors tell their own stories
Directed by Mary Beth McAndrews, Dread Central’s fearless editor-in-chief, Bystanders certainly brings a fresh perspective to the rape-revenge genre. The premise is par for the course when it comes to what audiences expect from this genre: Abby and her friends are drugged and assaulted by boys at a party, then left in the woods while…
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The Calls for Equality are Coming from Inside the House – Editorial for FANGORIA Magazine Vol. 2 Issue 26
In the latest issue of FANGORIA magazine, I take a look at the legacy of Bob Clark’s perhaps accidental feminist masterpiece and interrogate whether the film’s two remakes live up to that legacy.
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Driller Killers: The Power Drill and Emasculation in the Slasher Genre – MovieJawn Zine Fall 2024
Taking inspiration from my many read-throughs of Carol Clover’s Men, Women and Chainsaws, I take a look at the phallic symbolism behind the power drill as it has been used across a handful of films like The Slumber Party Massacre, Driller Killer, The Toolbox Murders, and Body Double, as well as how this weapon is…
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Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Mazes Ranked
My ranking of all of the offerings of Halloween Horror Nights 2024
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Benjamin Barfoot’s sophomore feature turns grief into a creature with DADDY’S HEAD – Fantastic Fest 2024
Benjamin Barfoot’s sophomore feature turns grief into a creature that will reach into the back of your skull, forcing you to relive childhood nightmares you thought you had forgotten.
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Apartment 7A: A Dance Macabre Between Control and Autonomy – Editorial for Fangoria Vol. 2 Issue #25
It is an honor to have my journey as a writer, film critic, and horror film academic (if you will), come full circle. In the fall issue of Fangoria, I wrote an analysis of the use of dance in Apartment 7A
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Samara Weaving fights her way through an exposition-less hellscape in AZRAEL
Writer Simon Barrett takes on a chilling challenge, testing his craft as a storyteller when a lean script takes away any chance to rely on exposition. This test extends to the cast, who must rely on body language and the expressiveness of their faces to deliver their performances.
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THE CROW (2024) is a reimagining of a coveted gothic tale that has a heart of its own
Although any attempt to resurrect The Crow will be haunted by the memory of Brandon Lee, Rupert Sanders’ reimagining of this coveted gothic tale has a beating heart worthy of our gaze.
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CUCKOO is a strange yet silly look at isolation and connection
Cuckoo is strange, to say the least. Its absurdity is homage to 70s and 80s Euro-horror but the film is quick to point at its own silliness and hopes that we will stay seated for the ride. As it unwinds, it only becomes more disorienting but Hunter Schafer’s Gretchen is the glue that holds Cuckoo…
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Is Rape Revenge Dead?
One of the most controversial subjects in horror has continued to return to the screen time and time again. This contentious subject can offer many a feeling of catharsis, while others stand firm on its exploitative nature but what is it about the rape-revenge narrative that keeps bringing filmmakers and audiences back?
Siren Death Cult 