The Bite #66

DEAN KOONTZ’S Birthday, GREMLINS Cartoon Prequel, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS Vinyl, and More!

July 09, 2019

In this Issue:

Horror History: Happy Birthday, Dean Koontz
Image of the Week: Beware the EsKILLator
Tiny Bites – This Week’s Best Horror Headlines
Things We Love: Meet Mr. Acherontia Styx
Hey, That’s Us! – Shudder in the News

HORROR HISTORY: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAN KOONTZ

As a Southern California native, I’ve always been a fan of Dean Koontz’s work, especially since he is to SoCal what Stephen King is to Maine. He frequently uses real-life Southern California locations (including a McDonalds that still has a framed page fromWatchers hung on the wall), and harnesses the spirit of each one in order to elevate his stories.

The scrubby desert outside of town where the climax of Lightning takes place highlights the spiritual emptiness of its lead character until she finds a life worth fighting for. The tranquil beach in False Memoryis but a serene distraction from the churning ocean, a powerful juxtaposition with the psychological turmoil of a happy couple at the hands of a wicked doctor. And the loneliness of small-town California turns wicked in Phantoms when two sisters return to a mountain hamlet to find it completely deserted.

Koontz loves California, and he sees its massive narrative potential beyond the stereotypes of surfers, Hollywood starlets, and fitness freaks. In fact, Koontz does this with every aspect of his life. He lets you know who he is with every keystroke, imbuing his work with the very essence of his personality and passions. For instance, his love of golden retrievers lead to his frequent use of them in his novels, and even as one of the leads, Einstein, in the aforementioned Watchers. The hyperintelligent pup is a dog lover’s fantasy, and his ability to turn that into a compelling character with an emotional journey is a testament to his skill.

There’s an authenticity to how Koontz shares what he loves and a commitment to grounding those passions in narrative truth. All of this lends his novels a unique vitality and zest for life, which contrasts terrifically with how horrific and gruesome his storylines can be.

If I could I would list all of my favorite Koontz works here, but the man is too prolific. So instead, for his 73rd birthday, do yourself a favor and look at a list of his works you haven’t read. Point a finger at a random title and take a chance on an unfamiliar book. I guarantee you’ll have a great read.

IMAGE OF THE WEEK

Beware of the EsKILLator

Emmy-nominated filmmaker Ben Pluimer had an idea for a ridiculous horror movie called EsKILLator. He turned that idea into a wicked poster, and even went so far as to make a feature-length script and teaser trailer. The end result is a special kind of beautiful. Bask in the glory of the EsKILLator, and make sure you take the stairs.

TINY BITES

SANDMAN, GREMLINS AND MORE

The Gremlins films are getting the prequel treatment in cartoon form. Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai will go back to 1920’s Shanghai to see how future shop owner Sam Wing first met little Gizmo.

David M. Rosenthal’s Jacob’s Ladder remake has a new trailer, and it looks like it’s diverting a fair bit from the Adrian Lyne original.

Following her outstanding performance in The Haunting of Hill House, Victoria Pedretti is on board to headline Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Bly Manor.

After languishing in pre-production hell, Neil Gaiman’sSandman is finally being adapted for the screen, and Netflix will be its home. Gaiman’s on board as writer and executive producer, so Morpheus and the other Endless are in good hands.

Horror cinema may be starting to diversify, but horror lit is lagging behind. The genre makes up a mere 2% of the book market, so it’s already hard to break into. But for women and people of color, it’s damn near impossible.

In anticipation of It: Chapter 2, Alamo Drafthouse will screen the very best and worst Stephen King adaptations for their Terror Tuesdays series. This includes everything from Stand By Me to Maximum Overdrive and a wide range of stuff in between.

William Jackson Harper is best known as Chidi from The Good Place, but his role in Midsommar may put him on the map as a new horror regular. In thisinterview with A.V. Club, he answers the tough questions including what he would do during The Purge and what skill he’d bring to a post-apocalyptic society.

Fellow Midsommar cast-member Will Poulter was so shaken by seeing himself in the film that he couldn’t sleep, saying “it’s maybe the most aggressive reaction I’ve ever had to a film.“

Stranger Things season 3 seems to correct some of its season 2 flubs, touting nostalgic The Thing andInvasion of the Body Snatchers homages along with lots and lots of Coke, because of course. Check out this spoiler-free review on what works, what doesn’t, and why you’ll love 1985 Hawkins.

So far, Annabelle Comes Home is getting plenty of love, which bodes well for director Gary Dauberman since he’s taking on the North American remake of the beloved Train to Busan. Needless to say, he’s a little anxious about the responsibility.

THINGS WE LOVE: MEET MR. ACHERONTIA STYX

Mondo has re-released the Silence of the Lambsscore on vinyl in a special, expanded edition supervised by Howard Shore himself. It’s available in a simple yet elegant black, but get a load of this stunning moth-themed variant with white splatter on black and yellow swirls. It should go well with some fava beans and a nice chianti.