THE LORDS OF SALEM: ECHOES OF WITCHCRAFT IN THE HAUNTING MAZE OF MODERN HORROR
Channeling Witches and Wickedness: An Introduction to “The Lords of Salem” “God doesn’t spare angels when they sin. Welcome to Salem.” With this chilling line, Rob Zombie thrusts viewers into the eerily stylized world of The Lords of Salem (2013), a horror film that marries the historical with the supernatural. Zombie, known for his gritty,…
BATES MOTEL: REVISITING THE ROOTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR IN NORMAN’S SANCTUARY
Unsettling Check-In: An Introduction to Bates Motel Imagine finding solace in the most unexpected place—only to realize the refuge is more haunted than the past you’re fleeing from. This is the groundwork upon which the 2013 series “Bates Motel” builds its tempestuous narrative. A prelude to Alfred Hitchcock’s monumental classic “Psycho,” this reimagined origin story…
DARK SKIES: NAVIGATING THE SHADOWY REALM OF DOMESTIC TERROR FROM ABOVE
Whispers in the Night: An Unseen Terror Invades ‘Dark Skies’ From the chilling silence that blankets a suburban household to the whispered warning, “You cannot escape them,” ‘Dark Skies’ weaves a tale of terror that creeps into the seemingly safe haven of home. Directed by Scott Stewart and released in 2013, this horror film skirts…
MAMA: LULLABIES OF LOSS AND THE GHOSTLY GRASP OF MOTHERHOOD
A Whisper in the Dark: “Mama” In the chilling world of horror cinema, “Mama” is a 2013 film that enters the scene with an eerie whisper rather than a scream. Directed by Andy Muschietti and produced by Guillermo del Toro, “Mama” presents the haunting tale of two young girls who, after being abandoned in the…
BLACK ROCK: STRANDED IN A TERRIFYING TALE OF SURVIVAL AND BETRAYAL
Stranded on Black Rock: Survival Turns Sinister In 2013, director Katie Aselton brought us Black Rock, a genre-blending venture that straddles the lines between horror, thriller, and survival drama. Set on a remote island off the coast of Maine, the film invites viewers into a harrowing narrative that follows three childhood friends—Sarah, Abby, and Lou—played…
OLD 37: LURKING DREAD ON THE DESOLATE HIGHWAYS OF HORROR
Horror on the Highway: “Old 37” Unleashed “No one can hear you scream over the sound of the engine.” Such a chilling line sets the stage for Old 37, a 2013 horror film that delves into the nightmarish possibilities lurking on desolate back roads. Directed by Alan Smithee (a pseudonym commonly used when directors disown…
TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D: SLICING THROUGH THE HEART OF HORROR HERITAGE
Revving Up the Chainsaw: “Texas Chainsaw 3D” Unleashed “Do your thing, cuz!” A line that might have been designed to echo through the decades, just as the relentless buzz of a chainsaw has haunted audiences since the 1970s. Director John Luessenhop’s “Texas Chainsaw 3D,” released in 2013, attempts to reignite the gruesome legacy of the…
CARRIE: TELEKINETIC TERROR REBORN IN A BLOODY PROM NIGHT RETELLING
The Prom From Hell: “Carrie” Unleashed “You will know her name.” A chilling promise sets the stage for Kimberly Peirce’s 2013 rendition of “Carrie,” bringing Stephen King’s horrific tale of teenage turmoil and telekinetic terror back to the silver screen. Within the confines of this spoiler-free summary, we find Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz), a…
HAUNT: NAVIGATING THE SHADOWY CORRIDORS OF EERIE EVOCATION
Whispers in the Shadows: The Quiet Terror of “Haunt” “I’ve always heard that the eyes are the windows to the soul. I’m just hoping I can keep mine shut.” With this chilling line, Haunt sets off to a shiver-inducing start. Directed by Mac Carter and released in 2013, Haunt presents an unsettling blend of the…
WRONG TURN 5: BLOODBATH – DESCENT INTO THE SAVAGE HEART OF BACKWOODS CARNAGE
A Fork in the Road: “Wrong Turn 5: Bloodbath” Review “Welcome to the festival of blood.” These chilling words set a morbid tone in “Wrong Turn 5: Bloodbath,” a horror installment that promises a gruesome adventure but stumbles on its own missteps. Directed by Declan O’Brien, this 2012 film plunges viewers into a backwoods nightmare,…