Interview with Lady Hellbat by David Kempf

Intro:
Lady Hellbat is a Canadian internet horror host and a longtime contributor to Rue Morgue Magazine. She is a talented writer with great insights into all things horror and controversial opinions on some of the idols of the genre. In just a short time she brings great promise for being a bold new critic.

Tell us how you became involved in all things horror?

I went to school for sociology and after a while it started to inform the way I looked at all major media, but especially movies. I came to realize that the reason I gravitated towards horror was because it tickled my brain, and once I was finished with school I got into horror journalism and pod-casting. I certainly never thought horror would take over my life the way it did!

How many film horror films have you seen?

394. Or maybe it’s 439; sometimes I lose count. Seriously though, I have no idea. I’ve seen a ton of movies for my own pleasure and another ton I’ve had to see for Rue Morgue or The Faculty of Horror... plus, I had a brain injury several years ago, so I’m sure there are several movies I’ve seen and completely forgotten!

Tell us about how you came up with the name and persona Lady Hellbat.

Well, I played roller derby for about 4 years, and “hellbat” was my derby name. The first time I was featured on the Rue Morgue podcast, the host mentioned it a lot, so I decided to carry it along into my other creative projects. Plus, it’s a lot easier to spell than “Subissati”. Everyone instinctively doubles the ‘t’ at the end. I get it, but there’s just one ‘t’. 

Please tell us about your favorite horror books and films when you were younger? 

Before there was Goosebumps, RL Stine used to write a YA series called Fear Street. They were pretty tame for horror books - mostly high school drama with a bit of murder here and there – but they were my gateway into Stephen King’s bibliography, which I devoured voraciously. As for movies, I watched all the classic slashers when I was a teenager, but the ones that really stuck with me were the brainier fare; movies like The Exorcist, The Omen, The Thing, etc.

Who do you think is cooler Batman or Dracula?

There’s an interesting question. I’ll go with Batman! One of the things that always drew me to Batman was his duality; millionaire playboy by day and costumed crime-fighter by night. Nowadays, I’m working full-time at Rue Morgue so I no longer feel like my love of horror is my dirty little secret that I reserve for after-hours, but for a long time I was the academic sociologist by day and the bartending horror freak at night. 

What is your most guilty pleasure in terms of watching a movie that is so bad it’s “good?”

I want to say Purple Rain but I feel like I should answer with a horror movie. Does David Lynch’s Dune count? I love that film but I can see why the rest of the world thinks it’s terrible. 

Tell us about all things Lady Hellbat.

Let’s see. I work at Rue Morgue Magazine, where I’m essentially an administrative fire-fighter in addition to copy editing and contributing writing. After work, I’m either working on my podcast, The Faculty of Horror, or my YouTube channel, The Batcave! 

How do you celebrate Halloween?

Sadly, Halloween has become a bit of an ordeal for me. For many years as a bartender, I’d always have to work Halloween parties and serve up drinks to people dressed up like Tiger Woods and kitty cats. Now, I have to work Rue Morgue’s Halloween parties… at least the costumes are better! Honestly though, when you work in horror, Halloween starts to feel like amateur hour. I guess it’s like what St Patrick’s day is to habitual alcoholics.

Name some of your favorite horror books.

I don’t have much time for leisurely reading anymore, but the last book I got really excited about was The Shining: Studies in the Horror Film. The Shining is one of my all-time favorites, and this book contains everything I ever wanted to know about what went on behind the scenes. Plus, I got to write a feature on it for Rue Morgue and interview the author, Danel Olson! He’s a lovely fellow.

What are your latest projects?

My YouTube channel is still new to me, and I’m working on ironing out the kinks. It’s such a unique medium – it takes a long time to learn its culture and norms and then settle into your own space within it. I held off on joining the YouTube community for years for fear of being in front of a camera, but it’s not so bad. It’s a really personal way to interact with other horror fans, and the community has been very welcoming and supportive.

Why do you think horror books and films remain so popular?

Are they popular? My world is so steeped in horror that I tend to lose perspective on how the rest of the world sees it. Part of horror’s tremendous staying power has to do with its ability to incorporate cultural fears and anxieties into its content. There’s no shortage of inspiration when it comes to things we’re scared of, and when the right filmmakers tap into the right anxieties, the resulting films are especially enduring. 

What do you think is the best way to utilize Facebook?

As ubiquitous as Facebook has become, it’s important to remember that the site really gives you a lot of power to curate the kind of content that appears on your feed. I try to post daily content that’s fun and personal so that it feels like your old pal Lady Hellbat is just saying hi. 

Please write a paragraph describing you and your work. 

I’m a sociologist, journalist and podcaster. I earned my moniker playing roller derby for Toronto’s Gore-Gore Rollergirls. In 2010, my Masters thesis on the social impact of zombie cinema was published under the title When There’s No More Room In Hell: The Sociology of the Living Dead. Since then, I’ve been published in The Undead and Theology (2012) and The Canadian Horror Film: Terror of the Soul (2015). I joined the staff of Rue Morgue magazine in 2014, to which she is a frequent contributor.

In addition to writing, I’ve made guest appearances on the Rue Morgue Podcast and Pseudopod, and the TV horror documentary Why Horror? (2014).  I am co-host and producer of The Faculty of Horror podcast with writer Alexandra West, as well as co-curator of the Toronto-based horror lecture series The Black Museum, which I founded with Paul Corupe. In 2015, I launched the horror YouTube channel THE BATCAVE.

I stalk the streets of Toronto, Ontario, and can be found in my natural habitat, hunched over my laptop, and plotting my next coup. 

LINKS:

Website: http://www.ladyhellbat.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/necromandrea

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladyhellbat

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/necromandrea

The Faculty of Horror Podcast: http://www.facultyofhorror.com/

The Batcave on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjo0Pcz0-ZiZulMdLYiJltw

The Black Museum lecture series: http://theblackmuseum.com/

Film News (UK): Horror Channel to broadcast THE VATICAN TAPES – one of 8 premieres in May

Horror Channel will be broadcasting eight premieres during May, including the UK TV premiere of THE VATICAN TAPES, a dynamic, unusual and thrilling exorcism shocker by Crank director Mark Neveldine, which will broadcast on Friday 13th May at 9pm.

Screened at FrightFest Halloween 2015, the story centres on the battle to save a young girl’s her soul after she expresses increasingly erratic and strange behaviour. It soon becomes clear that Angela (Olivia Taylor Dudley) has been taken over by an ancient satanic force and that she must be quickly purged of evil. But what nobody knows is that the spiritual crusade is not just for Angela - it’s for the entire world as humanity knows it. Also atarring are Michael Peña, Dougray Scott, Djimon Hounsou and Peter Andersson

Receiving their first appearances on the Horror Channel are the grotesque Irish comedy horror STITCHES, starring Ross Noble and Tom Shankland’s chilling and taboo-shattering THE CHILDREN. There is also a UK TV premiere of Ian Clark’s stark & scary THE FACILITY.

Other premieres this month are: the UK Network premiere of Hank Braxton’s creature feature chiller MANEATER, the UK TV premiere of Mac Carter's frightening and powerful HAUNT, the network premiere of Norman J. Warren’s sadistic cult classic TERROR and the network premiere of Vernon Sewell’s strange and sinister CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR, starring Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee.

Films in transmission order:

Fri 6 May @ 9.00pm – MANEATER (2015)

Sat 7 May @ 10.50pm – STITCHES (2012)

Fri 13 May @ 9.00pm – THE VATICAN TAPES (2015)

Sat 14 May @ 11.00pm – TERROR (1978)

Fri 20 May @ 9.00pm – HAUNT (2014) *UK TV Premiere

Sat 21 May @ 10.50pm – CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTER (1968)

Fri 27 May @ 10.55pm – THE FACILITY (2012) *UK TV Premiere

Sat 28 May @ 9.00pm – THE CHILDREN (2008) *Network Premiere

TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138 | Freeview 70
www.horrorchannel.co.uk | twitter.com/horror_channel | facebook.com/horrorchannel

Competition: Win The Bunker on DVD

The Bunker is out on DVD on 2nd May! and to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies to win.

Synopsis:
At the height of the Cold War, Russia was working on a secret scientific mission, which, if successful, would have changed the course of history. The mission, "Project 12," was ultimately deemed too dangerous to continue and the scientists involved were to be exterminated. Three scientists escaped and Project 12 was sealed in a well-guarded bunker, never to be seen again...until now.

The lead scientist for Project 12 has now become the target of a worldwide manhunt, as he is the lone survivor from the team and is the only man who knows the secrets that have been buried in the bunker; secrets that could change the whole history of the world.

Win This:
The Bunker [DVD]

To enter all you have to do is answer this easy question...

Who Directs The Bunker?

To enter Email us on competition@mastersofhorror.co.uk with your answer, along with your name and address.

When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.

Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Full Movie (USA Only) - Beneath - (2007) - From The Paramount Vault

MTV Films presents a thriller that will take you to the depths of darkness and leave you breathless.

Christy returns home after the death of her sister Vanessa and is haunted by prophetic visions of violence and murder that begin to come true. When her visions depict Vanessa’s sadistic premature burial, Christy sets out to uncover the truth behind her death – and discovers that the truth can never be buried.

Full Movie (USA Only) - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - From The Paramount Vault

Paramount have added this full movie to their Youtube Channel, you need to be in the USA to watch, but if you have a US proxy you can also watch. Enjoy!

Synopsis:
From the director of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this ghastly and hilarious sequel descends into your deepest, darkest fears as a wacked-out lawman goes after human meat-cutters with his own high-octane chainsaws in a horrific showdown with the legendary Leatherface and his entire cannibalistic family. For 14 years, former Texas Ranger Lefty Enright (Oscar nominee Dennis Hopper, Hoosiers) has been obsessed with finding the psychotic mass-murderers who killed his brother's children. And today he's in luck. A tough as nails late-night disc jockey (Caroline Williams, Days of Thunder) has caught the ghouls on tape in the act of slicing and dicing a couple of fun-loving rich kids. When she volunteers to help, Lefty persuades her to play the tape on-air to lure the maniancs out of hiding. But what she doesn't know is that she's the only witness to this diabolical family's butchery who hasn't been carved up for somebody's supper...Just yet!

Film news (UK): Horror mystery THE CURSED gets VOD release

Spooky suspense and high death count as a demon curse hits small town…

THE CURSED, a supernatural thriller starring Costas Mandylor (Saw IV, V, VI), Louis Mandylor (Daylight’s End), and Brad Thornton (Kickboxer 4), will be available to download in the UK on Google Play, iTunes and  Blinkbox from April 11, 2016

Synopsis: Denny White (Brad Thornton) arrives in sleepy Warren County, Tennessee, his childhood home.  Not much has changed on the surface but Denny hears about the mystery surrounding a supposed ‘demon’ killing livestock and even some local inhabitants. He starts researching the town’s history hoping to unravel fact from fiction. Sheriff Jimmy Muldoon (Costas Mandylor) and younger brother, Deputy Lloyd Muldoon (Louis Mandylor) have a firm grip on the town and they resent White ‘snooping’ around. When a new batch of killings start White is the number one suspect….

THE CURSED comes to the UK courtesy of TriCoast UK.

Official Trailer:

£4.49 HD  £3.49 SD VOD
Running time: 88 min  Language: English,

Acclaimed horror hit THE DIVINE TRAGEDIES lands US distribution

Burbank, CA :  Critically-acclaimed festival favorite THE DIVINE TRAGEDIES, from writer-director Jose Prendes, will be distributed in the US by Uncork’d Entertainment.

The first feature from Dual Visions, the company headed up by Jon and James Kondelik, has been called “a dangerous and perfect little nightmare that needs to be seen” (Aint it Cool News) and “simply divine” (Dread Central).

The film tells of two brothers that fulfill their murderous fantasies, but doing so derails their relationship with horrifying results. Rising star Hannah Levien, from TV’s The Magicians, genre favorite Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator), Ken Foree (The Devil’s Rejects), Graham Denman and Lynn Lowry (The Crazies) star.

Uncork’d Entertainment President Keith Leopard says he’s excited to be working with the Kondelik’s on the well-received film.

“I immediately fell in love with THE DIVINE TRAGEDIES – it’s as captivating and frightening as it is visually stunning. Prendes has crafted a masterwork of horror here. We’re excited to be teaming with Dual Visions to bring the film to the masses.”

Producer Jon Kondelik says, “We are thrilled to have Uncork'd Entertainment release Jose Prendes' psychological thriller to the masses. Divine Tragedies is our first of many films and couldn't ask for a better start for our company."

"It's one of those films that is super soaked in color, blood, and a butt load of imagery to warp your mind”, says producer James Kondelik. “Who wouldn't be excited for this release?"

Uncork'd Entertainment will release THE DIVINE TRAGEDIES later this year.

Competition: Win Ghoulies 2 on Blu-ray

Ghoulies 2 is out on Blu-ray on 11th April! and to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies to win.

Synopsis:
For the first time available in the UK on Blu-Ray.

The Ghoulies are back and more devilish than ever, as they turn an unsuspecting carnival into a house of pandemonium in this wildly outrageous sequel to the original smash hit to Ghoulies!

Satans Den has received its final warning; either the not-so-creepy House of Horrors spooks-up its act and scares some customers fast or its gateway to hell will be closed for eternity. Just when Larry Prentice (Damon Martin) and his uncle Ned (Royal Dano) think theres not a ghost of a chance that theyll save their show, they get some uninvited visitors to spice things up. The Ghoulies makes Satans Den their home and profits soar as the demonic little creatures wreak havoc on the helpless fairgrounds. So take a ride on the Ghoulie-Go-Round and play some Bumper Ghoulies enjoy yourself because the Ghoulies will always get you in the end!

Win This:
Ghoulies 2 [Blu-ray]

To enter all you have to do is answer this easy question...

Competition Closed

Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Competition: Win Ghoulies on Blu-ray

Ghoulies is out on Blu-ray on 11th April! and to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies to win.

Synopsis:
For the first time available in the UK on Blu-Ray.

As a child, Jonathan (Peter Liapis) was almost killed by his father, Malcolm (Michael Des Barres), during a satanic ritual. After being saved and raised by Wolfgang (Jack Nance), who has kept him unaware of his background, Jonathan inherits Malcolm's house and moves in with girlfriend Rebecca (Lisa Pelikan). Through his explorations of the house he begins unlocking the secrets and latent powers contained within his new found home.

But there are other dark powers at work in the house; powers more terrifying, more hideous than anything youve ever seen. It is foretold that Evil will triumph and Ghoulies will walk the earth

Win This:
Ghoulies [Blu-ray]

To enter all you have to do is answer this easy question...

Competition Closed

Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Raven Dane Interview By David Kempf

Raven Dane is a UK based author of dark fantasy, horror, alternative history and steampunk novels. Her first books were the critically acclaimed Legacy of the Dark Kind series, Blood Tears, Blood Lament and Blood Alliance. These were followed by a High Fantasy spoof, The Unwise Woman of Fuggis Mire.

Her steampunk novels so far are Cyrus Darian and the Technomicron, winner of the prestigious Victorian Steampunk Society's Best Novel award in 2012 and recently published sequel Cyrus Darian and the Ghastly Horde. These books are available in both ebook and paperback format and are published by Endaxi Press.

Raven has had many short stories published, including one in a celebration of forty years of the British Fantasy Society and in several forthcoming international horror anthologies including the 13 Ghosts of Christmas published by Spectral Press and Dean Drinkel's The Demonologia Biblica.

She was signed up by Telos to be the first author published in their new Moonrise imprint with her collection of macabre Victorian and Steampunk short stories, entitled Absinthe and Arsenic, published in autumn 2013. Raven is currently working on the third novel of the Cyrus Darian series.

As an obsessive Dr Who fangirl since the very first episode, Raven is delighted to have collaborated on a new film released on DVD, The White Witch of Devil's End.

February 2013 saw an international celebration of women writers in horror, Raven was delighted and honored to appear on two separate lists of top women horror writers.

Raven's latest book, published by Telos is Death's Dark Wings, launched at EasterCon in 2015

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INTERVIEW WITH RAVEN DANE

When did you first become interested in writing?

I was an avid and precocious reader, browsing my parent’s bookshelves when still in primary school and the most enthusiastic child borrower at our local library. I would stagger home with armfuls of books and read them all in a week. I remember squirming with embarrassment in secondary school when the English teacher read out my stories to the class. Thank you Miss Curry, you encouraged and nurtured the love of fiction and started me on my future career as an author. I put this aside to follow a career as a professional journalist, but my head was always full of stories clamoring to be told.


How did you get involved in fantasy/horror?

Fantasy started early. I remember seeing an extraordinary sunset from my suburban home…what appeared to be a whole mountain range, dark and brooding with an inner lake of silver. From then I would concoct a whole exotic fantasy world and its inhabitants. Once I began reading, I always chose fantasy or SF books.  I was a bit of a Wednesday Addams as a child, always drawn to the dark side. I used to sneak down with my brother to peer through a gap in a door to watch scary programs and films like Quatermass and the Pit and old monster films. They terrified me but I was fascinated. I always rooted for the vampires, hating the likes of Van Helsing. Later I loved the original Twilight Zone and Outer Limits as well as classic horror films. When it came to writing, no other genres held any interest.


How did you feel when you were named on two lists of best women horror writers in 2015 in celebration of Women in Horror month?

Incredibly honored and delighted!  There were some extraordinary writers on those lists. I hadn’t made the mental acknowledgment that I was indeed a horror writer, still thinking I only wrote fantasy and steampunk. When I looked back at all the short horror stories I’d written, published in so many anthologies, I realized I had legitimately crossed over into that genre years before.


This year your short horror story was featured Tales from the Lake 2. Do you prefer writing short stories or long fiction?

I love both. For a long time I only wrote novels. I did not think I had the special and very different skill set to write short stories and I wasn’t ready at the start of my career. I got into short stories during a protracted spell of ill health and hospital stays when my stamina and concentration for novels had gone. It was during that period a successful short story submission triggered many commissions for short horror stories and work on my collection Absinthe and Arsenic, Victorian based ghost stories which Telos published in 2013.


Tell us about your story for Fright Mare – Women Write Horror.

The brief was to write original horror fiction, avoiding over used themes, so no zombies, werewolves or vampires. No problem until my only inspiration and plot involved one of the above. You will have to guess which one, massive spoiler alert!   I did follow the wise, old adage of bringing something new to the table. I was so over the moon when Constance Craving was accepted. The very wonderful Billie Sue Mossiman was editing the anthology and it was a dream come true to have a story accepted.

Tell us about Death’s Dark Wings and what writing steampunk means to you. 

My latest novel Death’s Dark Wings is an alternative history/supernatural take on the events leading up the Norman Invasion of England in 1066. A very alternative version with old Earth magic, witches and druids, dragons and a Norman army wielding primitive steam powered weaponry.  Due to its time frame, I do not consider it steampunk per se…I prefer the alternative fantasy world of a Victorian age that never was for my steampunk work. Other writers set theirs in a future still using technology the Victorians would be familiar with. 11th century Britain is stretching it a bit!
My love affair with steampunk began long before I started writing it. I loved the whole creative aesthetic, the art, the jewelry, clothes and music and most of all the people. The British steampunk community are lovely, a totally fun, non-judgmental, non-cliquey gathering of like-minded, creative folk where everyone is made most welcome.  I wrote the first novel Cyrus Darian and the Technomicron as an expression of my love of steampunk and its community. I must have done something right as it was voted Steampunk Novel of the Year in 2012.


What do you see as the primary difference between British and American horror?

To be honest, I am not aware of anything that stands out….different settings of course. I enjoy horror from either side of the Atlantic. We both can do visceral and shocking as well as creepy and psychological equally well. British horror fiction enjoyed a lively upsurge over the past decade, sadly not reflected in bookstores like Waterstones who have crammed SF, Fantasy and Horror into one small bay in their shops.


What are your favorite horror books?

Too many to list after so many decades of only reading horror!  But those that immediately stand out are Salem’s Lot and The Stand by Stephen King…the master.  Wolf’s Hour, Robert McCammon, The Keep, F Paul Wilson. Every ghost story by M R James.  The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.  Sam Stone’s deliciously addictive and different Vampire Gene series.
Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill.   And anything by the scary as hell Adam Nevill, in particular Last Days and Bouquet for the Damned. Shudder.


What are some of your favorite horror movies?

Again so many!  I love all the old Hammer horrors, however hokey…especially those with those classy masters Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. I love The Devil Rides Out where Lee was rarely cast as the hero.  Dead of Night (1945) gave me recurring nightmares and was highly influential on my writing. More recent favorites include the tv film version of Salem’s Lot, the spooky Nicole Kidman vehicle The Others and the excellent The Sixth Sense.  I don’t like torture porn like the Saw films and teenage slasher movies….with the exception of the marvelous Cabin in the Woods.


What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as an author?

 The first ever enthusiastic email from a reader of my first book, Blood Tears. That made it all worthwhile and spurred me on to carry on telling stories.


Do you have any advice for new writers?

I am not a fan of creative writing courses and the plethora of ‘how to write’ books, with the exception of ‘On Writing’ by Stephen King…not read it myself but it is endorsed by many exceptional authors. I am concerned that books and courses for new writers stifle their unique voice and creative spark. Many new writers seem to get addicted to courses and writers’ groups and lose confidence in their work, sometimes for years. The adage, read, read and read then write, write and write holds true.  And don’t stick to one genre with your reading.  I spent time working as a library assistant and read a wide range of fiction, opening my eyes to fantastic writers like Mervyn Peake, Michael Moorcock, Karen Maitland and Mario Puzo. Don’t be afraid to say, enough…it is finished.  Time to bite the bullet and get it out to the world. There will always  be time for re-writes once an editor gets hold of their manuscript.


What is your opinion of the new self-publishing trend?

Oh dear, stepping on treacherously thin ice time. Anything I say will be misconstrued and used against me….again.  I must therefore state for the record that I have nothing against self-publishing or the writers who do it. The reading public do not care how books end up on their shelves or eReaders. Only that the story is well written, cohesive and entertaining. To offer anything less is letting down the people who pay good money for a book and the biggest consumer complaint about self-published books.

Where self-publishing falls down is when writers upload their work online with no professional editing. Having a sharp-eyed auntie or neighbor check for typos and spelling is not editing. Self-editing is a nonsense…all writers including the A list professionals are too close to their work to spot plot holes and problems. A good editor will make your work shine. Anyone who is too precious with their book to allow any criticism or refuse to change a word is doomed to failure.
Now I will await the online equivalent to angry villagers wielding pitchforks and blazing torches… (Inserting an imaginary smiley icon)


What are your current projects?

I have recently finished a batch of short horror story commissions and steeling myself to get on with woefully neglected novel works in progress including a fourth Cyrus Darian book and a Victorian supernatural adventure. Readers want another short story collection and I do have enough to bring one out soon….possibly entitled Balefire and Brimstone.


Please in your own words write a paragraph about yourself & your work. 

I am Raven Dane, writer of dark and comedy fantasy, steampunk, alternative history and horror novels and short stories. I live with my family in the beautiful Chiltern Hills area of the UK and our menagerie includes my lovely Iberian mares and a tankful of tropical fish all called Neville. I am a great fan of attending SF and Fantasy conventions, a great way to meet my readers, also cosplayers are wonderful! My mother was Irish, my father is Welsh and I often draw heavily on the ancient myths and folklore of these isles for inspiration. Like most writers, I have the ambition to see one of my books or stories turned into a film or tv series, preferably starring Tom Hiddleston.

Links:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/287640.Raven_Dane
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raven-Dane/e/B0034Q8UN6
https://twitter.com/ravendane