[Editorial] Editor’s Note: Horror Fandom is More Than Just Movies

In all honesty, I have barely watched any horror movies lately because I’ve been so into consuming other forms of media that finding time to actually sit down and watch a film has felt impossible.

Sometimes I get so distressed by this reality, and find that I struggle to cope without my coping mechanism of horror films. However, it is in these moments away from watching films that I often find some time to remind myself that there are so many other aspects of horror that are just as enjoyable as sitting down to watch a good film. 

The first one being books; a good friend of mine, Sam Ashurst who is the co-host of the Arrow Video Podcast and is an amazing director, including A Little More Flesh (which I reviewed as well), recently recommended a book to me which I just was not able to put down. Boy Parts from Eliza Clark is tonally similar to Brett Easton Ellis’ incredible American Psycho but if it was written from a middle class British girl who didn’t look after themselves quite as well. The book was like heroin to me, and actually struck a bit of a nerve. Party girl, attention-seeker, likes drugs, hates food, and lives off tuna salad. The main character was basically me as a 20 year old wreck head. Fortunately I never went quite as dark as Irina in the book, but it took me a second to remind myself that just because I still live off tuna salads, doesn’t mean I’m a sociopath. Now, I’m in desperate need of another addictive book so I’m starting on The End of Alice which sounds horrific… 

The other form of media I’ve been consuming a lot of lately is podcasts; I’ve never been a huge podcast listener because my obsession with music is well embedded, and I work much more efficiently with lyric-less music such as Go Go Penguin or some repetitive techno. However, as a long distance runner I sometimes need something that drowns everything out. Firstly, listening to Serial Killers on Spotify has opened my eyes to more serial killers, which I probably didn’t need in my life but has reminded me of just how fucked up people are. Even though the episodes really, really disturb me, I get so fascinated thinking about the mindset of these people. My other go-to podcast at the moment is Andy Stewart and Mitch Bain’s hilarious Strong Language and Violent Scenes podcast - I particularly love their mini-episodes because it feels like just hanging out with two pals chatting shit about movies, which I absolutely adore. They also have incredible episodes with stellar guests every week, but the personal aspect of the “mini-sodes” and short runtime really suits my easily distracted personality. Then finally, Mike Muncer has hit it out the park again with an absolutely amazing April Fools joke podcast episode on The Evolution of Horror, which he produced alongside the very talented Joshua Tonks. The episode is called The Frail Loop, and in full confession mode I spent a good ten minutes trying to find the film online before realising what day it was, so bravo!

The other aspect within horror that I’ve found so important lately is the community and places that are bringing horror fans together. As much as I love my ‘real-life’ friends, none of them much like horror (they tolerate me mentioning films, but prefer not to hear the details about people being decapitated and eaten…) so the online community is a really strong lifeline for me. Recently we had a little Ghouls team social hang-out with wine and games, and it felt just like being with friends that I had known forever. Another place that is bringing the horror community together in an amazing way is Soho Horror Film Festival which is run by the inspiring Mitch Harrod. Sadly, I haven’t managed to get stay up past 10pm (I am like an old person in a young person’s body) and actually get wasted with the whole gang on Zoom yet but even just through the Facebook group I have managed to connect with some awesome people, and I cannot wait to be able to meet up with many of them once lockdown here in the UK has finally lifted. If you’re looking for an online festival, then check out the festival’s Shockdown Saturdays which are now continuing throughout April. Every Saturday they are hosting screeners of horror films, followed by live Q&A panels, live podcasts and then a chance to get wasted with everyone afterwards. There really isn’t anywhere else doing something like this, and if you are looking to watch some horror and connect with a badass community of like-minded people then I would highly recommend it. Also, Mitch has been kind enough to let me host a panel on 17th April in between screenings of Sam Ashurst’s A Little More Flesh II and Leni from Federico Gianotti. 

So, even though I haven’t had time to sit down and watch a film, it’s given me time to consume other types of media which are just as important to me and actually have allowed me to connect with other people. It is often hard as a horror fan to make time for everything that means a lot to us, but when we do, it can be so enriching to our experience as horror fans.

Now, we have a long weekend here in the UK so I’ll probably finally have some time to watch some films and eat chocolate until I feel like I’m going to be sick. 

Hope you all have a horrific Easter with your families!

Love & guts (and eggs)

Z x

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