Happy Death Day to You

 

It's been a while since I've updated this blog. I've been busy podcasting with Monster Men and the Final Guys.

Incredibly, the Final Guys podcast just celebrated our first anniversary. Where does the time go? It's been fun so far and it's only getting better. Recently we added movie and book reviews to the site and we are featuring articles by a variety of writers from the FG community.

Here's my first submission to get you started. Check it out.
Happy Death Day (2017)

Belly Up to the Bar

My Monster Men partner Hunter Shea and I both had the chance to join our pal Jason Brant on Drinking with Jason, his new video podcast. Jason is a horror author and was a great guest on two recent episodes of our our show.

The premise of Drinking with Jason is simple. Jason and his guests choose a beverage and then have a chat online over a few drinks.

Hunter went first and it's a great show. Listening to two horror authors discuss the writing process and the business of writing is interesting enough, but with these two it turns into a hilarious and engaging conversation. Plus, Hunter has a bunch of great ghost stories that you won't want to miss.

Then I took a turn tipping pints with Jason and I had a blast. We covered a lot of ground, including my writing and podcasting work over the years. Highlights include The Purple Goldfish Project, my 24 blog, Dark Dossier magazine and the birth of the Monster Men.  We also talk about a lot of horror movies and I tell a few stories about some of the ghostly places I have explored, including infamous Danvers State Hospital and Lunatic Asylum. It's a pretty funny conversation and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks to Jason for having us on. Please check out Jason Brant's books and support his new show. 

Monster Men Meet the Monster Writers: Keith Rommel & Jonathan Janz

Keith Rommel
Cursed Men, Fallen Angels and the ever present shadow of death. On this new Monster Men we welcome back our buddy Keith Rommel, author and screenwriter. The movie of his book The Cursed Man is coming soon, and you won't want to miss his other novels; The Lurking Man, The Sinful Man and Among the People. Keep up with Keith Rommel at his website or Facebook page. 

Jonathan Janz

Follow the Exorcist Road! We are very excited to present this new Monster Men with our guest, the amazing horror author Jonathan Janz. Check out his must-read books: House of Skin, The Sorrows, Savage Species, Dust Devils and his latest, Exorcist Road. And check out the Jonathan Janz blog for more. 

Great Summer Reading with a Dark Twist

Issue two of Dark Dossier magazine is out and this time it's got twice as many Monster Men.

Pick up this issue for an article from Hunter Shea about the Montauk Monster and my piece on why "Hannibal" is a show you should be devouring. Plus a ton of great, spooky content from an assortment of fine writers.

Please support this new publication. It's available in hard copy or electronic version. 

Details at: http://www.darkdossier.com

The Scariest Wine Tasting Ever

You're gonna love this one. It's the first ever Monster Men wine tasting episode. We've selected a line of spooky wines to sample. 

On the menu; Ghostly White, Blood Red and Zombie Zin. Are they delicious or horrific? 

Watch and see. 

Follow the Monster Men on Twitter:
Jack: @BackinJack
Hunter: @HunterShea1

Meet the Cursed Man

We Monster Men are proud to present our interview with Keith Rommel. This was one of our favorite episodes we've ever done. Keith is not only an interesting person, but he truly has the spirit of a Monster Man and we are happy to have a new friend.

 

Keith is the author of THE CURSED MAN, great book that is also in production as a movie. His Thanatology series also includes THE LURKING MAN and the THE SINFUL MAN. Thanatology is the study of death and dying, and each of his books features death, in some form, as a main character. 

Here’s the description for THE CURSED MAN: 

Alister Kunkle believes death is in love with him. A simple smile from friend or stranger is all it takes to encourage death to kill. 

With his family deceased and a path of destruction behind him, Alister sits inside a mental institution, sworn to silence and separated from the rest of the world, haunted by his inability to escape death's preferential treatment. 

But when a beautiful psychologist arrives at the institution and starts offering him care, Alister braces himself for more killings. When none follow, he tries to figure out whether he truly is insane or if death has finally come to him in the form of a woman. 

Keith is a fantastic author and a really great guy. You will love the stories behind his books as well as the process of making a book into a movie. To learn more about Keith Rommel, visit his website at http://keithrommel.weebly.com and buy his books on Amazon. 

In Search of the Beast of Boggy Creek

This is part two of our interview with Lyle Blackburn. We discuss his true passion, the legendary Fouke Monster of Boggy Creek. It all started when Lyle saw the movie “The Legend of Boggy Creek” as a kid. That movie captured his imagination and has never let go. Now Lyle is a leading authority on this topic. You will love hearing his stories.

We also discuss what it’s like to hang out with the guys from FINDING BIGFOOT. 

Be sure to watch part one of our interview with Lyle Blackburn where we discuss his newest book, “Lizard Man.”  For all things Lyle Blackburn, check out his website at www.lyleblackburn.com

  

Hunting the Lizard Man with Lyle Blackburn

The Monster Men have a big treat in store for you this time around. On this episode of the video podcast we interview author and real life monster hunter, Lyle Blackburn. Lyle's books THE BEAST OF BOGGY CREEK and LIZARD MAN are must reads for fans of cryptozoology, urban legends and monsters. In part one of our interview we focus on the events in Bishopville, NC surrounding the mysterious Lizard Man. Lyle has the full story and a lot of behind the scenes knowledge from his vast research into this case. 

Check out Part One and watch for Part Two coming soon. That's when the focus turns to the Beast of Boggy Creek.

THE WAITING is Over

We dedicate this episode of Monster Men to Hunter Shea's new novella, THE WAITING. It's a ghost story about a newlywed couple and a ghostly apparition of a young boy that appears in their home. Not only is it a fun and chilling read, but it's also inspired by actual events. Check out the show and and then get yourself a copy for your Kindle or eReader.

An Interview with Robert Stava, Horror Author: Monster Men Ep. 53

A new Monster Men is up! Our guest this time is horror author Robert Stava. Robert is a great writer and a good friend of the show.

We discuss his great new book, The Feast of Saint Anne, which is a clection of four short, inter-related stories. It's the second book in his Hudson Valley Horror series, following up his first book, At Van Eyckmann's Request. You'll also learn about the mysterious town of Wyvern Falls, the epicenter of Stava's Hudson Valley horror stories. 

We also cover a variety of other spooky topics like Sleepy Hollow, creepy carnivals, the haunted Hudson Valley, ventriloquist dummies and the Red Baron's Daughter. 

You are not gonna want to miss this one. And after the show, head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of the book!



The Monster Men Video Podcast: If you love things that go bump in the night, you'll fit right in.

• Find more episodes of Monster Men at: www.themonstermen.net 
• Facebook at www.facebook.com/monstermen13
• Horror author Hunter Shea at www.huntershea.com

Monster Men Ep. 48: Scary Books & Movies for the Halloween Season

Episode 48 of Monster Men is up!

Now that Halloween season is here, it's time to embrace all things spooky and scary. That includes movies, TV shows, Halloween specials. haunted houses, pumpkin festivals and books. Books, books, books!

Scary books, horror novels, terrifying tomes... whatever you want to call them. A great way to get into the Halloween spirit is with a good book. 

To help usher in the month we Monster Men like to call HORRORTOBER, Hunter and I have collected a list of great, scary books and some cool horror movies for you to check out. This includes great, original books, novellas by Tim Myer, Brian Moreland, Jonathan Janz, Jamie Evans and Frazer Lee.

Let us know what you think of our picks and let us know some of your suggestions. Join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/monstermen13. 

And now for the big news....

I am happy to announce that the Monster Men now have a website! So now you can find us at www.themonstermen.net as well as on our YouTube Channel and on Facebook. Check out our new site and let us know what you think. It's a work in progress, so please come back often to see what's new.

One last thing... keep an eye on #horrortober all month for posts from Hunter and I on all of our Halloween antics and please join in by marking your tweets with our hashtag too.

Monster Men Ep. 47: Horror TV's Reign of Terror

The Monster Men Video Podcast: A light-hearted look at dark topics.  

And this time the Monster Men are discussing the current crop of horror and paranormal TV show. Two shows in particular have caught the our attention; BATES MOTEL and HANNIBAL. Plus we discuss season one and two of AMERICAN HORROR STORY. Then we cover some of the other popular supernatural programs like GRIMM, THE FOLLOWING and HEMLOCK GROVE.

 
  
The Monster Men take on all things horror and paranormal with their special brand of graveyard humor. If you're into vampires, zombies, UFOs, werewolves, ghosts, movies, scary books, movie reviews, the supernatural or just about anything dark and monstrous, welcome home.

Find more episodes of Monster Men here on our YouTube channel: Monstermen13 or at www.huntershea.com and you can also join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/monstermen13

Monster Men Ep. 45: Man of Steel & Super Hero Movies

Look, up in the sky. It's a bird, it's a plane... it's a new episode of Monster Men!! On this episode of the Monster Men video podcast, Hunter Shea and I review and discuss the new Superman movie, Man of Steel. This leads to a bigger conversation about super hero movies in general.

I love super hero movies and it truly is a great time to be a fan of this genre. However, movies like Man of Steel prove that these movies can be very polarizing. What one person loves, another person is offended by. I think that’s part of the fun of these movies… the debates that unfold after you see them. That’s exactly what you’ll see in this episode; Hunter and I agreeing, disagreeing and having a blast talking about everything from The Dark Knight to Kick Ass. 

Here's a just a sample of the movies we cover in this episode: 

Superman, Batman, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, Thor, Green Lantern, Spiderman, Justice League, X Men, Iron Man, Captain America, X Men, Wolverine, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Fantastic Four

 

Of course, it’s all a matter of opinion, and we Monster Men are never shy about stating ours. After you watch the show, please chime in on our Facebook page, YouTube Channel or here and let us know what you think.

Excelsior!!

Two Years of Aaarrgh!!! - Ep. 44: Welcome to Monster Men

In July of 2011, horror author Hunter Shea and I decided to start a video podcast called Monster Men. The idea was to create a show that would capture the countless conversations we would have over lunch or a beer about our favorite topics; horror movies, TV shows, books, comic books, paranormal TV shows, ghosts & hauntings, zombies, vampires, werewolves, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and pretty much anything else that goes bump in the night.

Two years later and we are still going strong. It’s been a blast. People have commented that they feel like they could easily picture themselves pulling up a barstool and joining in our conversations. That’s fantastic. It’s just the kind of vibe we were going for. 
 
If you watch the show, you know we don’t take ourselves very seriously and we have A LOT of fun. That’s the point… just have fun. One thing that sort of just happened was our intro at the start of each show. As we got more comfortable with ourselves and the show, Hunter started adding a growl after I had welcomed our viewers to the show.  Now, “Welcome to Monster Men. Aaarrgh!!“ has become our trademark and a staple of the show.

So to celebrate our second anniversary, please enjoy the openings to two years worth of Monster Men video podcasts. You’ll also see a few outtakes and one unpublished bonus clip from a future show.  (Hint: Like a Marvel movie, stick around to the end of the credits.)

And thanks to everyone who supports us, watched the show, comments and likes our posts and shares our links with their friends. 

IN THE HOUSE OF MIRRORS: A Good Horror Read

I recently read the new horror novel IN THE HOUSE OF MIRRORS by Tim Myer, co-host of the Splatter Chatter podcast.  I wrote a review on Amazon and thought I’d post it here as well.

If you are looking for a horror novel with an edge, and one that will keep you guessing, IN THE HOUSE OF MIRRORS is for you. It quickly draws you in and before you know it, you won't want to put it down.

The story is suspenseful, fast-paced and gets more and more interesting as you go. Plus, it's got satanic cults, demonic forces, sadistic murderers, dark magic and even a few laughs. What more could you ask for?

At the heart of the story is Ritchie Naughton. Ritchie returns home to New Jersey when his life comes crashing down, thanks to a health scare and an unpleasant end to a long-term relationship. But that's just the beginning of his bad luck. After taking a job as a photographer for a small, local paper, the strange, old camera he finds in the office basement starts to capture some disturbing images that should not be there. Before long, Ritchie is neck deep in the dangerous underworld of Red River, NJ and the dark forces hidden IN THE HOUSE OF MIRRORS.

Ritchie Naughton is a big reason why you'll enjoy this book. He is a regular guy, just like you or me. You'll immediately find yourself relating to him and rooting for him. Author Tim Meyer has created a very realistic and likeable character that talks and thinks like a real person. His inner monologue and banter with some of the other characters can be quite funny at times. His reactions and thoughts always seem authentic, especially in light of the crazy things that he experiences as the story progresses.

Forget those same old vampire and zombie stories you've been reading for years and try something new and different. Take a trip IN THE HOUSE OF MIRRORS; you'll like what you see.
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Note: I was provided a copy of the book by the author for purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review.

Taking a Dip with the Loch Ness Monster - Monster Men Ep. 43

Finally, the Monster Men take a plunge into the icy waters of Scotland’s most notorious body of water in search of Nessie. 

 

The Loch Ness Monster is the king of all lake monsters and sea serpents. He rivals Bigfoot and the Abominable Snowman as the most famous of the legendary creatures… and it’s about time he got his own episode of the show.

In this episode of the Monster Men video podcast, Hunter Shea and I discuss a monster that has interested us since Leonard Nimoy first went IN SEARCH OF the Loch Ness Monster.  Topics include Loch Ness movies like THE LOCH NESS HORROR, THE WATER HORSE and INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS – books like “The Loch Ness Monster: The Evidence” by Steuart Campbell and  Loch Ness by Donovan Galway. Plus we cover some interesting facts, figures and stories, including a little know link between Nessie and Led Zeppelin. 

Can you solve this puzzle?

Ghostly Guest Blog at Huntershea.com

We’ve finally done it. We crossed the streams!! Kick-off your long weekend with my ghostly guest post on Hunter Shea's blog. This time out I am talking about ghosts and why we are so fascinated by them. Check it out and feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts or stories. 

Hunter, my Monster Men podcast partner, is busy promoting his new book, Sinister Entity, which is a great book and I highly recommend it. So please check it out if you are looking for a good read.

Enjoy.

Follow the Monster Men:

Twitter:

Jack: @backinjack

Hunter: @huntershea1

Facebook:

Facebook.com/monstermen13 

Happy Valentine's Day

I just wanted to take a moment and send some love to everyone who watches and supports the Monster Men video podcast. Thank you and we love ya.

I don't know what says "I love you" better than a Monster Men Zombie Valentine. It's an undying love. Have a great day. 

Monster Men: A lighthearted conversation about dark matters.
For some great horror talk, book and movie reviews along with ghosts, UFOs and anything else that goes bump in the night, check out the Monster Men Video Podcast hosted by me and horror author Hunter Shea. Episodes are posted here on Back in Jack and on Hunter's blog as well. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel; MonsterMen13.

Why WARM BODIES Might Just Work on Film

If you've been watching TV lately you must have seen the trailers for the new zombie romantic comedy WARM BODIES. I guess you could call it a Zom Rom Com.

WARM BODIES is a movie based on the novel by Isaac Marion, which is described as a "zombie romance" and is often dismissed as TWILIGHT with zombies. I had never heard of it until my Monster Men podcast partner Hunter Shea reviewed it way back on our third episode, a show dedicated to all things zombie. That was over a year ago. I have included a link to the video below so you can watch the episode. I'll spoil it a bit by telling you that Hunter loved the book. He also added that it essentially moved his wife to tears. Naturally, I was curious and anxious to read it myself.

Shortly thereafter, I read the book. It's definitely a different take on the zombie genre. The story revolves around a zombie known only as "R". He cant remember his entire name. Give him a break, after all he is dead. One day, during an attack on some teenagers, R eats the brain of a guy named Perry and begins to experience emotions for Perry's girlfriend, Julie. R ends up protecting Julie from the rest of his zombie cohorts and takes her back to his home at the airport. Slowly but surely, R continues to regain his humanity and a relationship blossoms between these two unlikely people. What follows is a story of forbidden love between a couple from different worlds, the living and the dead. And these two worlds to do not mix. 

If this all sounds a bit familiar, it's because WARM BODIES is not so much TWILIGHT with zombies, but rather ROMEO and JULIET with zombies. Just look at the two main character's names; R and Julie. 

(I know, I know... TWILIGHT is basically a take on ROMEO and JULIET with vampires. But WARM BODIES is much closer to Shakespeare's actual story.)

I have to admit, I was not as big a fan of the book as my podcast partner was, and to his credit, he is a published horror author and I am not. So he may know literature better than me. However, while I did not "love" the book, I did think it was a pretty good read and an interesting new direction to take the zombie genre. I mean really, how many more DAWN OF THE DEAD ripoffs do we need? If you are looking for something different in a zombie book, it's definitely worth a look.

Not long after I read the book I learned that a movie was in the works. I have to say, at first I did not think it was a good idea. A film version of this book seemed like an inevitable "TWILIGHT with zombies" if there ever was going to be one. Also, the idea of a zombie/human romance might work in a novel, but not everything translates from book to screen that well.

Then, after many months, a trailer finally came out. The first thing that struck me was that
Rob Corddry, from THE DAILY SHOW, OLD SCHOOL and HOT TUB TIME MACHINE, was cast as R's best friend, M. That was unexpected and a good sign. I am a big fan, but he's a funny guy and not one you'd think of for a romantic horror movie. My interest was officially peaked. Then I watched the trailer and I realized that the film was taking a more comedic approach to the material. I have to say, that's pretty smart, or as R might say, "That's using your braaaaaiiiins."

I don't think a serious approach to this adaptation would have worked. Particularly the "Bonies", who are the skeletal elders of the zombie hoards. Also, I just don't know if the general public would buy a zombie/human romance with a straight face. Edward in TWILIGHT may be a vampire, but he's handsome, charming, can talk and does not stink of death. I mean, does the typical movie going female really want to be intimate with a rotting corpse or James Dean with fangs? And does the typical movie going male want to see zombies being all lovey-dovey or does he want to see them eating the flesh of the living? But turn it into a comedy and you suddenly have a lot more leeway... and you'll attract a much larger audience. Girls get their romance (without the hardcore horror) and guys get to see a funny movie, with zombies, that counts as a chick flick for date night. It's a win/win.

This has made me more optimistic about seeing WARM BODIES on the silver screen. Hopefully it works, provides a lot of laughs and maybe even captures some of the spirit and heart of the book. Perhaps it could even join SHAUN OF THE DEAD, ZOMBIELAND and FIDO among the all-time great Zom Coms. I don't know if it will be that good, as the bar is set pretty high, but I am always rooting for a zombie movie to succeed. It's good for the genre and the future of movies of this kind in general. 

Plus, I love the fact we, the Monster Men, told you about this book long before it was on the radar. Not to say "We told you so.", but... we kinda did.

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Click here to see the Monster Men podcast episode with Warm Bodies book review. 

The Monster Men video podcast: A lighthearted conversation about dark topics. We cover horror movies, books, ghost stories, sci-fi and other spooky subjects with a sense of humor and a sense of the macabre. Co-hosted with horror author Hunter Shea. 

The Warm Bodies Trailer: (In theaters 2/1/13.)

Monster Men Ep. 35: The Universal Monster Effect

The first Monster Men of 2013 is here and to kick things off right, we are saluting the classic Universal Monsters. These are the true legends of the horror genre; Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolf Man, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Invisible Man and the Bride of Frankenstein.

We pay tribute to these iconic monsters and celebrate their roles in molding us as horror fans. Plus, we'll discuss the beloved Aura models and Famous Monsters Magazine. And it wouldn't be a conversation about the Universal Monsters without mentioning Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and Young Frankenstein. Plus, a review of The Trap Door Maker, a comic book prequel to The Phantom of the Opera.

Who was your favorite monster?

Find more episodes of Monster Men here or on our YouTube channel: Monstermen13 or at Hunter Shea's website: http://huntershea.com/monster-men-podcasts/ and you can also join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/monstermen13