Category: Film

Cinematic manifestations of Das Unheimliche.

Folk Horror Expedition

I’ve been spending a lot of my research time lately investigating the subgenre of Folk Horror and enjoying what might be called the revival’s second wave, or a rising appreciation of it among cinephiles, spearheaded in recent days by the recent release of Kier-La Janisse’s documentary, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched from Severin Films. I’m… Continue reading Folk Horror Expedition

The Return of Dexter Notes

With the return of the television series, Dexter, after such a long hiatus (rebooted this November 2021 from Showtime as Dexter: New Blood), it is inevitable that so much of what we will see will hearken back to the past, uncanny as a visitation by a ghost as our memories are conjured up magically by… Continue reading The Return of Dexter Notes

CALL FOR PAPERS: From Carmilla to Drusilla: Vampires Across Popular Culture (dl: Feb 15, 2018)

International Vampire Film and Arts Festival | 7-10 June 2018 | TRANSYLVANIA The third annual International Vampire Film and Arts Festival will take place in Sighisoara in Transylvania, Romania, on June 7th-10th, 2018. And to celebrate their popular fiction dual degree collaboration, WRITE TOGETHER — in which students earn an MA studying at Edinburgh Napier… Continue reading CALL FOR PAPERS: From Carmilla to Drusilla: Vampires Across Popular Culture (dl: Feb 15, 2018)

UO Feminist Media Studies Symposium (10-11 Feb 2017)

This Spring, the University of Oregon Cinema Studies program is hosting a Symposium on Feminist Media Studies in honor of the program founder, Kathleen Rowe Karlyn. Kathleen was my Ph.D. dissertation advisor in the UO English Department back in the late 90’s, helping guide me through the initial research and early draft of The Popular… Continue reading UO Feminist Media Studies Symposium (10-11 Feb 2017)

CALL FOR PAPERS: The Vampire Across Popular Culture (dl: Feb 1, 2017)

CALL FOR PAPERS CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT: The Vampire Across Popular Culture INTERNATIONAL VAMPIRE FILM AND ARTS FESTIVAL Transylvania, Romania May 25-28, 2017 http://www.ivfaf.com The second annual International Vampire Film and Arts Festival will take place in Sighisoara in Transylvania, Romania, on May 25th ‐ 28th 2017. [UPDATE: All paper presentations have been chosen for… Continue reading CALL FOR PAPERS: The Vampire Across Popular Culture (dl: Feb 1, 2017)

When the Horror Trope Backfires

The Onion’s AV Club ran a great list of “23 Ridiculous Horror Movies” called “Night of the Killer Lamp” back in 2007. It’s actually a great list of films that would make for a fun marathon night of creepy-kookie horror films. What it proves, too, is that a) the horror genre is rife with “uncanny”… Continue reading When the Horror Trope Backfires

Viral Video and the Cinema of Attraction

When I first saw this twisted comedic film, I laughed at its outrageousness. You might be horrified or you might guffaw. It speaks for itself in a mere five seconds. Here’s it is: 5SecondFilms’ “Magic Show Volunteer” (2009): After I recoiled from the unexpected in this “magic show,” I immediately wanted to share it with… Continue reading Viral Video and the Cinema of Attraction

The Transformative Power of Horror Film in Education

“The Transformative Power of Film” — online panel — 2pm est. TODAY — I’ll be discussing horror in the classroom:meridianuniversity.edu/index.php/comp… — Michael Arnzen, Ph.D (@arnzen) September 13, 2012 I’ll try to update this entry with the archives afterward, if you can’t attend. The panel, hosted by Christine Jarvis, and featuring Drs. Paul Armstrong, Michele Paule,… Continue reading The Transformative Power of Horror Film in Education

Celebrities in The Uncanny Valley

Wired magazine recently posted a clever infographic: “Where Celebrities Fall in the Uncanny Valley.” I don’t want to take this one too seriously, and really just wanted to share it. It’s pretty funny…and also accurate. I think it’s really just an inside-joke at the expense of the Wired editor who is included on the chart.… Continue reading Celebrities in The Uncanny Valley