Re: 2012: Transylvanian Adventures & The Transylvanian Grimo
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:01 pm
And as a show of sincerity that I was not trying to be a class clown in recommending Batman (1989) as a source of stylistic inspiration, here is a springboard of discussion for further possible IN GENRE sources of inspiration:
Novels
Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen): Yes, that Jane Austen. Even though not strictly speaking a horror-yarn, Northanger Abbey exaggerates, analyzes and deconstructs the tropes of what the "Gothic" atmosphere is, through the eyes of a very impressionable 18th century English Girl on her visist to an "old dark house" of a "creepy" old relative on a summer vacaton. Food for thought.
A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens): Charles Dickens, the master of post-medieval urban decay; really rubs the salt in the wounds of how dirty 19th century Europe was. And if you thougth Doctor Jekyll/Mister Hyde was a scary human monster, you have not met the thug William "Bill" Sykes yet..... (shivers)
Tale of the White Snake (Classic Chinese Novel): A white-snake spirit who is about to ascend to Godhood through one-thousand years of kind deeds suddenly falls in love with a human and marries him: The trouble is, the racist and xenophobic monk/monster-hunter Fa-Hai would have none of that, and would go to monstrous lengths (including flooding the town the lovers lived in) to tear them apart. Not only a literary classic, but a must read for players of the "Exotic" and "Hunter" class. Give the film adaptations Green Snake and Jet Li's Fa Hai, The Sorcerer and The White Snake a look as well.
Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner: Chronicling the journey through the oceans of purgatory of our titular old-salt, whom in slaying the sacred Albatross in a moment of malicious jest brought the wrath of ancient spirits upon his crew. Contains THE iconic description of undead-sailors in literature, not to mention eerie yet oddly heartwarming and beautiful scenes of benevolent ghosts and restless dead given transcendence. Definitive "Ocean Gothic."
Film:
Mimic: Ah, the cavernous sewer: Forgotten warrens of forgotten past glory built on top of decayed former splendor. As usual, Del Toro is the go-to fella for modern stylstic gothic. And oh yes, for the claustrophobia and the nerve shredding terror of being chased at high speeds in tiny tunnels by gargoyle like giant man-insects too!!
Evil Dead (The FIRST film): Since TA and TG is "street level" by default, this is a humbling reminder to the players of how vulnerable an band ordinary human being is when played like a violin by the sadistic whims of a malevolent and omnipotent ancient evil.
Deliverance: Another humbling reminder of how harsh the cosequences of combat can be when you are trapped in the dark, dark woods with dwindling resources and NO Magical-Healing, with the monster (Hillbillies, in this case) hell-bent on catching you and tearing you apart.
Anime
When Cicadas Cry: A deliciously creepy supernatural-murder mystery set in the seemingly peaceful countryside of 1980's Japan, told through multiple prespectives, each 4 episodes. The first 2 are lighthearted and even at times slapstick, to lull you into a false sense of security.... and THEN just like David Lynch's Twin Peaks, it plunges you headfirst into the dark murky depths of pscyhological and visceral horror; NOT for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. The must see source for "Peaceful Small Town with dark and ugly secret underbelly" story of the 21st century.
Kindaichi Files: Again, weekly Detective Murder Mystery. Aside from drawing heavily on richly Gothic Motiffs and atmosphere (the Tarot/Horror Movie/Literature inspired masked murderers and their modus operandi in particular), it is a PRIME source of how to weave a convoluted and believable murder mystery. Again, for the strong of stomach and heart.
Objections? Agreement? Hopefully a springboard of discussion of what "Gothic" is!!
Next Up: Musical Inspirations.
Got to feed the cat first.
POST SCRIPT:
Pats RevTurkey on the shoulder
Don't worry, you're an okay fella!!
Hope to meet you at a Game Con one day.
Novels
Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen): Yes, that Jane Austen. Even though not strictly speaking a horror-yarn, Northanger Abbey exaggerates, analyzes and deconstructs the tropes of what the "Gothic" atmosphere is, through the eyes of a very impressionable 18th century English Girl on her visist to an "old dark house" of a "creepy" old relative on a summer vacaton. Food for thought.
A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens): Charles Dickens, the master of post-medieval urban decay; really rubs the salt in the wounds of how dirty 19th century Europe was. And if you thougth Doctor Jekyll/Mister Hyde was a scary human monster, you have not met the thug William "Bill" Sykes yet..... (shivers)
Tale of the White Snake (Classic Chinese Novel): A white-snake spirit who is about to ascend to Godhood through one-thousand years of kind deeds suddenly falls in love with a human and marries him: The trouble is, the racist and xenophobic monk/monster-hunter Fa-Hai would have none of that, and would go to monstrous lengths (including flooding the town the lovers lived in) to tear them apart. Not only a literary classic, but a must read for players of the "Exotic" and "Hunter" class. Give the film adaptations Green Snake and Jet Li's Fa Hai, The Sorcerer and The White Snake a look as well.
Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner: Chronicling the journey through the oceans of purgatory of our titular old-salt, whom in slaying the sacred Albatross in a moment of malicious jest brought the wrath of ancient spirits upon his crew. Contains THE iconic description of undead-sailors in literature, not to mention eerie yet oddly heartwarming and beautiful scenes of benevolent ghosts and restless dead given transcendence. Definitive "Ocean Gothic."
Film:
Mimic: Ah, the cavernous sewer: Forgotten warrens of forgotten past glory built on top of decayed former splendor. As usual, Del Toro is the go-to fella for modern stylstic gothic. And oh yes, for the claustrophobia and the nerve shredding terror of being chased at high speeds in tiny tunnels by gargoyle like giant man-insects too!!
Evil Dead (The FIRST film): Since TA and TG is "street level" by default, this is a humbling reminder to the players of how vulnerable an band ordinary human being is when played like a violin by the sadistic whims of a malevolent and omnipotent ancient evil.
Deliverance: Another humbling reminder of how harsh the cosequences of combat can be when you are trapped in the dark, dark woods with dwindling resources and NO Magical-Healing, with the monster (Hillbillies, in this case) hell-bent on catching you and tearing you apart.
Anime
When Cicadas Cry: A deliciously creepy supernatural-murder mystery set in the seemingly peaceful countryside of 1980's Japan, told through multiple prespectives, each 4 episodes. The first 2 are lighthearted and even at times slapstick, to lull you into a false sense of security.... and THEN just like David Lynch's Twin Peaks, it plunges you headfirst into the dark murky depths of pscyhological and visceral horror; NOT for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. The must see source for "Peaceful Small Town with dark and ugly secret underbelly" story of the 21st century.
Kindaichi Files: Again, weekly Detective Murder Mystery. Aside from drawing heavily on richly Gothic Motiffs and atmosphere (the Tarot/Horror Movie/Literature inspired masked murderers and their modus operandi in particular), it is a PRIME source of how to weave a convoluted and believable murder mystery. Again, for the strong of stomach and heart.
Objections? Agreement? Hopefully a springboard of discussion of what "Gothic" is!!
Next Up: Musical Inspirations.
Got to feed the cat first.
POST SCRIPT:
Pats RevTurkey on the shoulder
Don't worry, you're an okay fella!!
Hope to meet you at a Game Con one day.