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

A Head Full of Ghouls

Firstly, I’d like to start this Editor’s Note on something of a personal one. Ghouls Magazine has been a constant source of inspiration, creativity and connection when it comes to my passion for horror. However, you might have noticed that things have been a little quieter here than normal. In full disclosure, running the side project whilst going through some of the biggest changes in my life has been challenging to say the least. 

After going through a pretty heavy break-up, moving house and starting a new job, my responsibilities at Ghouls fell by the wayside and it’s taken me a good few months to find my rhythm again. Who would have thought when your head is so full of life shit that doing anything creative would be so difficult? Well, I found out the hard way. I want to give the biggest thanks to the team here at Ghouls–Rebecca McCallum, Ariel Powers-Schaub and Kim Morrison—for being incredibly supportive during this period and also ensuring that Ghouls has stayed up and running. Then I also want to thank our incredible team of writers who have not only made me feel looked after, but have continued their amazing work of reviews, interviews, editorials and podcasts for the magazine. 

Anyway enough about me, and more about what is happening at Ghouls Magazine. As with every month, we have a theme and for some reason I have decided to torture myself by focusing on perhaps the one sub-genre of horror that I have never really vibed with–slashers. 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.

So why do I have a disdain for them? I have always struggled to connect with slasher films, but that’s purely because I prefer my horror with excessive violence and gore, paired with controversial plots that make you feel uncomfortable and queasy. Slashers have always felt too conventional for me, but I can appreciate their importance and felt like September was the perfect month for us to slash through the noise and celebrate these films.

For the Ghouls Magazine podcast we have some exciting episodes coming up including a deep dive into slasher films with Assistant Editor, Rebecca McCallum sitting down with Moving Pictures Film Club Founder & Editor in Chief, Tim Coleman. They will be covering ‘Slashing Through The Decades’ with a focus on the best slasher films from the 60s all the way to 2000s. Then I’ll be chatting with Senior Contributor, Iona Smith, about one of the only slasher films I like and that’s Franck Khalfoun’s 2013 Maniac remake. 

Of course, what would a month at Ghouls be without our two listicle queens returning? That’s right we have Kim Morrison bringing the goods with a list that will be ranking the post-Scream slasher films. We also have Melissa Cox coming back for her regular slot of member-only content with a list of short slasher horror films that are available to watch on YouTube. Then Ariel Powers-Schaub is also getting in on the list action with some suggestions of non-typical slasher films–perhaps some of those will appeal to anyone that, like me, sometimes struggles with the genre. And then we have Iona Smith providing a look at the special effects of Tom Savini in Joe Spinell’s original Maniac from 1980.

So, what are your thoughts on slasher films? You can head to X / Twitter (we can still call it Twitter right?) and let us know what your favourite slasher films are!

What’s happening at Ghouls?

In case you missed it: Last month we were mainly focusing on mind horror, but we kind of allowed ourselves a little creative freedom and covered lots of different things on the magazine. Liz Degregorio wrote a list on Top 15 Female-Led Mind Horror Films, Ariel Powers-Schaub looked at The Human Centipede and how it applies to a post-Roe world, plus Melissa Cox got cerebral for Top 8 Short Mind Horror Films that are available to watch on YouTube. Plus, I got to sit down with Mx Bel Morrigan and Liz Bishop to talk about disturbing mind-fuck book, Tender Is The Flesh on the latest podcast episode. 

Due to everyone catching the dreaded FrightFest flu, we had to cancel our Lords of Chaos screening at True Romance in London, which I was GUTTED about as you can imagine. But we will be back on Friday 22nd September at True Romance to screen one of my favourite comedy horror films in the world–Shaun of the Dead! You can grab your tickets for this event now! 

In October we will be hosting a very special event at True Romance, as on Friday 27th October we have an Irish horror night hosted by Ygraine Hackett-Cantabrana who is flying all the way from Ireland to host! Then on Saturday 28th October we will be showing some cannibal films followed by a fancy dress Halloween party! Tickets for the film will be available soon, and everyone will be welcome to come along to our party.

Then in November, I am going to put the audience through sheer torture with an evening of extreme! Yes, the Ghouls are allowing me to screen something truly horrific… More details coming soon about that one. 

We also have some exciting virtual panels coming up including ‘Mental Health & Horror’ in October, The Wicker Man anniversary in November, not one but two panels in November on Extreme Films and then a very special virtual event in December celebrating The Exorcist’s 50th anniversary. Stay tuned to find out more information. 

As my time has been limited lately, finding the time to actually watch films has become increasingly difficult. So I have of course just rewatched a few that took my fancy, including In The Earth, Annihilation and The Perfection. All of which are incredible films that deserve a rewatch, or a first time watch if you haven’t seen them. I also decided to rewatch what I consider is the best horror TV show, with Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass. How can something be so frightening and yet make me cry my eyes out at the same time?!

Love & guts,

Zoë xx

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