Sam Munster

Nosferatu – The Real Story

December 16th, 2024

Nosferatu – The Real Story is a new documentary from Robin Bextor and Reel 2 Reel Films available for digital download today. This fascinating documentary got me even more excited for Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu and I learned so much about the history of Count Orlok in film.

I had no idea Aleister Crowley was a “major contributor to the philosophy behind Nosferatu”, nor did I know the fact that we nearly never got to see Nosferatu as Bram Stoker’s widow, Florence Balcombe, ordered all copies be destroyed. It’s hard to imagine what horror cinema would be today, without the influence of Murnau’s masterpiece. I also really appreciated that FW Murnau’s queerness wasn’t shied away from, or omitted.

The documentary has an atmospheric score, beautiful visuals and interesting interviews and if you love documentaries and learning your horror history, like me, I really recommend it. Thank you to Aim Publicity for sending me a preview.

Nosferatu – The Real Story on digital 16 December from Reel 2 Reel Films.

Nosferatu – The Real Story on Amazon Prime
The Haunted Season – To Fire You Come at Last

December 9th, 2024

The Haunted Season is a new annual series on Shudder from Severin Films and Kier-La Janisse. I absolutely love the tradition of ghost stories at Christmas time, so I’m really excited to be treated to a new ghost story every December.

To Fire You Come at Last is the first short film, a beautiful black and white story set in a rural 17th century village. Squire Marlow’s son has died and he hires 3 men from the local village to carry his coffin to the graveyard. It’s dark, it’s atmospheric and it’s wonderfully creepy. There’s just something about period ghost stories that is incredibly cosy and so perfectly suited to Christmas and the winter months.

I missed To Fire You Come at Last at FrightFest 2023, so I’m really pleased it’s found a home on Shudder and is also part of an ongoing series. Folk horror has a rich history in British film (and culture!), which Kier-La has lovingly explored in Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (which is incredible, if you haven’t seen it!) I really enjoyed this tale and now I want to lose myself in folk horror and ghost stories, for the foreseeable.

It’s wonderful to see James Swanton in another classic British ghost story and this time, not hidden under creature makeup. A truly standout performance that both made me chuckle and unsettled me.

To Fire You Come at Last is on Shudder now – a perfect cosy watch for Christmas Eve.
Advent (2024)

December 3rd, 2024

I spoke to the lovely Airell Anthony Hayles about his new movie, Advent. We talked about Krampus, FrightFest and the wonderful horror community and our shared love of The Muppet Christmas Carol (😂)

Advent is creepy, atmospheric and is definitely a new entry to my annual Christmas horror watchlist. You can watch Advent now on digital download – it’s one I definitely recommend!

*We had some issues with internet lag, which I’ve tried to edit around, so we do miss a tiny bit of the converstion. (We were talking about the BBC Ghost Stories for Christmas box set and how wonderful it is. Treat yourself! [Amazon Affiliate link]) Thank you to Aim Publicity for setting this interview up for me! 🥰

Watch Advent on Amazon Prime.

Watch Advent on YouTube.
Interview With the Vampire – Season 1 & 2 box set

October 16th, 2024

Interview With the Vampire is just perfection 😍 I am so very late to the party with this show, but as the season 1 and 2 boxset has just been released from AMC Networks and Acorn DVD, it was the perfect time to watch it.

I am obsessed. The incredibly beautiful cast, the costuming, the score, the accents, the sets, the blood and gore, the queer love story at its’ heart – just everything is the perfect romantic vampire dream. I’ve never delved into the Anne Rice novels, but I am choosing to believe this is the definitive portrayal of Rice’s vampires. I have fallen deeply in love with Louis, Lestat and Claudia in season one and I still have another two series to come 🙌🏻 The final episode of the first season is so heartbreakingly, exquisitely beautiful and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

The show perfectly balances period drama, supernatural horror and gothic romance, as well as fully committing to the queer subtext of the novels and showing a loving (if not problematic) relationship between Lestat and Louis. The show also addresses race and being set in New Orleans in the early 20th century, these choices bring such a depth to the characters and their world.

The season one disk also includes the 2022 San Diego Comic Con panel, which is fascinating, delightful and so full of heart.

Thank you Aim Publicity for the review copy. This beautiful release is available now on 5-disc bluray boxset (Amazon Affiliate link).