The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, which I attended during all of last year, began its second year a couple of weeks ago with the first class of a four-week course on Universal monsters, intended to “examine the main themes and stylistic characteristics of the horror films produced by Universal Studios during the 1930s.” I blogged about my classes sparingly during all of last year, but I will keep a steadier, clearer log this time around.

While admittedly impulsive—it’s mere hours since I saw the film—I’m inclined to believe that PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 is the best of the series. It seeped into me in a way the first two failed to. And as much as the ghostly proceedings are to blame (I’m outright terrified of the idea of apparitions and the like), there’s something else that kept me uncomfortable throughout; the fear of real adulthood. [SPOILERS abound]

One of next year's most anticipated films, BATTLESHIP, Produced and directed by the talented Peter Berg (HANCOCK), will be a multimillion dollar epic pitting the crew of a battleship (including Liam Neeson and mega-hottie Brooklyn Decker) against evil aliens. Not to be outdone, The Asylum, makers of mockbusters like MEGA PIRANHA, SNAKES ON A TRAIN and the timeless classic, MEGA SHARK v.s. GIANT OCTOPUS, have announced BATTLESHIPS, which will probably resemble the other film in every way other than the multimillion dollar part...

Author W. Scott Poole’s new book MONSTERS IN AMERICA: OUR HISTORICAL OBSESSION WITH THE HIDEOUS AND THE HAUNTING (out now from Baylor University Press) combines academic acumen with the sort of insights only a real fan of the horror genre can offer, making it one of the best reads of the year. In person, Poole (pictured left) is affable, humble and hungry to know what others think.