Tag: supernatural horror

In a Nutshell: Ferdinand Lyle of ‘Penny Dreadful’

Sometimes in media, one part stands out from the whole and is deserving of its own examination. It might act as a microcosm for what the whole is about, or it might stand in stark contrast to the rest of the whole–‘In a Nutshell’ entries focus on those single parts and hopefully serve as an introduction or ‘way in’ for audiences unfamiliar with the subject matter. 

Today’s entry examines Ferdinand Lyle of Showtime’s Victorian Horror masterpiece, Penny Dreadful. We’ll discuss his role among the world of PD, Simon Russell Beale’s magnificent performance, and parallels between Lyle’s character and the works of Victorian Literature icon, Oscar Wilde.

Shall we?

Continue reading “In a Nutshell: Ferdinand Lyle of ‘Penny Dreadful’”

HPL Insurance – For The Really, Really, REALLY Unexpected

I love it. Great production value, great performances, and just plain wonderful for fans of our favorite weirdo New Englander.

This H.P. Lovecraft Insurance commercial is all you need to get through the day.

I love it. Great production value, great performances, and just plain wonderful for fans of our favorite weirdo New Englander. I fully acknowledge his problematic legacy, but like my elderly relatives, I take the bad along the good.

They have more at the Youtube page, but I didn’t watch them yet so I can’t speak as to their quality.

I was supposed to go out of town to a family reunion this weekend – instead I am laid up with the flu. A fever of 102 is nothing to laugh at. Happily we caught it very early, only about 7 hours in, and I got some Tamiflu to head it off. My fever’s broken and now I just feel generally crappy, with aches, pains, a headache, and something I can only describe as puffy-hot-face. But we will power through!

Have a great weekend!

 

Seeing ‘The Witch’ Tonight!

If you don’t know, The Witch is a horror movie taking place in 17th century America, about 50 years before the Salem Witch Trials. I am WAY excited about it. It’s been getting not just rave reviews but also lots of ‘Yes, this movie is hella scary’ reviews.

I can’t wait!

If you don’t know, The Witch is a horror movie taking place in 17th century America, about 50 years before the Salem Witch Trials. I am WAY excited about it. It’s been getting not just rave reviews but also lots of ‘Yes, this movie is hella scary’ reviews.

I am also looking forward to it because the setting, from what I can tell, is very similar to part of the setting of my first novel, The Secret Wilderness. Group hysteria, mad superstitions, iron-fisted patriarchy, and a group of miserable people scratching a living next to a grim, misty forest – well, in my book the lead character rebels against that shit and escapes, so it’s not a total downer. But my book is more about the resilience of the spirit and learning how to survive, and it pays off for the protagonist.  It does have horror, but the overall message is ‘Don’t give up because things will get better.’

Obviously I am not comparing the two, but I’m curious to see how the director makes use of the setting to tell the story. And I just love historical stuff! Either way, I’m way looking forward to seeing it. I will try to do a write up afterward!