It's the spookiest time of the year, and I have a fandom update.
Media ConsumedI Was a Teenage Slasher - Stephen Graham JonesFunny meta horror about a bullied eighties teenager stuck as the slasher in a horror movie. I read this in less than ideal circumstances, 5-10 pages at a time over three months, and that made the book drag more than I think it deserves. Tolly's narration was really absorbing, and I loved the eventual reveal of the fated dance between slasher and final girl, even if it felt like it took way too long to manifest. I'm curious to read more of this author, once I have more reading time in my schedule.
Saw, Saw IIMost of the franchise was free on Tubi in September, and I got through the first two before they left the platform. These are really fun, twisty mysteries with complex characters and satisfying amounts of gruesome gore. I didn't expect the escape room logic puzzle elements, and those were easily the best part of the movies. I'll keep an eye out for the rest on streaming.
HimThis got absolutely trashed in reviews and I don't really understand it. It was a stylish, sexy, creepy dive into the trauma football inflicts on the body and the lengths people will go to achieve sports excellence. The ending goes a bit off the rails, but I enjoyed the performances and visuals and had a good time.
Frankenstein (2025)I was lucky enough to see this in theaters Halloween weekend, and it was gorgeous and powerful on the big screen, but I haven't rewatched it on Netflix since. I think this movie has amazing performances and design, and it's very good at conveying its thesis, but that thesis is pretty simplistic: humans are the real monsters, and monsters are innocent (which differs pretty strongly from the original novel). If you like grotesquely beautiful Del Torro movies with tragic fuckable monsters and the alienated women who love them, you'll enjoy this one. I think I liked Eggers'
Nosferatu better, the themes and subtext left more for me to chew on.
Fics Posted/Gifts ReceivedThe only exchange I did was Trick or Treat, where I wrote and received two fics each.
My gifts, both for An American Werewolf in London:
Hungry Like The... by Missy - David Kessler/Alex Price.
Alex wakes up beside a living, breathing David. They talk about the future, and Alex feels the drumbeat hunger of the wolf in her veins.fate up against your will by hearthouses - Jack Goodman/David Kessler.
David and Jack both make it off the moors.My works, one pinch hit and one treat:
reach out and touch faith - The Locked Tomb Series, Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus.
The corpse of Gideon Nav wanders the Mithraeum and yearns.Mama's Boy - Scream, Billy Loomis/Stu Macher.
It's a normal night for Stu Macher, watching Psycho
and talking about murder and wanting to fuck his best friend.In Progress/UpcomingI'm neck deep in Stranger Things right now, and will probably write some fic or post some thoughts soon. I also had a fun doing an all horror Trick or Treat and thought it might be fun to do the same thing for Candy Hearts.