#the miskatonic institute of horror studies

[anhed-nia]

BLOGTOBER 10/12/2023: RINGU, GOJIRA

I rewatched both of these movies in preparation for an event that my org hosted at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies has a lecture at the fest every year, and this time I got someone really great to accompany their Japanese programming. Actually, you can read the original paper that my speaker Sigmund Shen based his talk on, and I highly recommend it!:

He has something very compelling to say about how RINGU and GOJIRA (among other things) reflect the ongoing struggle to expose suppressed national histories, which inflict shame and trauma on a populace who are unable to fully process events that have been protected by censorship and taboo. Because this is a speed run season of Blogtober, I'll leave the analysis to Professor Shen--you won't be disappointed!

The film festival featured a slate of Japanese fare to coincide with a new documentary called THE J-HORROR VIRUS by Sarah Appleton and Jasper Sharp. When they were asked "Why now?" about this investigation into a mode of production that was extremely hot in the early aughts, and which has seen virtually no new growth in recent years, the answer seemed to be that only this much hindsight has clarified what it all meant--and they're right. The doc is really interesting and surprising, even to someone like me who remembers how hard J-horror hit the American festival circuit back when. The founding filmmakers share insights and inspiration that I never would have guessed at, but I have to say that my favorite part was the interview with Rie Ino'o who played Sadako in RINGU and RING 2. Despite her silent and basically faceless performance, she infused her character with a vivid personality that made Hideo Nakata insist that she return for the second film, and you can really see what made her so irreplaceable. I think I'm in love with her now. Anyway, see THE J-HORROR VIRUS if you can, it's really good.

[anhed-nia]

If anybody else was as excited as I was to see FREEWAY on The Last Drive-In, I have great news! Next week's Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies event is all about adult iterations of the Red Riding Hood fable, including the one gif'd above. As my guest Elizabeth Abele puts it:

In the late 20th century, fairy tales reemerged in popular culture, often reimagined as gothic fables for adults. These contemporary adaptations examine the false binaries within these tales, while exposing the themes of sexual abuse and recovery encoded therein. “Little Red Riding Hood” provided particularly fertile ground for such explorations, with films such as FREEWAY (1996) and RED RIDING HOOD (2011) following the perils and possibilities for a coming-of-age woman. Rather than passive victims, these protagonists are active, resisting both victimhood and inherited burdens. However, an equally important issue in “Red” adaptations is that monstrosity, like victimization, can be resisted. The figure of the Wolf is not clearly defined in the original tale: Is he an allegory for a predatory Gentleman? Is he a Werewolf? Or is he merely an animal, hungry for a meal? The Wolf may begin as the threatening Other, but his potential for violence can be overcome—or harnessed.

Come check us out next week on 2/20! You'll hate yourself if you miss it:

THE COMPANY OF WOLVES (1984) dir. Neil Jordan

[fearsmagazine]

THE BROOKLYN HORROR FILM FESTIVAL Announces Full 2024 Program!

The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF) announced the full program for its 2024 incarnation, running October 17-24 with all screenings held at Nitehawk Cinema’s Williamsburg and Prospect Park locations. Audiences are in for an unworldly lineup of films and events, including a special screening of Larry Fessenden’s HABIT with the Leviathan Award Ceremony, honoring his film career.

The Opening Night film is the NY premiere of DEAD MAIL from directors Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy. The 2024 festival boasts the North American Premieres of exciting new films: Tiago Teixeira’s unsettling body horror film CUSTOM; a new documentary on horror at the turn of the millennium from Phillip Escott and Sarah Appleton, GENERATION TERROR; and New Zealand director Sasha Rainbow’s film GRAFTED.

The festival will feature the world premieres of Izzy Lee's first feature, HOUSE OF ASHES; the atmospheric ghost story, LILLY LIVES ALONE, and the queer sci-fi adventure PSYCHONAUT. The festival’s other spotlight titles include ANIMALE, the beautiful revenge-fantasy from French director Emma Benestan as the festival’s Centerpiece Film; and THE RULE OF JENNY PEN starring Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow as the Closing Night Film.

The festival’s signature sidebar programs return, starting with FEAR IN FOCUS: SPAIN, which includes the North American premiere of EXORCISMO, a documentary that focuses on the violent and smutty film history of the post-Franco era of Spanish cinema; as well as retro screenings of VAMPYRES and THE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE on 35mm; which ties into the Vampire sidebar that features Abel Ferrara’s THE ADDICTION and a screening of the Spanish version of DRACULA with a live score from The Flushing Remonstrance. MISKATONIC INSTITUTE OF HORROR STUDIES will also return to host a special lecture by Dr. Leah Richards "Queer Vampires, Queer Liberation, Queer Futurity.

Festival badges are on sale now HERE and a limited amount of individual tickets go on sale this Friday, Sept. 20th at 12PM EST.

For more information, visit: Brooklynhorrorfest.com Facebook: facebook.com/brooklynhorror/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/brooklynhorror Instagram: http://instagram.com/brooklynhorrorfest

[spaceintruderdetector]

The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies

The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies is an international educational community through which established horror writers, directors, scholars and curators celebrate horror history and culture with a unique blend of enthusiasm and critical perspective. We have regular classes in London, New York and Los Angeles, as well as hosting special events worldwide.

https://www.miskatonicinstitute.com/

[hmuncut]

Restored ‘Nosferatu’ at the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies

Restored ‘Nosferatu’ at the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies

On April 19th at the Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury, London Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies will host a special screening of NOSFERATU. This will be a “show and tell” lecture showing the differences between prints and challenges surrounding the classic creature feature. Mark Rance will lead the discussion the restoration and tickets are on sale now. Read ahead for the full details on the…

[anhed-nia]

FYI, the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies has a relevant class coming up thus October:

SLEEPY HOLLOW (1999) dir. Tim Burton

[anhed-nia]

NEXT WEEK on 3/14 the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies is back at the illustrious Film Noir Cinema in Greenpoint with an event I'm super pumped about: Witchcraft & Media scholar Peg Aloi will analyze the presence of the Crone and Hag archetypes in popular culture. I personally requested this subject, and was thrilled that Peg agreed to do it. The Witch has long since been reclaimed as an avatar of female empowerment--particularly in the young, fashionable grrl power mode--but what about *witches of a certain age*? Recently, horror has seen a proliferation of images of frightful, predatory older women, drawing ambivalent reactions from audiences. Do these monstrous femmes always reflect a misogynistic attitude? Or might they sometimes suggest a return of the repressed, representing the special powers, wisdom, and righteous indignation of older women? I can't wait to hear what our guest will have to say, and I hope you'll join me next week to find out!

[anhed-nia]

Today's the day! Join me and my guest Steve A. Wiggins, who has been researching and analyzing The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for ten years (!):

If this doesn't get you ready for Halloween, nuthin will!

Way back in the 1990s a pharmacy chain in the Midwestern United States called Hook's Pharmacy, in cooperation with American Greetings card company, sold a cassette of SPOOKY NOISES OF HALLOWEEN, which included this fantastic reading of THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW with the wonderful cover seen here.

Great, isn't it?

[donnerpartyofone]

NEXT TUESDAY at 7pm, join me at Greenpoint's Film Noir Cinema (live and in-person only!) for my Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies NYC lecture about the true story behind the terrifying film THE ENTITY! This talk is not for the faint of heart, but I promise it will be fascinating.

The 1982 supernatural thriller THE ENTITY has an outrageous premise--a woman is repeated assaulted by an incubus-like force--and yet, it is said to be based in fact. In 1974, UCLA parapsychologists studied the extraordinary claims of the mysterious Doris Bither. Though their investigation has been thoughtfully debunked by some, the essence of the story remains irresistibly compelling. It was adapted into a best-selling novel, and then realized as an infamous feature film. But who was Doris Bither? What can we tell about her from this string of controversial interpretations? Perhaps they say more about ourselves--what we want to believe, and why--than they do about Bither herself, who has since deliberately vanished from view.

Please don't miss this challenging, eye-opening talk--I'll consider it a birthday present to me personally!

[liveforfilms]

The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies returns to London

The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies returns to London

After a successful pilot season, The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies – London returns to the Horse Hospital for another semester of intensive film classes on a wide range of arcane topics by some of the horror world’s most renowned critical luminaries – and you can win a season pass courtesy of AV Geeks, one of the world’s foremost archives of 16mm educational film. (more…)

[anhed-nia]

TOMORROW on 2/20 at 2pm EST, join us online for a deep dive into screen adaptations of the Little Red Riding Hood fable. Dr. Elizabeth Abele illuminates the themes of abuse, recovery, and transformation found in adult iterations of the classic tale, including HARD CANDY, FREEWAY, THE WOODSMAN, and more. This fascinating talk explores how the characters in these modern retellings expand on their familiar archetypes and transcend them by defying expectations, reclaiming power, and finding redemption. You won't want to miss it, so remember, if you can't make the livestream, you can always watch a recording upon request. See you in class!

𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝑔𝑜𝒹, 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒷𝒶𝒹

[anhed-nia]

Aaaaaand we're back!

Having to cancel our Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies NYC talk with Peg Aloi was the hugest of bummers, but we're giving it another shot on 3/28! There was so much interest in this lecture (and rightfully so!) that we're keeping it online, so all you far-flung folks can still enjoy it.

Just to clear up any confusion: Even though this special event is ONLINE ONLY, it is still part of our NYC programming. It is NOT included in the Miskatonic Online branch season pass. You can purchase tickets at the link below, but first, in case you missed it:

Next Tuesday at 7pm, join us for a special ONLINE-ONLY fireside chat with Peg Kay Aloi about *witches of a certain age*. I'm super excited about this topic; even as conversations about diversity in horror have ramped up, older people--particularly older women--are often still left out, and what images we have of them tend to be highly ambivalent and full of phobic projections. Peg will help us parse these complex representations, and not a moment too soon, as we've seen more and more hag- and crone-like figures in recent releases.

If you can resist that pitch, you must be cursed! See ya real soon:

[anhed-nia]

Against all of my college professors' expectations, ideological analysis of media has become a majorly popular pastime. This can be a double-edged sword: It may enlighten you and make you more impervious to propaganda, and it can also foment censorious attitudes that handicap creative expression. Now it's more important than ever to see the difference...and for a little exercise in this area, please join the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies on 2/21 at Greenpoint's Film Noir Cinema for an evening with German weird fiction author Hanns Heinz Ewers! The great Tenebrous Kate will break down this notorious figure's transition from decadent artist to Nazi propagandist in a talk that is sure to leave your brain tingling. You'll hate yourself if you miss it! Tix here: