Horror and Sci-Fi Stuff
Horror is a very broad genre. Horror by definition elicits fear and shock or, at the very least, attempts to elicit those emotions. Beyond that basic criterion, there is plenty of room for interpretation. Monsters, ghosts, and other supernatural elements are certainly ingrained in our idea of horror entertainment but they are not necessary components. ... Continue Reading →
Two of my favourite genres are horror and comedy and occasionally when those two unintentionally intersect it can result in an unexpected treat. Such is the case with Birdemic: Shock and Terror, the 2010 (very independent) film which contains neither shock nor terror but does induce many unintentional laughs. The film’s marketing promises a horrifying... Continue Reading →
Sequels are a tricky thing. Fans demand more of what they liked in the original film, however, there is an assumption that sequels lead to disappointment. Horror films, and in particular slasher films, have an added difficulty in that most of your cast, including the killer, will likely be dead by the end of the... Continue Reading →
Back in the late 1970’s, a small group of friends and I were regular patrons of the Saturday matinee at the Capitol Theatre in St. Thomas, Ontario. Hosted by ‘Uncle Ron’, the show included a cartoon, a Three Stooges short, an old Batman serial, and a feature film. It was at these matinees in which... Continue Reading →
In honour of Burns Night which celebrates Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, today we look at Scottish horror film The Wicker Tree. Unfortunately, unlike the Scot’s famous bard, this film is nothing to be proud of. The Wicker Tree’s story is loosely tied to the classic The Wicker Man which was also directed by Robin... Continue Reading →
On the surface, Horror films and Christmas might seem to make odd bedfellows, but the contrast of a murderous rampage set against what is supposed to be a joy filled time of year just seems to amplify the fear. Case in point, the original Black Christmas (1974), which stands as one of my all-time horror... Continue Reading →
(This article originally appeared, in a slightly different form, in March of 2013 on the site Cheese-Magnet.com. Cheese-Magnet is thicker than water.) I’m a little ashamed to say that prior to 2013, I had not seen Hellraiser. When it came out back in 1987, I was certainly aware of it. I can remember the hype about... Continue Reading →
We are thrilled to announce that Maniacs and Monsters has been nominated for a Sunshine Blogger Award. Thanks so much to our fellow blogger Gill over at Realweegiemidget Reviews for the nomination. We are honoured to be included in such a prestigious list of nominees. Please check out Realweegiemidget Reviews for a wide variety of... Continue Reading →
The mid-eighties saw the appearance of the consumer camcorder and with it a whole new generation of amateur movie makers. Andrew, my Maniacs and Monsters co-host, and I spent many a weekend, late night, and summer break creating cinematic masterpieces with our friends. Most commonly, the artistic process involved the realization that we had a... Continue Reading →
Next stop on Maniacs and Monsters' tour of horror events is the Toronto After Dark (TAD) Film Festival. Founded in 2006, the event showcases new and independent films, bringing together fans and filmmakers for a nine night extravaganza of horror, sci-fi and cult genre films. The 14th edition of this growing event is set to... Continue Reading →
When a film has a cast that includes Hollywood legends such as John Huston, Shelley Winters, Glenn Ford, and Sam Peckinpah you expect you are in for something great. Sadly, such is not the case with The Visitor (also known as Stridulum) which has more in common with a schlocky soap opera than the classic... Continue Reading →
My dear, dear friends. My brethren. I am here to denounce my transgressions before ye. I have sinned the sin of misdirection. For while the movie on which I am about to speak boasts a villain most heinous, and while it is true that numerous characters suffer both physical and psychological terrors, yet this work... Continue Reading →
(This article originally appeared, in a slightly different form, in October of 2013 on the site Cheese-Magnet.com. Cheese-Magnet is people!) I suspect most horror and science fiction enthusiasts are fans of the late writer Richard Matheson (1926 – 2013), although many may not realize it. As author and/or screenwriter, Matheson was responsible for many genre favourites... Continue Reading →
Our next stop on Maniacs and Monsters’ tour of horror hot spots in the Great White North takes us to the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) in Toronto. With its exhibits of Rembrandt paintings and historical artifacts, the ROM is not normally known as a hangout for horror fans but it has become the temporary home... Continue Reading →
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