Scary games are as diverse as they are fun. Before the invention of computers, phones and PlayStations, these types of games were embodied by board games, cards and taunting spirits. The most notorious of these practices is of course the Ouija Board. Advertised as a quick way to contact the spirits as early as the 1890’s, it’s a game that still causes great debates. It’s believed that the birth of the game came about during the hype of spiritualism in America during the mid-1800s, and apparently it was proved to work at the patent office all those years ago. Now there is an array of scary games available for just about everyone, although it’s the tech based ones that lead the market. Getting enthralled in the brilliant graphics of horror games can really put your heart through its paces, but it’s not the only way to get your “scare” on.
Blackburn Sets the Town Alight this Month on DVD
Blackburn is set to release on DVD this August. Tombstone Entertainment will handle the release. A 3Brane Entertainment production, Blackburn involves a group of friends, trapped in an old mining town. From a script by Nastasha Baron and directed by Lauro Chartrand, this title stars: Lochlyn Munro (Poker Night), Jen and Sylvia Soska (“Hellevator”). Emilie Ullerup (A Little Bit Zombie), Sarah Lind (Wolf Cop) and Calum Worthy also star. All of these filmmakers have developed this hard R (restricted) horror feature, which now invites you to take a look at the official DVD artwork.
In the story, a forest fire forces five friends to take a detour. Lost and afraid, they seek shelter in an old mining shaft. But, someone or something lives in these dark depths. Now, this fivesome will have to fight back, against mutated miners and demented psychopaths, if they hope to continue living.
The official DVD artwork reveals more of the film’s story. The Blackburn Asylum, long since closed, still haunts the local woods. Its residents, forced out by its closure, roam inside this broken down building. Promising to “take people” many of the deformed monsters can be seen, in this official artwork. And, more on Blackburn will be revealed this Summer as the film nears its August 2nd, 2016 release date.
The official Synopsis: A forest fire and rock-slide trap five bickering college friends in a small Alaskan ghost town with a horrifying history. When they seek refuge inside the torched ruins of Blackburn Asylum, they must fight to survive as the angry inhabitants slaughter the friends one-by-one.
Double Barrel (Book Review)
From six different writers come a collection of twelve horror stories, entitled “Double-Barrel”. Does it do justice to the rather picturesque name? It definitely does, and it’s good to know there are upcoming writers who can perfectly measure shock value. There’s just something brilliant about the indie writing scene regarding the horror genre, which is proven yet again through this collaboration.
Amanda Hard leads the onslaught with some good-old mutilation and cannibalism within the story called “The Chef and the Maiden”. It sees a professional chef entertaining his delight for human flesh, but gets a different taste for life when he picks up his latest Craig’s List victim. Her second story is called “These Things We Do For Our Children”, and as the title suggests, it shows exactly how far a loving mother will go. Personally, Amanda was my favorite because she didn’t mess around. She can say a lot with very little words but still maintain an eerie atmosphere. Her use of detail at just the right moments is second to none.
K. Trap Jones is the second author and delivers another double blow to your level of comfort. With two stories entitled “One Dirt Road” and “Last Clown Out”, the style is very different compared to the introduction. Instead of giving out small increments of shock, Jones chooses to really stretch the nerve of the reader. The former story deals with a man who returns to his childhood town, then decides to face his childhood fear. The latter story reveals a darker side of being a clown, especially when pushed too far. Great pacing was used for both stories and my compliments to the writer.
Vic Kerry contributes with two paternal related stories entitled, “Gilded Lily” and “The Little Girl”. If there ever was a different horrific approach to mother and fatherhood, then Kerry nails it. From carrying the child of a forest creature to the strange connection between a father and his unborn daughter, there’s no telling what’s going to happen. Even though all aspects were handled well in terms of style, timing and being descriptive, I appreciated the author’s originality the most.
J.C. Michael is the voice behind “Just One Pound” and “Meetings with the Devil”. In the first story, a desperate man makes a shady deal that turns into a nightmare, while the second story brings the devil into the life of a World War Two soldier. This author isn’t as gore-driven as his predecessors. Even though there are some chilling moments, his tales are more psychologically bound in a manner of speaking. He really delves into the mind of his protagonists, and dare I say provides a true sense of reality.
Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason (Sisters of Slaughter) are the authors of “Just a Few” and “Tenant’s Rights”. They pick up the pace where the first author left off and use the familiar plots associated with demons and haunted houses. These girls don’t mess around and they don’t want to give the reader a subtle entrance. With a touch of humor and very colorful characters they break down the front door and allow the demons to roam free. Their stories are straightforward and to the point, creating a sense of urgency from the start. Although the plotlines aren’t the most original, they are still very entertaining.
Matthew Weber ends off the collection with “Beware the Whammy” and “Swallowed”. The first story follows three guys who make the ultimate mistake of running over an old gypsy woman’s dog, while the second story revolves around a bullied kid trying to explain the death of a bully. As a fan of Weber’s work, I thought his contribution ended the collection off on a high note. He has a raw edge in his style and always produces some thoughtful endings.
Overall it’s a great collection of horror stories, and many gore addicts are going to love it. The focus points are very diverse, and yet they flow well as you go from one story to the next. I’m definitely giving “Double Barrel” two thumbs up.
Amanda Hard is a former journalist and magazine editor currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) at Murray State University in Kentucky. Her horror fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and print anthologies and her flash fiction has been featured in three graphic collections from The Daily Nightmare. She is a member of the Horror Writers Association and lives in the cornfields of southern Indiana with her husband, son, two dogs, and enough unattached dog hair to knit a third one.
K. Trap Jones is an author of 6 novels and 65+ short stories appearing in numerous anthologies and magazines. Specializing in narrative splatterpunk horror, he draws inspiration from Dante Alighieri and Edgar Allan Poe along with his appreciation towards narrative folklore, classic literary works and obscure segments within society. His novel, The Sinner won the 2010 Royal Palm Literary Award. As a product of the ’80s, he likes his movies bloody and his music heavy. He can be found lurking around Tampa, FL.
“Today, there’s a new generation of horror writers bursting onto the scene, and Jones is one of the leaders of the pack.” — EDWARD LEE, author of City Infernal, Header, and The Bighead
Vic Kerry is the author of THE CHILDREN OF LOT and REVELS ENDING. He also has short stories appearing in various anthologies and magazines. He lives in Alabama with his wife, five dogs, and cat, Daisy.
J. C. Michael is an English horror author.
His début novel, Discoredia, was published in September 2013, by Books of the Dead Press. Since then he has seen a number of his short stories published in various anthologies, including Reasons to Kill in the Amazon best-seller Suspended in Dusk, and has also had two stories featured in the single author Double Barrel Horror series from Pint Bottle Press.
Citing Stephen King, James Herbert, and Clive Barker, as his greatest influences, Micheal’s work sits firmly within the horror genre.
Matthew Weber writes horror stories, political novels and home-improvement books. He’s author of A DARK & WINDING ROAD (collected short horror fiction, 2014) and THE BULL (satirical political novel, 2012). His short stories have appeared in such anthologies as BEST OF DARK ECLIPSE, GHOSTS: REVENGE, CREATURE STEW and more. He is an affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association and makes his living as editor-in-chief (and principal writer) of EXTREME HOW-TO home improvement magazine. Weber lives in central Alabama with his wife, two sons and canine companion. Check out his website at www.pintbottlepress.com.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
Just a Little Fun
Clowns are a staple of birthday parties, the circus and children’s events. But what happens when they’re not who you thought they were?
He may have had a love for killing, but the hilarity just completed his act. He’d loved the circus for years and wanted to combine his passions.
The circus gave him access to all kinds of people. People he could then track. Killing them on-site would be too suspicious – he’d be caught!
But when he turned up at their door with murder on his mind, who would ever suspect the funny guy? Just remember – if you go to the circus, he’ll remember your face.
Death is what makes… (Dark Quote)
“Death is what makes life so precious.”
-Ivan Karhoff
Dark Quotes by HorrorPalace.com are the darkest, insightful, sometimes evil and often terrifying quotes you can find. Sure to take you into the darkness. More Dark Quotes.
