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It's a Horror to Know You: Mike of Swords & Dorkery!
1. What is the first film that ever scared you?
The first movie I remember being scared by is Rikki-Tikki-Tavi ("If you move, I strike; if you don't move, I strike!"). Hey, I was like 4.
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The first horror movie I saw in a theater was Poltergeist, and for a ten year old that was scary sh*t.
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2. What is the last film that scared you?
The remake of The Hills Have Eyes. The sense of peril was sustained really well.
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The scariest thing in a movie for me, though, is still the brief flashes of white fright masks in The Exorcist, maybe because I somehow didn't notice them the first time I watched the movie but now I spend the whole time viewing it waiting for those little flashes.
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3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.
Martin. Everyone talks about Romero's zombie films but this was such a punch in the gut when I first saw it I can't believe more people haven't seen it.
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The Prophecy (1979). Not a great movie but better than it's rated and almost forgotten because of all the other movies with the same title. I read the book after seeing it and would say the movie does the book justice, which is maybe damning it with faint praise, but still I give it credit for trying to have a message as well as scares and decent characterization.
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Blood on Satan's Claws. A bit better than a run-of-the-mill Hammer production, this one has a great atmosphere and builds a sense of dread that is only slightly spoiled by the rushed ending.
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4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.
Motel Hell – probably the first slasher I ever saw, and although it is seriously goofy in parts, there is a sincerity to the production that demands respect. I doubt it would hold up so well to repeated viewings and I've only actually watched snippets in the last 30 years.
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Versus – if that counts as horror. Incredibly stupid but still fun all the way through.
Acolytes – the writing could have been better but it has its moments.
5. Send us to five places on the Internet!
Not all of these are horror-related but most have some scary/creepy stuff alongside interesting tidbits your readers might enjoy.
Halloween Movie Marathon – a collection of creepy images.
Yog Blogsoth– mostly drawings based on HPL.
Cyclopeatron – a kaleidoscope of crazy science fantasy and D&D.
Aldeboran – the blog of a great comic-style artist with a seriously disturbed aesthetic.
Skulls in the Stars – physics + horror + more.