Interview with Barbara Crampton

On the eve of the UK TV premiere of SACRIFICE, actress Barbara Crampton reflects on the early days of her career, tackling a Norwegian accent and the rise of pagan horror.

Can you recall how you felt the first time you stepped onto a TV or film set?

BC: Yes, it was for the soap opera, ‘Days of Our Lives’, and it was my very first job, and I had one line, “Hi. I’m your cousin Trista from Colorado”. It was to the character Marlena Evans and subsequently I had whole storylines that lasted for about a year.

I had extensive experience on stage but the first time I was on a television set it frightened me to death and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get through that first line out of my mouth and I thought I was going to forget it, that I was going to screw it up. Then the spell was broken, and I was able to go on and start my career on screen.


Days of Our Lives had been going for so long was it surreal to be on that set?

No, because as an actor you usually watch the show to get to know the characters. I knew about a month before that I was going to be on ‘The Young and the Restless’, so I was watching it almost every day, getting to know the characters and the actors to get the flavour of that show for about a month to get to know the characters.


Can you remember the first time someone asked you for your autograph?

BC: I think I was probably on a plane; I can’t remember exactly. In the very early days of my career, I worked on a number of soap operas, and they were very big 35 years ago, and I think something like 15 million people a week used to turn into soap operas. So if you were on a soap opera you were quite famous, and I do remember being on different planes and everybody would recognise me. The Stewardesses would be very fond of soap operas for whatever reason, maybe to do with their schedules of overnights, and between flights and things, so I always got bumped up to First Class if there was an extra seat. Perks of the job



Your career has lasted far longer than some, and apart from being such a fine actress, why do you think it has lasted so long?

BC: Well, I think careers wax and wane, as they always do in a business that is always freelance. You’re always looking for your next job and I think the trick is just to stick with it Many times, in my career I’ve thought, “Oh well, that’s it”. I never said to myself that I was going to give up though. When I was in my early 20s I worked a lot up until I was 30, and then maybe the roles weren’t coming as much between 30 and 40, but then after that I started to get more roles and now, in my 60s I’m getting roles more than I ever have!

 

Let’s talk about Sacrifice, how did you become attached to this movie?

I got an email from Sean Knoop who was one of the producers and he and I had worked on a movie called ‘Replace’, and he said that he was putting together this film called ‘Sacrifice’ and it feels a little Lovecraftian although it’s not based on any particular story and that they were thinking of a role for me and would I like to read it. So, he sent it to me and I read and I thought it was great, I loved it. They were shooting it in Norway and they told me who else was going to be in it and I thought that it sounded like a nice adventure and I said yes.

It was quite exciting to be in Norway where I’d never been to before and that’s one of the perks of the job too as you get to go to places you wouldn’t normally get to and experience it almost like a local. I was also really enamoured of all the actors I worked with on set; especially Sophie Stevens, because the weight of the picture really rests on her and she has such a wealth of humanity and heart to her performance.


Did it take you long to prepare to play the character of Renate Nygardand and work on the accent?

Yes. I hired somebody who was a Norwegian speaker, she taught Norwegian at the Scandinavian School in San Francisco so she came over to my house and I worked on my accent with her and I said I really wanted a heavy accent, really want her to feel like she’s really embedded in this town, and she’s really from this place and she’s more of an old world Norwegian person so a lot of my accent was probably heavier than some of the others. I said if I’m the head of this cult I really need to be steeped in the history and lore of this town, and the place we’re from and the mythical island that we lived on. I prepared for it heavily for about two months.


Did you and the cast have much time to rehearse together?

You never have enough time. I remember on ‘Re-Animator’, one of my first movies, we had a three-week rehearsal period, and we worked every day, 5 days a week so we had 15 days of rehearsal 3 to 4 hours at each time. In my early career I thought that was the norm but that’s never happened to me since. So usually you show up on a set, maybe 2 to 3 days before you start filming, do wardrobe fittings meet the director and get to know that cast a little, and if you’re lucky you’ll get an hour here or there to run the scene with the other actors and hopefully the director. Most of the time you just need to grab the other actor or actors when you can and talk about the upcoming scenes, and work with them and run the dialogue so you’re really rehearsing as you’re filming. That’s normaly how it works.


I have to ask, how cold was the water?

It was really cold! We had wet suits on underneath our robes that we wore, those ceremonial robes, it was freezing. Thankfully there are only a few scenes in the movie where we have to be fully submerged, and the wet suits were really welcome. I don’t think we could have done it without them because its many hours of being in the water (laughs) for three minutes of film and so we were in that water for many hours for a few days.


What’s it like shooting a film entirely on location?

It’s fantastic. I don’t think I work in LA that much anymore, I don’t think a lot of people do.


There are a lot of folk/Pagan style horror movies at the moment, why do you think everyone seems to be looking towards nature and the environment for their horror kicks?

The world has gone topsy-turvy and crazy and we all seem to be in our different camps trying to understand the nature of humanity and we all have our own feelings and thoughts on life and what it means, and ideologies are split more than they ever have before, or maybe they always have been and we’ve not noticed before. I don’t know. I think people sometimes look to religion and some deeper meaning and where does it come from and I think Pagan horror is at the top right now and there’s been so many movies of late that have come out, and ‘The Wicker Man’ is one of my favourite movies and this harks back to those types of films. We are all looking for our place in the world and where we fit in, and I think movies like ‘Sacrifice’ ask those questions and allow you to kind of look deep in yourself and find what’s important to you.


‘Sacrifice’ is having it UK TV premiere on Horror Channel on the 12th December, how would you describe the film to our audience?

I think it’s a film about a couple who are trying to find their roots, especially for Ludovic’s character and finding where he came from and understanding who he is as a person, and then finding out that what you think about your life is not really what it was at all. It’s a shocking film, it’s a dangerous film and it’s also a fun a human film.


What are you up to at the moment?

Well, I’ve moved into producing over the past couple of years. I produced ‘Beyond the Gates’ with Jackson Stewart, and, most recently I produced ‘Jakob’s Wife’. I’m working with a film company now, Amp Films, to develop some other projects and we’ve just finished filming a movie which hasn’t been announced yet and that will be exciting news when it comes out. Also, I have two movies coming out next year, one is called ‘King Knight’ where I play Matthew Gray Gubler’s mother and the other film is ‘Alone With’, where I play somebody else’s mother (laughs). Those are coming out in the first quarter of next year, so you’ll be hearing about those pretty soon. I’m also n development on another couple of films I may be in, or I might just help produce.

SACRIFICE is broadcast on Horror Channel on Sunday Dec 12, 9pm.

COMPETITION: Win NOS4A2 Boxset DVD

NOS4A2 - Season 1 and 2 Boxset is out now

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and a copy of the boxset to give away.

Synopsis: 

Star Trek’s Zachary Quinto stars as the evil Charlie Manx in NOS4A2, a different kind of vampire story based on the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name by Joe Hill, acclaimed novelist and son of horror maestro Stephen King. This grippingly dark series follows a woman determined to track down a string of missing children whose disappearance may be more sinister than anyone would believe.

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For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 20-12-21
2. No alternative prize is available
3. 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.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

New horror short film Stay Pretty, No Pity - 2021

 

If a ghost shows herself to you in the mirror and asks: "Do you want to stay pretty?" What would your answer be?

Stay Pretty, No Pity is a short film that tells the story of Lucy (Maria Ozawa) who fled an abusive relationship and took refuge with her new roommate. Things take a turn for the worst when a ghost appears and shows her seemingly random images. Lucy has three days to decipher the clues of these visions and discover the ghost's intentions.

Stay Pretty, No Pity is a spooky extension of the ancient Japanese folklore tale of Oiwa Yotsuya (Yotsuya Kaidan). The original tale followed a samurai who after murdering his wife after she became deformed was haunted by her spirit until he became insane and killed himself.

Now hundreds of years later, Yotsuya is back! She is punishing ugly characters by recruiting the pretty, starting with Lucy.

Interview with Natasha Sinclair By David Kempf

When did you first become interested in writing?

As soon as I was able to write, I was hooked. Even before my comprehension developed of the written word, I always loved the feel of putting pen to paper as a youngster, so I enjoyed exploring and practising calligraphy from primary (elementary) age upwards. My parents got me a calligraphy set with my first fountain pen, and I was intent on mastering the styles in the accompanying books and coming up with my own. I always found the ink flow from the nib as a mesmerising dance to get lost in. The act of writing can be very ritualistic. As a child, I spent weekends at my gran’s house; when I was a little older, though still of the primary age, she gifted me a typewriter (I am almost certain there was a not entirely legal story attached to its acquisition). I adored it nonetheless. It felt like such a thoughtful gift, and I remember watching Misery with her while tapping away at my own childish stories.

Writing itself is a craft that developed with those tactile elements that drew me in. I’ve always written in verse, not with any intended purpose. It was always just something that I had to do. For me, it’s a habit —like breathing— for a long time, I didn’t think about what or how I was writing. I just wrote, as a cleansing ritual, a purging perhaps.

Like breathing, writing now sometimes requires conscious and considered practice, particularly now that I write with more purpose of sharing pieces with an audience. It’s something that has a never-ending path of learning and evolution, and the lack of predictability is exciting to me.


How did you get involved in fantasy/horror?

As a fan, I can’t think of a time I didn’t enjoy horror and fantasy — from literature, music, tv, film and even true horror accounts. It’s just always interested me. As a kid, I watched a lot of horror movies with my gran — I appreciated that she didn’t set boundaries on that kind of content. I’ve always written with a dark, distinctly adult slant. I guess experiences and observations have fuelled the threads that have become poems and dark fiction stories. Horror wasn’t a conscious decision; I’m not big on categorising art.

The appeal of those genres is that there are far fewer boundaries to rub up against than within other literary categories. Horror and Fantasy fiction are rich, diverse and multi-faceted. They can take a reader on a journey that may be infused with uncomfortable truths, taboos and nuances of the human condition. Matters that we may otherwise be resistant to giving our attention to in an entertaining and palatable (all be it haunting or gore-filled) way.


Tell us about your first publisher.

I submitted my first piece for consideration for print in 2019 after coming across a post in a great horror book group on Facebook — ‘Books of Horror’. The open-call sought short stories to feature in the group’s inaugural anthology showcasing writers (new and seasoned) in the community. Up to that point, I had never considered submitting anywhere, and I figured, why not — all they can say is ‘n’, right?

My story was accepted by the group’s founder, who was spearheading the project, RJ Roles. Since then, the ‘Books of Horror’ imprint has put out three (four taking into account the third has to be compiled into two books) volumes of horror, which have been received well by readers and reviewers. RJ Roles and Jason Myers have since started ‘Crimson Pinnacle Press’, and I was invited to contribute to their first two anthologies, ‘Fairy Tale Horrorshow’ and ‘Twisted Legends’, released in 2021.

It’s been a very inspiring and humbling experience. Whenever I submit anything, I expect rejection, so being accepted (and receiving invitationals) by a publisher is always a pleasant and encouraging surprise.


How would you classify the genre you write?

I am very much of the mindset that it’s not my place to classify that. I’ve never much cared for labels. I realise to some writers (and readers) this will seem utterly absurd, maybe even unprofessional. Since so many (understandably) plough work into market research of specific genres before penning work with a field target in mind. Doing that, for me, kills the passion for writing. There is so much subjectivity to it. I find horror, for one, likes to bedhop around genres mixing with bizarro, erotica, gothic, speculative, fantasy, and the list goes on. When it comes to art that I appreciate or have a hand in creating, I am a literary bed-hopper. I don’t want to restrain what I write to a single genre.

My first published book was a memoir from my experience as a parent with a child in neonatal intensive care. Following that, my published work has been predominantly fiction, mainly under the (mammoth) umbrella of adult horror, often with psychological and sexual elements.


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

Pure and simple escapism. Horror and fantasy are safe places from the true horrors of real life. These genres can also facilitate a safe place to explore otherwise out-of-bounds subject matter mutually for both readers and writers.


What inspires your stories?

Anything can be a seed of inspiration. From a dream, the way seeds scatter in the wind, a passing thought, patterns of bird migrations, something my kid says, a line or riff in a piece of music or poetry. It can be a dismissible moment that just plants itself into my mind and roots there and spirals into something that I must write.

As an example, the closing story in my collection, ‘Murmur’, released in June 2021, is one of my favourites. Several things inspired it; When out for a woodland walk with my kids, my daughter stumbled upon a grave with a makeshift marker with ‘Cinnamon’ etched into the wood. The surrounding area became the setting for my story ‘Moonshine Cinnamon’. I couldn’t resist — there was a huge tree slung with a tattered blue rope over a fast-flowing burn among other borrowed elements, right down to a stray pair of red lace knickers hung on a fir tree when we had walked through the same area on a previous occasion. Musically, the story was heavily influenced by listening to a lot of The Ramones. In fact, it was originally written for an open call looking for stories inspired by their music.

Like many writers and other creative types, music has always been of significant influence. Every piece I write has its own soundtrack.


What do you think the difference between American horror and U.K. horror is?

It’s not something I’ve ever really considered.

Since I’m on the spot, it’s a genuinely tricky one. As we are as similar as we are different, nations divided by language that should be united in many ways. Then again, I feel that way globally — we are one world with a patchwork of interconnecting culture that should be embraced for each of our unique perspectives.

When I consider historically and answer this with unavoidable gross sweeping generalisations — British writers tend to have strength in slow-burn, eerie, creepy and gothic styles and have been able to modernise these ideas; playing on fears that come from an ancient landscape, persecution, society, mysticism, folktales and cultural shifts and divisions. Comparably I’ve found more wham-bam-in-your-face narratives and scares in American horror. These comparisons can be switched just as easily. We ‘borrow’ from one another often, which helps enrich and create some great stories with a wide appeal.

Any differences, other than American English Vs British English and local dialects and colloquialisms in language, are very muddied.


What are your favorite horror books?

I read a lot and don’t stick exclusively to horror; it’s hard for me to pinpoint favourites from that specific category. I’m a nightmare at picking favourites of anything; perspectives and tastes change over time. I hated being asked these questions as a kid; What’s your favourite colour? Why can I only pick one! I love them all! I still can’t pick.

Again, being on the spot, one of the first horror writers I fell in love with was reading Poppy Z. Brite as a teen. I still love his vivid settings, complex characterisations and alternative perspectives in his narrative. His characters aren’t ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Some may commit despicable acts of horror, but they are still very human and written so skilfully that they may canvas sympathy of sorts from a reader. Those early novels of ‘Exquisite Corpse’ and ‘Lost Souls’ particularly stuck with me.

There are tonnes of books that I love; I couldn’t begin to list them.


What are some of your favorite horror movies?

Again, with the favourites! What are you doing to me, David? It really depends on my mood.

I enjoy all kinds of horror in movies, from bizarre, psychological, gothic, haunting, slow-burn horror right through to the utterly ridiculous, in your face and comedy horror.

From early on, I have to acknowledge those that hold so much nostalgia and created a huge impression — Nightmare on Elm Street, The Birds, Omen, Evil Dead, Hellraiser, House, The Lost Boys, Gremlins, Poltergeist — a typical product of the ‘80s! I’m a sucker for werewolf and vampire movies — Gingersnaps, Dog Soldiers and Bram Stoker’s Dracula being among the longtime favourites. Right now, I’m in the mood for psychological and fantasy horror such as Splice, The Shape of Water, anything by Guillermo del Torro. Next week it might be comedy-horror tickling it fancy. There’s a sub-genre for every mood and season.              


What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as an author?

Honestly, just taking the plunge and putting work out into the public domain without anonymity is a huge personal step for me. I can’t say that I’m looking for any significant recognition or ‘status’ from my creative endeavours. I’m more focused on setting an example for my kids. And publishing and submitting writing took a lot of courage for me as I’m a pretty private person, even creatively. I’m keen to lead by example and show a bit of fearlessness in pursuing something that I’ve always loved. Regardless of insecurities and fears, we can rise against our own demons.


Do you have any advice for new writers?

Just write. Don’t overthink it, don’t concern yourself with what other people may think (that’s their business, NOT yours) and write. Write because you have to, write because you want to, just do it.

Do your research and continuously learn. Stay humble — no one is perfect, no one has all the answers no matter how it may appear or how much experience one has gained; we live in an ever-changing world.

When dealing with other people in the industry, be professional and realistic always. Don’t overpromise, and don’t underestimate yourself either. Trust your gut instincts — if something feels wrong or seems too good to be true, in most cases, you’re probably right. Find a community that supports you, whether in person at the local library or book group. Even if you’re an introvert like myself who shies away from that, the internet can be a great resource to have those needs met and find some camaraderie while managing that sense of overwhelm and the drain that socialising can have.


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

Is it still considered new?

I think it’s double-edged really.

It’s fantastic that the tools are there and accessible to more writers than ever, stripping out the headache of finding and enlisting a literary agent and the tumultuous and long process of trying to strike up a deal with a traditional publisher. There’s something increasingly elitist about mass market that has never personally appealed. In fact, when I was writing with the aim to publish, it never crossed my mind to do anything other than self-publish. It was only after that that I began to entertain the notion of submitting publishers and have since stuck to small independent press’.

I don’t imagine ever being interested in having a middle-person — that’s one of the benefits of self-publishing; the writer is entirely in control of their voice, story and how the entire writing and publishing process is managed. And who they involve in that process. There’s complete control over editors enlisted, cover design, formatting, marketing etc. There’s no big-wig trying to dilute or change a writer’s voice for general palatability or mainstream mass appeal. Unless, of course, that’s what a writer wants but that’s their choice. With self-publishing, there are also many potential pitfalls to consider —as the writer holds full responsibility and accountability for the material that goes out to market. Although the channel has opened doors to a more diverse and creative market — there’s a lot of poor quality material out there too. This means for many that it can be an uphill battle to establish credibility and a solid dedicated readership in a very saturated and polluted pond. This applies to self-publishing writers as much as it does to independent press’ and freelance editors and artists in the industry.


What are your current projects?

I’m finishing a couple of short stories, one is based on an old Glaswegian Urban Legend, and I have a couple of co-written shorts on the table to finish with fellow writer David Owain Hughes.

I recently purchased some stunning artwork for the novel I’m working on — the novel is a heavily psychological piece with elements of abuse, family secrets, and revenge. A large part of the story takes place in and around an Asylum (classic or cliché – I’ll leave that to readers to decide). I had hoped to finish that this year but my editing workload with Word Refinery clients took priority. Again, a benefit of self-publishing – deadlines are created by the writer.

Going into 2022, I am focusing on finishing my novel in progress and polishing and refining that to take to publication. I’ll also be working on two collaborative novels with two very different and fantastic writers.

One project with Ruthann Jagge – she is a wonderful writer and woman who is a real force of creative and passionate energy. A truly dedicated and inspiring individual. Jagge has such spirit and drive I know we’re going to create something magical and wicked together! We’ve appeared in numerous anthologies together and her debut novella ‘New Girls’ Patient’ releases in January — get that on your reading list! The second planned co-authored project is with one of the U.K’s most prominent anthologists of recent years. Kevin J. Kennedy. I’ve been Kennedy’s editor throughout 2021 – putting out books 9, 10 and 11 of the very popular ‘The Horror Collection’ anthologies which are known for bringing together a mixtape of quality indie horror to a global readership. I also edited and wrote the foreword for Kennedy’s debut solo novella ‘Halloween Land’ released earlier this year, and we’ve just launched ‘The Best of Indie Horror: Christmas Edition’. So we each have familiarity with the way the other works — it seems a natural progression to bring our very different writing styles together to concoct something interesting, which I am confident we will!

There are a few more irons in the fire but, I’m prioritising the aforementioned before pulling anything else out and burning my fingers!

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

From the heart of Scotland, I find inspiration to write in just about everything — from the maddeningly mundane to the utterly horrific.

My writing is often woven with horror, sex and psychological elements. I'm opposed to the almost incessant human desire to label and box off art. Art is unrestrained freedom.

I am a member of The Horror Writers Association.

I have independently published work, compiled and edited anthologies, and contributed to a plethora of publications. I support other creatives by proofreading, editing, and creating promotional material via Word Refinery services, linked on my website.

Out-with writing and editing, I'm an avid gig-goer, reader, vegan, home educating, nature-loving, adopter of wonky animals.

Website: https://clanwitch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clan_witch/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatashaSinclair/

FULL MOVIE - OMICRON (1963)

 

In this Italian sci-fi comedy the corpse of a laborer is inhabited and revived by an Omicron -- an alien being. When the creature becomes accustomed to the body, he returns to the worker's former job and begins operating the machines at an incredible speed in order to learn about the planet so his race can take it over.

You will need to adjust the subtitles to English.

Horror Channel unwraps eight UK TV premieres for December

 

Horror Channel comes bearing gory gifts for the Xmas season, presenting eight UK TV premieres, including Abigail Blackmore’s gruesome and comically dark TALES FROM THE LODGE, starring Mackenzie Crook, Sophie Thompson and Johnny Vegas, cosmic chiller SACRIFICE, starring horror icon Barbara Crampton and AQUASLASH, a mad exploitation slasher harking back to the classic 1980s era of gushing blood and teenage turmoil.

Also showing for the first time on British TV are Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead’s romantic body horror SPRING, Greg McLean’s supernatural horror THE DARKNESS, starring Kevin Bacon. deadly thriller, DESOLATION, Brit monster-munching caper THE YOUNG CANNIBALS and FORGET EVERYTHING AND RUN, where The Walking Dead meets The Revenant.

Plus, there are channel premieres for two inspired remakes with all-star casts - THE WOLFMAN, which brings the myth of a man cursed into lycanthropy back to its iconic origins and stars Benicio Del Toro Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving, and PSYCHO (1998), Gus Van Sant’s revival of the Hitchcock classic, which stars Anne Hech, Viggo Mortensen, Vince Vaughn, Julianne Moore and William H. Macy.

Full film details in transmission order:

Fri 3 Dec @ 21:00 – DESOLATION (2017) *UK TV Premiere

A young mother, her son, and her best friend venture into the remote wilderness to scatter her late husband's ashes. On their trek home, they begin to realise that a lone hiker has been following them. A series of disturbing encounters forces the grieving family to confront their deepest fears when the stranger's true motives are revealed.

Fri 3 Dec @ 22:35 – FORGET EVERYTHING AND RUN (2021) *UK TV Premiere

When a virus ravages a mountain community the survivors must flee from the monsters it created into the barren wilderness. Scavenging, freezing and dying, one family will fight for their lives against marauders hell-bent on revenge. As humanity clings to hope, their only chance for survival is forming an alliance with the monsters that came calling.

Sat 4 Dec @ 21:00 – PSYCHO (1998) *Channel Premiere

Oscar winning director Gus Van Sant revives the Hitchcock classic with an all-star cast. Anne Hech stars as the young Marion Crane who flees her old life with $40,000 and makes for California. On her way she stops at a quaint little motel for a good night’s sleep and a refreshing shower...Also stars Viggo Mortensen, Vince Vaughn, Julianne Moore and William H. Macy..

Sun 5 Dec @ 21:00 – SPRING (2014) *UK TV Premiere

A young man in a personal tailspin flees from the US to Italy, where he sparks up a romance with a woman harbouring a dark, primordial secret. Directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Resolution, Synchronic) and starring Lou Taylor Pucci, Nadia Hilker and Francesco Carnelutti,

Fri 10 Dec @ 21:00 – AQSASLASH (2019) *UK TV Premiere

The Wet Valley Water Park welcomes high school students celebrating their graduation in all their unleashed libido glory. However, in the midst of the ribald romping revels, a black-gloved murderer is tinkering with the water slides and sabotaging the swimming pools. Thrills, chills, spills and screwball comedy meet splashy shocks and gory dismemberment in a chlorine and blood drenched murder mystery.

Sat 11 Dec @ 21:00 – THE DARKNESS (2016) *UK TV Premiere

A family unwittingly bring a paranormal force home with them after returning from a Grand Canyon vacation. Feeding off of their own fears, the evil presence threatens to destroy them from within as it takes over their home and their lives. Directed by Greg McLean (Wolf Creek), this superior supernatural thriller stars Kevin Bacon and Radha Mitchell.

Sun 12 Dec @ 21:00 – SACRIFICE (2020) *UK TV Premiere

After the death of his mother, New York-based Isaac and his pregnant wife Emma return to the Norwegian village on a remote island of his birth to deal with an unexpected inheritance. There they find themselves caught in a waking nightmare as an ancient frightening evil is awakened to claim the colour of madness in a birth right of its own.

Fri 17 Dec @ 21:00 – THE YOUNG CANNIBALS (2019) *UK TV Premiere

A group of friends head to a secluded campsite, where they plan on spending a relaxing weekend by the lake. What they didn’t plan on, was being tricked into eating burgers made of human flesh. This act summons an unrelenting supernatural creature, which will hunt them down one by one. Abandoned in the wilderness, they must fight for their lives if they wish to make it out of the woods.

Sat 18 Dec @ 21:00 – THE WOLFMAN (2010) *Channel Premiere

Benicio Del Toro plays a haunted nobleman lured back to his family estate after his brother vanishes. Reunited with his estranged father (played by Anthony Hopkins), he sets out to find his brother...and discovers a horrifying destiny for himself. Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving also star in a riveting tale Inspired by the classic Universal film that launched a legacy of horror.

Sun 19 Dec @ 21:00 – TALES FROM THE LODGE (2019) *UK TV Premeire

A group of friends gather at a remote lodge to honour a recently-deceased friend. Everyone makes the most of a gloomy situation by celebrating the best way they know how: swapping silly, scary stories that would have earned a giggle from their dearly departed pal. Urban legends about a masked slasher, a paranormal ghost hunt and a post-apocalyptic wasteland soon lose their fun shock value as the sextet become stuck in a true terror tale that exposes dark secrets no one could have possibly foreseen.

TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138

INTRODUCING ACTRESS AYVIANNA SNOW - NOW STARRING IN NEW HORROR FILM ‘BARUN RAI AND THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF’

Ayvianna Snow is a multi-talented actress who is taking the UK by storm and will be starring in numerous films this year and in 2022, including new horror film Barun Rai And The House on The Cliff, out in cinemas from 29th October. 

Filmed in Essex, Barun Rai And The House on The Cliff follows newly-weds who have just moved into their dream home, where they face an unexpected and terrifying turn. Their love is tested by unexplained chilling incidents, with Barun Rai, a detective who solves paranormal activities uncovering hidden, chilling, and supernatural truths about the house. In the film, Snow plays Polly; a newly-wed bride in the 1920s who meets a tragic end...!

Snow is no amateur when it comes to leading roles in horror films.  Her mysterious persona and powerful eye contact instantly absorbs viewers and  has ultimately led to her being  cast in numerous horror films. 

Snow also landed a leading role in recent 2021 feature film 'Black Lake', which was selected to be screened at the Women in Horror Film Festival in Atlanta in February 2020 and also winning  the Best Cinematography award. It was also selected for ShockFest, Salem Horror Fest 2020, Montreal Requiem FearFest, and Cine-Excess where it was a Semi-Finalist.

Ayvianna also starred in 'White Colour Black', which screened at the BFI London Film Festival, and was nominated for a BIFA (British Independent Film Award), in 2016 and was released in cinemas in 2020. 

Snow will also be appearing in hotly anticipated releases in 2022 including; 'L.O.L.A.', a sci-fi film about the relationship between two sisters, staring alongside Emma Appleton. 'Hollow’, an indie horror feature shot in Hereford, written by 'Dr Who' TV writer Keith Temple, and 'The Lockdown Hauntings', which was shot during the first lockdown, directed by Howard Ford. Snow has also filmed both lead roles in 'The Good Wife', directed by Dean M. Drinkel, a psychological horror about two women; a modern woman, Fiona, and her evil doppelganger ghost, Elizabeth, both played by Snow. 

Ayvianna began her career by training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama's Youth Theatre course. Following this, she gained a B.A. (Hons.) in Acting from The Arden School of Theatre in Manchester. Ayvianna is also currently filming 'The Final 45'; where she plays a French Resistance leader during the Second World War, directed by Ian Manson. 

Horror Channel invaded by week of Sci-Fi Horror

 

Horror Channel goes extra-terrestrial with SCI-FEAR WEEK (Saturday 20th to Friday 26th, 9pm), in which strange science, terrifying tech and insidious invasions takes control, highlighted by the Channel premiere of jolting sci-fi thriller THE LAST DAYS ON MARS, starring Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai and Olivia Williams. It also includes the channel premieres of 1980 British science fiction movie SATURN 3, which stars Farrah Fawcett, Kirk Douglas and Harvey Keitel and XTRO, an unsettling slice of Sci-Fi Horror and one of the few British films that landed on the UK film censors' infamous 'Video Nasty' list.

Full film details in transmission order:

Saturday 20 November @ 21:00 – THE LAST DAYS ON MARS (2013) *Channel Premiere

On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery - fossilised evidence of bacterial life. But a routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses, and he falls into a deep crevice. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body. However, when another vanishes they start to suspect that the life-form they have discovered is not yet dead.

Sunday 21 November @ 21:00 – SATURN 3 (1990) *Channel Premiere

Adam (Kirk Douglas) and Alex (Farrah Fawcett) are scientists stationed deep beneath the barren surface of Saturn's moon, Titan, seeking new forms of food for an exhausted planet Earth. Captain James, a murderous psychopath, reaches Titan and cuts off communication with the rest of the solar system. Aided by his 'helper robot' James reduces life at the space station to one of survival. For Adam and Alex their only hope is to flee the planet, but the homicidal robot stands in their way. Also stars Harvey Keitel.

 

Monday 22 November @21:00 – CELL (2016)

Best-selling horror author Stephen King’s acclaimed tech-inspired apocalyptic nightmare.

Tuesday 23 November @ 21:00 – SCANNERS (1981)

Considered one of David Cronenberg’s early genre classics,

 

Wednesday 24 November @ 21:00 – EXTRATERRESTRIAL (2014)

An alien onslaught chiller, directed by Colin Minihan and starring Brittanty Allen,

Thursday 25 November @ 21:00 – KILL COMMAND (2016)

Steven Gomez’s superior Brit sci-fi action thriller

 

Friday 26 November @ 21:00 – XTRO (1982) *Channel Premiere

Three years ago young Tony watched with horror as his father was taken into the night sky by a mysterious blinding light and never seen again. Until now. His father is coming home but he's not the man he used to be. Now considered a cult classic and one of the most bizarre horror films of its time

 

TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138

Interview with Rhiannon Frater By David Kempf

Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of the As the World Dies zombie trilogy (Tor) as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion of the Living. She also co-hosted the ZCast: a Z Nation Fan Podcast, interviewing the cast and crew of the SyFy show. Born and raised in Texas, she currently resides with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets) in South Texas. She loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dyeing her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.

When did you first become interested in writing?
As soon as I learned to talk, I was a storyteller. I told elaborate tales with very well-defined characters. My mother found it very entertaining. Once I discovered books, I knew I wanted to be a writer.

How did you get involved in fantasy/horror?
I write about what I fear. I thought for a long time I would be a mystery or science fiction writer, but when my muse showed up she had sharp teeth and a lust for blood.

I honestly believe I inherited my love of horror from my grandfather. I lived in Texas and he was in Ohio when I was growing up, so I rarely saw him. He passed away when I was pretty young. Yet, my mom says I’m a lot like him in my love of horror films and books. So it must be genetic!

How would you classify the genre you write about?
When I started out, I called myself a horror writer. But I noticed that reviewers and readers classified my novels as anything but horror most of the time. A reviewer defined my zombie series (with all its blood, death, and gore) as chick-lit. If you look up the definition, As The World Dies is definitely not in that genre. Horror seems to have a very narrow definition in the minds of some, so I mostly call myself a speculative fiction author. All my novels have an element of horror in them. I absolutely love supernatural and gothic horror.

Why do you think horror and fantasy books remain so popular?
Horror provides a safe way to be scared. That’s very therapeutic. We live in stressful times. Fear, anxiety, and depression are a common part of life for many. Horror allows us an outlet for those feelings.

As for fantasy, it’s a way to be a hero vicariously through the characters. We can be the savior of not only ourselves, but others. Again, very therapeutic.

What inspires your stories?
My dreams. I have very vivid dreams with full plots and well-rounded characters. Most fade when I wake up, but the ones that stick in my head have a good chance of becoming novels.

Do you like writing about vampires or zombies more?
They’re very different, but I lean toward vampires. They’re powerful, but confined by their limitations, which I find challenging to write about. I also love the trappings that come with the lore. I can explore the human condition through a monstrous being in a very exaggerated way and have fun doing it.

When I write in the zombie genre, it’s all about the people. The characters have to not only resonate with me, but the readers. You have to care about them. I was told by more than a few readers that you can swap out the apocalyptic event the characters are facing and the stories would still work. The zombies are the backdrop, the constant threat, the personification of death. It’s the characters that make the difference. I want people to read my zombie stories and feel like they’re with friends (and sometimes enemies).

What do you think the difference between American horror and British horror is?
Well, this is based on the novels I’ve read and films I’ve seen, so I might be wrong, but it seems to me that British horror is a-ok with destroying the heroes and unhappy endings. I know a few UK films have a different, happier ending when released in the USA.

American horror swerves back and forth on what is popular, usually dependent on what’s going on in the country. I do think we tend to have more “happy” endings.

What are your favorite horror books now?
My favorites I’ve read this year are:
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall
The Cold by Rich Hawkins

What are some of your favorite horror movies now?
I really enjoyed The Nun. I just watched it for my October Moviefest. I loved the gothic atmosphere. I have a soft spot for gothic horror.

I also enjoyed the Fear Street movies on Netflix. I didn’t expect to, but they were quite good.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as an author so far?
The first thing that comes to mind are the people who tell me that my books provide an escape from the real world and their troubles. I’ve had several cancer survivors tell me that reading or listening to my novels during chemotherapy made it more bearable. That means a lot to me. It’s why I write.

Do you have any advice for new writers?
Read a lot. Write a lot. Write some more. Write until you find your voice and your genre. Write about what you love. Keep writing until you finish a book. Don’t give up.

What is your opinion of the new self-publishing trend?
I started out self-publishing before I got my deals with Tor. It is a great responsibility to self-publish. You have to make absolutely sure it is the best book possible before you put it out. Finding a good editor is vital.

Self-publishing is also great for writers who have a great story, but can’t find a home for it. My first agent and my editor at Tor told me the same thing: a story can be fantastic, but if the publisher doesn’t believe it will sell, they won’t acquire it. Maybe it’s too niche, or the market is glutted with that type of story, or maybe a novel in that genre bombed. There are lots of reasons a publisher might pass on a good book. Self-publishing allows authors to bring that story to readers and not just sit in a dark trunk.

What are your current projects?
I am working on a ghost idea for my agent to pitch to publishers and I’m writing a zombie novel to self-publish.

Please in your own words write a paragraph about yourself & your work today.
I am a full-time writer living in South Texas with my husband. I love everything spooky. I’m goth, so I definitely look like someone who writes vampire novels. Every day is Halloween in my life.

What are you doing for Halloween this year?
It is my 14th wedding anniversary, so we’ll have a romantic dinner and enjoy the Halloween festivities in our area. It’ll be a lovely, spooky night!

You can find her online at:
Website: rhiannonfrater.com
Online Store: https://ko-fi.com/rfrater/shop
Twitter: twitter.com/rhiannonfrater
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rhiannonfraterfans/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rhiannon-Frater/e/B0027DLFL6/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rhiannonfrater/
Email: rhiannonfrater at gmail.com

FULL MOVIE - Wes Craven's SHOCKER (1989)

 

Shocker (also known as Wes Craven's Shocker) is a 1989 American slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven, and starring Michael Murphy, Peter Berg, Cami Cooper, and Mitch Pileggi. The film was released by Universal Pictures on October 27, 1989, and grossed $16.6 million.

After being sent to the electric chair, a serial killer uses electricity to come back from the dead and carry out his vengeance on the football player who turned him in to the police.