As human beings, we have always been fascinated by our own demise. From the traditions of Memento Mori and Vanitas art that present graveyard iconography as moral lessons to the… Continue reading "Death in Miniature: 5 Morbid Models That Chart Our Obsession with the End"
Director William Castle was a showman first and a filmmaker second. Although his films – most notably, House on Haunted Hill (1959) – are remembered fondly, his true genius lay in his… Continue reading "William Castle: Master of the Gimmick"
When we think of modern extreme cinema, whether US ‘torture porn’ or Japanese ‘guinea pig’ movies, the underlying assumption is often that these things are a uniquely modern phenomenon. One… Continue reading "Blood, Sperm and Sweat: The Grand Guignol and The Birth of Spectacular Horror"
As the spookiest time of the year approaches, we at Vampire Squid are psyched. Halloween brings joy to hearts of horror fans worldwide, but the 31st October is not just… Continue reading "How to Celebrate Halloween in True Wiccan Style"
Halloween is spreading. Once solely a US custom, countries all around the globe are joining in with our favourite spooky holiday. While more countries are participating in the fun, commercial… Continue reading "7 Halloween-like Traditions from Around the World"
For many, the last taboos of cinema are the murders of children and animals. But while most films still shy away from depictions of animal cruelty, the dramatisation of infanticide… Continue reading "The Taboo of Killing Kids: A Cinematic History"
Unsurprisingly, for a man whose work had such influence on the world of horror fiction, Lovecraft read widely and eclectically. Many of the authors that had the greatest impact on… Continue reading "The Writers That Made Lovecraft"
Despite not being particularly appreciated during his lifetime, H.P. Lovecraft’s writing has endured long after his death. While some of his more contentious works have rightfully faded into obscurity, his… Continue reading "9 Traumatic Experiences That Shaped Lovecraft’s Writing"
It’s Haunted December here at Vampire Squid, so join us as we continue to our look at influential writers of ghostly horror! The haunted house genre has changed a lot over… Continue reading "Shirley Jackson’s Haunted America"
We experience tales of horror and the supernatural through popular culture and folklore. Both mediums have similarities in that they both follow traditional, tried-and-tested genres and formulas. What makes folklore… Continue reading "7 Vengeful Ghosts From Global Folklore That Will Give You Nightmares"
One of London’s most enduring urban legends, Sweeney Todd has terrified young and old alike for generations. The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is said to have murdered countless men… Continue reading "Separating Fact From Fiction: Sweeney Todd"
The story of Borley Rectory is as much a story of alleged ghost sightings as it is about modern Britain. A Victorian house that gained fame as the most haunted… Continue reading "Harry Price and ‘The Most Haunted House in England’"
We occupy a uniquely privileged position in human history. For more and more people, the prospect of wild animal attack or death through starvation is remote, even laughable. For our… Continue reading "Cannibal Legends"
Horror filmmakers have long delighted in confronting audiences with their very worst fears. And yet in all of horror history one action still has the power to put punters off… Continue reading "Feeling Peckish? Cannibalism Goes To The Movies"
Many of Hammer’s most celebrated works take place in a strange, lurid world of gothic shadows and macabre monsters. It is a world which may thrill and frighten audiences, but… Continue reading "Stranger Than Fiction: 4 Real-Life Gothic Tales You Won’t Believe Are True"