pop culture
Pop culture for horror junkies; all about the famous films, creepypasta tales, trends and tropes that bled from the fringes of fright into the macabre mainstream.
'Pet Sematary: Bloodlines' - A Cinematic Offbreed Fit to Its Name
I might've been fashionably late (by several decades) with my first Pet Sematary review. Being a 90s child, though, I suppose I have my excuses. But there's really no reason I couldn't at least grace the world with my thoughts on the 2019 remake before a pandemic swept the world. And for that, I owe you all an apology, and a promise to do better.
Ben UlanseyPublished 6 months ago in HorrorThe Intrinsic Terror of 'Pet Sematary' (1989)
Of all of Stephen King's stories, perhaps none is more innately chilling than Pet Sematary. Where Stanley Kubrick's The Shining terrifies the viewer with its slow-rolling and measured portrayal of isolation in the sprawling Overlook Hotel, what director Mary Lambert's Pet Sematary provides is utterly visceral in its simplicity. Where The Shining opens to a car slowly winding its way up a desolate mountainside, Pet Sematary's introduction to the characters is marked by the abrasive passing of a speeding tanker. Pet Sematary is devoid of the subtletly that defined the Kubrick horror classic.
Ben UlanseyPublished 6 months ago in HorrorThe 'Halloween Trilogy': Because 10 Halloween Movies Weren't Enough
Watching the new Halloween Trilogy is funny when you know Jamie Lee Curtis - not as the veteran actress who made her acting debut four and a half decades ago as Laurie Strode in the original 1978 Halloween movie - but as the rigid, hot dog-handed, mixed martial arts-trained, self-stapling tax attorney from Everything Everywhere All at Once. Even with a list of credits that stretches back to the days of Jimmy Carter's presidency, it's hard to unsee her for her role in that famously bizarre, interdimensional odyssey of a film.
Ben UlanseyPublished 6 months ago in Horror'It: Chapter Two' - The 'Grownups' of Horror Movies
By the sounds of it, It: Chapter 2 has all the makings of a hit movie. With an all-star cast, spearheaded by the unforgettable Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Clown, and a skilled team of writers, directors, and special effects artists, it was a follow-up poised to be one of the great horror films of the decade. But where it falls apart lies almost entirely in the feelings of warmth and nostalgia from the prior iteration that it woefully fails to recapture.
Ben UlanseyPublished 6 months ago in Horror'Doctor Sleep': The Flawed and Forgotten Sequel to 'The Shining'
Many may know that Stephen King was no fan of the Stanley Kubrick movie made from his 1977 novel, The Shining. Yet, the creative liberties taken with the film have forever altered the story's legacy. For King, Kubrick's take on the novel simply failed to embody what he'd written. He famously summed up the differences by noting that while the book was warm, the movie was cold.
Ben UlanseyPublished 6 months ago in HorrorVampires: The History Behind the Myth
From Lestat to Edward, vampires have intrigued us all the way back to tales of Dracula and his origins. But which of those origins could be true? Where did the idea of a bloodsucker biting necks come from?
The Dark Secrets of the Catholic Church
Introduction The Catholic Church, an institution that has stood for centuries as a symbol of faith, morality, and guidance for billions of followers, has been marred by a series of dark secrets. Allegations of sexual abuse, corruption, and cover-ups within the Church have shocked the world and shattered the trust of many. In this article, we delve into the disturbing reality behind the closed doors of the Catholic Church, exploring the systemic issues that have plagued the institution.
Why the 'Pet Sematary' Remake Soars Above the Original
Oftentimes, the best song covers are the ones that reinvent the wheel completely. Other times, the most memorable covers are the ones where musicians incorporate the elements that worked best in the original and embellish them by adding in their own stylistic touches. Pet Sematary, based on the Stephen King story, and directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer, is the latter. While the 1989 Mary Lambert version of the film still has its merits, the 2019 remake stands as an improvement in nearly every conceivable regard. Though Kölsch and Widmyer aren't names deeply rooted in the horror genre, Pet Sematary makes clear that they're two figures with an admirable flair for the fearsome.
Ben UlanseyPublished 6 months ago in HorrorEchoes of the Overlook: Why ‘The Shining’ Still Endures
They say a film can take a toll on an actor, but perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in the anguished screams of Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Played by Shelley Duvall, her role pushed her to psychological lows that can be viscerally felt by the viewer. Both Jack Nicholson and Danny Lloyd, too, carry the film with their unsettling performances. The entire cast and ambiance of the film impart a palpable weight.
Ben UlanseyPublished 6 months ago in HorrorUnveiling Realistic Horror in Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Who do you envision as characters when reading a book? Based on the novel written by Austin Wright, Nocturnal Animals is a 2016 film. Susan Morrow, a successful art gallery owner, receives a haunting manuscript from her estranged ex-husband. While reading the gripping tale, she is forced to confront the dark truths of her past.
Marielle SabbagPublished 6 months ago in HorrorThe Haunting of the Magic Kingdom
In the heart of Orlando, Florida, the Magic Kingdom stood as a beacon of joy and enchantment. Families flocked to this realm of fairy tales, where animated characters came to life and dreams were made real. But beyond the sparkling veneer of this enchanting kingdom, there existed a hidden, sinister dimension.
Gonçalo PizarroPublished 6 months ago in HorrorEvil spirits
In the heart of a sleepy, forgotten town, there stood a mansion, decrepit and shrouded in darkness. For decades, the locals whispered tales of the mansion's haunting. It was said to be a place where malevolent spirits and restless souls roamed, where the echoes of the past whispered through its crumbling halls. Most townsfolk avoided the mansion like a plague, but a group of lifelong friends had a different idea.