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Author Spotlight: Interview with Nick Cutter, Author of The Troop
Nick Cutter is a hot name in the horror literature world right now (rumor has it…that might not even be his real name.Shhh…). Why you may ask? Becasue of this freaking freaky novel called, The Troop.
Glenn Rolfe: One of my #1 fears growing up was the idea of having a tapeworm. Was this a paranoia of yours?
Nick Cutter: Hmmm, not really. Not precisely anyway. I was more afraid of external threats. Sharks, cockroaches. But the idea of having an enemy inside you, under your skin, seemed pretty icky so I decided to run with it.
GR: How much research did you have to do into this nasty parasite and did that research give you nightmares?
NC: A fair bit. The standard amount so that I felt good about moving forward with the story with a sense I probably knew a little bit more than my readers would, which is often how far ahead you NEED to be: just a few steps, so that what you write seems like it could happen even if, in fact, it’s pretty much an implausibility.
GR: I read somewhere that you were in fact a Scout leader…Were you also a Scout yourself growing up? And what was the most horrific or interesting thing you ever witnessed as a scout or scout leader?
NC: I was only a Scout, actually. I didn’t have an acoustic guitar or the habit of carrying a pocketknife on my belt or a desire to stay in the woods with boys for weekends, so I decided that just being a Scout was good enough. My life as a Scout was pretty easygoing, really. We met in a gymnasium most nights, so maybe the worst I ever saw was the janitor drunkenly cleaning the floor with his doodlebug or something. I got off easy I guess.
GR: The story has that “The Body” feel in regards to the group of kids. Were any of these guys people you grew up with?
NC: All those characters are, like the characters in all my books, a synthesis of me—myself, my own memories—and people I know. Of course for the really off-the-beaten-track elements of some of those characters, the psychoses and cruelties—those are just elements I made up entirely. But yeah, at this point in my career I rarely write fiction, in that I’m rarely cobbling together a narrative that doesn’t draw on my own life and the people in it in some way . . . as absurd as the concept may be, there are nuggets of real-life experience studded throughout.
GR: Have you been approached about doing The Troop as a film?
NC: It’s been optioned. For quite awhile actually. I can’t mention the studio or producers because they’re a little picky about that kind of thing. But most people would know the names involved, especially if they are horror buffs.
GR: Awesome! Congrats. You also have a brand new horror book out– The Deep. What can we expect in this one? Any cool things you want to mention or promote about it?
NC: Well, it takes place at the deepest point of the ocean. The title kinda implies that, I guess. I’ve always found that part of our world deeply terrifying, what with the darkness and pressure and whatever might be sweeping the bottom of the sea.
GR: The King influence is obvious in The Troop. Was Horror your first love?
NC: Yeah, for sure. I grew up reading King, Koontz, Barker, McCammon, Lansdale, you name it.
GR: Can you give me three of your favorite King pieces…any of his short stories/novels/movies…not necessarily your top three, but three that made an impact on you as a writer.
1. The Body
2. It
3. The Boogeyman
GR: Nice! Outside of King, who are some of your other Horror go-to’s?
NC: Clive Barker’s always a solid bet. Really stoked to read his new one this year. Josh Malerman is great. Joe Hill. Benjamin Percy’s doing great work. There are tons of really solid horror writers out there right now.
GR: Are you planning on attending any Cons down here in the States in 2015?
NC: It’s unlikely, I’d say. I’ve got a full slate of writing obligations, a degree to finish, and a young tot at home. Tough to get out much. But if so you can check out my website www.craigdavidson.net and see if I’m going to be touring anywhere in the States coming up.
GR: What can we expect next from the screwy mind of Nick Cutter?
NC: After The Deep is The Acolyte, from Chizine Press. That’s only a couple of months off. Then, around this time next year if all things go according to plan it’ll be Little Heaven, from Gallery/S&S. After that I take a nap for five years, maybe.
GR: Last question: What would Nick Cutter do if he were trapped on an island and infected with the Troop tapeworm?
NC: Jeez, who knows? He would probably make his last few hours count. Throw a party for the seagulls and tortoises and try not to eat them (he’d probably eat them).
MORE NICK CUTTER:
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News
Watch ‘The Burning’ At The Location Where It Was Filmed
Fangoria is reporting that fans of the 1981 slasher The Burning will be able to have a screening of the film at the location where it was filmed. The movie is set at Camp Blackfoot which is actually the Stonehaven Nature Preserve in Ransomville, New York.
This ticketed event will take place on August 3. Guests will be able to take a tour of the grounds as well as enjoy some campfire snacks along with the screening of The Burning.
The film came out in the early ’80s when teen slashers were being churned out in magnum force. Thanks to Sean S. Cunningham’s Friday the 13th, filmmakers wanted to get in on the low-budget, high-profit movie market and a casket load of these types of films were produced, some better than others.
The Burning is one of the good ones, mostly because of the special effects from Tom Savini who had just come off of his groundbreaking work on Dawn of the Dead and Friday the 13th. He declined to do the sequel because of its illogical premise and instead signed on to do this movie. Also, a young Jason Alexander who would later go on to play George in Seinfeld is a featured player.
Because of its practical gore, The Burning had to be heavily edited before it received an R-rating. The MPAA was under the thumb of protest groups and political bigwigs to censor violent films at the time because slashers were just so graphic and detailed in their gore.
Tickets are $50, and if you want a special t-shirt, that will cost you another $25, You can get all the information by visiting the On Set Cinema webpage.
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Movies
‘Longlegs’ Creepy “Part 2” Teaser Appears on Instagram
Neon Films released an Insta-teaser for their horror film Longlegs today. Titled Dirty: Part 2, the clip only furthers the mystery of what we are in for when this movie is finally released on July 12.
The official logline is: FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes unexpected turns, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.
Directed by former actor Oz Perkins who also gave us The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Gretel & Hansel, Longlegs is already creating buzz with its moody images and cryptic hints. The film is rated R for bloody violence, and disturbing images.
Longlegs stars Nicolas Cage, Maika Monroe, and Alicia Witt.
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Exclusive Sneak Peek: Eli Roth and Crypt TV’s VR Series ‘The Faceless Lady’ Episode Five
Eli Roth (Cabin Fever) and Crypt TV are knocking it out of the park with their new VR show, The Faceless Lady. For those unaware, this is the first fully scripted VR horror show on the market.
Even for masters of horror like Eli Roth and Crypt TV, this is a monumental undertaking. However, if I trust anyone to change the way that we experience horror, it would be these two legends.
Ripped from the pages of Irish folklore, The Faceless Lady tells the story of a tragic spirit cursed to wander the halls of her castle for all of eternity. However, when three young couples are invited to the castle for a series of games, their fates may soon change.
So far, the story has provided horror fans with a gripping game of life or death that doesn’t look as if it will slow down in episode five. Luckily, we have an exclusive clip that may be able to satiate your appetites until the new premiere.
Airing on 4/25 at 5pmPT/8pmET, episode five follows our final three contestants in this wicked game. As the stakes are raised ever higher, will Ella be able to fully awaken her connection with Lady Margaret?
The newest episode can be found on Meta Quest TV. If you haven’t already, follow this link to subscribe to the series. Make sure to check out the new clip below.
Eli Roth Present’s THE FACELESS LADY S1E5 Clip: THE DUEL – YouTube
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