News

‘Scary Stories’ is Two Compelling Documentaries in One

Published

5 years ago

April 27, 2019

There is a duality present in Scary Stories, a new documentary by first time filmmaker Cody Meirick about the popular series of children’s books Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

When one digs deep into the history of the books, however, that duality seems both reasonable and necessary. Few books, after all, have been both lauded and contested quite like those three little volumes written by Alvin Schwartz with haunting illustrations by Stephen Gammell.

So, to tell his story, Meirick approaches it from both angles.

On one side, we are introduced to the artists, musicians, and horror fans who have been inspired by Schwartz’s books. For many, it was their first introduction to things that go bump in the night, and they have gone on to create everything from still images and sculptures to entire musical compositions based on the stories that chilled them as children.

On the other, we meet the mothers and fathers who found fault in the books and asked for them to be removed from library shelves, and possibly more importantly the teachers, librarians, and staff who fought to keep them there.

In the center is the man, himself. Though Schwartz died in 1992, his son Peter is on hand to speak about his father and their sometimes strained relationship.

Peter Schwartz discusses his father’s work in Scary Stories

What emerges is a portrait of a complicated man who curated a selection of timeless scary stories and whose life and work affected generations.

Peppered throughout the film is archival footage of actual school board meetings that took place over the years where emotional parents spoke about what they considered books that were far too dark for young children.

One mother in particular, Sandy Vandenbeurg was particularly vocal in her resistance to the books, and remains a critic to this day insisting that she never wanted the books banned, but she did want them out of reach for children under the age of eleven.

Vandenbeurg never had a chance to ask Schwartz, himself, if he thought the books were age appropriate so Meirick arranged a meeting between her and Peter Schwartz to discuss the topic. It’s a compelling moment in the film and one that Meirick handles very well.

“I do no want to blame all of this violence on him,” she says, “but it’s like he made it okay.”

But for every detractor, every concerned parent, everyone who condemned the books, there were many more who lauded them for their style, artwork, and storytelling.

R.L. Stine, in particular, points to Schwartz’s books as not only inspiration but also as trailblazers for his own series of Goosebumps books.

RL Stine spoke about the influence of Alvin Schwartz’s work on his own in Scary Stories.

Others like Professor Gary Fine, who aided Schwartz in his storytelling quest, remind the audience that none of the stories were simply made up by Schwartz. Rather, he spent hours poring through tomes of folklore from around the globe and brought those classic stories into the 20th century and beyond.

Another brilliant move by Meirick was bringing in animator Shane Hunt to create animated segments during the documentary. Hunt’s work beautifully echoes the haunting imagery Gammell created for the original books, and brings them to life to enhance those classic nightmarish visions.

Do we understand more about the enigmatic author by the end of the Scary Stories? Absolutely.

Is it satisfying? You bet.

But even more importantly Meirick’s own storytelling in the documentary reminds of the sheer joy many of us experienced when we first cracked open a copy of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark when we were kids and the chills ran up our spines from those stories and illustrations for the first time.

Perhaps it’s time to pull out those old copies, dust them off, and experience them all over again.

Scary Stories opened this weekend in select theaters across the US and will hit VOD demand on May 7, 2019. It is scheduled for DVD release on July 16, 2019. Check out the trailer below!

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Editorial

Yay or Nay: What’s Good and Bad in Horror This Week

Published

8 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Welcome to Yay or Nay a weekly mini post about what I think is good and bad news in the horror community written in bite-sized chunks.

Yay:

Mike Flanagan talking about directing the next chapter in the Exorcist trilogy. That might mean he saw the last one and realized there were two left and if he does anything well it’s draw out a story.

Yay:

To the announcement of a new IP-based film Mickey Vs Winnie. It’s fun to read comical hot takes from people who haven’t even seen the movie yet.

Nay:

The new Faces of Death reboot gets an R rating. It’s not really fair — Gen-Z should get an unrated version like past generations so they can question their mortality the same as the rest of us did.

Yay:

Russell Crowe is doing another possession movie. He’s quickly becoming another Nic Cage by saying yes to every script, bringing the magic back to B-movies, and more money into VOD.

Nay:

Putting The Crow back in theaters for its 30th anniversary. Re-releasing classic movies at the cinema to celebrate a milestone is perfectly fine, but doing so when the lead actor in that film was killed on set due to neglect is a cash grab of the worst kind.

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Lists

The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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News

Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors.

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie.

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time.

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.