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Review of “American Werewolf in London” (1981)

Before I go any further, I have to mention that the film discusses but does not depict suicide. For this pizza and bad movie selection, we opted for a bit of nostalgia. Both the dearly beloved and I saw this when it first came out, lo, these many years ago. Despite the underlying darkness, thisContinue reading “Review of “American Werewolf in London” (1981)”

Review of “Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat” (1989)

Plot:Vampires have been hunting humans for centuries, but times change. Under the leadership of Count Mardulak (David Carridine) a group of vampires has set up shop in a town called Purgatory somewhere in the desert of the American West. They will learn to co-exist with humans, with the help of sunblock, sunglasses, and artificial blood.Continue reading “Review of “Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat” (1989)”

Review of “The Waxwork” by A. M. Burrage: Halloween Countdown

For October 31—Happy Halloween! Plot:Down-on-his-luck Journalist Raymond Hewson has arranged to spend the night at Marriner’s Waxworks Murderers’ Den. Hewson is freelancing, hoping to sell his story to The Morning Echo. The manager of Marriner’s promises him a five-pound note once the story is published. Hewson wasn’t looking forward to the task, but he hadContinue reading “Review of “The Waxwork” by A. M. Burrage: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Viy” by Nikolai Gogol: Halloween Countdown

For October 30 Plot:Three seminary students—Khalava, a theologian and thief; Thomas Brutus, a philosopher; and Tiberius Gorobetz, a rhetorician— in the town of Kieff (Kiev?) get lost on their way home for the summer break. They find lodging with a begrudging old woman, who insists they take separate rooms. Hardly has Thomas Brutus laid hisContinue reading “Review of “The Viy” by Nikolai Gogol: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Thurnley Abbey” by Perceval Landon: Halloween Countdown

For October 29 Plot:The unnamed narrator, traveling across Europe, meets Alastair Colvin aboard a train. They will then board a ship. Alastair makes an unusual request to the narrator when the two know each other only casually: “Will you let me sleep in your cabin on the Osiris?” The narrator hems and haws and triesContinue reading “Review of “Thurnley Abbey” by Perceval Landon: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Testament of Magdalen Blair” by Aleister Crowley: Halloween Countdown

For October 28 I feel obligated to add that this story advocates suicide. There is no depiction of it, but the argument for it is, IMHO, overwrought to say the least, and—if it needs to be said—sad. Plot:Magdalen Blair resolves to warn mankind (I’m sure she means to include women, too) to follow her exampleContinue reading “Review of “The Testament of Magdalen Blair” by Aleister Crowley: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Up Under the Roof” by Manly Wade Wellman: Halloween Countdown

For October 27: Plot:The narrator looks back to being a twelve-year-old boy in a house full of adults who didn’t pay much attention to him. The boy has trouble sleeping in the summer heat. His upstairs room is under a gable, and the sun hits the sloping roof with little insulation. He hears every rustleContinue reading “Review of “Up Under the Roof” by Manly Wade Wellman: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Sumach” by Ulric Daubeny: Halloween Countdown

For October 26 Plot: Mrs. Irene Barton and her friend Mrs. May Watcombe discuss the unusual appearance of the sumach (more commonly spelled sumac) tree in the garden of Irene’s new house. The leaves have turned red early in August. Irene is sad. Her husband is away in London. Only two days earlier, she lostContinue reading “Review of “The Sumach” by Ulric Daubeny: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Spider” by Hanns Heinz Ewers: Halloween Countdown

For October 25 Plot: Medical student Richard Bracquemont tells the police inspector he has a plan to help solve the mystery of three recent suicides. He’ll move into the room where they occurred, #7 of the Hotel Stevens, Rue Alfred Stevens (Paris 6). Against his better judgment, the inspector accepts. He has a phone installedContinue reading “Review of “The Spider” by Hanns Heinz Ewers: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Seaton’s Aunt” by Walter de la Mare: Halloween Countdown

For October 24 Plot: In exchange for a lavish treat, the narrator, Withers, agrees to spend a holiday with an unpopular boy, Arthur Seaton. Seaton appears “yellow” in color, with “slow chocolate-coloured eyes, and lean weak figure.” Because of his appearance, “most… true-blue Englishmen” treat him with condescension, hostility, or contempt. A day or twoContinue reading “Review of “Seaton’s Aunt” by Walter de la Mare: Halloween Countdown”