Interview with Chris Smith - Co-Writer and Director of Consecration

 

Ahead of the European premiere of his psychologically disturbing supernatural thriller, CONSECRATION, at FrightFest Glasgow 2023, director Chris Smith talks about the supernatural side of religion, filming in Scotland, and his encounter with a pregnant sheep.

Another FrightFest, another Chris Smith movie! Why has FrightFest always been a key component to your release strategy?

I feel very fortunate to have been brought into the FrightFest family. I was very lucky that my first film, Creep, was included and then I got very lucky with the dates of release of my subsequent films. Severance was shown the night before the festival started in 2006 and then of course there was the spectacular Premier for Triangle at the Empire Leicester Square. FrightFest has also shown Black Death and Detour. They didn’t bother with Get Santa but that’s their loss. FrightFest is the best audience for any director.

Where did the initial CONSECRATION concept come from? 

For a long time I’ve been trying to come up with a movie that was about the supernatural side of religion. If you look at Christianity, so many elements of the story are supernatural - the power of miracles, bringing someone back from the dead and then Jesus reappearing after his crucifixion. This requires belief and it is believed of millions of people and my story is not questioning that. I didn’t want to make a film that from an atheist stand point because to me there are more interesting questions to be asked from the position of a believer. I wanted to look at the miracles and say: “What would happen if somebody was born today that had the power of Christ? What would happen to that person 300 years ago? What would happen to that person in a modern context.  What if that new Messiah was a woman? These thoughts were basically the seed of the idea for Jenna’s  story.

You co-wrote CONSECRATION with producer Laurie Cook. Who came up with what?

So, I was kicking some ideas around with Jason Newmark who was the producer of Triangle, and Jason said that Laurie, who I’d collaborated with on The Banishing, had a treatment that may tie in nicely with my desire to make a religious film. Laurie had come up with a story of a priest that arrived from Rome to reconsecrate a church where there’s been a murder. I took that basic idea, which I really loved, and just wrote the first draft of the story we have here. Laurie then came in after that first draft was done and he wrote a draft over the top of it and then we just went back and forth with it till it was finished.

You have described CONSECRATION as “A film about the nature of religion and how defining one thing as divine creates a false opposite that is heretical”. Can you explain more?

I’m interested in the idea that people believe there will be a second coming and I tried to imagine how that might actually occur. How would those miracles be demonstrated and what would be the church’s position on it. Would the person be vilified? Certainly in the past they would. If it were a woman she would be a witch. I love digging into this stuff.

You’ve also called CONSECRATION your scariest film yet. Why do you think that is?

For me personally, anything that deals with fundamentalism is scary. So in that context only, this would be the scariest, along with Black Death. It’s impossible for me to answer really. Creep is the film that time and again people say is my scariest.

You assembled a great cast including Jena Malone and Danny Huston. You must have been pleased they responded so enthusiastically to the material?

I’m absolutely thrilled at the cast of this film but to be honest. I’ve always been very fortunate with the actors I’ve worked with. I love working with actors and that passion is recognised by them. I’ve always been a huge fan of Jena Malone, so when she responded so passionately about the material I was thrilled. Originally the story was going to be set in America but then we investigated Scotland and we found this amazing castle on the edge of a cliff in Skye.  Jenna was already attached and there was absolutely no way I was going to lose her, so she had to polish off her accent and become English. I’ve loved Danny Huston since Ivan’s XTC, which is still one of the best movies ever made about Hollywood, so when he signed on too I was in fairy tale land. But the whole cast were amazing. Some of whom we’re cast the old fashioned way from audition tapes. Eilidh Fisher who plays the young nun Meg, Thoren Ferguson who plays the policeman, both local Scottish actors and both great. 

And playing Mother Superior is the brilliant Janet Suzman. How did you tempt her out of retirement?

I was very lucky to have worked with Janet Suzman on a TV show I shot in South Africa and so, as soon as I came up with this Mother Superior character/ Nurse Ratched type,  I immediately thought of Janet. Not because Janet’s remotely like Nurse Ratched but because she’s not! She’s delightful. She’s just a brilliant actor from the John Hurt/ David Warner school. A proper legend.

FrightFest Glasgow is in Scotland obviously, so where did you film CONSECRATION on location here?

We filmed all of the exteriors that you see on the Isle of Skye. There’s an old castle on the edge of the sea and we used that as the old broken down Monastery. The interior of the monastery is all set in an old ex-monastery on the outskirts of London which fortunately has been deconsecrated. I have to say, I’ve fallen in love with Scotland as a result of being here so much. I’ve been up to the highlands twice this year already. Once to go up Ben Nevis with my son, which nearly killed me and then once to go hiking around Fort William. It’s no wonder the Queen loved the place, it’s gorgeous.

A smooth shoot? Any challenges or anecdotes you can share with the class of 2023?

Once I was sitting at the monitor and a sheep came up to me bleating. The sheep then gave birth to a baby lamb in front of me. You don’t get that on the King’s Road!

Finally, what’s next?

I’ve written a war movie which I’m trying to get made set in Syria. I’ve also got another horror movie that I wrote some time ago but couldn’t quite finish. It’s very much an old school gory horror with a serial killer but deadly serious in tone.

CONSECRATION is showing at the Glasgow Film Theatre on Sat 11 March, 3.45pm, as part of FrightFest Glasgow 2023. Chris will be attending.

Interview with Marie Alice Wolfszahn - Director of Mother Superior

Ahead of the UK premiere of her stylishly brooding occult chiller, MOTHER SUPERIOR, at FrightFest Glasgow 2023, director Marie Alice Wolfszahn talks about being drawn to making a period horror film, multimedia influences and why returning to Scotland will be a homecoming.


MOTHER SUPERIOR is your debut feature. How did you decide that this was the film you wanted to make?

To be honest, I didn’t know Mother Superior was to become my feature debut when I first started the project – we were planning for a long short film. Over the course of the production the scenes grew bigger, the characters developed, everyone added their magic; and finally, in the editing suite, we realised we had made a short feature film. (We never tried to reach a certain length, we just let the story decide its own flow.)

I was drawn to making a period horror film dealing with a cult. I’ve been curious about faith and ideology for ages. The power of imagination fascinates me. Insofar, the connection between fascism and occultism is a theme that I have been researching for years. The existence of NS-devoted women’s movements was something new to me. So I decided to look deeper into this paradox.

Meanwhile Covid was raging and camps with conflicting positions teamed up - esoteric naturopaths who suddenly agreed with Trump; left-wing liberals who fell for ultranationalist conspiracy theories. I was baffled and confused and reflected on how naively we put labels on values - good/evil, permitted/forbidden, rational/odd - and how many combination possibilities there are in fact. So it felt like a fitting time to pick up on the subject of “brown esotericism” and, more generally, to raise awareness of the danger that despicable worldviews may walk hand in hand with appealing ideals.

How would you describe it?

It is a quest for self-discovery but on her journey, Sigrun is lead astray. Her desire to belong overrides her moral compass. She opens herself to an insidious, warped truth with gruesomely false ideals.

The ending may be interpreted however one prefers – most people, I assume, will read it as a supernatural phenomenon, a transmigration of the soul. This is what the signs are hinting at, and it is a genre film after all. Nevertheless, there is also a realistic interpretation: Sigrun may have been manipulated/brainwashed so much that she eventually follows the footsteps of the Baroness out of choice. This is even darker and where the warning is embedded.


When writing the script, did you always visualise it as a genre movie? Were there any particular influences in that area?

Yes, I definitely wanted this to be a genre film. Somehow, raw reality is not how my brain works. Our subjective perception creates its own fiction all the time. We are consumed by much more than the tangible here+now. To be able to portray the inner mind, to visualise the psychological projections of a character is such a fantastic way to bring across emotion, desire, fear.

Influences were 60s/70s horror films like Rosemary’s Baby and the old Suspiria but also the documentary Grey Gardens about Little and Big Edie.

You are also a multimedia artist. How did your background, particularly in art, influence the film?

I guess my art background shines through in my compulsive love for details. There is not a single prop or fleck of colour in each frame that I didn’t thoroughly think about. While creating all these old documents and indexes, we would not only consider the paper, ink and font, and authentically faking imperial eagle stamps (our paper bin started looking rather dubious) but also the small print such as the title of the issuing authority – aware that no one will ever see this. It disturbs me if things are a quick fix, no matter if they end up being in the far background, or even out of shot. Entering a set and fully immersing in a different era or realm makes it so much more real. For me, it is not just about telling a story but physically forging its entire world.


You deal with themes that you call fictional reality: faith, fanaticism and ideology – and also historical family disfunction. Were there any personal experiences that you brought to the writing or filming process?

There is no personal experience or family history that would explain my interest in the topics of my film. If anything, my heritage being Austrian and growing up with the horrors of the 2nd WW but learning hardly anything about the mythological backbone of the NS ideology which I think is so crucial in order to understand how such an insane worldview can take over.


As mentioned before, I’m highly fascinated by the power of imagination since I believe it influences all human motives. I always say we live in a grey zone between reality and fiction.

There is no objective truth as such - I don’t mean that there is ultimately no right or wrong but there is an explanation for every decision. Our values and worldviews depend on our upbringing, our influences. A person who stones a homosexual is terribly wrong but they are acting according to their personal truth. This is certainly not an excuse but the better we understand a narrative the easier it is to change it.

The performances are all exceptional. Take us through the key casting decisions. In particular, Isabella Händler as Sigrun.

My DoP had been working with Isabella Händler before, loved her energy and introduced us. We bonded immediately, did a reading rehearsal and that was that – she was my Sigrun. Isabella is of course a very different person in real life but she has that strong will, yet gentle spirit and untainted curiosity that I was looking for. We ended up shaping the character together over the course of several months and discussed every little possible backstory of Sigrun’s life.

The Baroness on the other hand was a longer search. I had a very fragile, petite lady in mind who refuses to eat but the actresses I cast were either too young for the role or too old for the challenging filming process. One day, a friend sent me Inge Maux’s demo reel. I had seen her in theatre plays before and thought her brilliant but hadn’t considered a corpulent Baroness. Slowly I began to fall in love with the idea and adapted the screenplay a little. Inge has Jewish roots, is often cast for Yiddish characters and adored the irony of playing a Nazi-Baroness. It was a perfect fit.


The film won Best Feature at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2022. Has that put more pressure on you, do you think?

No. Receiving these amazing awards (Best Feature and Best Director in fact) I couldn’t believe my ears!. It was a confidence boost and a reassurance that the team, the cast and I did something right. This was my first time working with experienced actors and directing long dialogue scenes. I was asking myself before if I have enough to offer that helps them bring these characters to live. But I realised there are many approaches, mine is empathy and sensitivity to everyone’s needs, and openness to the input of others. We were a really strong team and everyone was in it for the project and not for the (tiny) cash. There was a certain magic on set that made us all go the extra mile. Still, I’m incredibly humbled for such a huge recognition.

You studied art in Edinburgh, so is FrightFest Glasgow a kind of homecoming for you?

Indeed, Scotland is a homecoming for me. My mother and I moved to Edinburgh when I was 15 and I went to school there for a year. Later on, I returned for my studies and graduated in Film at the ECA. I adore the wild nature and crazy weather, the gothic architecture with its overgrown graveyards and dark alleyways, the sinister folk stories and tragic song lyrics. Scotland has definitely left a strong impact and shaped me into who I am.


The ending to the film suggests we haven’t seen the last of Sigrun. Are there plans for a sequel?

Funnily enough, there are plans for a kind of prequel. During my research I stumbled again and again upon the grandmother of esotericism as we understand this expression today - a spiritual teacher of the 19th century called Madame Blavatsky. There are photographs of her in the Baroness’ chambers in Mother Superior. There’s no film about Helena Blavatsky even though she has paved the way for all New Age movements we can think of nowadays. Her teachings are very controversial and she wasn’t necessarily a genuine person but her life story is spectacular and her theories are omnipresent. I’m not sure if this will be a biopic or more fiction, knowing myself it will explore the supernatural either way.


2022 was a great year for the genre. What have been your outstanding film choices?

The Innocents by Eskil Vogt
Luzifer by Peter Brunner
Huesera by Michelle Garza Cervera
Blaze by Del Kathryn Barton
Moloch by Nico van den Brink
Something in the Dirt by Aaron Moorhead &Justin Benson


What’s next for you?

Apart from researching for the Madame Blavatsky film, I’m co-writing a Christmas folk horror with a wonderful US author called Elise Salomon. It picks up on the ancient myth of the Wild Hunt, an eerie procession of ghost riders in the winter skies. Again, there is a strong female character with rather ambivalent motives.

MOTHER SUPERIOR is showing at the Glasgow Film Theatre on Friday 10 March, 6.45pm, as part of FrightFest Glasgow 2023. Marie Alice will be attending.

LEGEND reveals slate of horror, sci-fi and action premieres for March 2023

Deranged doctors, murderous soldiers and ruthless avengers provide a menacing and mesmerising March line-up on LEGEND, headed up by the Channel premiere of Ralph Nelson’s controversial, anti-racist masterpiece SOLDIER BLUE. There are also UK TV premieres for twisty who-dunnit WESTERN WORLD and MEMORIAL DAY, Samuel Fischer’s painfully emotional war drama.

Plus, there are Channel premieres for Brit cult action thriller FEAR IS THE KEY, based on the novel of the same title by Alistair MacLean, HE WHO DARES, an explosive terrorism thriller, directed by Paul Tanter and tough crime drama FIGHTING BACK, starring Tom Skerritt.

THE VINTAGE VAULT continues to haunt Sunday nights with its popular classic genre double-bills, headed up this month by the Channel premiere of Sidney Hayers’ notorious British cult classic, CIRCUS OF HORRORS.

The weekends are further enhanced by the continuation of the Channel premiere of the ever-popular original series of sci-fi anthology classics, THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

Full film details in transmission order:

Thurs 2 March @ 21:00 – WESTERN WORLD (2017) *UK TV Premiere

When US Marshall Moses White is called to the town of Dogwood Pass to track down a ruthless killer, he runs into a lot more than he bargained for. A corrupt mayor and an unhinged sheriff stand in the way of justice and Moses might just have to shoot his way out. In Western World it's kill or be killed. Directed by Lana Read.

Saturdays & Sundays from Sat 4 March @ 20:30 – THE TWILIGHT ZONE (1959) *Channel Premiere

A classic anthology of sci-fi, suspense and goose-bump-inducing tales that are filled with invention and irony. Each story contains cautionary themes and frequently ending with an unexpected plot twist. The series was nominated for seven Emmy Awards and four Hugos and won three of each.

Sat 4 March @ 21:00 – FEAR IS THE KEY (1972) *Channel Premiere

John Talbot's wife, child and brother were traveling as passengers in a cargo plane carrying priceless gemstones when it was shot down. Years later Talbot (Barry Newman) , a ruthless, stop-at-nothing man who is in trouble with the police, is captured by a vicious crook who tells him his only chance of survival is to use his expertise in helping to recover a treasure which lies four hundred feet beneath the sea

Sun 5 March @ 21:00 – THE MONOLITH MONSTERS (1957)

A meteor crashes in the desert, leaving behind huge black chunks. While being analysed in a science lab, the crystalline stones are accidentally drenched with water and begin to grow to gargantuan dimensions. A sudden rainstorm further exacerbates the situation, causing the monoliths to grow to hitherto unimagined heights. Can the world be saved by the saline solution which the scientists are hurriedly developing in the lab?

Sun 5 March @ 22:30 – FIEND WITHOUT A FACE (1958)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

A scientist's thoughts materialize as an army of invisible brain-shaped monsters (complete with spinal-cord tails!) who terrorize an American military base in this nightmarish chiller. This independently made British black-and-white cult classic was directed by Arthur Crabtree and stars Marshall Thompson, Kynaston Reeves, Michael Balfour, and Kim Parker.

Sat 11 March @ 21:00 – HE WHO DARES (2014) *Channel Premiere

The SAS, Britain’s elite Special Forces unit, take on an utterly ruthless terrorist cell who have kidnapped the Prime Minister’s daughter. Cue insane car chases, intense hand to hand combat, and ferocious gun battles. Stars Simon Phillips and Tom Benedict Knight

Sun 12 March @ 21:00 – DRACULA (1958)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

On a search for his missing friend, Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen), vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) is led to Count Dracula's (Christopher Lee) castle, where he finds an undead Harker in Dracula's crypt and discovers that the count's next target is Harker's ailing fiancée, Lucy Holmwood (Carol Marsh). With the help of her brother, Arthur (Michael Gough), Van Helsing is determined to protect Lucy and put an end to Count Dracula's parasitic reign of terror.

Sun 12 March @ 22:35 – THE BLOB (1958)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Two teenagers, Steve (Steven McQueen) and his best girl, Jane (Aneta Corseaut), notice a shooting star fall to earth, destroying an elderly man and growing to a terrifying size. The blob continues to grow, killing many, until the teenagers, with the aid, of policeman Dave (Earl Rowe) discover a way to stop it.

Fri 17 March @ 22:35 – FIGHTING BACK (1982) *Channel Premiere

Tom Skerritt plays an Italian-American deli owner who organises a People's Neighbourhood Patrol along paramilitary lines, and mounts a violent campaign to restore the local park to his kids.  Patti LuPone. Morelli: Michael Sarrazin. Washington: Yaphet Kotto. Taylor: David Rasche. Directed by Lewis Teague.

Sat 18 March @ 21:00 – SOLDIER BLUE (1970) *Channel Premiere

Soldier Blue follows the adventures of Honus (Peter Strauss) and Cresta (Candice Bergman), the only remaining survivors of a Cheyenne Indian attack, as they journey across the unforgiving wilderness of the old west in search of refuge. It’s a journey that reaches a tragic climax as they bare witness to the relentlessly brutal and cold-blooded slaughter of the Cheyenne tribe. Ralph Nelson’s brutal Western still remains one of the most poignant yet horrific dramatisations of America’s dark history.

Sun 19 March @ 21:00 – THE MUMMY (1959)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

In 1895 Egypt, a team of British archaeologists led by John Banning, opens the tomb of Princess Ananka, despite warnings of a death curse which will fall upon any desecrators. Three years later in England, a vengeful Egyptian man arrives and unleashes the living mummy Kharis on the men. This superior Hammer Films production reunites the director, Terence Fisher, with stars Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

Sun 19 March @ 22:45 – FIRST MAN INTO SPACE (1959)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Brash U.S. Navy test pilot, Lieutenant Dan Prescott, hungry for fame, rockets himself beyond Earth’s atmosphere on test flight Y-13, only to become encrusted with cosmic dust and return to earth as a blood-drinking monster. Directed by Robert Day, it stars Marshall Thompson, Marla Landi, Bill Edwards, and Robert Ayres.

Sat 25 March @ 21:00 – MEMORIAL DAY (2011) *UK TV Premiere

Bud has spent years putting the horrors of his time as a U.S. soldier in WWII behind him. But when 13-year-old Kyle Vogel discovers his grandfather's long hidden footlocker he is forced to confront the horrors of his past and the epic battles that scarred him during WWII, but also into Kyle's future, and his traumatic tour of duty in modern day Iraq. This moving war drama stars James Cromwell and Jonathan Bennett.

Sun 26 March @ 21:00 – CIRCUS OF HORRORS (1960) *Channel Premiere

*Part of The Vintage Vault

A deranged plastic surgeon (Anton Diffring) takes over a traveling circus, then transforms horribly disfigured young women into ravishing beauties and coerces them to perform in his three-ring extravaganza. But when the re-sculpted lovelies try to escape, they begin to meet with sudden and horrific accidents. "The Grisliest Show on Earth" is about to begin. Donald Pleasence and Yvonne Monlaur co-star in this notorious 1960 British cult classic from director Sidney Hayers.

Sun 26 March @ 22:50 – 13 GHOSTS (1960)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

When occultist Dr Plato Zorba leaves a huge ramshackle house to his nephew Cyrus and his impoverished family, they are shocked to find the house is haunted. Their new residence comes complete with Doctor Zorba’s housekeeper, Elaine Zacharides, plus a fortune in buried treasure and twelve horrifying ghosts. However, there is someone in the house who is also looking for the money and is willing to kill for it…This infectious supernatural horror is directed by William Castle and stars Charles Herbert, Jo Morrow, Rosemary DeCamp, Martin Milner and Donald Woods.

TV: Sky 148 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 41 / Freesat 137

COMPETITION: Win Cursed Films Series One on Blu-ray

Cursed Films Series One on Blu-ray from 27th February 2023

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis: 

Dive into the bloody, beating heart of horror history with Cursed Films, a thrilling five-part documentary series examining the stories behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic, spine-chilling cinematic masterpieces: Poltergeist, The Omen, The Exorcist, The Crow and The Twilight Zone movies.

Writer-director Jay Cheel (How to Build a Time Machine, Beauty Day) explores the power of the seminal movies that scare and ensnare and the legends that surround them. This Shudder Original is one of the streaming channel’s most popular series and is now set to fascinate fans with its Blu-ray and digital release on 27 February 2023, courtesy of Acorn Media International.

The captivating series delves into the myths and legends behind some of Hollywood’s notoriously “cursed” horror film productions. From the mysterious accidents that took place on the set of The Exorcist, to bombings during the making of The Omen and the rumoured use of human skeletons on the set of Poltergeist… these stories are legendary amongst film fans and filmmakers alike. But is there truth in the tales?

The docuseries includes interviews with a stellar line-up of experts ­–  including The Exorcist star Linda Blair, director Gary Sherman (Poltergeist III) and the late renowned director Richard Donner (The Omen, Superman, Lethal Weapon) – alongside a host of directors, producers, editors, actors, writers, podcasters, psychologists, academics, historians, fans, critics, witches and more.

Skilfully put together with a unique, nuanced take, Cursed Films gives an in-depth, enthralling insight into some of the most pivotal horror films ever made and will entrance, entertain and enrich all film fans.

SPECIAL FEATURES include: Director’s Audio Commentary for All 5 Episodes

Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3ElcOuJ

COMPETITION CLOSED

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 05-03-23
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.

FULL MOVIE: Are We Not Cats (2016) - Starring Michael Patrick Nicholson, Chelsea Lopez, Michael Godere

 

After losing his job, girlfriend, and home in a single day, Eli, a desperate twenty-something accepts a delivery job in a remote upstate backwater. There he meets Anya, a beguiling young woman with whom he shares a strange habit. Eli's skin picking is reminiscent of Excoriation disorder and Trichotillomania, while Anya's hair picking is reminiscent of Trichotillomania and Trichophagia, leading to a climactic case of Rapunzel syndrome.

The film stars Michael Patrick Nicholson, Chelsea Lopez, and Michael Godere.

Release date September 9, 2016

Interview with Patrick C. Harrison III - By David Kempf

When did you first become interested in writing?

I was always very imaginative and interested in storytelling, but I first truly became interested in writing after meeting an author at the mall when I was a kid. Her name was Zinita Fowler. She was ancient when I met her, but she was at the mall doing a reading and signing for her book Ghost Stories of Old Texas. Not long after meeting her, I wrote my first short story.


How did you get involved in fantasy/horror?

Horror has always been my thing. Neither of my parents were ever into horror, so I’ve recently been trying to figure out exactly what got me into the genre. It was probably a combination of Unsolved Mysteries, The Hardy Boys, Stephen King’s Night Shift, The Twilight Zone, and all those gory movies of the 80s.


How did you get into writing splatterpunk?

I joined Facebook I guess in 2017. Maybe? At that time I was trying to find my way as an author, so I was just friend requesting other horror authors I saw. I ended up coming across Matt Shaw. When I looked him up on Amazon, I also found Edward Lee and Monica J. O’Rourke. I had already been writing fiction that I considered pretty fucked up, but after reading Header, Home Video, and Suffer the Flesh, I realized I could turn the horror up a notch if I wanted too.


Tell us about your splatterpunk nomination.

My novella Grandpappy was nominated! The story stemmed from a single idea for a scene I had. See, I used to work in healthcare. You hear and see some disgusting shit in healthcare. But there was this one story I heard involving sexual relations with a stoma. If you don’t know what that is, feel free to look it up. But that’s the scene I wanted to write, a scene I knew would disgust people to no end. So that’s where I was originally headed with Grandpappy. But, as stories often do, it grew into so much more.

https://amzn.to/3DXBkSA

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

Good question. I think fascination and fear of the unknown have a bit to do with it. Also, people have this engrained desire to explain the unexplainable, and often times this leads to folklore and mythology and fantastical tales.


What are your favorite horror books?

Oh geez, I could spend all day listing my favorites. I’ll list ten off the top of my head in no particular order. Ghost Story by Peter Straub, American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, It by Stephen King, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, Optic Nerve by Rebecca Rowland, The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum, After Midnight by Richard Laymon, Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison, Lightning by Dean Koontz, Lakehouse Infernal by Christine Morgan.


What are some of your favorite horror movies?

Again, I could go on forever here. But I’ll pick ten. Return of the Living Dead, Jaws, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Vacancy, House of 1000 Corpses, Terrifier, Audition, I Saw the Devil, The Ring, The Shining.


What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as a writer?

Hmm. That’s a tough one, because I don’t feel like I’ve reached my potential. I’ve been nominated for several awards, which is great. I won a Splatterpunk Award as an editor. You know, I just love hearing from readers who enjoyed my work. It feels so good to be acknowledged and appreciated for all those hours of hard work. But I guess the best thing I’ve written, in my opinion, is my short story “From These Muddy Waters.”


Do you have any advice for new writers?

Don’t procrastinate and don’t quit. I stopped writing for about ten years after getting a few rejections. Who knows how much further along I would be if I’d just kept at it.


What are your current projects?

I’ve got a couple of chapbooks I’m trying to finish up before heading to a convention in a couple of months. Then I’ve got my big project—The Snake Creek Inquisition. This is going to be a massive book, if I ever get it done. I’m also always editing for other authors. Hit me up at pc3@pc3horror.com if you’re in need of editing!


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

Patrick C. Harrison III (PC3, if you prefer) is an author of horror, splatterpunk, and all forms of speculative fiction. His current publications include GRANDPAPPY, 100% MATCH, A SAVAGE BREED, and VAMPIRE NUNS BEHIND BARS, among others. His works can also be found in various anthologies, including AND HELL FOLLOWED and ROAD KILL: TEXAS HORROR BY TEXAS AUTHORS VOL. 4. PC3 is also an editor, having worked on numerous books for Death's Head Press, D&T Publishing, and Fedowar Press, as well for popular authors like Aron Beauregard and Danel J. Volpe. Follow PC3's FREE substack--pc3horror.substack.com--for frequent horror and exploitation movie reviews, as well as updates on his fiction.

 
Check out Patrick on Amazon at https://amzn.to/412b8jR

https://amzn.to/3YM9DUC

FULL MOVIE: Fear Inc (2016) - StarringLucas Neff, Caitlin Stasey, Christopher Rodriguez Marquette

 

Fear, Inc. is a 2016 American comedy horror film directed by Vincent Masciale and written by Luke Barnett. The film stars Lucas Neff, Caitlin Stasey, Chris Marquette and Stephanie Drake.

What if there was a company you could call that would - for a premium - bring your fears to life. You don’t have to leave your house, your office, or your vacation; the scares are customised to your tastes and arrive at your doorstep when you least expect it. But like texting an ex at 2am, what sounds like a great idea at the time, can end up getting you killed...

Release date October 21, 2016

TRAILER: The Curse of Rosalie - Starring Irene Bedard, Amanda MacDonald and Steve Monroe

 

Synopsis:

Get ready for a tense, paranormal horror which proves you can never truly escape evil…

A family on the run from their own dark secrets, Daniel and Theresa Snyder flee to a small Midwestern town, determined to find peace for their troubled young daughter, Rosalie. However, soon after they arrive, their neighbours begin to die in mysterious and seemingly paranormal circumstances. Fearing an evil entity has pursued them and possessed Rosalie, the desperate parents visit a Native American seer, willing to do whatever it takes to free her soul.

With a strong cast including Irene Bedard (Pocahontas, Tree of Life), Amanda MacDonald (CSI: Miami, The Mentalist) and Steve Monroe (Promising Young Woman), The Curse of Rosalie is an original and deeply atmospheric tale of terror. 

The Curse of Rosalie premieres on the Icon Film Channel from 13th March 

Sign up for a 7-day free trial at Iconfilmchannel.uk 

Interview with Owl Goingback - By David Kempf

When did you first become interested in horror?

I first became interested in horror back in 1968, at the ripe old age of nine. My mother had given me my very first weekly allowance, a whopping fifty cents, and drove me into town so I could spend it. The town was so small there were no comic book shops, or bookstores, and Toys R Us did not exist back then. But there was a Rexall Drug Store, which had a magazine rack. And on the bottom shelf of that rack, I discovered issue fifty-one of Famous Monsters of Filmland; a magazine filled with images of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, and other horror delights. It was love at first sight.

Famous Monsters literally changed my life. Under the brilliant editorship of Forrest J Ackerman, the monthly magazine assured me it was okay to embrace monsters and all things scary. Best of all, it showed me I wasn't alone; there were others out there who loved horror as much as I did.


At what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I was in the 8th grade, so that would be around the age of thirteen. Our English teacher assigned everyone in the class to write a one-page story. At that time, I was a big fan of Mad Magazine so I decided to write something humorous. I wasn't expecting much out of my story, and was quite surprised when the teacher read it to the class and the entire room burst into laughter. Being a shy kid, writing stories gave me a way to entertain, and be accepted by, my peers.

What was it like to win a Stoker for your first novel?

It was a miracle my first novel, Crota, even made it into print. My agent sent the book to dozens of publishers before it was finally purchased by Donald I. Fine Books. But at the time, Mr. Fine was dying from cancer, his publishing house was being taken over by Penguin Putnam, and the editor assigned to my novel quit to become a real estate agent. I was orphaned before my writing career even got started.

After having such a rocky start, it felt pretty amazing when Crota won the Bram Stoker Award for first novel. It was also a finalist for best novel, the first time a novel had ever been nominated in both categories. I attended the awards ceremony, sharing the stage with Ira Levin, Forrest J Ackerman, and other horror dignitaries. It was a night I will never forget.


What inspired you to write?

I grew up in rural America, surrounded by forests and rolling farmland. It was a lonely existence and books by Poe, Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Andre Norton kept the boredom at bay. I was so inspired by the books I read, I started writing fiction of my own. I actually ghostwrote stories for my classmates in high school, charging a dollar per page, so they could pass their English assignments.

But I put aside all thoughts of writing when I enlisted in the United States Air Force. It wasn't until after I got out of the military, and opened a restaurant/lounge in Georgia, that thoughts of literary endeavors once again surfaced.

It happened one night after we closed for the evening. My wife, Nancy, and I were watching an interview with Stephen King on the television. During the interview, she jokingly asked why I couldn't be smart like him instead of so stupid. She didn't know I used to write, and I took her teasing as a challenge.

The next day I sat down and started writing again. At first, I did articles for martial arts magazines, but switched to writing fiction because it paid better. Ten years after watching that interview on television, I was up against Stephen King for a Stoker Award in the novel category.


Tell us about your children’s books Eagle Fathers and The Gift.

Eagle Feathers and The Gift are illustrated stories featuring the adventures of a little Kiowa boy in the 1800s. Much like the traditional oral stories of my ancestors, both books have teaching elements woven into them. They were published by The Wright Group (McGraw Hill), and used in elementary schools across the country. Eagle Feathers is a Storytelling Worlds Awards Honor Recipient for most tellable tale, ages eight to twelve.


What are some of your favorite horror books?

I really love The Exorcist. There's a creepiness to the book that still holds up well after so many years. I remember when it first came out everybody seemed to be reading it. The book generated so many newspaper and magazine articles, and really brought the occult into the spotlight.

I also love the collected stories of Ambrose Bierce, H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, and Edgar Allan Poe. Those writers are true masters in the horror field, and their fiction will never be forgotten.


What are some of your favorite horror movies?

Jaws is the only movie that ever scared me, so it is my all-time favorite. I watched it at a theater when I was in the military, and the movie grabbed me right from the start. I imagined what it would be like to be swimming in the ocean, and suddenly find out you are part of the food chain. Did I mention I live in central Florida, not far from New Smyrna Beach which is the shark bite capital of the world?

I'm also a big fan of the original Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Night of the Living Dead. Those movies are so well done, I could watch them over and over and never get bored. The directors knew how to build suspense and layer on the frights. They didn't need to rely on gallons of blood or cheap jump scares.


How did George A. Romero become a fan of your work?

George read Crota and was very interested in turning it into a movie. He called my agent, who set up a conference call for the three of us. Sadly, George didn't have deep enough pockets to do the story the way he wanted, traditional effects instead of CGI, so the movie never happened.

He also loved my novel Evil Whispers, and thought he could turn it into a film for less than five million. We were in negotiations with one of the major studios, but the Hollywood writers strike put a halt to all talks and killed the deal.

George and I became good friends, and we kept in touch via email and an occasional phone call. We also got to see each other at various horror conventions around the country. The last time I saw George, he asked me if I had sold film rights to Crota. I told him I was saving them for him, which made him very happy.

What are your current projects?

I'm currently taking a break from the novels, and working on short stories for various anthologies. I'm also working on a couple of comic scripts. I recently did a Werewolf by Night story for Marvel's Infinity Comics. After that, I will probably get back to writing longer fiction. I already have several new novels in various stages of development, including a follow-up to my novel Coyote Rage.


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

Owl Goingback has been writing for over thirty years, and is the author of numerous novels, children's books, short stories, screenplays, magazine articles, and comics. He is a three-time Bram Stoker Award Winner, receiving the award for lifetime achievement, best novel, and best first novel. His books include Crota, Darker Than Night, Evil Whispers, Breed, Shaman Moon, Coyote Rage, Eagle Feathers, Tribal Screams, and The Gift. In addition to writing under his own name, he has ghostwritten for Hollywood celebrities.

Check out Owl Goingback on Amazon at - https://amzn.to/407Hd9r
 

Interview with Ayvianna Snow

 
The UK horror/indie horror scene is a tight-knit community. Do you enjoy attending events like Frightfest, interacting with fans and meeting industry peers?

It really is such a tight-knit community and that's what I love about it! We all support each other's work. "Video Shop" just premiered at Horror-on-Sea and so many people came out to support it, they actually had to open two screens and play it on both simultaneously. The same thing happened at FrightFest with "LOLA". It is lovely to be part of that community. 

 

What are the best films you have watched recently (horror and any other genre) that you would recommend?

I loved last year's A24 horror "Lamb" as I thought it did something really interesting with the genre; it was about a childless couple living in rural Iceland, and how their desperation for a child leads them down a strange path. The cinematography is beautiful and it felt strange and ethereal; it blended horror with fantasy. And I think Cate Blanchett is astounding in "Tar".

 
What was the first horror film you ever watched, and how did it make you feel?

The first one was "The Shining" - I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to horror as it is such a well-made film with amazing performances!

 

Do you have any fears and phobias in real life?

I'm not great with spiders! 


In Video Shop Tales of Terror you star in the Vergessen segment, tell us a bit more about it?

I play Ilsa Lall, an unwilling participant in 'Operation Vergessen'. Together with the other occupants of the 'Frau Haus', I seek to escape, and exact revenge on my tormentors by any means possible!

It's based on a true story; during the war, the Nazis trained women as spies and placed them in a brothel frequented by high-ranking officers with instructions to record the men - the bedrooms were all wire tapped. It was part of the Nazis intelligence gathering.

Our film is about those women and their story, as they attempt to overcome their oppressors and escape.

It was important to me as I think women's stories often get overlooked and forgotten when we talk about the war. 

Video Shop Tales of Terror kickstarts a new horror anthology – will the team/cast be the same for the upcoming film/s?

I certainly hope so! I love working with Michael Fausti; he's an intelligent director with a great vision. And Kemal Yildirim who did the cinematography also writes and directs, so I would love to work with him too. 


What new projects do you have coming up that you would like to share with us?

I appear in Steve Lawson's "Ripper's Revenge" which is out on 3rd April. I am also lucky to appear in "How To Kill Monsters" directed by Stewart Sparke, a horror comedy, later this year! And "The Final 45"; a period drama set during the Second World War where I play a French resistance leader fighting Nazis!