Looking Signs of Light in the Dark

Dear Weirdlings,

The mid-year is upon us. The past six months have contained multitudes — the year unveiling layer and layer and layer of itself like some incomprehensible cosmic being.

What multitudes will the rest of the year bring?

We hope for blessings. We hope for salvation. We hope.

This week’s newsletter offers oddities, such as Snapchat horror, teenage witches, flesh-eating deer, and the start of the great X-Files rewatch.

Movies

How the First Ever Snapchat Movie Redefined Viral (The Guardian)

Although the storyline of teens traveling to a haunted cabin in the woods was not particularly innovative, Sickhouse was uniquely adapted to the Snapchat format. The movie was shot and distributed in 10-second vignettes through the actress’ own account over the course of five days.

We Are the Weirdos, Mister: Power, Rage, and Teenage Witches (Tor)

Kate Racculia dives into the world of teenage witches, examining where these stories of powerful young women fall flat and where they burn.

TV

The Great ‘X-Files’ Rewatch Begins (Once Weird)

The plan: To rewatch all of The X-Files, including the new seasons and the movies. We begin at the beginning, with the pilot episode that introduces us to our beloved agents, presents a case of alien abduction, and introduces the probability of government conspiracy.

Games

Eight Games By Black Developers to Play Right Now (Keen Gamer)

From nostalgic fighting games to puzzle platformers and RPG adventures — these developers offer up a range of inventive and engaging art styles and storylines.

Lore

Researchers Spot a Deer Gnawing Human Flesh (National Geographic)

Researchers often use a body farms to study how human bodies decay. Recently, one group of researchers at one such farm came upon a strange sight — a white tailed deer chewing on a human rib bone.

If this story garners an interest in flesh-eating deer, then check out The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion, an unsettling dark fantasy novella from Margaret Killjoy.

Short of the Week

In Sword of the Dead, a skilled samurai comes ashore on an island swarming with the undead. The premise is fantastic and just begging to be extended into a feature film.