Fifteen critics and filmmakers weigh in on the films that changed how they thought about documentary in this creative nonfiction survey.
Mike Thorn’s Ballot for Seventh Row’s Creative Nonfiction Survey
Ink Heist Guest Post: Mike Thorn’s 100 Favorite Books of the 21st Century (So Far)
“It might seem strange to assemble a list of the 21st century’s best books as early as 2021, given that less than a quarter of the century has passed. However, from 2000 onward, I made my biggest personal strides, both as a writer and as a reader.”
Darkest Hours: Expanded Edition Reviewed on Read by Dusk
“Darkest Hours is a fantastic collection of short horror stories with some of the most unique premises I’ve ever read! Body horror, terrifying visions, and monstrous creatures all make an appearance. The clarity and confidence in the writing made these stories come alive.”
Toronto Arts Report: Mike Thorn, The Voice of Canadian Horror, Talks Dark Subject Matter and Curiosity
Can you tell me about your childhood? What kinds of creative activities did you engage with? What were some of your favourite books as a kid?
I drew a lot as a kid, and I also started writing when I was quite young. I discovered C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien while I was in elementary school, and I was totally mesmerized by their books. R. L. Stine was my gateway into horror, but the real gamechanger was my first encounter with Stephen King; I read Pet Sematary while serving an in-school suspension in junior high, and that was the moment that everything changed.
Night Worms Guest Post: DARKEST HOURS Playlist by Mike Thorn
“Heavy metal has always shared a close relationship with the horror genre. From metal grandaddy Black Sabbath’s very name (lifted from Mario Bava’s 1963 anthology film) to the occult aesthetics of black metal and the grisly imagery of death metal, this diverse sonic universe overlaps with horror in varying noteworthy ways. Indeed, I found my gateways into heavy music around the same time I discovered horror fiction and cinema, and it all seemed somehow connected.”
STORM WARNING/CRAWLSPACE Double-disc now available (featuring Mike Thorn’s foreword, “An Auteur is Born”)
Howlin’ Wolf Records proudly presents a 2-CD set with music composed and performed by accomplished Director and Composer Jamie Blanks – Storm Warning (2007) and Crawlspace (2012). Both scores won “Best Musical Score” at Screamfest the only two years Blanks entered scores for competition at the festival.
With a foreword by author Mike Thorn, detailed notes on both scores by Jamie Blanks, and an epilogue by author Adrian Roe, STORM WARNING/CRAWLSPACE features Howlin’ Wolf Records’ most extensive packaging to date with a 32-page, full-color booklet, stunning photography by both Terry Hope and Hugh Fleming, and gorgeous original artwork by Hugh Fleming, all gloriously crafted and designed by longtime Howlin’ Wolf Records Art Director, Luis Miguel Rojas.
Mike Thorn presents a cinematic mood board for his latest book Darkest Hours: Expanded Edition
“As I did with Shelter for the Damned, I have created here a list of titles that provide a kind of cinematic “mood board” for Darkest Hours. I included the films I reviewed in the expanded edition’s Criticism section, as well as the films that had overt or indirect impact on the stories.”
Darkest Hours: Expanded Edition Reviewed on Kam’s Place
“No sober person had any supernatural encounters. Nothing good happens after dark, so stay the F*** home. Oh, and mirrors are evil so get rid of them! Now!”
