Cartoon Sunday: David Romero's Pine Devil

How's it going lurkers? Do you remember last year, when I shared David Romero's "Other Lily"? 

"Other Lily" was another Animated Horror Short by Romero that I shared last summer for Cartoon Sunday. 

As long as NOTHING terrible happens next weekend, you should expect another Animated Horror Short by him for Cartoon Sunday.

Today I am sharing David Romero's Animated Horror Short, "Pine Devil." There is very little description about this animated short. However, if viewers watch "Pine Devil," they should be able to comprehend this silent animation.

According to a brief summary I read, a man kills what seems to be the so-called "Jersey Devil." All the while, the man attracts REAL trouble and becomes prey. Basically, the hunter becomes the hunted. 

Anyway, here is David Romero's "Pine Devil" for today's Cartoon Sunday.

David Romero "Pine Devil" (2016)

Song Saturday: Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds [Featuring Kylie Minogue] Where The Wild Roses Grow

How's it going lurkers? Are you ready to be creeped out and disturbed? While working on this weekend's blogs, I managed to stumble upon a rare song and music video, which happens to be creepy.

If you have been frequently reading my blogs throughout these last 4 years or so, you already know that I regularly watched music videos during my youth. Never in all my years have I EVER heard or watched Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds' "Where The Wild Roses Grow."

Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds are considered to be Experimental, Alternative, Post-Punk, Art, and Gothic Blues Rock.

In case you did not already know, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds are best known for their song, "Red Right Hand." "Red Right Hand" was featured on the soundtrack for Wes Craven's SCREAM, in 1996.

Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds "Red Right Hand" SCREAM Soundtrack (1996)

Spooky-sounding. Don't you think? In 1996, "Red Right Hand" was used as SCREAM's theme song (and has been for over 2 decades in the sequels).

That same year, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds released their album, Murder Ballads. On that same album, they collaborated with Australian Dance-Pop singer, Kylie Minogue on their song, "Where The Wild Roses Grow."

If you are at least in your mid-30's or older, you may be familiar with Kylie Minogue's cover of Gerald Goffin and Carole King's "The Loco-Motion."

Kylie Minogue "The Loco-Motion" [Gerald Goffin & Carole King Cover] Kylie (1987)

 

Bring back any memories? 

 

If not Kylie Minogue's 1987 cover of "The Loco-Motion," you may be familiar with her 2002 hit single, "Can't Get You Out Of My Head."

Kylie Minogue "Cant Get You Out Of My Head" Aphrodite (2002)

Are you still with me lurkers? Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue's music collaboration is something I would've never imagined. Talk about a HUGE contrast regarding music genres.

"Where The Wild Roses Grow" reached number 3 in Norway, the top 5 in Australia, and the top 20 in Ireland, New Zealand, Germany, and the U.K. In 1996, there was ONLY a limited promotional release in America.

This would explain why I never heard of "Where The Wild Roses Grow" until now. MTV surely would've played the music video years ago had it been promoted enough.

After listening to the traditional, Appalachian murder ballad "Down In The Willow Garden," Nick Cave was inspired to write "Where The Wild Roses Grow."

"Down In The Willow Garden" was a murder ballad written from the point of view of the murderer.

The song is a tale about a man meeting his lover in the willow garden. While in the willow garden, he gives his lover poisoned wine, stabs her, and throws her into the river. 

Wow! Talk about dark and misogynistic. The murderer in the song sounds as misogynistic as the protagonist, Dr. Wiener in my Short Horror Story, "The Horrors Of Womanhood."

No one can say that "Where Wild Roses Grow" and "Down In The Willow Garden" lack storytelling.

Now that you know more about these murder ballads, here is Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds featuring Kylie Minogue in "Where The Wild Roses Grow."

Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds [Featuring Kylie Minogue] "Where The Wild Roses Grow" Murder Ballads (1996)

NOOO! There Are Too Many Horror Authors! Should I Switch Genres?

How's it going my lurkers? Happy Belated New Year! Before I became preoccupied offline, I originally planned to publish a blog wishing everyone a happy new year.

In case you missed my posts around social media and the e-mail notifications I sent to subscribers, I was sick during Christmas. 

To make matters worse, my mother had a medical emergency literally 1 day AFTER Christmas. We had to call the ambulance.

While battling a cold, winter allergies, sinuses, etc. ~2 weeks ago, I hope you enjoyed those creepy yet festive blogs regarding Yule and Christmas as throwbacks. Honestly, I did not have a chance to enjoy Christmas, in case you are wondering.

Aside from those issues, I cannot help noticing how extremely saturated the Horror Industry has become over the last 10-15 years. It is amazing how an entertainment genre such as Horror has surged in popularity over this last decade.

Within my immediate family, my mother and I are the only Horror fans. Being born and raised during the early 1980's and '90s, when Slasher Horror was at its pinnacle yet constantly being condemned and demonized by media watchdog groups, critics, and Christian zealots, I grew up watching Horror.

As much as I enjoy watching TV shows and movies about the paranormal, vampires, witches, etc. the Slasher Horror sub-genre has always been my favorite.

The villains are more realistic and believable. Most people will tell you that vampires, zombies, ghouls, werewolves, and other types of monsters are not real. There are even those skeptics, who refuse to believe in the paranormal. 

Serial killers, sociopaths, stalkers, psychopaths, and those with other mental/behavioral disorders on the other hand, DO exist in everyday life. I am not saying, that I don't believe in ghosts because I do.

However, there are still those skeptics regardless if they believe in a higher power or not, who deny that ghosts exist. This especially applies to certain skeptics, who need to prove everything based on SCIENCE.

Out of all the Horror sub-genres, the Slasher sub-genre is the most believable and realistic. I believe the Slasher sub-genre is hands down the most frightening because serial killers ARE real.

When it comes to Slashers, the serial killer is labeled as "The Moral Villain." If you have ever watched Wes Craven's Slasher Horror film, SCREAM within these last 22 years, you should remember Jamie Kennedy's character, Randy Meeks.

In SCREAM, Randy explained what people should NOT  do, in order to survive a Slasher Horror Movie.

SCREAM: Randy’s Rules For Successfully Surviving A Horror Movie (1996)

The Moral Villain will typically serial kill obnoxious teenagers, who are abusing drugs, having pre-marital sex, and saying "I'll be right back." Slashers can also segue into the Thriller genre.

Characters with killer instincts and life-threatening mental disorders can be important traits in Thrillers. Some of these traits in villains help assemble Horror/Thrillers.

As an author, my stories would fall into both the Horror and Thriller genres. 

On Thursday, I spoke with someone on the phone, who helps writers find publishers and literary agents. I informed her, that I built my own website, blog, and share blogs regularly.

In addition, I explained about the type of short stories I write. Even though NONE of my stories are about the stereotypical vampires, zombies, werewolves, etc. I mostly consider myself to be a Horror writer.

Stories about stalkers, misogynists, the abused, scorned women seeking revenge, etc. can be disturbing as well as frightening. 

I would love to see my work published in a Horror anthology and under the category, Horror. At the same time, there will be those closed-minded critics saying, "You're not a Horror author. Horror has vampires, zombies, creatures, etc."

I would LOVE to have my work branded as Horror because there is a lot more to the genre than only monsters. Stories and films about vampires and zombies over this last decade have become so cliche.

Anything can be horrifying WITHOUT vampires, zombies, werewolves, monsters, etc. being involved.

Over these last few years, I was very surprised to learn, that more women are Horror authors. Much like music, the overall Horror genre was always male-dominated. The times really have changed.

I was always that "weird girl" growing up in school, who wrote Horror Stories dating back to 3rd grade. As I became a young woman, I wrote more of them.

Seeing how saturated and cliche the Horror genre has become today, I have contemplated whether or not to target the Thriller genre.

While speaking to that lady, who helps writers on Thursday, she suggested that I try submitting my stories to literary journals for the Thriller genre.

Both of us believe my short stories would be better suited for the Thriller genre than Horror. In some ways, the Thriller genre seems more versatile than Horror. Also, my work could appeal to other types of readers.

So, this is where YOU, my subscribers come in:

Those of you, who have read some of my short stories and excerpts, what are your thoughts? Do you think my stories belong in the Thriller genre or can they be categorized as Horror/Thriller?