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Fran Krause Gives Us a Book of Fears in “The Creeps”

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Fear.  If there’s one thing that unifies us as human beings, it is that we fear.  Those fears come in a multitude of guises but they possess us all and our reactions to them stem from the most primal and basic parts of our psyches.  In his new book, The Creeps, animator and cartoonist Fran Krause brings those fears to startling life.

Oddly enough, it all began on Tumblr when Krause posted a few comic strips he’d created.  It was the perfect way to share them with the world at large.  The strips were brief, only a few panels long, and each represented a specific fear.  Before long, he began to receive messages.  People were sharing their fears with him and the comics took on a life of their own.

Krause has been struck by many things over the course of this creative path, and he believes the anonymity of the internet has actually allowed people to speak so freely about something so private.

“I think it’s one of the main reasons people do this.  It gets things off their chest,” Krause says.  “I also find that when I post a comic I’ll get several more submitted that are similar.  I don’t think they want me to do another comic about it.  I think it’s more that they are surprised to have found someone who shares their fear.”

It wasn’t long before Krause decided to compile some of the comic strips into a print collection, and thus The Creeps was born.

Reprinted from THE CREEPS: A DEEP DARK FEARS COLLECTION Copyright © 2017 by Fran Krause. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

The Creeps is a deceptive book.

On the surface, I found a series of comic strips, each illuminating a separate fear.  They were entertaining, and some of them were definitely creepy, but it wasn’t until a second read that the book really began to make my skin crawl.

Each page of this book is full of questions.

What brought on each of these fears?  What is the depth of each?  Did they develop from past trauma or was it something that just occurred to them one day that grew in their minds over time?

It’s in those questions that the book earns its title.  It’s in those questions that it becomes slightly uncomfortable to read.

Reprinted from THE CREEPS: A DEEP DARK FEARS COLLECTION Copyright © 2017 by Fran Krause. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

The Creeps releases September 26, 2017, and it’s a book through which you owe yourself a trip.  You can pre-order the book via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online sellers, and right now Krause is ready to sweeten the deal.

After pre-ordering the book, head over to Krause’s website and fill out the form you find there.  Once the book releases, Krause will be sending out a packet of one of a kind stickers and patches to everyone who’s filled out the form!

in the meantime, you can continue to follow the artist’s Tumblr to keep up with his latest comic strip fears.

And who knows?  You might even find yourself compelled to share your own…

Reprinted from THE CREEPS: A DEEP DARK FEARS COLLECTION Copyright © 2017 by Fran Krause. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

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“Mickey Vs. Winnie”: A Horrific Clash of Icons from Director Glenn Douglas Packard and iHorror

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Mickey VS Winnie

iHorror is diving deep into film production with a chilling new project that’s sure to redefine your childhood memories. We’re thrilled to introduce ‘Mickey vs. Winnie,’ a groundbreaking horror slasher directed by Glenn Douglas Packard. This isn’t just any horror slasher; it’s a visceral showdown between twisted versions of childhood favorites Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh. ‘Mickey vs. Winnie’ brings together the now-public-domain characters from A. A. Milne’s ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ books and Mickey Mouse from the 1920s ‘Steamboat Willie’ cartoon in a VS battle like never before seen.

Mickey VS Winnie
Mickey VS Winnie Poster

Set in the 1920s, the plot kicks off with a disturbing narrative about two convicts who escape into a cursed forest, only to be swallowed by its dark essence. Fast forward a hundred years, and the story picks up with a group of thrill-seeking friends whose nature getaway goes horribly wrong. They accidentally venture into the same cursed woods, finding themselves face-to-face with the now monstrous versions of Mickey and Winnie. What follows is a night filled with terror, as these beloved characters mutate into horrifying adversaries, unleashing a frenzy of violence and bloodshed.

Glenn Douglas Packard, an Emmy-nominated choreographer turned filmmaker known for his work on “Pitchfork,” brings a unique creative vision to this film. Packard describes “Mickey vs. Winnie” as a tribute to horror fans’ love for iconic crossovers, which often remain just a fantasy due to licensing restrictions. “Our film celebrates the thrill of combining legendary characters in unexpected ways, serving up a nightmarish yet exhilarating cinematic experience,” says Packard.

Produced by Packard and his creative partner Rachel Carter under the Untouchables Entertainment banner, and our very own Anthony Pernicka, founder of iHorror, “Mickey vs. Winnie” promises to deliver an entirely new take on these iconic figures. “Forget what you know about Mickey and Winnie,” Pernicka enthuses. “Our film portrays these characters not as mere masked figures but as transformed, live-action horrors that merge innocence with malevolence. The intense scenes crafted for this movie will change how you see these characters forever.”

Currently underway in Michigan, the production of “Mickey vs. Winnie” is a testament to pushing the boundaries of the horror genre. As iHorror ventures into producing our own films, we’re excited to share this thrilling, terrifying journey with you, our loyal audience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to transform the familiar into the frightful in ways you’ve never imagined.

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Mike Flanagan Comes Aboard To Assist in Completion of ‘Shelby Oaks’

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shelby oaks

If you have been following Chris Stuckmann on YouTube you are aware of the struggles he has had getting his horror movie Shelby Oaks finished. But there’s good news about the project today. Director Mike Flanagan (Ouija: Origin Of Evil, Doctor Sleep and The Haunting) is backing the film as a co-executive producer which might bring it much closer to being released. Flanagan is a part of the collective Intrepid Pictures which also includes Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka.

Shelby Oaks
Shelby Oaks

Stuckmann is a YouTube movie critic who’s been on the platform for over a decade. He came under some scrutiny for announcing on his channel two years ago that he would no longer be reviewing films negatively. However contrary to that statement, he did a non-review essay of the panned Madame Web recently saying, that studios strong-arm directors to make films just for the sake of keeping failing franchises alive. It seemed like a critique disguised as a discussion video.

But Stuckmann has his own movie to worry about. In one of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns, he managed to raise over $1 million for his debut feature film Shelby Oaks which now sits in post-production. 

Hopefully, with Flanagan and Intrepid’s help, the road to Shelby Oak’s completion is reaching its end. 

“It’s been inspiring to watch Chris working toward his dreams over the past few years, and the tenacity and DIY spirit he displayed while bringing Shelby Oaks to life reminded me so much of my own journey over a decade ago,” Flanagan told Deadline. “It’s been an honor to walk a few steps with him on his path, and to offer support for Chris’ vision for his ambitious, unique movie. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.”

Stuckmann says Intrepid Pictures has inspired him for years and, “it’s a dream come true to work with Mike and Trevor on my first feature.”

Producer Aaron B. Koontz of Paper Street Pictures has been working with Stuckmann since the beginning is also excited about the collaboration.

“For a film that had such a hard time getting going, it’s remarkable the doors that then opened to us,” said Koontz. “The success of our Kickstarter followed by the on-going leadership and guidance from Mike, Trevor, and Melinda is beyond anything I could have hoped for.”

Deadline describes the plot of Shelby Oaks as follows:

“A combination of documentary, found footage, and traditional film footage styles, Shelby Oaks centers on Mia’s (Camille Sullivan) frantic search for her sister, Riley, (Sarah Durn) who ominously disappeared in the last tape of her “Paranormal Paranoids” investigative series. As Mia’s obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Riley’s childhood may have been real.”

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New ‘MaXXXine’ Image is Pure 80s Costume Core

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A24 has unveiled a captivating new image of Mia Goth in her role as the titular character in “MaXXXine”. This release comes approximately a year and a half after the previous installment in Ti West’s expansive horror saga, which covers more than seven decades.

MaXXXine Official Trailer

His latest continues the story arc of freckle-faced aspiring starlet Maxine Minx from the first film X which took place in Texas in 1979. With stars in her eyes and blood on her hands, Maxine moves into a new decade and a new city, Hollywood, in pursuit of an acting career, “But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.”

The photo below is the latest snapshot released from the film and shows Maxine in full Thunderdome drag amid a crowd of teased hair and rebellious 80s fashion.

MaXXXine is set to open in theaters on July 5.

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