Hello, all my spooky pals. I told you I’d start being around more, being better with this blog, didn’t I? So, I’ve been reflecting on this over the past 2 weeks. I’ve been thinking about what this blog was supposed to be when I created it. I have also been considered what I wanted it to be and what it should be. First and foremost—it will always be a horror blog. That’s why I’m here. Also, with my writing—it’s my chosen genre. So, no matter what, this blog is always going to focus on horror. Horror books, literature, movies, shows…you name it, we’ll explore it.
Full disclosure, this blog was initially created as part of a project for my BFA, but I always knew I was going to keep it and continue to contribute and build it. Not only do I want to connect with other horror fans, I also want my writing out there in the universe. I want to network and make friends with other horror lovers and writers alike. For me it’s always been about connecting and building community. Also, we’re going to keep it casual. We can be relaxed, kicked-back…no need for super formal language or anything. This is my tone, my voice. I’ll do my damndest to make sure everything is spelled correctly and grammatically correct, of course! But we don’t need it to be rigid here. I want the vibe to be chill. So—onto the good stuff!
I decided to go back to school! Yay! Who doesn’t need more debt? All joking aside, I got accepted into my alma-mater’s MFA program, and I decided to go for it. I wasn’t going to at first, but I was reading some really amazing feedback online about the program and I was getting FOMO…bad. I then found out it was the terminal degree in my studies, which means it’s the highest degree you can get. Ultimately, I decided I needed to go for it. At the end of the day, it’s going to deepen my understanding of writing and develop my skills as a writer. I’m happy to report that my first course is done, and I came out of it lookin’ pretty good!!
So, this is starting off as a hectic post, more of a check-in and an update from my side of things. But I was able to enjoy some pretty good horror content this past month. The notable items from May for me include finishing The Hacienda from Isabel Cañas and finally getting around to watching Companion and Heretic. Apparently, May was Sophie Thatcher month in my house.
The Hacienda I had to pick up after finishing Mexican Gothic. They’re not super similar in plot or anything, but they fall into that same sub-genre of modern Gothic literature. And, that is something I’ve been searching out since reading Mexican Gothic. I need old mansions that are falling apart and needing repair. Houses that may or may not be haunted. I cannot get enough of the modern Gothic books right now. Send ‘em my way, please.
The Hacienda came out in 2022 and was the debut novel by Isabel Cañas (kudos girl). It’s set in post-independence 1820s Mexico. The novel follows Beatriz, who marries a wealthy estate owner in hopes of regaining stability in her life, and she moves out to his rural estate San Isidro. Once she’s there, she discovers the house holds dark secrets and an even darker presence. So, yeah…everything one wants when picking up a Gothic novel. The book was absolutely amazing; I couldn’t put it down. It was so atmospheric and eerie. I 100% recommend, especially if you’re someone who enjoys that type of story and are looking for that creepy vibe instead of bold in-your-face horror.
I’ve been excited to see Heretic, and for some reason I just kept pushing it off. I kept it on the backburner for too long and ended up really enjoying it. It’s a psychological horror film that focuses heavily on faith, how we perceive things, and manipulation. It stars Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East.
The plot is two Mormon missionaries (Thatcher and East) visit the home of Mr. Reed (Grant) because he expressed interest in the Mormon faith and their church. Their discovery conversation soon descends into a horrific game as Mr. Reed begins to challenge the girl’s beliefs. I went into this movie not knowing what to expect and was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The premise was interesting; Mr. Reed’s points, speeches etc. kept me guessing right along with the girls in the movie. Also, I was genuinely surprised to see Hugh Grant in a role like this–it’s not the kind of film we’re used to seeing him in. But his performance was absolutely stellar; he completely blew me away. I’ve always known he was a talented actor, but horror doesn’t always give actors the space to showcase their range. This film does allow him to shine— in my opinion— because of its focus on themes like faith and belief systems. It also has more of an emphasis on psychological horror over cheaper jump scares. It’s definitely not a film for everyone–horror that explores religion can be polarizing. I recommend regardless.
Companion came out early this year. It stars Jack Quaid and my girl—Sophie Thatcher. I don’t want to go into the plot or synopsis too much, because it’s a fun movie and I don’t want to give too much away. I feel like it’s one of those films where the less you know going into it, the better off you are. I personally feel like I only watched one trailer for this—and it gave away more than I would have liked, so we’re going to sidestep a dense synopsis here, for your viewing pleasure if you haven’t seen it yet. They go and meet up for a weekend getaway with a few friends, and shit goes sideways. We’ll leave it there, haha. It’s psychological horror meets dark comedy, and I enjoyed it—quite a bit. And it was fun; it was just a fun movie! Sophie Thatcher was amazing in this movie, and I think it was a real stand out performance for her. Obviously, her big break-out role was Yellowjackets, and technically Heretic came out prior to this film, but I feel like she really nailed it here. I’m officially a fan…It is a very meta film and I think that people who are looking for a fresh take on some familiar themes (like autonomy and power/control) would enjoy this.
Let me know if you read that book or watched either of those films! I want to know what you think, and if you agree or disagree! Please comment, share and spread the love. Please come find me on my socials. They’re linked below! Mingle—talk spooky to me 👻👻
