Tag: Supernatural

Despite How Clichéd A Haunting in Venice is, A Horrifying Time in Isolation is Guaranteed!

Although not every aspect of the Spiritualism movement and its philosophy is explored in Kenneth Branagh’s film, A Haunting in Venice, there’s a few jolly moments to get your spook on (even though none of it was real according to the merry detective).

A Haunting in Venice Movie PosterIt’s easy to jump right into the world of Agatha Christie with the release of A Haunting in Venice last weekend. It’s based on her novel Hallowe’en Party and has the right amount of spooky ridden moments to sate fans of the paranormal. That’s because of where the story takes place, and I wanted to see what Director Kenneth Branagh and writer Michael Green‘s take on it would be like, since it’s all about rationalising what’s going on and saying whether life after death is indeed real.

This author does have an interest in it, but it’s nowhere like how other detective agencies approach the subject. I did not see this movie because it continues Hercule Poirot’s life as a detective on the silver screen. As much as I respect Branagh for remaking and delivering a modern polish to Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, just how he delivers that product when I have a fondness for the originals is not my cup of tea. Thankfully this one hasn’t been adapted before, and that’s enough reason for me to go see how spooky this filmmaker can deliver the goods.

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When Ghost Month is in Full Swing in 2023, How Can We Identify the Types of Spirits Said to be Visiting?

Sometimes, the best known spirits that linger around during Ghost Month are those from folklore and time honoured tradtions! Are you ready to face them?

Singapore Orchard Grave Veneration during Ghost MonthGhosts from South Asia come in different shapes and forms, and some are feared whereas others are revered. And it’s terrific they get loved in entertainment. In the past, I’ve explored the best of what cinema and literature have offered. However, when new releases are few and far between every year to recognise Ghost Month, I’ll have to look elsewhere to get my scares in.

As a result, the only book I’ve come across to bring various tales together, ranging from folklore to original works, is Asian Ghost Short Stories! This covers areas east of India. Although it’s not the perfect collection due to glaring errors with the folklore, and being mostly stories rather than recounting alleged encounters, it’s still a good primer to introduce paranormal enthusiasts to the lore from this region.

To honour this occasion, which started two days ago (Aug 16 to Sept 14), I’m going in a different direction this time. Through my research, I’ve learned nine types of spirits can roam the land! The book, Śūraṅgama Sūtra (PDF link) gives a great outline, and furthermore, the Hungry Ghost type (which gets its own festival Aug 30th) are sub-categorized! On the list are:

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The Deets on Are You Afraid of the Dark? Ghost Island Summer Vacation

What’s more scarier than vacationing with Are You Afraid of the Dark? Ghost Island?

Are You Afraid of the Dark? Ghost Island DVDAvailable to preorder on Amazon USA

The ’90s classic Are You Afraid of the Dark? series has an all-new direct to video release! In Are You Afraid of the Dark? Ghost Island, fans can join Midnight Society members Kayla, Leo, Summer, and Ferris as they go on a summer getaway to a tropical island resort with some terrifying secrets. They will have to band together on this mysterious island to find the truth behind the disappearances taking place in the resort all while trying to enjoy their summer vacation!

Are You Afraid of the Dark? Ghost Island will be available on DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment on August 1, 2023, for the suggested retail price of $10.99.

On this disc inlcudes the episodes:

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When Texas is Home to the Dogman Triangle, Should Ranchers be Afraid?

Some Small Town Monsters are scary big, and as for what lurks in Texas, The Dogman Triangle offers up plenty of stories to ponder at.

The Dogman Triangle Werewolves in the Lone Star State Poster1091 Pictures
Available to stream on iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, and FandangoNOW.

Like many other cryptozoology documentaries, Small Town Monsters can only offer so much about these creatures said to be roaming the fringes of civilization. The latest, The Dogman Triangle, considers the history of reported werewolf (wild canines in this case) sightings in Texas. Like other known areas of mystery, whether their reach extends beyond a certain geographical region needs to be explored.

The background music helps shape the narrative and as a fan of the Weird West, I had to check this latest by Seth Breedlove out. The sound design helped to get me inspired, and as for whether the stories are true or not, it doesn’t really matter. After watching this work, I had to investigate other series about the oddities from other locations, often identified with that geometric shape too.

Although Alaska is many geographic states and a province away, it has a lot more mysterious cryptids roaming about. The series The Alaskan Triangle (available on Discovery+) is comfort food for my imagination as it delves into more, like the attempts to find The Black Pyramid and reveals how this area is home to lots of UAPs and Bigfoot! The fact this filmmaker spent time there to make his duology, Alaskan Coastal Sasquatch, shows just how deeply invested he is in the topic! Continue reading “When Texas is Home to the Dogman Triangle, Should Ranchers be Afraid?”

Stone Cold or “Bone Cold,” Supressing Your Feelings Leads to Unknown Dangers!

In this supernatural thriller, we don’t know what’s real or imagined. And these soldiers aren’t as bone cold as some may think.

Bone Cold Blu-Ray SlipcaseWell GO USA

One part thriller and two-thirds a military-style action, Billy Hanson‘s debut creature feature film, Bone Cold, is a deep look at what PTSD is like from the perspective of those serving in special ops. Usually these type of folks are conditioned to weather a lot of extremes, but for Jon Bryant (Jonathan Stoddard) and Marco Miller (Matt Munroe), just how they are feeling after returning  home from Afghanistan is very different.

Before they can resume their normal lives, these two officers are called back to service. In this new mission, who they take out goes awry. Pretty soon, the mystery of what haunts them becomes very real. If that isn’t enough, there’s another assassin sent out to deal with not only this duo but also perhaps the supernatural threat too!

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