What piece of horror art or entertainment changed the genre of horror films?
The Answer: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.
I think without question it ushered in an era of graphic horror even more than any of the gore flicks that preceded it did. It was graphic and grim and realistic. The zombie rules it established have been so widely copied in films that followed.
The plot is simple. Set in a rural Pennsylvainia farmhouse and battling constant attacks from dead locals who have been brought back to life by mysterious radiation, human nature is put to the test.
This movie is fantastic. There are still very few great horror films out there, simply because they do not display true human nature under terrifying circumstances. Night of the Living Dead is a beautifully created film that has earned its place in both film and horror history.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Poetry and Horror
One area of the horror genre that I have not yet touched is poetry. I confess that poetry is not my most favourite type of reading but I do have a few favourites that if read in the proper setting and letting your imagination soar can bring the same terror that a good movie or story brings.
Edgar Allan Poe was an American poet and short story writer. In the world of literature he is credited with contributing to the early appearance of science fiction in writing. He died at 40 years of age and lived a life that seemed to fit effortlessly with his ghoulish writing. The following is probably his best known work and should be read when you are alone, by the light of a single lamp – for proper affect.
The Raven ( first published in 1845)
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'
But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!
Edgar Allan Poe was an American poet and short story writer. In the world of literature he is credited with contributing to the early appearance of science fiction in writing. He died at 40 years of age and lived a life that seemed to fit effortlessly with his ghoulish writing. The following is probably his best known work and should be read when you are alone, by the light of a single lamp – for proper affect.
The Raven ( first published in 1845)
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'
But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
When Fear Begets Fear
Can fear affect your desires when applying the Law of Attraction? Absolutely! Fear can be paralyzing when attaining what you desire if you are not careful. And of course, fear can be debilitating in anything you do.
What is the purpose of fear? Fear can help us out when we are in a “do or die” situation. It can encourage us to be more cautious and is a way of protecting ourselves.
I have talked before about our survival self, the one that tells us when to be cautious, but we can sometimes use our survival self to be overprotective.
So how do we get rid of fear, or at least tame it in order to get what we want in life?
Let’s start by focusing on exactly what we are afraid of. Is our fear valid? For instance. Pretend we are preparing to jump out of a plane minus a parachute. In this instance our fear is validated by our survival self. We are telling ourselves that no parachute is something to fear. The fear and caution is valid.
Onto the next example. We are about to start at a new school and we are afraid that no one will like us and that we will do poorly because the teachers don’t know us. Is this fear valid? Does it threaten our physical well being? While our survival self is rearing its ugly head we need to tell it to back off. When you start to have the feeling of fear, make sure to examine it and see if it is a valid physical fear.
So now that we have figured out what to do, how do we actually stop being afraid? The Law of Attraction works such that the feeling you put out is the feeling you get back. Focus on what you don’t want and you will get what you don’t want. Focus on what you do want and…you will get what you want. Fear begets fear, joy begets joy, love begets love and the Universe will give you what you want. Simple really.
Handle your fear by asking if it is valid or not. If it is a valid fear, listen to it. If it is based on past experiences where you have been hurt or based on your own concern of failure, tell your survival self to take a risk and just do it anyway. Trust yourself.
What is the purpose of fear? Fear can help us out when we are in a “do or die” situation. It can encourage us to be more cautious and is a way of protecting ourselves.
I have talked before about our survival self, the one that tells us when to be cautious, but we can sometimes use our survival self to be overprotective.
So how do we get rid of fear, or at least tame it in order to get what we want in life?
Let’s start by focusing on exactly what we are afraid of. Is our fear valid? For instance. Pretend we are preparing to jump out of a plane minus a parachute. In this instance our fear is validated by our survival self. We are telling ourselves that no parachute is something to fear. The fear and caution is valid.
Onto the next example. We are about to start at a new school and we are afraid that no one will like us and that we will do poorly because the teachers don’t know us. Is this fear valid? Does it threaten our physical well being? While our survival self is rearing its ugly head we need to tell it to back off. When you start to have the feeling of fear, make sure to examine it and see if it is a valid physical fear.
So now that we have figured out what to do, how do we actually stop being afraid? The Law of Attraction works such that the feeling you put out is the feeling you get back. Focus on what you don’t want and you will get what you don’t want. Focus on what you do want and…you will get what you want. Fear begets fear, joy begets joy, love begets love and the Universe will give you what you want. Simple really.
Handle your fear by asking if it is valid or not. If it is a valid fear, listen to it. If it is based on past experiences where you have been hurt or based on your own concern of failure, tell your survival self to take a risk and just do it anyway. Trust yourself.
Horror Games and Horror Movies – what elements do they contain that instill fear in their audiences?
Horror games and movies have developed over the years a very successful formula of evoking fear and anxiety in players and viewers.
Early horror films were limited in their technology and used things like lack of colour and sound to place an emphasis on the visual aspects of horror and suspense. Often times the early movies were based off of old legends and stories, like Nosferatu (1922) and Night of the Living Dead (1958).
Early video games were based on movies; the technology too was young and not very sophisticated. Early games included Halloween (1983), Friday the 13th (1985) and Splatterhouse (1988). Then in 1992 we were introduced to Wolfenstein and the Doom series in 1995. These games used new techniques where the characters were made to jump out at you and the music was used to set up the suspense.
In movies we can categorized horror into three genres:
Slasher where it’s the monster against everyone else;
Thriller/Suspense films where the emphasis is on the story and technical aspects that make the telling more effective and;
Gore – lots of violence and blood.
In videos the emphasizes is on strategic play or aggressive play. There is a heavy influence from the Slasher and Thrill genres of movies. The majority of video games are classified as “survival horror”. The games follow a formula made popular by the Resident Evil series. Techniques include:
third person
surround sounds
solitude and;
a false sense of control over the situation
The Strategic play involves the games emphasize on puzzle solving in order to progress in the game and the avoidance of confrontation when possible. The Aggressive play involves the use of a variety of weapons and an opponent.
As horror films continue to push the envelope with the advancement of technology it stands to reason that video games too will expand out of their “survival horror” genre into something more gruesome and controversial.
SAW: The Video Game
While the latest release in the SAW series is not getting great reviews, Brash Entertainment is hard at work on two initiatives. One the release of SAW VI in October 2009 and the second, a new addition to the horror series of video games for Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.
Video games based on films sometimes do not do so well especially horror films. Zombie Studios is the game developer. Interesting choice because they do not have any big name games on the market. When we think of successful horror games we think the DOOM and Resident Evil series. Zombie Studios is a Seattle based company, about 12 years old with some 22 titles available for gamers.
To their credit they are not rushing to get the game out the door but instead are taking a year to develop and work with the SAW creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell to get into the mind of Jigsaw and his victims.
Saw is not intended to be a simple “survival horror” game but more of a “horror thriller” game like the film. There will be elements from the survival horror genre like exploration and puzzles but the creators are hoping to introduce elements of gameplay not seen before in video games.
Saw, the video game will be based on the events that take place after the original movie.
So just how gruesome is the Saw game going to be? We have been promised the same quality and quantity of action as the SAW films.
Jigsaw said it best with. “Oh yes, there will be blood”.
Do Horror Films and Video Games Breed Violence?
A couple of thoughts.
It has been often speculated that kids who watch violent movies and play violent video games mimic the actions and become violent. We have all heard news reports of games and films being blamed for breeding murderers.
Do you think horror films and video games are responsible for children becoming violent? Would you let your children play these sort of games? Or watch violent movies and television programmes?
I think that is the easy way out – blaming others. When do we take responsibility for making informed decisions and providing the right value system and options for children? Sure it’s easy to blame a game if that is all the child knows. What behavior is role modeled for the child? What opinions are expressed around the child? We can take this argument all the way back to the old “are we products of our environment or is our behaviour all pre-programmed by genetics”?
While genetics play a part we are definitely products of our environment. It is important that children are exposed to the right behaviours and the right values. A child can be taught the difference between right and wrong. This is everyone's responsbility.
It has been often speculated that kids who watch violent movies and play violent video games mimic the actions and become violent. We have all heard news reports of games and films being blamed for breeding murderers.
Do you think horror films and video games are responsible for children becoming violent? Would you let your children play these sort of games? Or watch violent movies and television programmes?
I think that is the easy way out – blaming others. When do we take responsibility for making informed decisions and providing the right value system and options for children? Sure it’s easy to blame a game if that is all the child knows. What behavior is role modeled for the child? What opinions are expressed around the child? We can take this argument all the way back to the old “are we products of our environment or is our behaviour all pre-programmed by genetics”?
While genetics play a part we are definitely products of our environment. It is important that children are exposed to the right behaviours and the right values. A child can be taught the difference between right and wrong. This is everyone's responsbility.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Horror of Christmas?
Perhaps it’s the cynic in me but with Halloween come and gone the horror of the Christmas season is about to be unleashed on us.
November 1st and the malls have Santa’s Castle awaiting his arrival. Window displays are full of Christmas cheer.
With that in mind I thought I would share a few holiday heart-warmers and Christmas classics.
Christmas Evil aka Terror in Toyland
A warm, family film about a foreman in the Jolly Dream Toy Factory who understands the true meaning of Christmas. Understandably upset by the crass commercialism he sees everywhere, he dresses up as Santa one Christmas and sets out to reward good little boys and girls and punish the naughty ones!
“Better Watch Out…Better Not Cry…Or you May Die!”
Don’t Open Till Christmas
Instead of a killer Santa this film has a psycho killing Santas. A warm holiday theme.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (the original)
A young orphan learns an important life lesson about good and evil in a Catholic orphanage. When he grows up he plays Santa at a store and decides he really is Santa and that he should reward good children and punish the naughty.
So break out the popcorn and VCR because I am not sure these holiday classics come on DVD.
November 1st and the malls have Santa’s Castle awaiting his arrival. Window displays are full of Christmas cheer.
With that in mind I thought I would share a few holiday heart-warmers and Christmas classics.
Christmas Evil aka Terror in Toyland
A warm, family film about a foreman in the Jolly Dream Toy Factory who understands the true meaning of Christmas. Understandably upset by the crass commercialism he sees everywhere, he dresses up as Santa one Christmas and sets out to reward good little boys and girls and punish the naughty ones!
“Better Watch Out…Better Not Cry…Or you May Die!”
Don’t Open Till Christmas
Instead of a killer Santa this film has a psycho killing Santas. A warm holiday theme.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (the original)
A young orphan learns an important life lesson about good and evil in a Catholic orphanage. When he grows up he plays Santa at a store and decides he really is Santa and that he should reward good children and punish the naughty.
So break out the popcorn and VCR because I am not sure these holiday classics come on DVD.
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