URHorror Newsletter: Week of 4.4
Dev Patel's MONKEY MAN, Season 6 Recap, and getting deep with It Came From The Closet
MyHorror Ghouls and Goblins! How has 2024 been treating you? I know, I know. It’s been FOREVER since I’ve written to you all. Sometimes, I fall off of my wagon and the grind gets HARD to keep up with. At the end of the day, I am a Capricorn and I will always find my way back.
Season 6 wrapped up last week with an episode featuring Brooklyn horror filmmaker Audrey E. Lorber. Make sure to give it a listen: you may get some new horror recs!
Season 7 is just beyond the horizon. And I’m locking IN for it (if you get it, you get it). Until then though, let’s do a little recap!
PODCAST RECAP
Season 6 featured four guests: one being a debut author and one being a horror filmmaker.
Episode 6 centered Quirk Books’ author Jenny Kiefer and her horror novel This Wretched Valley. Set in the Kentucky wilderness (my old Kentucky home <3), a group of hikers mysteriously disappear only to be found, their flesh devoured, and one of the hikers missing in action. Could be cannibalism. Could be something beyond your own imagination.
My favorite Black History Month episode was E4 with my dear friends at the Blerdy Massacre Podcast. Giving them the choice, we talked about the downfall that was MA (2019). It is the Black horror movie that could’ve and should’ve, but didn’t. But…. I kinda ate with Episode 5 dissecting Get Out and it’s role model Stepford Wives.
The full season, all 7 episodes, is now available for your ears!
Monkey Man (2024) Review
Dev Patel gave a, undoubtedly, phenomenal performance as well as an intentional production. Knowing the grueling work that went into making this film, it adds an extra layer of sincerity. It’s a narrative that’s soaked with revolution, anarchy, and empowerment. If you had told me there was a mini queer arc in narrative, I would’ve side eyed you. But believe me when I tell you, this film speaks to current socio-political climates around the globe, but particularly Palestine. Do you want to hear about the scoring? Or the cinematography? Or the dialogue? Or the themes? Because I'll talk about it all and be here for DAYS. It’s a fun movie that doesn’t interfere with the delivery of its’ solid themes. The star of the show (besides Dev, of course) is the cinematography. The same mind behind the photography of Whiplash (2014) is responsible for the jaw-dropping, earth-shattering visuals in this film. I mean jaw-dropping in the literal sense, too. I had to lean into the movie at times because this is no casual matter. My favorite part?? The queer and trans refugees dressed as Shiva, armed with scythes, and metal music scoring the scene. I hope this is an instant classic.
Run to theaters TOMORROW to see Monkey Man
It’s Not That Deep…
But it always is, isn’t it? This time around, we’re talking about a book that I’ve been DYING to read since last year. It Came From The Closet, edited by Joe Vallese, is a collection of essays from various queer horror writers documenting their queer experience with the help of beloved horror films. I do love getting my horror movie recs through non-fiction books and TV (thank you Shudder for your docu-series).
Grace (2009) directed by Paul Solet was the subject of Joe Vallese’s essay ‘Imprint’. If I had to describe the movie without describing it, I would tell you it’s the perfect Mother’s Day movie for lesbians.
After losing her husband in horrific car accident, Madeleine gives birth to a stillborn that miraculously survives. However, Baby Grace prefers blood over milk. Patricia, an old lover of Madeleine’s, wasn’t the step mother but the mother that stepped up. These two sapphics find life on the road as they navigate motherhood and vampirism. It got a 2½ stars from me on Letterboxd with it being a B-movie and all. It’s another movie to add to my queer horror list!
That’s all I’ve got for now! The month just started, so new horror is waiting to be discovered. Tell me what you’re streaming and reading!