S.H. Roddey

Good morning, my bloody little Valentines… it’s the BIG DAY, and time to get down and dirty.

Please welcome the gruesomely lovely Selah Janel. Today my personal punching bag and Grand High Overlady will be talking about her favorite horror stories.

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So yeah, Valentine’s Day is happening. I’m not going to go into how this holiday may or may not be over-rated (whether you’re single or not), or go into a huge mushball celebration proclaiming the glory of love and how it conquers every little thing in the world (except for TB, if Moulin Rouge is any indicator). Nope, I’m here to not just celebrate Valentine’s Day, but also the OTHER holiday that happens this month…what, you didn’t know there was another holiday? This month is Women In Horror Month, so you better not overlook it! So in the spirit of the two holidays, I thought I’d give my own list of stories and movies that are worth curling up with on February 14. So feel free to curl up with a warm blanket, pour a glass of wine, have a nice romantic dinner and…scare the hell out of yourself and everyone around you.

Movies

My Bloody Valentine – Okay, this is like a given. Admittedly it’s not one I’m totally familiar with, but I’m assuming I’d be throttled for not including it. But hey – mining accidents, Valentine’s Day, and a killer on the loose – sounds like a date night movie to me!

The Lost Boys – The original vampire romance movie. Yes it is, no arguments. Kick back and harken to a simpler time when boys met girls at concerts, and the only thing they had to worry about was accidentally getting hazed into a gang of bloodsuckers at the risk of potentially destroying their own family. There’s something for everyone: comedic elements, vampire gore, great music, nostalgia…plus, the vampires in this movie are kind of like the boy band members of the same era: a type for everyone! Choose your favorite and have your friends do the same – if your choices happen to clash, arm wrestle until there’s a victor! Plus, this movie introduced the world to Cry Little Sister, the anthem for all undead to seduce their mortal intended by.

Shivers – The movie for those who want a sexier type of holiday. This film centers on an apartment complex where a parasite that causes uncontrollable lust is on the loose. What chance does rational human logic stand when it’s up against the type of attraction and passion that’s hardwired into the human condition?

Teeth – Also for those who may want something sexier with a bite. Heh. The tale of a girl with an interesting condition, it takes the journey from her devotion to abstinence to discovering an odd sort of sexual awakening and power. Fun fact: a lot of cultures have stories about this sort of thing dating back hundreds of years. Usually it’s a wizard or witch that afflicts the poor girl with the condition, but those stories are always an interesting read.

May – I’ve also yet to see this one, but I’ve heard really good things about it. The classic tale of a girl who just wants to be loved, despite the fact that she’s an outsider and the deck is stacked against her. A great film for those who are feeling bitter about singlehood.

I am Legend – I tried to find the book link for this, but didn’t have much luck. The book ending is much better, but that’s not why it makes the list. This is a GREAT movie for singles to watch, because hey, you think you’ve got it bad? At least you’re not the only known human alive trying to survive in a world filled with monsters. Now things don’t seem so bad, do they?

Friday the 13th – The original is the best, and it may seem a little sideways for a Valentine’s Day movie, but think of it. You don’t have anyone or you don’t get to curl up with someone today? Hey, look at what happens to those wild teens that get with someone too fast! Again, now don’t you feel better?

Books

The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker – A cuddly novella that explores relationships as much as it introduces us to those wacky cenobites and their puzzle box. What happens when a wife just isn’t feeling the spark between her and her husband? Should she get counseling? File for divorce? Help resurrect her former lover who’s caught in a hellish dimension of pain and pleasure by killing people who are interested in her? Known for exploring the line between pleasure and pain as well as introducing the world to what would become Hellraiser, this book is a quick read and an interesting look into the dark nature of the heart.

Cold Turkey by Nancy A. Collins – We all know I love the Sonja Blue series. For me, this is a fabulous look at how a vampire romance might actually go. This has shown up as a short story and as part of one of the books in the main trilogy, but it’s also nice to have it separately because it is one of the best stories in that world. Sonja (a “living” vampire and slayer) begins getting interested in Judd, a human, even though she’s usually careful to avoid too much direct interaction with humans. And then The Other (her more vampiric/demonic part) clicks into gear and takes an interest…you’ll have to read to find out the rest. Like a lot of things on this list, not for the faint of heart, but if you’re into vampires acting out, this is definitely for you.

The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein – Adolescence is a crazy age, especially where friends are involved. This gets listed because it’s a great coming of age story, and while there isn’t any romance per say, I think it really gives a great look into how territorial girls are when it comes to their friends. Set in a boarding school around the 50s-60s, the narrator gets suspicious of Ernessa, the new girl who keeps to herself…except when she takes an interest in the narrator’s best friend Lucy.

Good Neighbors by Holly Black: (Kin, Kith, and Kind)  – The story of a mortal girl with faerie relatives and her fight to figure out what she really is. There are also a lot of great subplots with her circle of friends involving relationships. Would you magically control the guy you were dating if you had the chance? If you knew he was cheating, would you sell your soul and try to kill him? What if you thought you had a strong foundation and found he was sneaking out to be fed from by water nymphs? There’s also an interesting triangle between the lead character’s father, best friend (a human who was in love with him), and the faerie he ends up marrying beause she was there and hot.

Misery by Stephen King – The awesome tale about an uber-fan of an unfortunate writer. What would you do if your favorite person was on your doorstep, and you found out that they were ending the very thing that kept you going?

Carrie by Stephen King – Another one for singles to feel vindicated by. An awkward girl gets to go to her first high school dance and feel like she might have a shot at a social life…until her psychic powers are awakened. Then she gets the chance to flatten all of those who have made her life hell.

Granted, the list is dark and a little gruesome in places, but since when is love neat and tidy? Sure, we may celebrate with roses and teddy bears, but if you think of it, love is messy. Love has its own shadows. Love can tip people over the edge as much as it can save people. So if you’re going to curl up with a book or a movie this Valentine’s Day, why not do it with a title that really explores what love is all about?

Heh. Happy February 14^th, everybody!

Want to find Selah? Check her out in these places:

Blog: http://selahjanel.wordpress.com
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Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5622096.Selah_Janel
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Selah-Janel/e/B0074DKC9K
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