Vamp Jenn's Corner

Culture, Literature, occult, spirituality

Inside ‘Mexican Magic: Brujeria, Spells, and Rituals for All Occasions’ by Laura Davila

December 2, 2024January 4, 2025by Jennifer Vasquez6 Comments

Vamp Jenn reading Mexican Magic by Laura Davila — Vamp Jenn reading *Mexican Magic* by Laura Davila

“As a bruja, you grow to realize that occult forces are always preparing us and positioning us for divine appointments.” –Mexican Magic by Laura Davila

In her newest book, Laura Davila makes Mexican folk spirituality accessible to a wider audience. Mexican Magic places the power to initiate personal transformation in the hands of the reader. I had the privilege of being gifted with a copy by the publisher Red Wheel/Weiser. The fact that this book has come into my possession is an act of magic to me. Over the past few years, I’ve been strengthening my spiritual connections and have begun researching the spiritual customs of my Mexican ancestors. Davila’s latest work resonated with me on many levels, and I believe others who are on a mystical journey can benefit from it as well.

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holidays, Lifestyle

Macabre Holiday Gift Guide 2024

November 25, 2024December 27, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments

Even a dark soul like me has an appreciation for the holidays. I compare myself to Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas. While Halloween Town is his domain, he can’t help but be fascinated by Christmas Town with all its jingles and bells. Plus, Xmas is celebrated when nights are the longest. It’s a vampire’s ideal time of year!

At Vamp Jenn’s Corner, it’s an annual tradition to come out with my Macabre Holiday Gift Guide. It comes in handy when you’re on the prowl for the spooky individual on your shopping list. I decided to change the format a bit this year. Instead of general categories with retailers, I’m listing specific items and including links so you can check out more of what they have. It means a lot to me to support independent creators and entrepreneurs, so the majority of items here will be from small businesses. Happy shopping!

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music

Dilemma Delivers Dark Electronic Sounds in New EP ‘Becoming Alive’

November 10, 2024December 22, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez3 Comments

Alex Elias of Dilemma (Photo credit: Shervin Lainez)

For more than a decade, Dilemma has been creating darkly alternative music. It’s a New York-based solo project that was established by producer Alex Elias. The latest EP Becoming Alive was my introduction to his music and it interestingly fuses together various genres that create a cyber gothic nightclub atmosphere. Let’s dive deeper, shall we?

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Events, Film, halloween, music, Performing Arts

LA Opera Brings the Spanish Version of ‘Dracula’ to the Big Screen

November 8, 2024November 30, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments

Vamp Jenn attending LA Opera's screening of the Spanish Dracula — Vamp Jenn attending LA Opera’s screening of the Spanish *Dracula*

Did you know there is a 1931 Spanish-language film version of Dracula? It was released the same year as the notorious adaptation starring Bela Lugosi. When LA Opera announced this would be their movie selection for Halloween, I was ecstatic. Every year during the last weekend of October, they choose a horror film to play that’s accompanied by live orchestra. I knew this was a rare opportunity I couldn’t miss, and I’m here to share it with you.

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Events, halloween

Getting Spooky at Knott’s Scary Farm

October 29, 2024November 23, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments

Vamp Jenn at Knott's Scary Farm — Vamp Jenn at Knott’s Scary Farm

I have to start off by saying that I hadn’t been to Knott’s Scray Farm in more than 20 years. The last time I went to the event was around 2000/2001 when I was a teen. I don’t remember much of my experience, and for quite some time, I kept hearing people rave about how good Halloween time at the theme park had gotten. So, 2024 was the year I planned my grand return, and I’m here to divulge all the details.

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Events, halloween

Inside Dark Harbor: The Spirits Rise on The Queen Mary

October 28, 2024November 23, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments

Vamp Jenn at The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor — Vamp Jenn at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor

The last time I attended The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor was in 2019 before it went dark for the proceeding four years. Experiencing its return this spooky season was exciting and overwhelming to the senses. Where do I begin? Since I’m an October baby, I celebrate my birthday by hitting up whatever Halloween events I can. Of course, Dark Harbor was at the top of that list. It was a night filled with frights and delights, and I’m eager to tell you all about it and share a ton of photos.

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Culture, Film, Lifestyle

How Lydia Deetz of ‘Beetlejuice’ Influenced the Goth Subculture

September 5, 2024November 9, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez6 Comments

Winona Ryder as Lydia in Tim Burton's 'Beetlejuice' (© Warner Bros.) — Winona Ryder as Lydia in Tim Burton’s *Beetlejuice* (© Warner Bros.)

When Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice hit cinemas in 1988, the goth subculture was still in its youth, having only been around since the late 70s/early 80s. The scene was evolving and growing both in music and fashion, so for a figure like Lydia Deetz to pop up on the big screen, many black hearts in the audience must have stopped. How many teenage goths can you recall appearing in 80s films? While there may have been a few, none have left as lasting an impression as Winona Ryder’s macabre character. With the release of the sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, I thought it’d be fun to take a look at a few of the influences Lydia Deetz has had on the goth community.

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Film

Short Body Horror Film ‘Unravelling’ Explores the Complexity of Chronic Illness

August 28, 2024October 6, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez3 Comments

Shona McHugh as Fiona in Unravelling — Shona McHugh as Fiona in *Unravelling*

Receiving a diagnosis of relapse remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) would feel like a real-life horror story to many, and this disease is at the center of the short body horror film Unravelling. Writer, director and award-winning Scottish filmmaker Aimie Willemse is the mastermind behind the project and was inspired to make the film after being diagnosed with RRMS in 2020 at the age of 30. The short film is not widely released but has started making its rounds at various film festivals, premiering recently at London’s FrightFest. I had the wonderful opportunity to see it in advance and am here to share some enticing tidbits.

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music

Macabre Shoutout: Black Rose Moves Releases New Song “Ghost Town”

August 11, 2024August 27, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments

Grant Leon and Mark Neat of Black Rose Moves

Hot on the heels of their debut single “Summer of Sorrow,” Black Rose Moves has released another track for your summer listening pleasure, “Ghost Town.” If this is your first time learning about the band, allow me to introduce you. The group hails from Birmingham, UK, and consists of Grant Leon and Mark Neat. Their music embraces darkwave and post-punk sounds, exuding rhythms that are easy to dance to. Here’s a closer look at their new song.

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Events, halloween

Midsummer Scream Slays Another Summerween

August 6, 2024September 17, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez12 Comments

Halloween was in full swing at Midsummer Scream! While I’ve made a tradition of attending this event annually, this year was the first time I purchased VIP Gold Bat Passes for the entire weekend. I was prowling the Halloween and horror convention Friday, Saturday AND Sunday. Plus, I attended the Saturday night afterparty, which was another first for me. Get ready for lots of details and pictures.

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