Book review: "Red Rain" by R. L. Stine

Before I was the Librarian of the Dead, before I was even a teenage Library Page of the Dead, I was just an odd little kid who liked reading all sorts of creepy stuff. Some of which I probably shouldn't have been reading. The price one pays for having a reading comprehension level that exceeds one's mental and emotional maturity.

I used to love the paperback, pulpy horror-thriller novels about high school kids being terrorized and haunted and vamped and slaughtered. One shots, anthologies and series by the likes of Christopher Pike, Caroline B. Cooney and of course, R. L. Stine.

Resolution

Much of the movie news I try (and sometimes fail) to keep up with is tossed in a mental junk drawer, rattling around until I come across it again and think "Oh! I remember hearing about that. I think I'll see it." This plan has more holes in it than a moth-eaten piece of lace, but keeping a huge list of movies I came across and wanted to see someday wasn't working out either.

I only take special notice of films that I think I may not get reminded of again, and/or I absolutely don't want to miss. So I read an advance review of the film RESOLUTION recently and had a strong feeling that both of those might be true.

A Random "Buffy" List

Yeah, alright. So I teared up by the end.

115 Reasons Why We Love Joss Whedon's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

It's wise not to agree to watch the series finale with me, it would be embarrassing for us both. So many tears.

And don't worry, it's 115 photos. You're not making a serious long-term commitment if you decide to jump in and read the article!

Zombies on Ice!

If you live in the Chicago area and like more Halloween in your Christmas, you absolutely must check out Zombies on Ice 2012! It's happening Sunday, December 16th from 2:30-5:30 p.m. with more undead fun at the Christmas Market afterwards. They'll be skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park, which is the rink under the Bean. 

Sadly, I will not be there. The Librarian of the Dead has to slave over her reference desk that Sunday. Always missing out on something the weekends I've gotta work! I'm not big into Christmas anyways, but this would definitely have been a sight for red-and-green sore eyes. Have a blast for me!

Zombies on Ice 2012 via ChicagoZombie.com

Guillermo Del Toro's Haunting

Earlier today Deadline.com reported that Guillermo del Toro's next film "Crimson Peak" is going to be a haunted house movie. In the article,  he cites films like THE HAUNTING, THE INNOCENTS and THE SHINING as inspiration for the type of film he wants to make. He says:

"I think people are getting used to horror subjects done as found footage or B-value budgets. I wanted this to feel like a throwback."

Be still my black little heart! This is truly my favorite sub-genre of horror, and THE HAUNTING is one of the best films in the entire genre, as far as I'm concerned. Not to discount THE SHINING or THE INNOCENTS, the former is also one of my favorites and I think the latter doesn't get enough credit, which makes me happy that he mentioned it. I've just taken on THE HAUNTING as one of my personal crusades, especially after that crummy remake. The original version is amazing on so many levels, and I want the entire world to know!

I'm so excited that there will be a new, lovely, grand film to add to the haunted house canon in the near-ish future. Thank you Mr. Del Toro!!

Guillermo Del Toro To Helm "Crimson Peak" As Next Feature via Deadline.com

Guillermo Del Toro Is Making A Haunted House Movie! via AICN.com

Circus of the Damned

With the overwhelming amount of information the web serves up it's difficult to stay in the know and yet preserve the feeling of surprise at discovering a great new film. Horror can be especially tricky since there are many that never make it to a theater, never get mainstream press, but are still worth pursuing, so you have to seek out that information. Oh, my first-world Librarian of the Dead problems! Weep for me!

It's easy to learn too much about a film, to the point that it affects your reaction to it. I always forget how much damn fun it is be surprised by how good a movie is.

What is this, Cemetery Week?

I've been talking about cemeteries a lot already in this blog, which I suppose is indicative of the way my mind works. I find a thread and I follow it, sometimes much too far. But I discovered this article from last year which gives a great summary of the history of cemeteries as well as answering some of my own questions about how technology might be changing our burial customs. The interviewee also echoes many of my own thoughts and feelings about cemeteries, so I think it's worth a read. Check out:

Our First Public Parks: The Forgotten History of Cemeteries