Self-care for monsters
Grindhouse trailers, Bollywood horror musicals, cat ears and credit cards, cancelled comic books, Dark Stories for Dark Times and other ways to escape the horrors of the real world. Welcome back to Sunday Scaries!
To die——to really be dead——that must be glorious.
~ Dracula (1931)
A number of disturbing events in the US and around the world have made this past week brutally difficult for many of us, even for those who live in bystander countries like Canada. It is especially frustrating for those of us outside the US who find our own economic, social and political futures inextricably entwined with America’s and our own significant issues and events pushed out of our national headlines to make way for theirs.
What’s worse, of course, is that my American friends don’t really have a choice except to react to what’s going on around them, and have no control over how much their country and culture affects and even dominates the lives of those beyond their borders. If ever there was a time to reduce exposure to social media and toxic news coverage, that time is now. If ever there was a time to focus on what we can do to improve our lives personally, locally and regionally, and to communicate our frustrations to our elected leaders and candidates (and fighting to ensure we continue to have elections), that time is now.
I have spent more than a few of my free hours this week emailing various members of government, knitting my neglected Nightshade Shawl, listening to Ethel Cain, hanging out on zoom with friends, buying copies of friends’ now-cancelled comic books, and watching what I describe as Comfort Horror — movies or TV shows that feel to me like warm hugs, albeit icky sticky goopy shivery ones. Some examples:
Suspiria (1977) - As if you don’t already know, Dario Argento’s gloriously lurid classic about a clutch of 30-year-old ballet students falling prey to a coven of witches at a German dance academy.
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) - Vincent Price effortlessly consumes the Art Deco scenery as the titular “dead” doctor/scientist/scholar who seeks revenge against the nine doctors responsible for the death of his beloved wife in this camp spectacular directed by Robert Fuest.
From Beyond the Grave (1974) - My personal favourite of the Amicus omnibus films, directed by Kevin Connor, with Peter Cushing as an antique shopkeeper (take that as you will) whose various wares come equipped with darkly amusing curses.
The Vampire Lovers (1970) - Peak Hammer Horror, directed by Roy Ward Baker, as Ingrid Pitt snaps on the fangs and tackles the role of lovelorn lesbian vampire Carmilla with plenty of gusto and not too much clothing.
The Beyond (1981) - Lucio Fulci’s surreal masterpiece about a young woman who inherits a Louisiana hotel conveniently located over one of the gates to Hell: gorgeous, gruesome and goofy, often all in the same shot.
This VHS dub of the delirious Bollywood horror musical Purana Mandir (1984), directed by the Ramsay Brothers, about a young woman who goes to her ancestral village to break an ancient curse placed on her family by a servant of the devil.
It is all too timely that I will be spending a few days in Halifax in early October and that one of my events, with Peter Counter and host Elliott Gish, is titled Dark Stories for Dark Times. While not commonly considered to be a relaxing rejuvenating genre, Horror can provide some solace to its audience by reflecting, and reflecting upon, the horrors of the everyday as well as the impact of those catastrophic events beyond our control that bear down upon us, our loved ones and our communities. I’m sure the three of us will have a lot to say on the subject, as will those who join us on October 5 at the Halifax Central Library.
Currently Watching: The oddly soothing roller coaster POV videos have been replaced with oddly soothing vintage grindhouse movie trailers. “Don’t miss the most unusual and exciting horror motorcycle film yet made!”
Cool Story, Dude: This week on ergot, Sasha Ravitch’s stunning retelling of Oscar Wilde’s Salome titled The Daughter of Abomination.
This Week in Horror: Credit card companies’ censorship of video games is thriving on people’s lack of awareness, Japanese politician says. In an especially ludicrous turn of events, cat-ear wearing cam girls and characters in adult video games are part of the crackdown (apologies for the X link). In Canada, this petition to the House of Commons could use your signature.
That’s it for today. There’s a chill in the air out here in St. John’s. Hallowe’en is in the air. Until next time, remember: "So long as my head is away from my body, every woman in your line shall die at childbirth; and when my head is rejoined to my body, I will arise and wipe out every living person in your dynasty" is just such a gay thing to say.
Help me. Help me be human.
~ The Fly (1986)