Hello Hexbears. I'm in a horror media tear and have been readily consuming the horror slop and sometimes legitimate meals. What kind of horror media have you seen lately that you liked? Books, comics, manga / manhuwa / etc, anime, movies, shows, games?
Here are some that I have consumed lately
Dai Dark (Manga) is represented in the thumbnail. A substantial meal, very enjoyable.
Best Wishes To All (Movie) (2023) rare to find anti capitalism in the wild I feel like.
Ginger Snaps 2 (movie) (2004) I liked 2 better than 3 tbh. Not a bad sequel to the first movie!
American Mary (movie) (2012) cw for SA on this one. Something about the post aughts era that feels so silly and nostalgic.
Audition (movie) (1999) cw for csa themes. I put off seeing this one for a long time but im glad I got around to it!
Exhuma (movie) (2024) this movie was really cool, I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Silent Hill 3 (game) (2003) Idk why but I got into watching people play this game recently. Never beat it as a kid so its nice to reminisce playing this and being scared of it lol.
Next up I'll be looking into some Tomie movies, Dark Water, and maybe watching some Grudge movies I havent seen yet.
Audition has CSA? Dang I do not remember that but that was when Miike was in his unhinged psycho phase so I wouldn't put it past him
Reading Thomas Ligotti's Grimscribe: His Lives and Works rn. Pretty early on, never read any Ligotti (or any horror lit) before but know he's highly respected. Not what I expected but interested to read more.
As for recommendations, these are my English language faves:
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - it's as good as its rep suggests
Alien (1979) - perfect movie, great labour subplot/subtext
The Thing (1982) - I mean what is there to be said.
Re-Animator (1985) - fantastic fun, great body horror - this was during the ultimate era of practical effects and prostheses before they went digital. Funny flick, not really scary.
Society (1989) directed by the producer of Re-Animator. Also very fun, about the ownership class. Outstanding puppetry of the extremely memorable final scene. Also funny and not really scary.
The Blair Witch Project (1999) - holds up extremely well, feels very real.
Funny Games (2007) - I haven't seen the original yet but AFAIK Haneke just did a shot-for-shot remake of the original German so apparently not too much got lost in translation. It's about your participation in violence through consumption of horror. Without spoiling anything I'll just say it's not what is says on the tin.
The VVitch (2015) - Robert Eggers made his name on flicks that try to get the viewer to immerse themselves in ancient epistemology, this one of sustenance farming yeomen New England
The Lighthouse (2019) - also Eggers, as above but for seafaring 19th century New Englanders
Skinamarink (2022) - very divisive, one of the best horror flicks I've ever seen. Not recommended for a distracted watch, if you have multiple tabs open or are going to be checking your phone I'd just suggest watching Society or something.
The Substance (2024) - this movie is a cathartic scream about western misogyny. Very fun. A spectacle. If a repertory cinema is showing it for spooky season I think it is best experienced with a bunch of people.
Skinamarink was great, but I think you have to be a total horror junkie to even watch it. It's definitely a movie made by a horror fan for other horror fans who have all probably seen too many horror movies and want something they haven't seen before.
Like there are 30 second shots of pitch-black hallways with no sounds other than background noises you'd hear in your house.
One of the most varied Letterboxd ratings I've ever seen. A lot of people fucking hate it lol
Horror always has lower ratings than it should. You'll see reviews on IMDB where people are all "This movie had someone cut in half! So gross and unnecessary! 1 star!" on a movie titled People Being Cut in Half.
Not surprised a niche horror movie has even lower ratings.
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