Welcome to our exclusive interview with acclaimed horror author, Isaac Thorne. Known for his spine-chilling narratives and masterful suspense (check out Hell Spring now!!), Thorne has carved a niche in the literary world that leaves readers clinging to every word. Today, we delve into the depths of his horrifying imagination, exploring the forces that inspire him, his unique writing process, and the stories that have left countless readers sleeping with the lights on. Prepare yourself as we step into the darkness of Thorne’s world, a realm where fear is the only certainty.
Sorta Legit Transcript
00:00.00
jim_phoenix
Hey, everyone Jim Phoenix here and boy am I excited for this new. What’s crack and this one I’ve been waiting for for our author series for a while it is probably the person I thought of first when I said we’re gonna do author series. It’s none other than Isaac Thorne if you’ve done anything at all in horror. You should know his name. He’s got housepring already out. It’s almost legal to drink in some areas or legal to date freak out, you’re old I don’t know one of that too but isaac. Thank you so much for coming over I bet you’re regretting it already like my. Looks legal to drink now. What? No how are you doing sir.
00:38.80
Isaac Thorne
Ah I’m doing Well thanks for ah for having me here. It’s ah it was ah quite a job to get us on the the same schedule but we did it and and we’re here now.
00:47.76
jim_phoenix
Yes, yes, it was it was for for those that don’t follow social media that much we we kind of tag team covered and not in the cool way in a very weird awkward way like I got call I can’t do it like oh that’s 5 will will schedule and then a day that day. The day of same thing like oh I just came down with it. How how it’s like a little virus I guess that goes around through the computer waves now. But I’m so glad it worked out both of our voices willing will kind of hold up now I have to o admit I do remember I do remember you? Ah, ah. A young strapping author who is already well established by the way. But my mind a young strapping author submitting to I think was was it ricky’s backyard or was that or was it haunted Mtl then.
01:37.12
Isaac Thorne
Now it was it I so it it wasn’t haunted Mtl but it was haunted mtl by the time. Yeah, ah but by the time it got into the publication. It was haunted mtl. Yeah.
01:43.75
jim_phoenix
That was Rookie’s backyard. It got into the publication.
01:54.24
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, that was ah a little ah short story called Dead rights that ah has never been published anywhere else since as a matter of fact, it’ll probably end up in a collection someday. But but yeah, ah.
01:58.56
jim_phoenix
That writes.
02:04.16
jim_phoenix
Wow, that’s.
02:10.87
Isaac Thorne
I was happy to have it in in haunted Mtl I Love that that story I thought it was funny and and you guys apparently did too.
02:16.53
jim_phoenix
It was It was brilliant. No it was. It was absolutely amazing because if you ever have to get the other end of this tick with being a publisher you get a lot of stuff going. Oh the slush piles get like really slushy sometimes I saw this like oh my God This is like really good.
02:34.22
Isaac Thorne
Yep.
02:36.42
jim_phoenix
This is amazing me not googling. Anyone’s name at all I like boy he’s got a career going for me if he he can take this far and then later on I I see the name pop up on Twitter im like oh okay, okay, right, right? right? right? ah.
02:53.96
Isaac Thorne
Ah I appreciate that? yeah.
02:56.25
jim_phoenix
Yeah, yeah, it’s a brilliant I felt like I just discovered Michael Jordan this is awesome like oh no, he plays for the bulls already really the five five championships are ready really, but who knew so you have the talent. Yeah.
03:07.80
Isaac Thorne
And dead rights was ah oh thank you. Thank you very much dead Rights was one of those that that actually it it was kind of a rarity in in Idea. You know it was one of those things that just basically comes to you fully formed and um and you write it down and and usually my stuff doesn’t work that way I’ll start with a yeah you know a scene um an idea for a scene and then work around.
03:27.73
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
03:40.00
Isaac Thorne
That for the short stories at least. But yeah dead rights.
03:41.76
jim_phoenix
Okay, that’s interesting. You’re saying that. So this came forbably formed dead rice just popping your head.
03:50.48
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, yeah, and it ah I don’t know why I usually my stuff is is somewhat influenced by the news current events you know, ah politics ah culture things like that.
04:05.21
jim_phoenix
Right.
04:06.49
Isaac Thorne
And um I don’t remember what was going on. Um, when I wrote it but but there there was some I remember there being some kind of news influence there and I’m like oh it wouldn’t it be funny. You know if if ah if this ah. This guy working in a University Morgue studying anatomy ah fell in lust with the corpse on his table and then she sat up and called him out on it. You know.
04:39.33
jim_phoenix
See That’s okay, that’s what brought me to it because maybe it’s my generation but was very aware of this one of my friends. Their father owned him ah are mortuary and this is when the.
04:52.81
Isaac Thorne
Oh.
04:56.72
jim_phoenix
The mortuary people were sleeping with the the dead and getting caught apparently like I don’t know who’s catching them but they’re in getting caught with it like the Snl Ski like we absolutely do not have sex with our cadavers that was the whole Snl skit for a bit so I read that like oh my god it’s like that ski it’s like that’s good for like.
04:58.80
Isaac Thorne
O god.
05:13.58
Isaac Thorne
Right.
05:16.67
jim_phoenix
You know the the 90 s I love it and you’re like that’s what I think to dereha I yes, the the news this must have been oh man well pre covered so it go back to about 5 years and then probably what between. 2015 to 19 to 18 ish. Maybe so it’s probably a lot of scandals. Yeah, so a lot of the the sexual. Ah this the scandals kept breaking you know, breaking wide open. Ah.
05:34.88
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, 18 probably yeah.
05:46.50
Isaac Thorne
The Weinstein thing and all that. Yeah.
05:48.66
jim_phoenix
Me too might have been Weinstein. Yeah was starting to crack open so there we there we have it is the I see you see something on the news or is is it earworm and its thing it’s like wouldn’t it be funny if this happens like wouldn’t that like little twist a little twist of the the truth of the truth of the story and.
06:01.10
Isaac Thorne
Right.
06:07.76
jim_phoenix
That’s an amazing way of of doing it I’ve I have heard from other authors who said they have the entire story I’m usually one of my other entire story in my head like even even unfortunately in the novels and screenplay in which gets really heavy and it’s it’s insane. Ah, but that and the the this.
06:17.64
Isaac Thorne
Ah.
06:26.27
jim_phoenix
Scene stars like he had a scene then he’s write the story around the scene or you see what the scene takes you do you ever try to force a character in and see with like what would happen if I do this hat You know this guy gets in there.
06:29.77
Isaac Thorne
Right.
06:35.72
Isaac Thorne
Yeah I’ve learned I’ve kind of learned that I can’t force a character to into any situation. The character doesn’t want to be as soon as I start trying to to force it it. It starts to read that way.
06:43.77
jim_phoenix
Right? yes.
06:53.17
jim_phoenix
Um, yes, absolutely and you did you learn it. How’d you learn it? How did you learn it. You try it. You try it The pick of we Alpad before? yeah.
06:54.47
Isaac Thorne
You know what? I mean Um, if you read that right? Yeah, actually yeah I mean I’ve I’ve gone back? Yeah, you know you go back to well especially in my first drafts. Um.
07:10.25
jim_phoenix
Yes.
07:12.10
Isaac Thorne
Because even the short stories I I you know rewrite and and rewrite several times but but you can when you read it especially in the first draft you can tell oh I was trying to make this something that the character obviously didn’t want it to be so cut.
07:26.80
jim_phoenix
Right.
07:31.42
Isaac Thorne
You know and or replace with ah with something else.
07:34.50
jim_phoenix
That’s that’s pretty good advice I think it’s things that we think intrinsically we can do and then we find out. No no, no, you can’t like we think like oh this is possible like I can make my characters do what I want.
07:44.53
Isaac Thorne
You can’t right? yeah.
07:50.81
jim_phoenix
And the character fights back like oh yeah I Guess you’re right? It’s it’s plot driven not care, got it plot driving. So we we find this out. There’s anything else you did in your past as a writer that you discovered a better way of doing.
08:07.23
Isaac Thorne
Um, not necessarily a better way. There are things I’ve stopped doing or stops trying to do like yeah when I um when I write my novels I I tried originally to do outlines. Um.
08:13.14
jim_phoenix
Right? really.
08:24.84
Isaac Thorne
Because a lot of people. Yeah, a lot of people I admire were were like outlines outlines you gotta outline it and once you outline it once you have all your ideas and and scenes and characters and everything in that outline The writing is easy. Well, the problem is I don’t have.
08:25.53
jim_phoenix
Aha.
08:44.15
Isaac Thorne
The story fully formed enough to create an outline from it. Um, like ah especially I mean you wouldn’t I wouldn’t outline a short story anyway. But but with the novels once I have the idea and and I know I have kind of a sketch in my head of.
08:49.99
jim_phoenix
Oh.
09:02.32
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
09:03.56
Isaac Thorne
Of what I think is going to happen. Well, as soon as I try to outline that and think I have a good solid outline when I start writing it. It goes somewhere else. So I ended up being what they they call a seat of the pants. Um, writer you know more? so. when I when I do the long fiction I do instead of trying to outline from the beginning. Um, before the first draft I take the first draft and I create an outline from that when it’s done. Yeah, and that way.
09:34.99
jim_phoenix
Oh really, this is pretty interesting.
09:41.24
Isaac Thorne
That way when I do the rewrites I can see the holes I can see the places where the the dots don’t connect I can see things that that you know started to go somewhere and never did um and that way I in right? in other words I use an outline to fix.
09:45.85
jim_phoenix
Right.
09:55.20
jim_phoenix
Yes.
10:01.80
Isaac Thorne
More than I use it to create.
10:05.64
jim_phoenix
I I laugh because I find I’ve given my own novel coming out. Ah shortly and I I found the same things where you write it and like this is great in your head they start outlining like oh this character appears like once for a.
10:21.25
Isaac Thorne
Right? exactly.
10:21.72
jim_phoenix
3 pages like why is this person even here story what? why is this even a thing. What what am I doing so the it’s that the it like the ah you doing like a post on on the postmortem on the outline on the first draft and trying to outline that way.
10:38.54
Isaac Thorne
Ah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
10:40.80
jim_phoenix
But that’s and then do you then? ah pin them to scenes or how do you move things around.
10:46.85
Isaac Thorne
Um, what I usually do. Um once I have that that outline is I might move um, a chapter here there you know I might see something that that I think well this.
10:58.40
jim_phoenix
I.
11:02.90
Isaac Thorne
Really should have happened earlier for this character to be in this place. You know later on or or maybe you know this character wouldn’t be having these revelations yet because not enough you know has has occurred to guide them to to.
11:07.67
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
11:21.74
Isaac Thorne
Whatever conclusion it is. They’re coming to so I might move chapters around and and if you do that Then you you do have to do some some rewriting in the chapters as well to make sure you don’t have any you know leftovers there where somebody’s somebody’s reading.
11:32.45
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
11:40.70
Isaac Thorne
Um, and they it it sounds like something just happened when it actually happened days ago now you know, um.
11:46.79
jim_phoenix
Right? And that and that’s the thing. Especially we start moving around so tell me this is not in freshen your mind anymore. So you really have to be careful with that. Yeah.
11:55.40
Isaac Thorne
Right? Yeah, exactly and that’s why it pays to um to not only do that outline for me but also to reread and and review multiple times and put some space in the days. Ah, between those like I finish a first draft I I won’t look at it for a week or 2 um, and then when I go back to it to do that right? when I go back to it to do that outline. It’s all fresh. You know, um.
12:20.46
jim_phoenix
Right? Put it in the freezer was that now.
12:32.13
Isaac Thorne
And then ah same thing after rewrites you know I’ll I’ll go through it again and I actually I have a um application on my laptop that I used to to have it read the manuscript aloud. To me while I wear headphones because I’ve also discovered that I can catch a lot of crap that way that I don’t catch by reading it writes.
12:51.82
jim_phoenix
Um, really.
12:57.68
jim_phoenix
Because you’re not gap filling. Yeah, whenre when when you’re especially when you’re reading your own work your mind Gap fills it just skips over stuff and because you you wrote it’s like you know what you mean, but it satsate’s silent in the paper though.
13:06.81
Isaac Thorne
Yes, exactly yep, right? Yeah I mean you mean the reader can’t see what I’m thinking you know.
13:15.79
jim_phoenix
What’s on papers different from what’s in your headd. That’s the that’s the issue. Yeah so I love it right? Yeah, if only if only next year the next new food and that’ll be horrific for me for technology now. So.
13:28.15
Isaac Thorne
Ah, yeah.
13:33.44
jim_phoenix
When you’re doing something like housering and I know housepring is the one that’s your almost one year old. Oh look at that almost one year old I Remember that first came out I remember like I saw that the the the cover like oh that’s a cool that’s cover man actually probably text is like like that’s a cool.
13:39.30
Isaac Thorne
Um, yep, yeah.
13:49.69
Isaac Thorne
That cover. Yeah, that cover has has generated a lot of eyeballs and a lot of comments and and hopefully a lot of the sales I’ve gotten of that that novel. It’s ah.
13:51.56
jim_phoenix
Cover.
14:06.36
Isaac Thorne
It’s actually my I have 1 cover designer who’s done most of the covers for my my books and that includes the the short stories that I put out as singles. Um and she and I actually usually table together at at local cons.
14:11.60
jim_phoenix
Wow.
14:24.77
Isaac Thorne
Um, because she has her own you know, art and coloring books horror and fantasy themed that she sells um and ah yeah, she Ah, she just knocked it out of the park with hell spring it. It is my favorite of.
14:32.99
jim_phoenix
Um, oh that’s amazing.
14:41.98
Isaac Thorne
Of the cover. She’s done for me I actually have a ah print of that hanging on my wall. You know, framed print because I yeah I Absolutely love that cover.
14:48.77
jim_phoenix
Really that’s but that’s awesome. I’m so glad you brought up your wall because one of the things I’ve seen and I’m on your website right now which is isaacthorn.com isaacthor and e.com which if you are an author I I’m not guilty I’m not doing this but mine’s coming if you’re an author I strongly suggest getting your own website because it gives you that 1 big step towards your readers that you won’t get just from doing ah Amazon’s
15:24.35
Isaac Thorne
Right.
15:26.60
jim_phoenix
And this is something I saw on your Instagram it was the the mailing room I believe you’re you’re doing like the whole mail. Yeah, and I’m looking at sign paperbacks if you go to isaacthorn.com sign paperback and please correct me if I’m wrong is 1999 right now.
15:29.61
Isaac Thorne
Um, yes, yeah.
15:42.86
Isaac Thorne
That’s correct. Yeah.
15:45.12
jim_phoenix
And if you go to Amazon the paperback file a signature 1999 so what you know it’s like it’s no brainer. What would rather do like get it from the author of a signature on it or you know Amazon you you this is a brilliant move.
15:58.30
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, it.
16:02.41
jim_phoenix
So what? what led you? What led you to this.
16:05.15
Isaac Thorne
I pricing a book when you’re an indie author and it’s always been kind of a hand-wringing thing for me because I I you know I want some profit from it. But when you’re an indie. Um, especially if you’re.
16:09.84
jim_phoenix
Oh yeah, yeah.
16:21.77
Isaac Thorne
The print stuff if you’re doing print on demand. It is more expensive short term to print on demand the per copy um, ah Print cost is higher than if you you know went to your local offset printer and had them print a thousand of course.
16:31.34
jim_phoenix
Yes.
16:41.57
Isaac Thorne
Then you have a thousand sitting in your basement you know, um.
16:42.17
jim_phoenix
That was what I got to got thousand copies. Yeah you you have a castle you you build cardboard box castles out of um, that’s what we used to do my castle.
16:49.92
Isaac Thorne
Ah, right? So so the pricing is is always you know a little bit of ah of a hand-wringing thing for me but I figured if I at least if I price it the same as I sell it for retail.
17:07.83
Isaac Thorne
I can include stickers I can include Bookmarks I can include a signature and these little things that also have cost to them but not so much cost that that it’s you know, completely taking away the the profit.
17:12.20
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
17:25.75
Isaac Thorne
And right and the ah the customer um gets more for their money as a result and I I enjoy doing that I like being able to to provide them with something that they’re not going to get buying it through Amazon or.
17:26.13
jim_phoenix
You’re not getting your Hopa margin. Yeah.
17:33.23
jim_phoenix
Yes.
17:45.20
Isaac Thorne
Or Barnes and I will and that’s not that I’m not happy when someone buys it through you know another channel um bookshop dot org you know, indie bookshops. Ah I’m a big fan of but but if I can give them a little something extra. Um. Even I have custom packaging that I send the the physical books in that has my little evil bunny character on it. So yeah, yeah, so right? exactly.
18:06.65
jim_phoenix
Really oh man so we see like that includes 2 free evil bunny stickers like on you one these now I got ah I’d buy for me is like the book probably already have but the bunny stickers I do not.
18:22.12
Isaac Thorne
Um, yeah.
18:23.98
jim_phoenix
It’s like a $20 bunny sticker like ah, it’s $10 each I’ll do it I’m crazy that way give me those buddies look I’ll think buy stickers all days. Sir. So I like how you’re packing this up, you’re you’re making you’re making it both a business but not so much. Is that like like an Mba kicking in. It’s it’s a business because you want to give the reader something more and and I making sense. Okay, yeah, and I know.
18:42.89
Isaac Thorne
Right.
18:48.55
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, exactly exactly?? Yeah absolutely and I mean if if I wanted and the thing about being an indie as well is is if I was doing this because I wanted to. Retire from it then that’s a fool’s Errand you know there’s There’s no way that I as an indie author without the the vast. Um, you know pocketbook of of a traditional publisher I’m gonna. Make enough doing this in the way that I do it to you know quit my day job. Um, so that’s not the reason I’m doing now that’s not saying an indie author can’t there are indie authors who have but that’s not me. Um I think.
19:29.26
jim_phoenix
Right.
19:42.69
Isaac Thorne
You know number one. My audience is too niche and I’m just I’m not I’m afraid if I try to make it my entire work life that the fun will leave. You know.
19:56.68
jim_phoenix
It’s the old Hunter Thompson thing when a young writer’s like I want to write for a living. It’s really fun like I give him the quote from Thompson’s like writing is a lot like sex. It’s only fun for amateurs. You don’t hear any old horrors giggling and and that’s like.
20:12.19
Isaac Thorne
Absolutely.
20:13.83
jim_phoenix
Like when you when you make it your fulltime Gig is like the the joy starts straining you know, but okay so I I see I see I see where you at I mean this is one of the things I was like Wow you’re and by the way for those who don’t know and it’s shame I You don’t know not knowing but you.
20:17.84
Isaac Thorne
Um, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
20:33.77
jim_phoenix
Isaac Thorne could go full time. My opinion. You could go full time and this is your old gig and that’s it because you’re writing spectacular. Your imagery is outstanding. The pacing is wonderful. Everything you want to. Not only teach in a writing class but things that you can’t quite teach unless you know it’s repetition. You just kind of like have to learn it. You just have to learn it by master crafting it. You’re there. You’re already there and well I appreciate you putting out good works.
20:58.15
Isaac Thorne
Um, well I appreciate that I appreciate that.
21:07.89
jim_phoenix
Like it’s mutual appreciation that way absolutely and then not only are you there but you understand the indie game. You understand what is what it’s like to apps I will say okay I’ll ask I’m only gonna say so. Have you thought about going to a I don’t I use a traditional publishing of vernacular like ah the external indie meaning a small publisher.
21:41.69
Isaac Thorne
A small press. Um I have considered it I have considered it occasionally but there’s also a part of me that actually yeah.
21:43.94
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
21:49.74
jim_phoenix
Just offload it.
21:54.28
Isaac Thorne
And and there are times when I desperately want to do that, Especially if they’re willing to take over stuff like social media. Um, you know which I’m ah I’m all over. But oh my god.
22:07.13
jim_phoenix
I don’t know how you do it I have no idea you’re my inspiration for social media like like you got like 5 points 2000000000 followers what like what.
22:18.73
Isaac Thorne
That well Twitter twitter I was able to build pretty quickly over a couple of years years ago I well x now whatever um but I don’t think I could do it now and and my other social media. Um.
22:24.37
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
22:36.18
Isaac Thorne
You know they’re not not paltry but they’re nowhere near um the number of of Twitter followers I managed to to build over that time. That’s 1 reason I’m sad to see what’s happening to it because I have a feeling I’m eventually gonna have to leave. Um.
22:49.44
jim_phoenix
To yeah I know that was the I evolve them I like Twitter the most as well used to and it’s just it’s more and more painful every time I look at it.
22:56.60
Isaac Thorne
But yeah, yeah, yeah.
23:05.95
jim_phoenix
And I’ll I’ll have to ask because I see it on your profile is is your Tiktok feed as painful as mine trying.
23:14.65
Isaac Thorne
I I have attempted to curate my I I have attempted to curate my my Tiktok feed so that it is mostly ah like cats you know? um.
23:15.55
jim_phoenix
Like you must’t use tik to like I used to pick Tikt Tock I did do want know.
23:30.81
jim_phoenix
There you go there, you go? Yeah smart Oh man I wish I was that smart I wish I was that smart I was like I was doing old man playing basketball again that was me I was like yeah.
23:34.12
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, cats and dogs and and particularly talking cats you know? ah.
23:49.39
jim_phoenix
Welcome to gens I’m out of shape. Oh boy that was a horrible. What what thing you used to be good at you’re really horrible now mind’s breathing like fuck like like that that’s like I 2 videos I think that but so we are both in the i.
23:53.20
Isaac Thorne
Um, yeah.
24:08.34
jim_phoenix
Yeah I I am there with you. It’s the you have to live social media and God I know some people who are marvelous at social media and they love social media and they eat it up I ain’t one of them and I always thought you might be because how hard you see you look like you’re working very hard I mean just.
24:27.52
Isaac Thorne
I am Yeah yeah I am yep yeah and I I don’t think I don’t think my work would have gotten um as out there as it is without.
24:27.97
jim_phoenix
You know the the retweets and the yeah so you’re doing that because you have to oh wow.
24:41.61
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
24:44.14
Isaac Thorne
Ah, Twitter in particular in the beginning if that Facebook I’m bad at um I I’ve never really um, never really become enamored of Facebook the way some folks have I’m I’m on it rarely? um.
24:57.84
jim_phoenix
9
25:02.80
Isaac Thorne
And a lot of that is just you know things I’m copying from from Twitter and and just reposting there. Um, but I I never really never really found my my legs there you know, um.
25:07.56
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
25:20.22
Isaac Thorne
Instagram I’m slightly better at um, but ah yeah I mean yeah yeah, that’s where I that’s where I post my ah my shipping station and my pops and.
25:22.85
jim_phoenix
I like your Instagram because I get to see your world. You know I get to see the picture is like oh this is very visual pops. You know that shipping honestly I saw that shipping saving like.
25:42.27
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, if.
25:42.29
jim_phoenix
Oh that is it. That’s what I have to do I to get off my butt and it’ it’s very inspiring so for your house spring. Yeah how a spring you say you may be doing another convention about house spring or we kind of kind of toy coming from Hell spring.
25:50.37
Isaac Thorne
Yes.
25:59.91
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, is there’s a a book. There’s a book blog tour coming up in October for health spring and um, the the tour manager that I’ve I’ve been working with for a year over a year now
26:00.74
jim_phoenix
I know I did the course.
26:08.52
jim_phoenix
Nice.
26:17.24
Isaac Thorne
On this book is just amazing in connecting ah with people and getting people to read it and and review it and and buy it. Um, so we’re we’re doing another one on this october. So so you’ll probably hopefully. Bc in hell spring on some book blogs and and much more on your social media feeds that not that I don’t post enough about it already. But.
26:43.41
jim_phoenix
Well heck if you don’t you always post more and that’s the thing you are a so kind and generous to us haunted empty L is like it blows me away every time like like is he just like really just. Spoke of my ass right now is that like no, it’s like oh Wow, this is very kind of you. Oh Wow and I see retreating stuff and listening and just blows me away man.
27:06.94
Isaac Thorne
now I yeah now I love you guys I love you guys I know and I listen to a lot of podcasts but and and they’ve come and gone over the years um you know and I don’t stick with. With all of them. But but you guys I’ve I’ve stuck with there are some core you know other podcasts that I’ve I’ve stuck with and I love your microfiction that you post on. Yes.
27:28.13
jim_phoenix
Well.
27:34.78
jim_phoenix
The microfictions but the the insitwes you know what helps ah especially for longevity of both podcasts and microfiction liquid I v so if you go liquid I and I’m kidding I’m not going to drop a plug inmi interview. But like what I be like the 1 times the legit thing you’re not talking about ewwas right now. It’s like now you’re pulling away? Yeah, but this is my point when you were you’re using social media even though you see it as part of a job for an author when I I agree it it is. You’re not just pushing book book book book book. You’re also pushing other people you’re talking, you’re engaging. You’re watching the last drivein you’re you’re tweeting at this, you’re you’re doing the cat video. You’re doing this you’re doing this photo it’s it’s it’s engaging you’re not just doing It’s not the echo chambers like to here it is you know press play and let it recycle through.
28:13.81
Isaac Thorne
Right.
28:23.75
Isaac Thorne
Um, yeah.
28:29.46
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, yeah, and I well I think that’s important. Yeah I think it’s important to do that and I well and I’ll tell you I’ll tell you when I first landed on on Twitter back. It’s probably 2015
28:31.25
jim_phoenix
You are absolutely engaging with people which I think is a missing step. Yeah, it bus to.
28:47.48
jim_phoenix
Wow.
28:48.45
Isaac Thorne
I think was when I started my account on there of 1 of the first people who followed me and I followed back is is ah a guy called the bleeding critic. Um. He wears a ah clown mask and he does you know reviews of of movies video reviews of movies and books and one of the things that he always said um at the end of his videos was you know, make sure you. Ah, follow and like and engage you know with and he would promote other accounts. You know, saying like follow engage with this this account. It’s a cool account. So so he kind of started me down this road of of keeping up.
29:23.63
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
29:36.21
Isaac Thorne
Engagement and and actually you know talking to people and and responding to to other people and and helping them. You know, become more visible as Well. Um, and I do think it’s it’s important to do that. Otherwise you’re all, you’re doing is. Promoting and and people are going to ignore that after a time you know? yeah.
29:58.60
jim_phoenix
Yeah, they suss set up pretty quickly, especially nowadays it’s it’s why influencers only go so far once the Botox wears off, it’s over you know because they they didn’t build. They didn’t it sounds mean but they don’t didn’t build an honest.
30:06.47
Isaac Thorne
Right.
30:17.93
jim_phoenix
Like relationship with her followers is is a 1 way you know and this way you build it and I think we both watched the last drive and I’m pretty sure we’ve we’ve seen shoulder tweets on that I think that’s what they do really? well like people like that.
30:19.58
Isaac Thorne
Right? Yeah, exactly.
30:29.60
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, yeah, thank you.
30:35.46
jim_phoenix
Do it really? Well, you do it amazingly well and I think it goes off into why people should buy housepring First of all, if you want an autograph copy. There’s still some stuff right? There’s there’s a autograph. Okay, if you want an autograph copy of hell spring I’m feeling cocky ah hard back.
30:44.92
Isaac Thorne
Yes, absolutely.
30:55.31
jim_phoenix
Why not? why not get the heart back out. So I want I want to see this suck anyway, if you want to autograph copy ah of how was bringing the hard back hard back. You can kill someone with this probably don’t please don’t see your lawyer first I actually don’t see it lawyer. It’s illegal to kill anyone you want period haunted empty yale it’s on us, you go tweet at us you dm us you x thread us Tick I don’t even know what Facebook messaging I don’t know whatever is you make it known with your address and we will send out one the paid to you that that’s how it is how spring the very first 4 people I like number 4 kind of weird that way.
31:31.80
Isaac Thorne
Awesome.
31:33.56
jim_phoenix
Get a copy of hellring and everybody else by yourself by yourself. Go to isaacthorn.com ISAACTHORNEDotCom get yourself some house spring. It is awesome sauce and there’s even a I’m ultra jealous. There’s an audible book I’m so jealous.
31:50.48
Isaac Thorne
Um, um of not of hellspring yet. Um my my yet. Yeah yeah, the other books.
31:53.50
jim_phoenix
Have no idea not if yet. Okay so I’m not jealous of you yet? Okay think yet is it coming out. How’s that how’s that working for you.
32:05.94
Isaac Thorne
Um, the the other books are all in audio format. The narrator of the Gordon place is is actually hopefully going to be able to do the the audiobook edition of of hell spring I wanted. I had hoped to be able to get him on it. Um, in time to to have them both. You know, sort of released around the same time. Unfortunately, he was already overwhelmed with projects. So it’s it’s in his queue.
32:32.19
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
32:39.86
Isaac Thorne
And hopefully hopefully will be coming soon.
32:42.63
jim_phoenix
Did you ever think about doing yourself doing the reading years.
32:45.83
Isaac Thorne
I I have my I actually have my short stories in audio format. Or yeah, they’re mostly narrated by me. Yeah, yeah.
32:51.99
jim_phoenix
I was say for the shorts. Yeah right? Yeah yeah, that that’s it’s always the thing because authors usually can do the best of inflections at the same time if for a novel that that’s a lot but that’s gonna take some time.
33:05.16
Isaac Thorne
Um, yeah, yeah, um.
33:11.65
jim_phoenix
But that’s like I can hear you glen fondinele. Ah, you just Hire Matt Barry there you go I hear you can do some stuff when he’s not being a vampire so you know what this has been a wonderful chat I thank you so much for a time we actually went over a little bit.
33:13.36
Isaac Thorne
Bad. Yeah.
33:27.88
jim_phoenix
I think for time and again if you want Hellring first 4 on us autograph hard copies. Why not you do some have our copy autographer. Okay yes, first 4 ah graph our copies. Why not.
33:35.80
Isaac Thorne
Yes.
33:44.43
jim_phoenix
Ah, give us Dm slide us in no bra blemo. We’ll get them out to quannie’s last but check out the site isaacthorn.com check them out on all the socials. It’s actually pretty cool. We follow them. Ah sir I’m gonna find your Tiktok now and your pinterest. Go hunt your pinterest take ax down. That’s woman do after this but thank you very much for everything sir isaac r thorne everywhere. That’s a very long name isaac r thorne everywhere. Oh but no, that everywhere was that part of it. Space. Okay.
34:03.42
Isaac Thorne
Ah, eyes it’s isaac R Thorne everywhere. Absolutely Yes, it’s isaac R Thorne space everywhere.
34:20.66
jim_phoenix
Like that’s a off play law name. Go follow them. It’s it’s entertainment is what well worth it and you’re going to learn something if if you are a horror fan. You had to follow if you’re a writer who wants to learn a trade follow them. Do just this follow you go learn Iler I Still learn a lot Honestly God I learned lot from you. So I Want to say thank you for that and thanks for coming and as it bye. Everyone.
Movies n TV
Evil: “F is for Fire” (S2E3)
“F is for Fire” is an episode of the supernatural drama, Evil. The assessors investigate a pyromaniac for potential demonic possession.
“F is for Fire” is an episode of the supernatural drama, Evil, created by Michelle King and Robert King. The central cast includes Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson, Christine Lahti, and Andrea Martin. It originally aired under CBS before moving to Paramount+. As of this review, it’s available through Netflix and Paramount+ and its add-ons.
The assessors investigate a pyromaniac for potential demonic possession. David (Mike Colter) brings Sister Andrea (Andrea Martin) into his circle of trust. Ben (Aasif Mandvi) remembers old Islamic stories of jinn. Kristen (Katja Herbers) meets an incredibly hot and mysterious figure. Sheryl (Christine Lahti) finds a therapist to work out her problems.
What I Like about Evil: “F is for Fire”
“F is for Fire” improves on Evil’s special effects, showing a renewed focus and competency in the area. The last season would likely use a more comical design, favoring tone over haunting the viewer with its budget. It helps that the design holds a haunting element to its fiery creature.
This episode introduces something outside the Christian/Catholic depiction, specifically relating to the Islamic jinn. This new element creates an understandable friction for the Catholic assessors. As Ben was raised Muslim and David’s Catholic teachings don’t permit the concept of jinn, it challenges both outside their comfort zone. Perhaps more so for Ben, who prides himself as an Atheist.
Either through trauma or evil influence, Kristen seems changed and impulsive. Her passionate pursuit of risks makes the viewer wonder how far she plans on going. With the introduction of her mysterious stranger, it seems a darker turn will soon follow.
While far from the darkest or most haunting episode Evil put to the screen, “F is for Fire” does suggest an unsettling new norm for the team. The plot also introduces a new supernatural villain who seems to create tangible harm beyond most of season 1’s earlier supernatural creatures. The stakes are greater now than ever, and “F is for Fire” aims to prove this to the viewer.
Tired Tropes and Triggers
There’s a wider theological friction within this episode, which I’ve mentioned earlier. This difference focuses on Islamic and Catholic understanding of spiritual forces and exorcisms. I am not versed enough to pretend to know if these are accurate portrayals, but I will expand on this point.
While not given much attention or focus, a demon sexually assaults a male character. Again, this lingers on the subjective state, but we know demons exist in this show by now, so the assaults feel less speculative and more real.
This episode continues flirting with infidelity that might irk some viewers. While nothing comes of this plot yet, the implications seem to suggest something will happen.
What I Dislike about Evil: “F is for Fire”
Sheryl’s attempted manipulation of another character seems awkwardly unnecessary and overly dramatic. I assume this act intends to show her manipulative character, which “F is for Fire” certainly adds to, but it does look like an attempt to connect two characters to fill time.
The jinn description is so minute that I don’t see how Ben came to any conclusion outside of a typical demon. A more detailed description might make Ben’s conclusion more reasonable to the viewer.
David’s claim that jinn are not of God and thus can’t exist which isn’t exactly true. From my understanding of Muslim lore, angels, jinn, and humans are of God and capable of good and evil. Perhaps a more accurate claim might suggest things outside the bible cannot exist.
Final Thoughts
“F is for Fire” tempts the assessors in new ways, sparking some unsettling weaknesses for Evil to rise. It continues layering the overarching plot and building the personal trials facing each character. While not the most haunting episode, “F is for Fire” nurtures a coming flame by building atop tension.
(3 / 5)
Hello everyone and Happy October! It’s time for some spooky goodness and terrifying treats. And of course at HauntedMTL, it’s our favourite time of the year.
That being said, this review is a long time coming.
I first had the pleasure of viewing LAST ONE ALIVE’s Michigan premier at Motor City Nightmares, a horror convention and film festival. In the audience was writer and director David Axe and star Caylin Sams to promote the film and answer questions.
And since I was fashionably late to the movie, I asked Axe if it was possible to snag a screener to watch the full movie and, well, here we are.
So, enjoy this rare spoiler-free review.
The Plot of ONE LEFT ALIVE:
Sara (Sams) is the lone survivor of a brutal massacre of her friends in the woods one fateful night.
And where most movies end here, ONE LEFT ALIVE begins.
Burdened by survivor’s guilt, police suspicion, newly found fame and growing nihilism, Sara navigates the world and her memories after the attack. Trying to regain her sanity and find out why she was the only one left alive, Sara keeps going back to the woods, searching for answers…or maybe her own ending.
Thoughts of ONE LEFT ALIVE:
LEFT ONE ALIVE is a unique film. It’s a slow-burn independent drama where the horror isn’t so much what’s out in the woods but picking up the pieces of a life interrupted by tragedy.
But that isn’t to say that it’s devoid of humor.
Writing
The writing swings between clichéd to clever, and sometimes to cleverly clichéd. There’s quite a bit of meta humor, but it’s not irritatingly so. It’s more through the perspective of Sara instead of any grand sweeping statements. There’s a point in LEFT ONE ALIVE where the actress playing Sara in a movie (Lorelei Linklater) confronts her for material and motivation. Sara becomes an on-looker of the film, watching another woman play the person who she had to become on the worst night of her life. We see her seeing the fake creatures (tubbies) that the fake film’s effects department created and realizing that her experiences are just being exploited.
But during these scenes, there’s humor mixed in. She punches the actress when she gets annoyed with the questioning, but only grows closer to her. Dating the actress afterwards in a strange relationship
Also, when seeing the fake Tubbies (the monsters) for the first time, she was really vocal about their missing…appendages. Dangly appendages.
Acting and Cast
However, some of the most genuine scenes came when Sara was with her sister, Sam (Rachel Tracy). The acting throughout ONE LEFT ALIVE can be slightly stilted. However, it shines brightest between Sams and Tracy, showing the bond of their sisterhood and the love they share. It felt very natural and organic, really achieving some of the best moments of the film.
For such a tight budget, Axe really was able to use a lot of resources. The casting was really impressive, having both seasoned and new actors including Rachel Petsiavas, Alex Javo, the delightful Sanethia Dresch, and Raj Karottukunnel.
Cinematography
Sarah Massey produced, shot and edited the film, and took risks with some of the shots. However, the risk paid off, not only keeping the story and perspectives interesting, but also reminded me of the art of cinematography.
It’s not often when a movie reminds me that yes, this is a moving picture. Each scene should be expressed in a way that suits the theme, mood and acting. I don’t want to sound old and be like, “movies these days…” But here we are. I am old and also, movies these days. Cinematic shots are meant to serve as a kind of shorthand for what the audience is meant to be feeling – what the expression of the film is and inside the minds of our characters (i.e., long shots to show the character is feeling alone or overwhelmed, etc.). Cinematography 101 stuff.
One shot in LEFT ONE ALIVE that was clever and simple to execute was when Sara goes missing and her sister, Sam, is waiting at home, pacing back and forth. The camera moves with her as other characters are sitting down. The motion follows her unease, focusing only on her and her fear that something horrible has happened. Again. The audience experiences this unease with her as we, too, pace with her.
Music
Also, the music in LEFT ONE ALIVE – color me impressed. It’s often that I’ll watch a horror movie and either the music is too jarring (looking at you, Longlegs) or just doesn’t fit because it’s thrown in without relating to the movie itself. Tyler Matthews does an incredible job at adding to the scene than detracting from it in a careful balance. The music is never too intrusive as to divert attention away from the acting or cinematography, nor does it overstay its welcome. The editing and sound design were clever with when to have silence, music, and natural sound. It’s a difficult balance to do and LEFT ONE ALIVE is a shining example of how to do it right.
Critiques
The only critiques that I have are, as mentioned, the acting can be stilted. Some of the bigger concepts (like finding the new species, making a film within a film, and the legal/media issues) will need you to suspend your disbelief a bit. And as much as I love a slow-burn, some of scenes could have been cut down (like the uber ride).
BRAINROLL JUICE:
For this section I was going to talk about PTSD and dogmen, but then while researching for this review, I saw something I’d rather talk about more.
This movie was one of the last films with actor Raj Karottukunnel, who passed away in April of this year. He was very young (40 is young, trust me) and left behind two daughters. It’s evident he was extremely loved by those who knew him and he will be missed greatly.
There is a gofundme for his daughters for a college fund for them: Fundraiser by Rejani Nedumchira : Raj’s Princess Warriors (gofundme.com)
Sometimes when we watch movies, especially independent movies, we forget how fucking hard it is to make a film. It takes time. Work. Talent. Ambition. A lot of luck. Everyone goes an extra mile because it’s a small crew and it’s a dream that they have. They get to live it, but it takes a lot of effort.
It’s easy to forget there’s a forest through the trees and that these are all people. People with hopes and dreams and fears and whole other lives. Maybe they’re in front of the camera, maybe they’re directing the camera, or maybe they’re like my production assistant friend throwing dirt on actors for a civil war history show. But they all have a home and a family to go back to at the end of the day. And it’s incredibly sad when they don’t get to.
So, I guess this is just my soapbox to remind fans to be kind. Remember to be grateful and gracious of the people who are part of this very cool thing that we love and care about. Horror is, ironically, about community. About a place to belong, even in our darkest moments, even when we’re weird and gross. Let’s keep it weird and gross and lovely and, above all, kind.
BOTTOMLINE:
Even though it’s not in distribution yet, when it is and you’re looking for something a little different in your horror repertoire, I would highly suggest LEFT ONE ALIVE.
(4 / 5)
We’ve reached episode five of Marvel’s Agatha All Along. And after last week’s bombshell reveal, I expected some serious answers.
I’m happy to say we got them.
The story
We begin our episode again on The Road. But now, for the first time, the coven is not alone. They’re being hunted by a terrifying group of witches called the Salem Seven. Trapped, they craft brooms and take off into the air.
This only allows them to escape for a few moments, but a few moments is all they need to get into the relative safety of the next challenge house.
There, they find themselves in a sleepover. This is Agatha’s challenge. And of course, Agatha’s challenge is that she has to face the ghosts of her past—the literal ghosts, including the ghosts of her mother and her son.
While they do get out of the challenge, they leave someone behind. Agatha, having shown her true colors again, reveals that she knows who Teen is finally.
And by the end, so do we.
What worked
I want to begin by talking about The Salem Seven. Because they are creepy as hell.
The way they move is fantastic. Their strange, jerky movements are unnerving enough to get under just about anyone’s skin. But knowing who they are, and why they hate Agatha, lends an additional level of emotional trauma.
I also really liked that this challenge took place in a sleepover. Even better, a sleepover in the late eighties, early nineties. As anyone who attended a girl’s sleepover during that time will tell you, those got witchy even if no one at the party associated with being a witch. There were ouija boards. There was fortune telling. There was calling on evil demons, like Bloody Mary and Candy Man. I may or may not have been a part of a game of Light as a Feather, Stiff As A Board in which a friend was dropped on the concrete basement floor. The point is, sleepovers get witchy and I appreciate the acknowledgment. I also liked that the rules regarding the Ouija board were pretty well spot on.
And pretty well ignored as soon as Teen spoke them.
Speaking of Teen, he is just about done with everyone’s catty behavior. And I mean everyone, including Agatha. His opinion of her seems to have greatly changed since the beginning of this journey. And he has clearly had enough.
Rio and Agatha’s relationship has also changed. It’s fascinating to see Rio be so protective of Agatha, while at the same time still ready and raring to kill her. While I’m not sure that’s the healthiest relationship, it kind of seems to work for them.
What didn’t work
All of that being said, there was one glaring problem with this episode. And it is, unfortunately, Agatha.
We’ll recall that Agatha, at the start of this season, wasn’t a good person. She was not a good person in Wandavision, so that shouldn’t be surprising. I will again remind everyone that Agatha killed Sparky.
But by this time in the season, I would have expected her to have had some character growth. And that is not what we are seeing here. It appears that Agatha is just as selfish, just as fast-talking, and just as cruel as she’s ever been.
And that is just not what we wanted. If we get to the end of the season and Agatha hasn’t grown, then it’s going to feel like a cheat. While the adventures along The Road are fun, I don’t think that’s what we’re all here for. At least it’s not what I’m here for.
Let’s hope we start seeing some character growth next week. Otherwise, this whole journey is going to feel worthless.
(3.5 / 5)
