Dearest Weirdlings,
My day job has unleashed a swarm of deadlines. They buzz about latching onto the skulls of employees with their round, toothy mouths. They tether us to our laptops with their segmented limbs. They suck and slurp at the edges of our minds, draining all mental energy, leaving nothing left for trivial endeavors like blogging.
Fortunately, de-infenstation proceedings have ensued.
In the meantime, I present to you this week’s assortment of the weird.
Movies
Re-Centering the Black Experience in the Horror Genre (Document Journal)
“Black history is Black horror.” From 'Beloved' to 'Get Out', Tananarive Due, John Jennings, and Robin R. Means Coleman examine horror from a Black perspective, its tie to the concept of survival, and the value of catharsis. (An excellent companion to the documentary Horror Noire.)
Revisiting ‘The Shining’ (1980): Four Decades Of Isolation Terror (Pop Horror)
Exploring themes of isolation in The Shining, Kenn Hoekstra looks back on a classic four decades later.
Games
Leaks for Resident Evil 8 Provide New Details (DreadXP)
Resident Evil 8: Village (trailer) is planned for release in 2021, with a more occult feel than previous games. Recent leaks may reveal new enemies, characters, and boss for forthcoming game.
Lore
Snallygasters and Death Worms: Five of the Strangest Cryptids (Bloody Disgusting)
Beyond the well-known creatures of the weird, Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, exist a litany of strange and unsettling creatures that are much less easy to define.
Literature
Flipping The Script on H.P. Lovecraft (LitReactor)
For those looking for a modern take on cosmic horror, these five books offer new takes on the void, the unimaginable, and unraveling tentacles.
A Beginner’s Guide to the Splatterpunk Horror Genre (Book Riot)
Splaterpunk, also known as hardcore horror, pushes back against more subtle horror narratives by revealing every little detail — graphic violence, sexual assault, and explicit gore. This list presents a number of short story collections and novels for those interested in exploring this subgenre.
Short of the Week
In The Birch, a bullied teen finds protection from a strange creature in the woods, leading to a bloody and violent ending. Where this short film excels is in its uniquely beautiful and horrifying creature design. Another reason for the birch to be my favorite kind of tree.
