[Video] The Ghouls Gang Discuss Horror Films, Writing and Inspiration

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Written By Ariel Powers-Schaub / Senior Contributor & Admin Assistant

Do you want to know what horror films inspire the Ghouls Magazine writers? Or perhaps how they first got into writing about horror? Host Ariel Powers-Schaub (https://twitter.com/Ari_Hellraiser) was joined by some of the Ghouls Magazine team to answer your burning questions!

Guests:
🔪 Iona Smith (https://twitter.com/Fall_Out_Iona)
🔪 Rebecca McCallum (https://twitter.com/PendlePumpkin)
🔪 Amber T (https://twitter.com/hornbloodfire)
🔪 Zoe Rose Smith (https://twitter.com/ZoboWithShotgun)

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[Editorial] “I control my life, not you!”: Living with Generalised Anxiety Disorder and the catharsis of the Final Destination franchise
[Editorial] “I control my life, not you!”: Living with Generalised Anxiety Disorder and the catharsis of the Final Destination franchise

I can sometimes go months without having a panic attack. Unfortunately, this means that when they do happen, they often feel like they come out of nowhere. They can come on so fast and hard it’s like being hit by a bus, my breath escapes my body, and I can’t get it back.

[Editorial] 5 Slasher Short Horror Films
[Editorial] 5 Slasher Short Horror Films

When people think of horror films, slashers are often the first thing that comes to mind. The sub-genres also spawned a wealth of horror icons: Freddy, Jason, Michael, Chucky - characters so recognisable we’re on first name terms with them. In many ways the slasher distills the genre down to some of its fundamental parts - fear, violence and murder.

[Ghouls Podcast] Maniac (2012) with Zoë Rose Smith and Iona Smith
[Ghouls Podcast] Maniac (2012) with Zoë Rose Smith and Iona Smith

Throughout September we were looking at slasher films, and therefore we decided to cover a slasher film that could be considered as an underrated gem in the horror genre. And the perfect film for this was Franck Khalfoun’s 2012 remake of MANIAC.

[Editorial] If Looks Could Kill: Tom Savini’s Practical Effects in Maniac (1980)
[Editorial] If Looks Could Kill: Tom Savini’s Practical Effects in Maniac (1980)

In the late seventies and early eighties, one man was considered the curator of all things gore in America. During the lovingly named splatter decade, Tom Savini worked on masterpieces of blood and viscera like Dawn of the Dead (1978), a film which gained the attention of hopeful director William Lustig, a man only known for making pornography before his step into horror.

[Editorial] Deeper Cuts: 13 Non-Typical Slashers
[Editorial] Deeper Cuts: 13 Non-Typical Slashers

Looking for some different slasher film recommendations? Then look no fruther as Ariel Powers-Schaub has 13 non-typical slasher horror films for you to watch.

[Editorial] Editor’s Note: Making a slash back into September
[Editorial] Editor’s Note: Making a slash back into September

Even though they are not to my personal liking, there is no denying that slasher films have been an important basis for the horror genre, and helped to build the foundations for other sub-genres throughout the years.

[Editorial] 8 Mind Horror Short films
[Editorial] 8 Mind Horror Short films

But some of the most terrifying horrors are those that take place entirely under the skin, where the mind is the location of the fear. Psychological horror has the power to unsettle by calling into question the basis of the self - one's own brain.

[Editorial]  Eat Shit and Die: Watching The Human Centipede (2009) in Post-Roe America 
[Editorial]  Eat Shit and Die: Watching The Human Centipede (2009) in Post-Roe America 

On Saturday, 17th June 2023, I sat down with two friends to watch The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009) and The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) (2012). I was nervous to be grossed out (I can’t really handle the idea of eating shit) but excited to cross these two films off my list.

[Editorial] Top 15 Female-Focused Mind Horror Films
[Editorial] Top 15 Female-Focused Mind Horror Films

Many of the most effective horror films involve blurring the lines between waking life and a nightmare. When women in horror are emotionally and psychologically manipulated – whether by other people or more malicious supernatural forces – viewers are pulled into their inner worlds, often left with a chilling unease and the question of where reality ends and the horror begins.

[Editorial] 8 Body Horror Short films
[Editorial] 8 Body Horror Short films

Body horror is one of the fundamental pillars of the horror genre and crops up in some form or another in a huge variety of works. There's straightforward gore - the inherent horror of seeing the body mutilated, and also more nuanced fears.

[Editorial] Metal Heart: Body Dysmorphia As A Battle Ground In Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
[Editorial] Metal Heart: Body Dysmorphia As A Battle Ground In Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)

In the sweaty summer of 1989, emerging like a monochrome migraine from the encroaching shadow of Japan’s economic crash, Shin’ya Tsukamoto’s Tetsuo: The Iron Man shocked and disgusted the (very few) audiences originally in attendance.

[Editorial] Top 15 Female-Focused Body Horror Films
[Editorial] Top 15 Female-Focused Body Horror Films

Whether it's the havoc wreaked on the human body during pregnancy, emotional turmoil producing tiny murderous humans or simply a body turning on its owner, body horror films tend to be shocking. But while they're full of grotesque imagery, they're also full of thoughtful premises and commentary, especially when it comes to women, trauma, and power.

[Editorial] Editor’s Note: Getting sticky, slimy & sexy with body horror
[Editorial] Editor’s Note: Getting sticky, slimy & sexy with body horror

The human body is a thing of wonder and amazement–the way it heals itself, regenerates certain parts and can withstand pain and suffering to extreme extents. But the human body can also be a thing of disgust and revulsion–with repugnant distortions, oozing fluids and rotting viscera.

[Ghouls Podcast] The Last House on the Left (2009) with Zoë Rose Smith and Jerry Sampson
[Ghouls Podcast] The Last House on the Left (2009) with Zoë Rose Smith and Jerry Sampson

This June we’ve been looking at originals and their remakes—and whilst we don’t always agree with horror film remakes, some of them often bring a fresh perspective to the source material. For this episode, we are looking at the remake of one of the most controversial exploitation films, The Last House on the Left (2009).

[Editorial] They’re Coming to Re-Invent You, Barbara! Night of the Living Dead 1968 vs Night of the Living Dead 1990
[Editorial] They’re Coming to Re-Invent You, Barbara! Night of the Living Dead 1968 vs Night of the Living Dead 1990

The year was 1968 and a young man named George A. Romero had shot his first film, a horror movie that would change the world of cinema and not just horror cinema, at that. Night of the Living Dead (1968), would go on to become one of the most important and famous horror films of all time as it tackled not only survival horror but also very taboo and shocking topics like cannibalism and matricide.

[Editorial] 8 Short & Feature Horror Film Double Bills
[Editorial] 8 Short & Feature Horror Film Double Bills

In the end I decided to indulge myself by picking eight of my favourite shorts, and choosing features to pair with them that would work well as a double bill. The pairs might be similar in tone, subject or style; some of the shorts are clearly influenced by their paired movie, while others predate the features.

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Films that blend horror with romance always fascinate me; add a niche contemporary setting that I’ve never heard of before and I’m hooked. Cannibal Mukbang was made by Aimee Kuge, a young woman from New York, and I was privileged to spend a little time talking with her over Zoom…

[Editorial] 10 Films & Events to Catch at Soho Horror Film Fest 2023
[Editorial] 10 Films & Events to Catch at Soho Horror Film Fest 2023

Now it’s time for Soho’s main 2023 event, which is presented over two weekends: a live film festival at the Whirled Cinema in Brixton, London, and an online festival a week later. Both have very rich and varied programmes (with no overlap this year), with something for every horror fan.

[Editorial] 9 Horror Nintendo Switch Games To Play
[Editorial] 9 Horror Nintendo Switch Games To Play

In the six years since its release the Nintendo Switch has amassed an extensive catalogue of games, with everything from puzzle platformer games to cute farming sims to, uh, whatever Waifu Uncovered is.

[Mother of Fears] Mothering in Silence in A Quiet Place (2018)
[Mother of Fears] Mothering in Silence in A Quiet Place (2018)

A Quiet Place (2018) opens 89 days after a race of extremely sound-sensitive creatures show up on Earth, perhaps from an exterritorial source. If you make any noise, even the slightest sound, you’re likely to be pounced upon by these extremely strong and staggeringly fast creatures and suffer a brutal death.

[Event Review] Highlights from Mayhem Film Festival 2023
[Event Review] Highlights from Mayhem Film Festival 2023

Have I told you about Mayhem Film Festival before? It’s a favourite event of mine, so I’ve blurted about it in anticipation to many people I know. The event has just passed, so now is the time to gush its praises to those I don’t know.

[Editorial] Mayhem Festival: Interview with Thomas Sainsbury on Loop Track (2023)
[Editorial] Mayhem Festival: Interview with Thomas Sainsbury on Loop Track (2023)

Loop Track, Thomas Sainsbury’s directorial debut, has such a sparse description that it’s really difficult to know what you’re stepping into when it starts. It’s about Ian (played by the director), who is taking a trek through the New Zealand bush….

[Editorial] Keeping Odd Hours: A Retrospective on Near Dark (1987)
[Editorial] Keeping Odd Hours: A Retrospective on Near Dark (1987)

For a movie that doesn’t even mention the word “vampire” once throughout the length of the film, Near Dark (1987) is a unique entry in the vampire film genre.

[Editorial] 5 Female Focused Horror Book Recommendations
[Editorial] 5 Female Focused Horror Book Recommendations

If you like cults, sacrificial parties, and lesbian undertones then Mona Awad’s Bunny is the book for you. Samantha, a student at a prestigious art university, feels isolated from her cliquey classmates, ‘the bunnies’.

[Editorial] What to Watch at This Year's Cine-Excess International Film Festival 2023
[Editorial] What to Watch at This Year's Cine-Excess International Film Festival 2023

Kicking off on Tuesday 17th October, the 2023 edition considers the cinematic, social and cultural significance of the possessed, supernatural and unclean body onscreen.

[Editorial] Cherish Your Life: Comfort in the SAW Franchise Throughout and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic
[Editorial] Cherish Your Life: Comfort in the SAW Franchise Throughout and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic

I was aware of the COVID-19 pandemic before I knew that’s what it would be called, and before it ever affected me personally. My husband is always on top of world events, and in late 2019, he explained what was happening around the globe.

[Editorial] The Art of Horror in Metal
[Editorial] The Art of Horror in Metal

Metal and horror have many aspects in common. The passionate fanbase for both genres attend festivals and has created strong communities. Horror and Metal fans often sport clothing depicting their favourite bands or films, almost like a uniform.

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[Editorial] 10 Films & Events to Catch at Soho Horror Film Fest 2023
[Editorial] 10 Films & Events to Catch at Soho Horror Film Fest 2023

Now it’s time for Soho’s main 2023 event, which is presented over two weekends: a live film festival at the Whirled Cinema in Brixton, London, and an online festival a week later. Both have very rich and varied programmes (with no overlap this year), with something for every horror fan.

[Editorial] 9 Horror Nintendo Switch Games To Play
[Editorial] 9 Horror Nintendo Switch Games To Play

In the six years since its release the Nintendo Switch has amassed an extensive catalogue of games, with everything from puzzle platformer games to cute farming sims to, uh, whatever Waifu Uncovered is.

[Mother of Fears] Mothering in Silence in A Quiet Place (2018)
[Mother of Fears] Mothering in Silence in A Quiet Place (2018)

A Quiet Place (2018) opens 89 days after a race of extremely sound-sensitive creatures show up on Earth, perhaps from an exterritorial source. If you make any noise, even the slightest sound, you’re likely to be pounced upon by these extremely strong and staggeringly fast creatures and suffer a brutal death.

[Editorial] 5 Female Focused Horror Book Recommendations
[Editorial] 5 Female Focused Horror Book Recommendations

If you like cults, sacrificial parties, and lesbian undertones then Mona Awad’s Bunny is the book for you. Samantha, a student at a prestigious art university, feels isolated from her cliquey classmates, ‘the bunnies’.

[Editorial] 9 Best Slashers Released Within 10 Years of Scream (1996)
[Editorial] 9 Best Slashers Released Within 10 Years of Scream (1996)

The slasher sub genre has always been huge in the world of horror, but after the ‘70s and ‘80s introduced classic characters like Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, Leatherface, and Jason, it’s not harsh to say that the ‘90s was slightly lacking in the icon department.

[Mother of Fears] Mother Vs. Monster in Silent Hill (2006)
[Mother of Fears] Mother Vs. Monster in Silent Hill (2006)

Mother is God in the eyes of a child, and it seems God has abandoned the town of Silent Hill. Silent Hill is not a place you want to visit.

[Editorial] 9 Terrifying Cerebral Visions in Horror Movies
[Editorial] 9 Terrifying Cerebral Visions in Horror Movies

Being able to see into the future or back into the past is a superpower that a lot of us would like to have. And while it may seem cool, in horror movies it usually involves characters being sucked into terrifying situations as they try to save themselves or other people with the information they’ve gleaned in their visions.

[Mother of Fears] I Don’t Wanna Be Buried in a Pet Sematary (1989) and (2019)
[Mother of Fears] I Don’t Wanna Be Buried in a Pet Sematary (1989) and (2019)

Both the original Pet Sematary (1989) and its 2019 remake are stories about the way death and grief can affect people in different ways. And while the films centre on Louis Creed and his increasingly terrible decision-making process, there’s no doubt that the story wouldn’t pack the same punch or make the same sense without his wife, Rachel.

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Ariel Powers-Schaub / Senior Contributor & Admin Assistant

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