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5 Writers Inspired by Lovecraft’s Influence Over Horror – iHorror

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Lovecraft’s creativity stretches well beyond his humble grave and permeates our culture. Regardless of any individual’s specific taste in the genre – and whether they like or dislike his ingenious tales of cosmic despair – none can deny Lovecraft’s predominant influence over horror as we know it today.

Lovecraft, like Poe before him, paved a road of terror for other writers to soon follow thereafter.

The Road of Dark Delights

That path is a dangerous one, make no mistake about it. It’s an unbeaten lane that leads writers straight into the dark of the woods where men distort their natural shapes into grotesque abominations. It is a gloom where fathers abandon their own children to the mercy of cannibal hags, and where the shadows themselves walk in the malice of Satan’s own will. Every house we encounter along this path is haunted – or worse – possessed by hideous strengths.

image courtesy of artist Michael Whelan

Be wary who you encounter along this road. The gaunt widow who passes you by on her bike will later be heard cackling from the sky aloft her broom. The trees creak and moan with ghostly woe, and once Night falls, if you see a light glowing from the grove, beware! The goat-headed beast will surely be there dancing among a naked orgy of his accursed children.

The Path of Horror is a wicked (and incredible) one! It draws in writers, then locks in readers. This road is littered with howling skulls beneath a chill fog, but fret not – you will not be alone for long.

A Man in Black who walks between the stalks may be your guide into a waking plague. Perhaps a horseman in search for his head will be seen in the gossamer distance. Or maybe a carriage will carry you as close to Castle Dracula as it dares to go.

Yes, the nightmare visions of those who forged a way through the realm of fear are numerous, and we connect with them so well. Uncertainty, anxiety, and dread are all part of our lives, unfortunately, and none are exempt from turmoil.

Writers are simply able to take our uncertainties and give them a voice. One that allows the reader to vent their own anxieties through the safety of the written word, and to a minor degree, experience the haunted world of doom, death, and despair around them.

Once finished, the reader can close the book and get on with living life on this beautiful planet. It does no one any good dwelling on the “what ifs” in life, and the horror writer simply gives a much-needed voice to the unknown fears that are out there – sealing them away cover to cover.

It’s a voice that we all can face and overcome.

Continue to the next page for more of Lovecraft’s influence on horror.

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

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lizzie borden house

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

Inside the Lizzie Borden House

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

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’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

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28 years later

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.

28 Days Later

The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.

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