Valerie & Her Week of Wonders

One can only say that this should be everyone's top priority on their list of movies to see. This Czech Republic film from 1970 isn't easy to explain, but if you like weasels, incest, girls kissing birds & fish, vampires, witch-burnings, and priests hanging from nooses...this is the film for you.

Gothic Literature: The Monk by Matthew Lewis

Considered to be one of the very first Gothic novels, The Monk caused quite a stir upon its publication in 1796. It was not received well by critics for its lack of moral instruction and indecent nature. "Lust, murder, incest, and every atrocity that can disgrace human nature, brought together, without the apology of probability, or even possibility, for their introduction." This review from The British Critic seems to say it all, without mentioning how thrilling the combination of all those things can actually be; however, the public soon proved to Lewis and critics alike how much horror they really could digest.

Matthew Lewis wrote the novel in ten weeks after becoming increasingly bored with his work as a Member of Parliament at a time when the Gothic novel was not highly respected. Initially, it was published anonymously, but after all the controversy, he couldn't help but reveal himself and delve into the critics' disgust.

The Monk stands the test of time as being a truly horrific piece of work, with unexpected twists and turns, Satanic temptations, tragic murders, and an ending of epic proportions.

Inevitable Fate: 1537

Blood & Bones/Anatomists & Artists

Romanae archetypae tabulae anatomicae novis.

(1783)

I have always been fond of looking at anatomical drawings, particularly those of the 18th and early 19th century. The bodies or body parts are often shown doing typical things, or positioned in ways that depict them as still having life or thought. This appealed to both the anatomist and the artist. The best place in my area to admire these types of prints is The Mutter Museum, which is part of the College of Physicians in Philadelphia.

Fredrik Ruysch Vol. 3 (1744)

An Angel Named Satan...

If anyone remembers the iconic claymation of the California Raisins, then the texture of this 1985 film The Adventures of Mark Twain might look familiar. This strange stop-motion film is a claymation myriad of Mark Twain's most popular works. The primary characters come from various Mark Twain stories and the main man himself leads them through the adventures. This segment, entitled The Mysterious Stranger, is the strangest combination of author, characters, and work of literature. It's disturbing on many levels, and I suggest watching the clip in its entirety.

Watch & enjoy as Mark Twain transports his most beloved literary creations to your favorite fallen angel and mine: Satan. Psychedelic assistance suggested, but not required.

A Proper Bloodbath

Joshua Hoffine, a contemporary horror photographer, captured in this photo a modern representation of Lady Bathory, Hungary's most renowned serial killer. Elizabeth Bathory, often referred to as the "Blood Countess," was a 16th-century Hungarian countess accused of torturing and killing hundreds of young girls and women. She bathed in the blood of virgins to retain her youth. I think Hoffine's recreation is one of his more powerful images and certainly puts one in the mood for a virgin-bloodbath...or at least a couple slices of cucumber.

Bloodworthy Films Post #1: The Evil Dead (1981)

Demon resurrection.

Feisty tree branches.

Blood.

Stop-motion animation.

The Necronomicon.

Bruce Campbell.

I can't seem to go more than six months without watching The Evil Dead on VHS praying to the Dark Lord that the remake never reaches fruition. This may seem like an obvious first film to give my undead praise to, but it is partially responsible for my devotion to early 80s horror. Written & directed by Sam Raimi, it was released in 1981 and quickly found its prestigious position in the canon of campy horror.

There are a couple of interesting horror-to-horror connections in Evil Dead. The first includes the ripped up poster of The Hills Have Eyes in the cellar of the cabin (an homage to director Wes Craven). The other is the midnight viewing of Evil Dead in the 2001 film Donnie Darko, right before insanity ensues for young Gyllenhaal.

Sam Raimi's recent endeavor, Drag Me to Hell (his first proper horror film since Army of Darkness), shows what he's capable of doing with a proper budget after seventeen years of staying away from the genre. Fans of Raimi can't deny the beauty of a talking goat, shadows of a Pan-inspired Satan, and the protagonist's imminent doom of getting pulled into the fiery pits of hell. Evil Dead wins my heart though...could've been the blood pipe, blood light bulbs, and blood electric sockets.