“Halloween is the one night of the year when all bets are off. Anything can happen” –Michael Dougherty 

Every now and then a film comes along that gets it right. These movies make you say, “Yes! That’s how it’s supposed to be!!” and make you wish you had directed them because they are so in line with your own sensibilities. Trick r’ Treat is that movie for me. Writer/ Director Michael Dougherty’s declaration of love to all things Halloween perfectly depicts everything about the holiday we all love so much. Trick r’ Treat is simply the best Halloween themed film since, well, Halloween. Yet in a sense it actually is a better Halloween film for the simple fact that it's all about the Holiday itself. This is why it has become tradition for myself and many others to watch it every October. 

One of the things I love about Trick r’ Treat is it provides us with different perspectives of the holiday from various stages of our lives. From a young child who is fascinated and excited by the traditions of Halloween taught to him by his father (however demented he may be) all the way to the elderly man who has become disenchanted and bitter towards "All Hollows Eve" and the annoyances he feels it brings. Dougherty weaves all the age group's stories together with ease and makes them feel organically intertwined while thoroughly exploring various subjects of Halloween lore. 

Trick r’ Treat is set in the fictional town of Warren Valley, Ohio. At the center of town a huge Halloween Parade takes place where the streets are filled with costumed people enjoying the sights and sounds. The air is visibly cold and damp, the sidewalks paved with colorful yellow, orange and red leaves, Jack O Lanterns illuminate front yards and porches-- THIS is Halloween. The care and attention to detail that the production design is handled with might be easily overlooked by a regular viewer, but to anyone who truly holds Halloween near and dear to their heart, the moment those opening credits start to roll you instantly fall in love with the film. 

The film begins with a couple returning home after a night out at the parade. It is here that we are first introduced to the fact that Trick r’ Treat is all about the preservation of Halloween's ancient traditions and the respect it deserves as the husband tells his wife not to blow out the candle in the Jack O’ Lantern. As a lifelong Halloween enthusiast, Trick r’ Treat came along at the perfect time for me. I have always loved the holiday, but being in a warm climate took some of the oomph out of the holiday, especially since I grew up with the traditional brisk-autumn-pumpkin-patch Halloweens. As my enthusiasm and spirit waned to the point where I hardly even decorated anymore, I was still anticipating seeing the little anthology movie about Halloween that had been making so much noise throughout the Horrorsphere. I remember running around to different stores to find it the day it was released. I came home, made some popcorn, turned it on, and once it was all was said and done, I was blown away by how enjoyable it was. As soon as it was done, I restarted it from the beginning and decided to break out my box of Halloween stuff and decorate my apartment while the film played in the background. It was like a shot of Halloween adrenaline that has flowed through my veins ever since. 

There are a lot of things in Trick r’ Treat to love, whether it be the tragic backstory of the “Halloween School Bus Massacre” that is used by a group of adolescent kids to play a cruel prank on the class outcast Rhonda; the aforementioned story about the murderous school principal Mr. Wilkins and his son Billy who have a much more sinister way of celebrating the Holiday than most; or the “pack” of beautiful women on the prowl for their next meal...er…date. There is something for everyone in the film: younger kids, adults, gorehounds, and fans of the spooky. All of these things fit the bill of iconic Halloween themes and ideals, however ask any fan what the best thing about the film is and you will get the same answer: "Sam". 

Throughout the film, we are provided glimpses of a small creepy figure dressed in orange footie pajamas, hiding his face in burlap mask with buttons for eyes. It isn’t until the final act that we discover just who this mysterious little character is when he enters the home of the Halloween despising, candy stealing Mr. Kreeg, and proceeds to torment him until he finally heeds the rules of Halloween. Writer/ Director Michael Dougherty said it best: “Every Holiday has a cool mascot, Halloween is the only one that didn’t have something. There’s a lot of iconic images but there wasn’t just that one mascot character.” For him, Sam was the opportunity to create one such character. Sam is one of the coolest creations I have seen: a mini pumpkin headed demon born in a pumpkin patch who dresses up in orange footy pajamas and a burlap sack mask; a perfect Halloween character that I will forever be jealous that I didn’t create myself. Sam is essentially Halloween's version of the "Ghost of Christmas Past," the enforcer of the holiday’s traditions and rules. While he may not be fully acknowledged as Halloween's official mascot, for serious horror and Halloween fans alike, he is definitely held in high esteem and is loved right up there with Michael Myers and Jack Skellington in terms of Halloween iconography. 

Michael Dougherty believes in the spirit of the holiday and did his utmost to present it in Trick r’ Treat so that it can be further appreciated and preserved for future generations. Whenever I’ve spoken to people about this film, everyone agrees the filmmaker's get what makes Halloween special and have created a vision of it that is timeless while still being contemporary. The world presented here is one I find myself wanting to visit every October and spend the night exploring regardless of what creatures lurk throughout: I want to wander through the Halloween Parade, I want to walk the dark streets with a lit Jack O’ Lantern, hike through the foggy pumpkin patch as I make my way to the haunted rock quarry that is site of the School Bus Massacre. Of course I would like to avoid being eaten alive by beautiful werewolf women, but I suppose there are worse ways to go. After all, it’s in the spirit of Halloween.

One of the best thing about doing what we do here at TrueHorror.net is meeting new, like minded people. This website has opened up so many doors for new friendships and collaborations that I would have otherwise never made. For that I am extremely grateful. It is especially cool when those new people are on the same wavelength as you when it comes to things you enjoy creating. As many of you know we love creating our own faux movie posters here as well as ones for existing films. Which brings us to Marc of Sadist Art Designs. The New York based artist specializes in creating custom poster art for media design and has a special love for retro horror and art house stylization. I remember being put on to Marc's work by a mutual pal, Uncle Tnuc and was really impressed by just how perfectly it captured the style of 80's horror poster art. What he creates would feel right at home in the horror section of any video store in the 80's. He has done work for Fangoria and countless independent horror films who are all looking for that magical retro touch. Thanks to his chosen field, I expected to get a unique perspective on the subject of VHS cover art and horror posters and he did not disappoint. From the get go Marc has been a supporter of TrueHorror.net and has just been an all around cool dude, so we are happy and appreciative to have him contribute to our ongoing "Dissecting Fear" series of interviews. Now while Marc doesn't scare easily, he still provides insight into his love affair with horror films while displaying his love of the F word. We are also happy to share some pieces of Marc's work that represents what Sadist Art Designs is all about. 

As a child what horror film and/or character scared you the most and why do you feel they had this effect on you.

Michael Myers. Hands down. Halloween II was the first horror film I ever saw when I was 4. My older brother, who was about 13 then, had also been fascinated by the boogieman. Around that time in the early 80's, my family had just gotten cable TV and Halloween II was the film HBO had been showing on repeat as was common to repeat movies on cablte TV back then. While Myers scared the fuck out of me, I couldn't help but be captivated by his presence. That emotionless mask gave me nightmares that really fucked me up. Back then, though I think the childhood innocence masqueraded the true fear, and like so many horror fans today, is what made horror and being scared a good feeling, not one to shy away from but to embrace. Yeah thanks a lot Michael!

Crying Skull poster design inspired by Halloween II opening sequence by Sadist Art Designs

Do you have an example telling of an instance or two where this fear really manifested itself and had an impact on you or your behavior? 

Of all the horror movies I had been watching back then, the only time I had ever been affected by it was by one dream. Only one. At the time, my second oldest brother (two years older than me) had shared a room with me. I remember one night I dreamt Michael Myers had come inside our room! But he had brought a friend, this stranger fucker wearing a hawaiian shirt and yellow dishwashing gloves. Myers worked on my brother while Dishwashing Gloved Man choked the fuck out of me! Horror movies don't usually scare me. Just that one time. It's mostly the local news that haunts me. 

What horror movie VHS covers or posters scared you as a kid and why do you feel the poster or cover had this effect on you?

I wouldn't use the word scared. Because like I said, horror movies don't scare me. They fascinate me. I'm much more scared about tales of kidnappings, hijackings, and home invasions...and house fires. But, VHS titles affected my life so profoundly as you can imagine. Covers like Friday the 13th part IV, Return of the Living Dead1/III, Chopping Mall, and Halloween II to name just a few, were truly pieces of art that left etchings on my brain. Hell, I make a living now trying to recreate those feelings of nostalgia it brought me. 

Do you have a specific example of a time you may remember that you have come across one of these VHS covers and have it have an effect on you when you were younger?

Hmm...Covers that are more simplistic that are shrouded in blackness give me the creeps. FT13IV, Bloody Birthday, Halloween I/II...something about that blackness around it, that void is what scares me. I don't know why. It's like, I think about all that darkness and I imagine whats lurking in the shadows. You ever see the cover of Halloween the paperback? The one with the boy in a ghost sheet with a jackolantern as a fucking head? he's surrouonded by all this blackness! Lots of 70's and 80's horror paperbacks do this. Creeeeepy!!!

What is your definition of "scary" when it comes to modern horror films these days? So many people are quick to say a film isn't scary but each person has a different definition of "scary" and what that means. 

Movies that use primitive fears to scare their audiences will always be the most effective. Night Of The Living Dead works really well despite the unbelievability of walking zombies. This has a lot to do with the notion of feeling trapped and confined in a place where all this madness is going on outside and the is the idea of "Whats out there and how many of them are there?!" The beginning of "Scream" played with this concept really well too. That idea of being vulnerable. Remember Drew Barrymore was in the living room on the phoen with the creep (Ghostface) ? Look at those large ass windows with no shades! She was a sitting duck, man!

What do you NOT consider scary or not like in your horror films?

Unless treated really carefully, like The Changeling or The Sentinel, ghost stories do nothing for me.

What do you look for or want to get out of horror films these days?

Oy. I haven't been to a modern horror movie in quite a while. I stick with the oldies. I just want to have fun and I wanna dig the characters. While I didn't love "It Follows" like everyone and their mothers, I thought the group of kids and their relationships worked well. I like realistic relationships in modern horror. The Innkeepers did this really well. 80's films didn't as much. But that is okay, they were cheese and they get a pass!

What is your favorite recent horror film and why?

I really dug The Innkeepers and The House of the Devil. Haha, does the latter count? I also thought Cloverfield was fan-fucking-tastic. I loved Tusk too!

Lastly, do you feel these is a certain way or mindset to have to watch a horror film as far as it being effectively frightening?

Stay off your fucking phone if you want to be scared! If you're watching a fun one, post #nowwatching posts on Instagram to get involved in the horror community. Just remember, part of the experience of being scared is putting yourself in the characters situations. So pop some popcorn, kill the lights, and enjoy!

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Here is a batch of some of Marc's fantastic work. Below it you will find links to all Sadist Art Designs online presence. 

You can also follow Marc and Sadist Art Designs on Instagram for plenty of cool horror goodness and behind the scenes looks at the making of his posters : @sadistartdesigns 

Website: http://sadistart.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sadist-Art-Designs/304932762906811

Well it took a while, but we finally got around to doing a Hellraiser themed photoset. It wasn't exactly pre-planned, it just kind of happened and sometimes those result in the coolest images. In this particular instance, Deb and I were hanging out kicking around ideas, thinking we could probably do something cool if we put our minds to it. We eventually landed on Hellraiser. There are so many ways you can go about doing something related to those films, the obvious route would normally be something cenobite related. However that requires alot of prep, makeup, and time. All of which on this particular evening we didn't really have. What we did have was some candles, some prop replica prints from Hellraiser II and the iconic Lament Configuration puzzle box. So Deb, who is a big fan of the films, landed on this one particular scene from Hellraiser II as inspiration. It was a fun way to spend an evening and resulted in some pics that while relatively simple, are still very different from other stuff we have done on the site. It was fun trying to figure out how to do something a bit more with them during the editing process, which is when we decided to add some of the blue electricity so prevalent in the films when the puzzle box is activated. Deb is always a pleasure to shoot with and be around and its great to get her input on anything we work on. I have a feeling these won't be the last Hellraiser themed shots Deb and I do, so I consider these to be part 1 of this photo set, hopefully we can get a little more bloody and weird in round 2. Till then though, hope you guys enjoy these as much as we do. 

Alternate Wardrobe image 1

Alternate Wardrobe image 2

 It was almost two years ago that we launched TrueHorror.net and had the honor of being featured on a website that would soon become one of our favorites. That site was uncletnuc.com headed up by non other than the man himself, UNCLE TNUC. Since then we have gone on to become avid supporters of each others work and I count him as one of the good friends that I've made throughout this TrueHorror venture. His website, if you haven't been to it yet (and please change that immediately) is a paradise of nostalgic euphoria. A place where lost legends return, forgotten memories are jogged and amazing sounds echo throughout. A gifted writer, his posts are always thoroughly entertaining and full of heart. He has definitely been an inspiration for me when it comes to putting together new content for the site. He covers a wide variety of subjects, all of them awesome. Ever wonder what happened to American Gladiator's star Malibu? Tnuc has you covered! Want to read a tale about his recurring dream of being stranded on a tropical island, inhabited solely by brain eating zombie babes, complete with soundtrack selections? He has that too. His fantastic music mixes ranging from Thanksgiving themed to Horror inspired are in fact the direct inspiration for our Halloween mixes I we release every October. From analyzing the score's of classic yet under appreciated 80's films to naming a " Deadbeat of the Month", the quality reads and listens are endless, and I cannot recommend them to you in any better way, other than saying if you don't go check them out, you should reevaluate your own personal level of cool, because it is surely not what you think it is.  

I can't thank TNUC enough for the helpful input on projects he has given me over the years. With him being so well versed in nostalgia, I was excited to get him involved in this interview and hear what he would bring to the table. So lets get down to business.

1. As a child what horror film and/or horror character scared you the most and why do you feel they had this effect on you?

I have to agree with everyone else that has said Michael Myers. Halloween was the first 'slasher/killer' type film I had seen and watching this emotionless, robotic figure tear apart a perfectly nice community really shook me to my core. To me Michael Myers was just as effectively scary during the daytime scenes as he was at night, which was really unsettling to me. Another film that really got to me was Pet Sematary. The movie just gradually gets so devastating until there are really no happy endings for anyone. I have a real thing those Stephen King "Maine" films. I grew up in New England so they kind of hit home in a weird way.

Do you have an example telling of an instance where this fear really manifested itself and had an impact on you and your behavior?

Not particularly relating to those movies, but I remember the first time being truly terrified was after watching an episode of Rescue 911, the show hosted by William Shatner. The episode was about a burglar who breaks into a family's home during the night while they're sleeping. For some reason they really nailed it with the home invasion reenactment. They never showed the intruder's face but there was a bunch of eerie blue lighting and this family was just losing their shit while this manbeast barged through the bedroom door. I was probably 7 or 8 and the thought of some drooly guy breaking into my house was definitely my worst nightmare. I didn't sleep all night.

What VHS covers or movie posters scared you as a kid and why do you feel the poster or cover had this effect on you?

Roaming the VHS horror aisles was nothing but a treat except when I came across the box for Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things (1973). Most artwork in the horror section was incredible looking and vivid, but this particular cover was super low budget and just had this dead girl ripping apart human flesh. It was grainy looking and for all I knew it was a polaroid taken in the video store parking lot during a recent slaying.

Do you have a specific example of a time you may remember that you have come across one of these and it had that effect on you when you were younger?

Not that I can remember. I just loved gazing at artwork for the Friday the 13th movies, weirdo European horror and all the the rubber puppet flicks like Ghoulies, Critters and Troll!

What is your definition of "scary"? When it comes to modern horror films these days so many people are quick to say a film isn't scary, but each person has a different definition of what scary is.

Tough question. I'd say a steady build of dread to the point where you're looking all over the screen in anticipation for what's going to happen. Movies that take their time to show you the killer, monster, beast...instead of throwing it at you every 5 minutes. Also anything that can pull off being scary at night AND during the day. These don't come around very often!

What modern horror film would you say actually scared you? 

The Strangers really got to me. The abandonment and silence in that movie made it feel like you were with that couple, in their neighborhood and home. It was super dark but not so dark that you can't make out what was going on (hate that). I went in knowing completely nothing about the film which I know played a heavy part in this as well.

What do you Not consider scary or dislike in your horror films?

Cell phone! I get why they show up in horror movies these days but when they're part of the potential "scare" part I can't help but roll my eyes. Text messages just aren't giving me the willies. Also anything too clean or hi-def. To me horror should be at least a bit grainy and uneasy looking, that includes the characters too! I have a hard time watching super clean-cut actors that look like Abercrombie models in these sorts of films.

What do you look for or to get out of horror films these days?

Something that I walk away from and can't stop thinking about for a few days.

What is your favorite recent horror film and why?

I know its been out for a few years but whenever anyone asks what "newish" horror movie they should watch I always recommend Adam Wingard's YOU'RE NEXT. It's  a top notch horror film and just great in general. I've watched it with fans of the genre but also with people completely uninterested in anything-horror. My mom probably hadn't watched a single horror movie since the 1970's but one time I brought it home and she watched it and was really into it. I also love what Ti West is doing these days and really hope he returns to horror.

Lastly, do you feel there is a certain way or mindset to have it be effectively frightening?

As much as I love watching movies at home, something about seeing horror on the big screen with a packed albeit respectful crowd really just elevates the overall experience. I've sat through certain films at home thinking they're dead boring but caught the same movie years later at the theater and have a blast. It's hard to be distracted in the dark with a massive screen in front of you.

Thanks as always for participating! 

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Remember to head over to uncletnuc.com

For a cornucopia of pleasurable sounds for your ears, be sure to do yourself a favor follow Uncle TNUC on Soundcloud, you will not be disappointed. Uncle Tnuc Soundcloud

Twitter

People can criticize social media all they want, but the fact remains when used a certain way, it is a fantastic tool to connect and network with new, cool people who are fun and interesting to talk to. When the majority of your close friends just aren't into the horror scene the way you are, you have to go elsewhere to find like minded folks to discuss your passions and opinions. This is how I met Lisa, I sadly don't recall the initial convo that had us cross paths, but I can say that she was one of the earliest horror related friendships I forged via Twitter. Lisa is not only a die hard horror fan but also a horror journalist who currently writes for the website HaddonfieldHorror.com where you can read a wonderful interview she conducted with her favorite final girl Marilyn Burns of Texas Chainsaw Massacre fame. You can and should check that out at the link provided at the end of this article. She also writes for the site TheHorrorHoneys.com where she covers TV horror in all its glory...or non glory depending on the show. We have had plenty of great conversations regarding all manner of things, plenty of which stem from our love for horror films such as You're Next and The Guest, as well as their respective synth laden soundtracks. So when it came time to prepare this ongoing interview series, I knew I had to include her as I always enjoy hearing her opinion on things. So thank you Lisa for taking time out of your busy schedule to participate, and here we go!

 As a child what horror film and/or horror character scared you the most and why do you feel they had this effect on you?

Freddy Krueger. As a child who suffered from nightmares on a regular basis, the idea of a boogie man that could actually get to me in my dreams seemed absolutely plausible.

Do you have an example telling of an instance or two where this fear really manifested itself and had an impact on you and your behavior?

There was a time period after first seeing "A Nightmare On Elm Street 3" where I was legitimately terrified to fall asleep and would try to keep myself awake.

What VHS covers or horror movie posters scared you as a kid and why do you feel the poster or cover had this effect on you?

"Return to Horror High" and "April Fool's Day" were the two VHS covers that I was aboslutely mesmerized by. It's so silly to look at now, but the skeleton in a cheer leading outfit really unnerved me. The idea that a full skeleton could walk around was terrifying. "April Fool's day" was chilling because it showed a well dressed woman with murderous intentions and I really gravitated to that as a child weaned on Hitchcock. I'm terrified and drawn in by a devious woman

Do you have a specific example of a time you may remember that you have come across one of these and it had that effect on you when you were younger? 

I actually refused to watch "April Fool's Day" until I was around 16 just because I was so terrified of what I was going to see.

What is your definitions of "scary" when it comes to modern horror films these days? So many people are quick to say a film isn't scary but each person has a different definition of "scary" and what that means.

For me, anything that could potentially happen in real life scares me. Home invasion and properly done paranormal films can really do me in. "The Strangers" really, really bothered me for days after seeing it. Sometimes, I still expect to see Dollface when I look out my windows at night.

What do you NOT consider scary or dislike in your horror films?

Rape has definitely become an overused vehicle for horror and I find it disgusting. Rape is a violent crime that I do not like to see used to freely. There are absolutely examples of well done rape revenge films, but they are few and far between.

What do you look for or want to get out of horror films these days?

I am always hoping to be legitimately scared. I want a film to get under my skin and make me think.

What is your favorite recent horror film and why?

I simply cannot say enough about 'The Canal". I believe in ghosts and the idea that bad spirits stick around and continue to cause harm, so this movie really worked for me on all levels. It only used clever lighting and simple, yet amazing, storytelling to properly scare me. Less is always more.

Lastly, do you feel these is a certain way or mindset to have to watch a horror film as far as it being effectively frightening?

I think the only thing necessary is an open mind. Too often, we go into something already assuming the worst and who knows how much that influences our experience. I also believe in knowing as little about a film as possible. I think seeing a million different trailers and reading all of the interviews before seeing a film really dilutes the "Christmas Morning" experience.

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Be sure to  give Lisa a follow on Twitter and Instagram @lcfremont 

Before reading her interview with Marilyn Burns, read what she wrote about what her character Sally Hardesty means to her here!

Read her fantastic in depth interview with the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre star Marilyn Burns here !

Saturday, October 13th, 2012, it was about 9:30pm that I decided I would head on out to the small theater near my apartment to checkout the late showing of the newest horror flick. I really had no clue what the film was about, other than the fact that Ethan Hawke was in it. I for whatever reason at the time had not paid any attention to the advertising, which turned out to be a great thing (as it usually is) because I was going in with zero expectations, that film as you probably guessed by clicking on this article was Sinister. I still remember sitting in the theater and being stunned by that opening scene of the family hanging from the tree. Accentuated by the accompanying score it was downright chilling. I was all in after that minute long opening. What followed ended up living up to that grim opening and Sinister has since gone on to become one of my favorite modern horror films. A film I recommend to anyone I think can handle it and more importantly...appreciate it.

On the surface Sinister might look like any of the number of haunted house/ghost films that so many horror fans seem to hate and write off immediately. I personally enjoy all types of horror films and feel when done right, a haunted house/ghost film can be the creepiest kind of horror film. Still there are plenty of duds out there and I have known many people to write off Sinister as just another ghost movie. Still to those that look deeper into films,what goes into making them, and what themes and ideas they bring forth, Sinister is full of questions about morality, mortality and sacrifices one makes to achieve their goals. Oh yeah it's also extremely creepy when it wants to be.

Directed by Scott Derrickson (Exorcism of Emily Rose, Deliver Us From Evil) and co-written with C. Robert Cargill, Sinister tells the story of struggling true crime writer Ellison Oswalt played by Ethan Hawke, who hit it big with a best selling novel entitled Kentucky Blood. Ellison has had trouble duplicating that success since and in a desperate moment, moves his family into the house where the previously mentioned family was hung in order to attempt to write a book that will help him recapture the fame he once had. The hook of the film is that Ellison discovers a box of super 8 films in the attic that each feature footage of families being murdered. Things obviously get worse from there. With that basic recap out of the way I want to talk about why I found Sinister to be so well done and why I am also looking forward to the sequel which is fast approaching.

The main character Ellison Oswalt is a character I would imagine many people can relate to in some way. His ambition drives him to make a bad decision and it costs him dearly. He claims to his wife he was doing it for the family, but she knows he was doing it for himself. He was afraid of not mattering, he was afraid of what his legacy would ultimately be. I for one can relate to that fear, it is one that has crossed my mind more than once lately and I can be honest and say this entire site was built for many reasons but one big one was so that I could have something to show for all my interests and passions. I wanted to matter and be able to show people what I do and hopefully have somone say "hey man, thats pretty cool!" Egotistical? perhaps, but just like Ellison, even when it involves ones ego, that doesnt mean it is any less of a real fear. So while you may watch the film and initially say "This guy is an idiot, or an asshole" his fear of failure and anonimity is genuine and real, and it makes you understand why the character takes such risks. One's mortality and legacy is a very important thing and this helped me relate and root for the character (who is played to perfection by Ethan Hawke by the way), even when he was doing things that were selfish and dangerous. It is my understanding that this was a fear of the filmmakers as well, that Ellison is the person they were afraid of becoming, so in that regard it is a very personal project as well and not some "product" spat out by a studio for a quick cash in. Whats also interesting is you could say the villain of the film has a parallel desire for fame, the pagan deity known as "Bughuul" or "Mr. Boogie" also seeks to keep his legacy going and feels a need to be seen in the 8mm films to carry on his own story.

Now while it is ultimately personal and intimate fears driving the protaganist's ambition that cause him to go down the proverbial rabbit hole, it is in fact the supernatural element that Sinister derives it's real moments of horror from. The whole film plays out like a nightmare and there is good reason for that. The concept of the 8mm murder films found in the attic was drawn directly from a nightmare Cargill had and is what he pitched to Derrickson when trying to get the idea turned into a film. It is those nightmarish 8mm films that truly give Sinister it's edge on other horror films. Directed with a grim perfection, each one gets creepier and more disturbing than the next. Watching those murders unfold on the screen puts you directly into the shoes of Ellison who is doing the same, he can barely watch as well. Whether its the brutal "BBQ" footage or the pool party scene that houses the initial chilling underwater reveal of Bughuul, each one is filmed to macabre perfection. They stay with you long after the credits roll. Part of that is due to the superb sound design of those home movies. The terrifying imagery is masterfully paired up with an equally creepy soundscape. If the footage is what a nightmare looks like, the scoring for those scenes is certainly what a nightmare would sound like.

While Christopher Young handles the scoring duties for the film with aplomb, the real musical star of the film are the sounds cultivated from the likes of Ulver, Aghast and Judgehydrogen. The use of their respective music elevated those 8mm scenes to an entirely new level of creepy. These scenes melding of sight and sound illustrate just how integral sound design is to film, especially horror. I listen to horror scores often while writing or editing photos, but the music used in this film I cannot listen to on it's own. The track "Silence Teaches You To Sing" by Ulver that is used throughout the film has one particular portion is used in the "BBQ" scene that is simply haunting. I remember when I first tracked it down and attempted to listen to it while trying to go to sleep one morning after a late night (it was in the ipod along with other more suitable music) and I got chills and immediately turned it off. That music accompanied with the imagery in the film left and impact and stayed with me long after the film had ended. You can hear that track below and see how you feel about it, the portion im referring to comes in at about 2:20,  for maximum effect listen to it alone in the dark.



There is much more I could say about Sinister but that would bring this closer to full blown review which is not what I wanted this to be. Sure I don't find it to be a perfect movie, but the things I don't love are more aesthetic choices like the makeup on the ghost children. But that is more a personal preference than a major gripe. Sinister is a film made with the utmost love and care for the project, this really shows throughout. So many horror films released today are just churned out by hired gun directors who do not have any attachment to the material. So when something comes along that is created from start to finish by the same team it deserves a bit more attention. Sinister is a very adult oriented, disturbing horror film that not only plays on your fears of the supernatural, but also those fears that you face in your mind on a day to day basis as you get older and there are lessons to be learned if you look deep enough. It ends on a perfectly grim note that sews up this story in the most horrific and surprising way possible. Which now brings us to Sinister 2...

Sinister 2 is something I never expected but probably should have. The succes of the original yielded a worldwide gross of 77 million dollars off of a relatively cheap 3 million dollar budget. So why not go back to the well to see if you can capture some more magic. Generally I have concerns about sequels to films that seem to have been all wrapped up and told the story they needed to tell to completion. However the original filmmakers are involved in the production as writers so that is something that piqued my interest. The second was the fact Shannyn Sossamon was cast, if ask anyone that really knows me, they will tell you she always been one of my favorite actresses. Of course last but not least, I was interested to see what else they could do with the character of Bughuul, and thought it would be fun to see if they can help cement his status as one of cinemas modern era boogeymen. I really don't know what to expect, as I have made it a point to not watch the trailer as I did with the first and that worked out pretty well. I am hoping for another creepy affair that leaves me equally disturbed and pleasantly surprised. You can expect an in depth review of the film upon it's release from us and it will be the first horror movie to begin to get us ready for the Halloween season, so we hope it delivers. In case you WANT to see the trailer we have that for you as right below!



In addition to the trailer we also have something Focus Features created to help promote the film and "Spread the Fear". It is a fun web app that you can take 10 second video  and "Sinisterize" it while uploading it to instagram, it is a neat idea and I imagine you would be able to creep out at least one person on your followers list. Just visit the link here to try it out!

WANNA PLAY? : Holly visits the Play Pals Toy factory in search of a Good Guy. 

(Originally posted October 2013) In dual honor of the re- launch of TrueHorror.net and the release of Curse of Chucky, I am excited to present a brand new photo set featuring one of my favorite people to collaborate with, Holly. This photo set is inspired by the Good Guy Doll factory seen in Child’s Play 2. A great deal of enthusiasm, care, and effort was put into creating these colorful new images and I hope it shows in the final product.

In addition to these new photos we also have our first ever behind the scenes video, detailing the process behind this latest project.