Picks: October

Theme: Horror

Hello there! NieR took quite a bit longer to complete than I was expecting, so I was a bit delayed in releasing my picks for October to you all. I just finished the game though, got the review out, and now it's time to release my picks for October. The theme is a pretty broad one I know, but it's only fitting for the month of Halloween to get some spooks going.

Album: Hvis lyset tar oss

Artist: Burzum

Why I chose this Album: When you think musical horror, black metal is definitely one of the first genres that comes to your head. Hvis lyset tar oss (or Until the Light Takes Us) is the third studio album by Norwegian black metal band Burzum, one of the most influential bands in the Black Metal scene. I was originally going to listen to their fourth studio album; however, on recommendation from a friend of mine I decided on Hvis lyset tar oss as it is their most well received project and that which is the most horrific. Not sure what to expect going into this one, all I know is that it will definitely be a new experience for me.

Film: The Shining

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Why I chose this Film: Yes I know, two Kubrick films within 3 months of each other? Where's the diversity? While I definitely hear what you're saying, there is no horror movie as iconic or prestigious as The Shining. Even knowing how hard it is for me to watch horror movies, people still look at me in shock when I tell them I haven't seen it. While I definitely agree that for diversities sake I should probably pick something else, it also feels as though choosing anything other than the most iconic horror movie of all time would be a disservice to myself. Especially considering how much I enjoyed 2001: A Space Odyssey, there really is no better film for this month than The Shining. 

Book: House of Leaves

Mark Z. Danielewski

Why I chose this Book: I've been meaning to get around to House of Leaves for a very long time. Ever since freshman year of College when my now girlfriend told me how amazing it was, and how much I would like it. It's a book with a huge cult following, and for good reason. It's such a weird, non traditional horror novel. It frequently plays around with the medium of written text in interesting and inventive ways, messing with the set in stone formula that so many people are used to. It uses this method to push you out of your comfort zone and invoke a sense of fear in you that most books cannot. The biggest reason I considered not reading this book is because it is a daunting 700 pages. With just how many people have told me to read it this year alone though, I have a feeling it's going to be well worth the time investment.

Little Horrors

Publisher: Bandai Namco

Why I chose this Game: Among the more iconic and grandiose titles I've chosen for this month, Little Horrors definitely feels a bit dwarfed. I felt though when deciding my picks for the month that there was a lack of charming, colorful spook that Halloween and horror as a whole is known for. Up to this point the pieces of media I've chosen are really dark and grim, which does not do the entirety of Horror justice. Horror often is dark and grim sure, but it can also be fun and colorful, a celebration of the childish ghouls and monsters we feared as a kid. Little Horrors is all of that and more. It's very classically spooky, drawing clear inspiration from Burton and Laika type films. It embodies that juvenile, cartoon horror I was really looking for, the kind that Horror just wouldn't be the same without.

...

And those are my picks for October! Halloween is just around the corner, and as such I will try to speed up the blog writing process. I know I say that every time, but this time for real! Next post will be Vol 3: by Slipknot, hope you're looking forward to it.

Until then!