News
Is Twitter the New Haven for Horror Storytelling?
The internet has been a viral tool in infecting the masses with information, stories, and fear since the dawn of the World Wide Web. Forums and chat rooms gave us the tools to meet new people from around the world without having to leave the comfort of our homes.
Slenderman might be one of the most notorious ghouls who got his start in 2009 in a challenge on the comedy site Something Awful. From there, images and tales of the tall man circulated and thus the legend was born.
Slenderman also brought the around the creepy Reddit threads NoSleep and CreepyPasta. There, original horror shorts – guaranteed to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand – are shared in one collective place. The successes of these threads have made Reddit a go-to for horror fan-fiction and unique works of literature. Some of these works have even spawned book deals, like The Trees Have Eyes.
More recently, Twitter has seemed to be the new place to find tales of horror. For example, Dear David spooked twitter users for years, keeping readers on edge with the accounts of the boy with the indented head. The popularity of the story recently landed a movie deal for Dear David’s creator.
With that being said, Horror Freak News raised the question: ‘Is Twitter the latest frontier for bleeding-edge horror storytelling?’
The quick, easy, format of writing on Twitter makes it ideal for a continuous storyline. The connectivity places readers (users) smack dab in the middle of the action, with them being able to weigh in on what they are reading in real-time. Writers are able to skew the storyline according to the responses they might receive. This interaction draws in attention, like the case of Dear David, and creates a friendly bond between the two parties.
Adam Ellis, who lived with the ghostly boy, David, began documenting his cases via Twitter. As his base grew, so did his interactions with the followers. Fans analyzed, theorized, and checked-in daily, which landed him the movie deal he has today.
The Sun Vanished has followers perplexed and confused on what they are seeing unfold before their eyes. The story began with one simple tweet on April 30: ‘Help.’
Help.
— TheSunVanished (@TheSunVanished) April 30, 2018
As the story developed, we saw a clip of what appeared to be CNN report. The news stated the sun had disappeared throughout the world and riots had ensued. No clips appeared online when searching for that exact CNN report but one part was factual; the reference to New England’s Dark Day.
— TheSunVanished (@TheSunVanished) April 30, 2018
Like a good book, TSV followers flock periodically to find out the next chapter in this interactive story. TSV went dark for 18 days after Jun 19 when an entranced woman broke into the house the twitter user was staying in. He returned July 7 with updates on the strange tale but has not tweeted since.
So with the activity getting closer to our campsite, I finally convinced Danyon for us to pack up and drive towards the closest cell tower. pic.twitter.com/saZK0u0l56
— TheSunVanished (@TheSunVanished) July 8, 2018
Life is Below is a new account gaining momentum because of its cryptic messages. Supposedly, LIB is a part of a cult that lives underground in tunnels. He seems to reply to direct messages, which gives the allusion of somebody who’s trapped and trying to gain contact with the outside world. His videos are always obscure, with a mask usually covering his identity and voice changer.
Oddly, the account was created the same day TSV stopped tweeting, June 19.
Everything powered by mini fusion reactor about the size of school-bus; Dante says will supply TC w 1000+years energy. Communication w surface forbidden but they know about things: 9/11, Afghanistan, Brexit (?). Must have some surveillance, possibly topside agents of the CoI. pic.twitter.com/ixtlSWuSXd
— There's Life Underground (@LifeIsBelow) July 6, 2018
Fiction parading itself as Non-Fiction is not new. In 1938, Orson Welles caused a mini-nationwide panic after his realistic broadcast of War of the Worlds by H.G Wells.
“I think if Orson Welles had told his version of The War of the Worlds in 2017 instead of 1938, he would have used Twitter instead of the radio,” Said Manuel Bartual to New Statesman.
Bartual created a Twilight Zone-like story about his run in with his doppelganger while on vacation. He later admitted that the story was fiction and only wanted to tell a fun story.
It was all made up.
— Manuel Bartual (@BartualEnglish) September 23, 2017
Whether the tales are true is one thing but the heart racing horror stories have showed us how effective twitter can be for storytelling. Maybe we will be seeing more short stories hitting the big screen now that studios are realizing the potential behind these fables.
What do you think of twitter being used as a medium for horror story telling? Have you heard of Dear David, The Vanished Sun or Life is Below prior? Will you be tuning into to their eerie tweets? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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Movies
Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed
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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News
Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween
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.
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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Movies
’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power
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.
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.
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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