Ray Harryhausen passed away last week. This has been noted by people more qualified than I to discuss the master of stop-motion magic—Rick Baker, Adam Savage, Todd Masters, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, and more. The superhuman talent and perseverance evident in a Harryhausen effects sequence can easily be seen in countless visual effects artists since he first brought his creations to frame-by-frame life on the big screen. That makes sense. So how can I really say anything of worth when I say that I was also profoundly influenced by the artistry of Ray Harryhausen? With modesty, and a story about Clash of the Titans. Continue reading…
A Warning to the faint of heart
And eight year olds
When I was in grade two, my school thought it’d be a great Halloween activity to have a movie screening of old horror films. They showed us the 1931 adaptations of Dracula and Frankenstein, the original 1932 The Mummy, and the 1954 3-D classic, The Creature from the Black Lagoon. At age eight I had [...]
World War I and Ulmer’s The Black Cat
“Did we not both die here in Marmorus 15 years ago? Are we any the less victims of the war than those whose bodies were torn asunder? Are we not both the living dead?” The Nitrate Diva writes about World War I and Edgar Ulmer’s 1934 film, The Black Cat, starring Bela Lugosi and Boris [...]
What Do Zombies Mean to Americans?
Meanwhile, Annalee Newitz presents, “A Brief History of Zombies in America.”
The Grave of Bela Lugosi
Today is Bela Lugosi’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Bela! J. W. Ocker writes about Bela’s perfection as a vampire and about the sadness of his grave.
A Century of Cinematic Horror
Decade by decade, the Movie Morlocks look at 100 years of cinematic horror, starting with the 1910 silent, Frankenstein.
Universal’s Years of Terror and Longing!
Beware the stalking half-human half beast! Cursed with the thirst for human blood, unconscionable hubris, and demanding a mate, the Monster Legacy site comes to life and walks among us! (as part of promotion for The Wolf Man remake). Thrills! Shock! Suspense!





