'The Hidden' is a fine horror genre mash-up from Richard Sala

The Hidden (Fantagraphics Books, 2011)
Story and Art: Richard Sala
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Strange creatures, most consisting of stitched-together body parts, have overrun the world, destroyed all civlizations and societies, and are driving humanity toward extinction. A group of survivors, keeping just ahead of the monstrous wave of horrors, are on their way to a location in the desert where they will either find salvation or doom.

There are some books and movies and comic books/graphic novels where too much talk about what's in it will spoil the enjoyment that can be gained from it. The main element of those works is the mystery at their core, and the excitement and chills readers and/or viewers derive from those come in large part from watching that mystery unfold as it's revealed piece by horrific piece.

"The Hidden" is one such work. It's a mixture of elements taken from the very foundation of the horror genre (such as divine, end-of-the-world prophecy and 19th century Gothic literature) and modern horror (such as post-Dawn of the Dead zombie tales and demonic secret societies that are manipulating the course of history and driving the world toward destruction as they gain more wealth and power), and as the plot comes together and the mystery is revealed, Sala's main sources of inspiration likewise come into focus. In the final analysis, this is a tale that mixes end-of-the-world zombie survival horror with themes from Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein, A Modern Prometeus". Along the way, Sala puts his always unique spin on the story and the material, with his artwork being simultaneously cartoony and creepy... and very, very gory at times. It is, however, always dynamic and clear and the story keeps moving swiftly towards its dark conclusion.

If you're looking for some light Halloween reading that is still spooky and dark, "The Hidden" is well worth your time. I don't think it's the best thing that Sala did--that honor is the tied books "The Chuckling Whatsit" and "Mad Night"--but if you've liked any of the works that have been reviewed at Shades of Gray, or any of the art that has been featured here at Terror Titans, this is a book you need to read.

The bad news is that the physical book is out-of-print, and those who have copies for sale are asking ridiculous prices. Fortunately, "The Hidden" can be had at ComiXology or for the Kindle as a digital download, for about 2/3rds the price of what I paid for my hard copy a few years ago -- or even free if you're a subscriber. 

31 Nights of Halloween: Not Alone

Tonight's selection reminds us that the supernatural is always waiting to strike during the 31 Nights of Halloween!

Not Alone (2020)
Starring: Mariah Chileshe
Director: Skulo Banda

Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A young woman (Chileshe) is settling in for a quiet night in front of the television... but a mysterious entity has different plans.

Like the previous short film from Skulo Banda that we've featured here at Terror Titans, "Not Alone" could have benefitted from a little editing to make it tighter and tenser. Banda also made the odd choice of putting more opening and closing credits against black screens. This might be just a pet peeve on my part, but opening credits on short films like this one that are longer than just the title and maybe the names of the stars and the director annoy me. Frankly, when it comes to something this short, I really don't want to have to sit through the list of creators involved before I can get to enjoying their work.

With all this negativity out of the way, I will say that I enjoyed the aura of weirdness that permeates this film, and I think you will, too. Just be patient with those useless opening credits... or skip them. You'll get the same information (and more) at the end of the film.)

31 Nights of Halloween: The Changing Room

If a sign says an area is closed, it's always the intelligent thing to stay out; you never know what danger might be within. There is no time where that statement is more true than during the 31 Nights of Halloween... as the young shopper discovers in tonight's short film.

The Changing Room (2022)
Starring: Jamie Taylor Ballesta
Director: Sam Evenson
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

31 Nights of Halloween: The Hamper

A recent survey established that folding sheets is the least favorite housekeeping chore of 28 percent of American adults. Given the events in tonight's short film, I think Stuart would be among those people... if he had been asked. And if he had been capable of answering.

 

The Hamper (2021)

Starring: Stuart Hamilton

Director: Stuart Hamilton

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

A man (Hamilton) is enjoying a peaceful night at home when he receives a mysterious delivery...

(This is the second installment in a series of three short films that we've dubbed The Stuart Trilogy. Click here if you haven't seen the first one... and look for Part Three to show up on October 26 as we continue slouching toward the Big Night!)

Dance with the Dead on a Tuneful Tuesday

Every so often, I come across a short film or a music video where I will spoil the experience if I say too much about what unfolds in it. This is one of those. I recommend sitting back and enjoying the hard-rocking instrumental tune and the ride with a guy (played by Kirk Enochs) who has a need for speed and a car with a need for fuel!

Sledge (2021)
Starring: Kirk Enochs, Danielle Victoria, Galen Howard, and Anuradha Senevi
Director: Djay Brawner
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Dance with the Dead is a California-based duo who perform metal-tinged electronic music that's deeply rooted in darkness and horror. You can explore their catalogue here.

31 Nights of Halloween: Ouija

Ouija (2022)
Starring: Anna Mia, Keira Weiss, and William Sibley
Director: Alex Magana
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

Teen girls (Mia and Weiss) make the mistake many teen girls have made before them...

Every October, silly girls taunt the spirits and tempt Fate by playing around with Ouija boards. Will they ever learn by the dire results suffered by others?

If tonight's offering from 31 Nights of Halloween mainstay Alex Magana is any indication--no, no they will not. We pretty much know what's coming from the get-go, but Magana and his cast once again packs a whole lot of excellence into a small package! 

31 Nights of Halloween: Me and Me

Me and Me (2021)
Starring: Yuki Shinyokoyama
Director: Yuki Shinyokoyama
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

A man (Shinykoyama) keeps having encounters with a man who looks just like him.

 

During the "off-season" this past year, we introduced visitors to the short ghost movies of filmmaker and artist Yuki Shinyokoyama. We think this non-ghost film is one of his best yet (as well as a nice upping-of-the-ante on the doppelganger myths.

We hope you enjoy "Me and Me"... and that you may avoid your doppelgangers during these 31 Nights of Halloween!

31 Nights of Halloween: Neighbours from Hell

Neighbours from Hell... (2018)
Starring: Paul Laight, Philip Wolff, and Jojo Georgiou
Director: David O'Brien
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

A man (Laight) takes extreme measures to deal with his noisy neighbors.

"Neighbours from Hell..." is a film that I think anyone who's lived in apartments with thin walls and/or insufficiently padded floors/ceilings can relate to... even if we've never been pushed to the breaking point where tonight's protagonist ends up. And if you've got a dark soul like me, you'll be watching this with a Cryptkeeper style giggle... right up until the final moment. Enjoy!

31 Nights of Halloween: Facetime Call

Facetime Call (2022)
Starring: Jade, Mikayla, and Anthony
Director: Harrison Fraser
Rating: Five of Ten Stars

A student struggling with a homework assignment soon discovers she has bigger things to worry about after blowing off a friend during a Facetime call.

 For what it is--a film made by inexperienced filmmakers, with inexperienced actors, and a story that was essentially made up as production progressed--this is pretty good effort. The pacing is solid, the camerawork is good, the lighting is effective, the two girls playing the leads give decent performances. When compared to other student films I've found trawling through the depths of YouTube, this is pretty good.

There is no doubt, though, that this would have been even better film if it had been guided by a carefully written script. At the very least, all that is good about it would not have been nearly overwhelmed by the main character behaving in ways that are inexplicable (even if one assumes that she is the rudest person to ever walk the face of the Earth).

But go ahead and check out "Facetime Call" yourself. I think you'll be impressed when the inexperience of the creators involved is taken into account... even if you'll also be hoping the villain will drag the main character up to her room, sit her down in front of the computer, and teach her how to behave better when talking with people over video chat.

31 Nights of Halloween: Pen Pals

Pen Pals (2022)
Starring: Aniqa Mazumder
Director: Dominc Grose
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

A young woman (Mazumder) communicates with an otherworldly pen pan through an enchanted notebook... but there is a slight problem...

"Pen Pals" is straightforward and to the point. It hits the ground running and doesn't let up until it's over. It's a lowkey film that relies more on what isn't shown that what is. It builds tension and mood the hard way... and the last minute-and-a-half of the run-time is absolutely perfect.

This film would have gotten an 8-star rating if not for one oversight. The opening moment of that perfect climax and dénouement to the film needed a little more finessing to be fully effective. It needed a shot of the girl heading for the door, and thump or two via the foley guy. The close-up of the woman's face, laying on the floor and staring at the camera with the wide eyes and blank expression that typically signals "I am dead" in horror films might also have been even more impactful.

That gripe aside, I found "Pen Pals" an excellent film. In fact, it is so excellent that it fed my imagination, and I created some roleplaying game rules for enchanted notebooks like the one in the film. Click here to check out a draft of those at the NUELOW Games blog. (But enjoy this cool movie first!)

31 Nights of Halloween: Not This Time

Can it be? Can we have found that rarest of horror movie characters--one that isn't stupid and has a tiny bit of survival instinct? Or is something else happening here? Check out today's micro fright film and tell us what YOU think!

Not This Time (2021)

Starring: Christina Morris

Director: Christina Moris

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

(Actually, we hope you got a big a kick out of the twist to this one as we did!)

Tuneful Tuesday with Kate Bush

Today's Tuneful Tuesday is different than anything we usually present during the 31 Nights of Halloween, in that it's 40 minutes long and it's a musical. Yes, a musical.

The Line, the Cross, and the Curve (1993)

Starring: Kate Bush, Miranda Richardson, and Lindsey Kemp

Director: Kate Bush

Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

A multi-talented musician and performer (Bush) is going through a crisis of confidence when a supernatural creature (Richardson) tricks her into putting on a pair of cursed pointe shoes. She must travel through alien dimensions and confront demons to remove the curse before she is compelled to dance herself to death. 

"The Line, the Cross, and the Curve" is the rarest of films: It's a musical that is also succeeds brilliantly at being a dark fantasy film. Given that Kate Bush is not only a highly skilled dancer, musician and vocalist, but also has a talent telling stories infused with ethereal spookiness and outright horror, she could well have been the only creator in the 1990s who could have pulled this off. Or the only creator, ever.

Partly inspired by a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen and a movie from the 1940s (both titled "The Red Shoes"), this film is built around songs from Bush's album "The Red Shoes". It was made as the music video was reaching its creative pinnacle as a format, and it deserves to be ranked among the very best of those efforts. (The film did win some awards Back in the Day, and it was also broken up into pieces to serve as videos for the songs featured.)

"The Line, the Cross, and the Curve" is beautifully shot and brimming with great music. It may be a bigger time commitment than items we generally offer for your entertainment during the Halloween Season, but we think you'll find this a very enjoyable.

31 Nights of Halloween: The Mime 2

Alex Magana is back for a second time this year! We're just going to make it official and declare Magana Mondays for the entirely of the 31 Nights of Halloween! 

The Mime 2 (2022)
Starring: Orion Smith and Isabella Moore

Director: Alex Magana

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

A commuter (Smith) comes to regret slighting a street-performing mime (Moore).

 "The Mime 2" sees writer/director Alex Magana returning to a familiar set-up: An unfortunate Normie encounters a wrathful or inscrutable supernatural being on a deserted railway platform late at night. And it's a fine return to his old stomping ground. (As with most films this short, the more I say, the more likely I am to ruin the freaky spookiness of the piece... so I will stop typing and instead just recommend you click below. I assure you that, by the end, you will think twice about not tipping performers, as well as catching that late-night train.)