Tag: horror

Culture, Events, Literature

Remembering Vampire Author Anne Rice at the All Saints’ Day Celebration

by Jennifer Vasquez8 Comments on Remembering Vampire Author Anne Rice at the All Saints’ Day Celebration
Anne Rice: An All Saints' Day Celebration
Anne Rice: An All Saints’ Day Celebration

I first got hooked on (or shall I say sucked into) Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles when I was a teen, and ever since then, I’ve wanted to visit New Orleans. This city is Anne’s birthplace and a significant location in her notorious vampire novels. Because of this, the city has become synonymous with these nocturnal creatures. I dare say, it’s as much a vampire capital as Transylvania! I had the great fortune of being able to finally travel to New Orleans to attend a special event commemorating the author—Anne Rice: An All Saints’ Day Celebration. It was an experience that had a remarkable effect on my soul.

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History, Travel

Exploring the Haunted Side of Long Beach on the Driver Horror Tour

by Jennifer Vasquez2 Comments on Exploring the Haunted Side of Long Beach on the Driver Horror Tour
Vamp Jenn hopping on the Driver Long Beach Horror Tour
Vamp Jenn hopping on the Driver Long Beach Horror Tour

The shuttle company Driver is offering a fun way to explore Long Beach, California, with their fleet of street-legal golf carts. Not only do they offer rentals for locals and visitors year-round, but they’re also hosting a special excursion for Halloween season. The wonderful people at Driver invited me to be part of their first-ever Horror Tour and I’m so thankful they did!

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Culture, Literature

Inside Spinal Dread: A Horror Literature Festival

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on Inside Spinal Dread: A Horror Literature Festival
Anaheim Public Library presents Spinal Dread: Horror Literature and Culture Festival
Anaheim Public Library presents Spinal Dread: Horror Literature and Culture Festival

As a bookworm and horror fanatic, I was thrilled to hear that the Anaheim Public Library in Orange County, CA, was going to be hosting a horror literature festival called Spinal Dread.  The free event featured presentations, workshops, and vendors. It was a wonderful way for fellow horror enthusiasts and bibliophiles to connect and explore the horror genre.

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Film, History

It’s Horror Galore Inside the Halloween: Dungeon of Doom at The Hollywood Museum

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on It’s Horror Galore Inside the Halloween: Dungeon of Doom at The Hollywood Museum
Vamp Jenn entering The Hollywood Museum's Halloween: Dungeon of Doom
Vamp Jenn entering The Hollywood Museum’s Halloween: Dungeon of Doom

The Hollywood Museum in Los Angeles is a great place to explore if you want to immerse yourself in the city’s cinematic history. It’s located inside the iconic Max Factor Building. Max Factor was a renowned makeup artist to the stars during Hollywood’s Golden Era. His clientele included silver screen goddesses such as Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow and many others.

My first time here was around 2012 when I checked out the Marilyn Monroe exhibit. The structure has multiple stories, each featuring a different exhibition. It has been years since my last visit, and this time I descended to its lowest depths into Halloween: Dungeon of Doom.

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Film

Horror Film ‘28 Years Later’ Delivers Zombies & a Tale of Humanity

by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments on Horror Film ‘28 Years Later’ Delivers Zombies & a Tale of Humanity
Vamp Jenn attending special screening of 28 Years Later
Vamp Jenn attending special screening of 28 Years Later

Who recalls when they first watched 28 Days Later? The 2002 film played such a pivotal role in reimagining zombies and presented them in a disturbing yet captivating way that has stuck with audiences. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland have teamed up again to create 28 Years Later, a narrative that is set nearly 30 years after the rage virus has spread. It’s a fascinating storyline that shows how survivors are managing to exist alongside the infected. I had the pleasure of attending a special screening before the official release. Don’t worry, no spoilers will be included in this review.

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entertainment, Events, holidays, Lifestyle, Nightlife, Travel

Odd & Macabre Events 2025

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on Odd & Macabre Events 2025
Vamp Jenn in her coffin at Dark Harbor

While one year has gone, another has begun. That means it’s time to look ahead to see what spooky surprises 2025 has in store. Every year on Vamp Jenn’s Corner, I like to compile a list of events that are taking place worldwide throughout the course of the next 12 months. My Odd & Macabre Events Calendar highlights all sorts of gatherings that fall under the strange and unusual umbrella. My hope is that it makes it easier to discover spooky events happening near you.

I include horror cons, immersive experiences, macabre holidays, dark art exhibits, Halloween haunts, and so much more. Some events are returning, so you may have seen them on my past calendars. I try to feature as many things as possible that take place across the globe, so a variety of locations are covered. I also do my best to keep this post updated and add more functions as I learn about them. Here’s a taste of what morbid and bizarre happenings you can expect in 2025. Bookmark and share this page and enjoy!

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Film

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

by Jennifer Vasquez3 Comments on Short Body Horror Film ‘Unravelling’ Explores the Complexity of Chronic Illness
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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Culture, Film, Lifestyle

Spotlight Feature: Ivotres Littles of Horror Movies & Beyond

by Jennifer Vasquez3 Comments on Spotlight Feature: Ivotres Littles of Horror Movies & Beyond
Ivotres Littles of Horror Movies and Beyond
Ivotres Littles of Horror Movies and Beyond

“Do you like scary movies?” -Ghostface from Scream (1996)

This is the question Ivotres Littles explores through her platform, Horror Movies and Beyond. Her YouTube channel is a treasure trove of horror content, from scary movie reviews to celebrity interviews to explorations into the unknown. Through her features, she analyzes, in an entertaining way, what makes horror so enticing.  

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History, Literature

10 Fascinating Facts About Edgar Allan Poe

by Jennifer Vasquez9 Comments on 10 Fascinating Facts About Edgar Allan Poe
Image by Angela from Pixabay
Image by Angela from Pixabay

No stranger to death, ghosts, hauntings and the occult, Edgar Allan Poe was right at home among the macabre. These morbid themes became great companions of his as he’d write his poems and short stories. His dark imaginings continue to bring readers into realms where the spectral reigns. A few years ago, I wrote a blog post celebrating the birthday of Poe, who was born on January 19, 1809. In it, I dedicated a small portion to interesting facts about the writer. I decided to expand on those and create a special feature to commemorate his birth. While many aspects of Poe’s life remain a mystery, the following are a few pieces to add to the puzzle of his existence.

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Film

‘Talk to Me’ Horror Movie Review

by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments on ‘Talk to Me’ Horror Movie Review
Sophie Wilde as Mia in Talk to Me (Photo credit: © A24)
Sophie Wilde as Mia in Talk to Me (Photo credit: © A24)

Imagine having access to an embalmed hand that allows you to contact spirits when you touch it. That plot is at the core of the Australian horror film Talk to Me, which marks the directorial debut of brothers Danny and Michael Philippou. I had the opportunity to attend an advanced screening at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, CA. The event was sold out and the space was bustling with excited viewers. When the lights turned down, we were all in for quite a supernatural thrill ride. Don’t worry, there won’t be any major spoilers, but there may be some scares.

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