Final Women

Ghostkeeper Ghostkeeper is, weirdly enough, not about ghosts. It's actually a wendigo tale, although just barely, as the wendigo itself is barely seen, and when he does make an appearance, appears to be just a regular man in goopy makeup. This 1986 movie is a strange creature itself, following three vacationers stranded at an unused inn in the mountains during a snow storm. For the most part, they're not a terribly likable group. Our male lead is a jerk who, once shit goes down, reveals himself to also only have a very tenuous grasp on sanity, and our heroine is only worth rooting for because she's not as abjectly horrible as her two companions. What ultimately makes the movie worth watching for winter horror movie fans is the beautiful snow covered location. Woods, mountains, and the isolated inn are all starkly beautiful in the winter light. I hesitate to completely recommend this one unless, like me, you find a good snowy setting to be enough enjoyment on its own, or if...

 Dewey & Gale, Scream series Evie & O'Connell, The Mummy & The Mummy Returns Leah & Paul, Chastity Bites Coyle & Baxley, The Predator (yes, I believe they are supposed to be lovers) Mortisha & Gomez, The Addams Family & The Addams Family Values Ed & Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring series Margaret & Pete, The Legacy Natalie & Steven, Neon Maniacs

  Happy Black History and Women in Horror Month!

 I love winter. I love cold weather, snow, getting cozy by the fireplace, all of that winter stuff. And I really love a good winter-set horror story. So when I saw that Nico Bell had edited a collection of 30 winter horror stories, I was excited. I snatched this book up the day it came out. As with any collection, Shiver is a mixed bag. Not every story is going to be for every person. However, overall I really enjoyed this one. My favorites: "Waiting for Winter" by Nicole M. Wolverton: I love a good slasher, so this tale a group of daughters of former final girls banding together to fight off a mysterious killer sucked me in. My only complaint is that it could have been longer; I could have used more information about our main characters and their mothers' histories. I think more backstory would have been fascinating and would also have given the twists more impact. "The Snow Woman" by Sarah Jane Huntington: A couple vacationing at an isolated cabin in Japan is...

Little Feasts is the perfect title for this collection, because every single story is a delicious bite-sized meal. I couldn't get enough of this book and devoured every dish author Jules Archer served up. This is feminist horror at its finest, and I cannot recommend it enough. I can't pick a favorite story, they're all so wonderful. In "Prettier Things" a woman watches her mysterious neighbor and the blondes who enter his home, but never leave. In "Skillet," the title item makes quick work of awful or abusive partners. "Anne Boleyn Could Drink You Under the Table" features the reincarnated English queen's new life and search for revenge. "Far Away from Everywhere" concerns an apocalypse cult, and in "Garbage Girl," a girl's period serves as a warning. Each story in this collection is delectable, often both bitter and sweet. I'm officially a fan of Archer and will eat up anything she writes.