About Me

Who are you?

My name is Rob, an actor, musician, yogi, freelance film critic, and reputed horror aficianado. Thank you for reading!

When did you start getting into horror movies?

I can't remember a specific time when the light bulb went off, but I do recall browsing through the video store aisles (remember those?) at a very young age, being disturbed by the garish yet hugely clever VHS box covers. The ones for Stephen King's IT, Child's Play and A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child were particularly traumatic. But obviously, I took it upon myself to brave these films while hiding underneath the covers.

What are some of your favorite classics?

 This is only a partial list, and in no particular order. Halloween (my favorite movie in general), Psycho, Black Christmas, Creepshow, The Shining, The Exorcist, Deep Red, Jaws, Carrie, Hellraiser, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, John Carpenter's The Thing, Night of the Creeps, Pet Sematary, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Re-Animator, Don't Look Now, Return of the Living Dead, Poltergeist, The Fog, An American Werewolf in London, The Changeling, The Haunting, Alien, Aliens, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Evil Dead II, Rosemary's Baby, David Cronenberg's The Fly, Les Diaboliques, and The Howling.

That's great and all, but what about more recent stuff? Don't you like anything post-1990??

Absolutely, I was just getting to that. Again, this is a partial list. The Conjuring, We Need to Talk about Kevin, [REC], [REC] 2, The Loved Ones, The Cabin in the Woods, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Frailty, The Ruins, The House of the Devil, Ginger Snaps, 28 Days Later..., Final Destination, The Silence of the Lambs, Wolf Creek, The Orphanage, Jeepers Creepers, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, The Woman, Evil Dead (remake), Dawn of the Dead (remake), Them, Misery, Identity, Drag Me to Hell, Resolution, The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh, Kill List, May, The Mothman Prophecies, Candyman, The Others, The Descent, The Ring, the Scream series, Wrong Turn, Paranormal Activity, The Devil's Rejects, Let Me In, New Nightmare, The Blair Witch Project, Trick 'r Treat, The Children, Session 9, and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

As you may have noticed, I played a bit loose with the definition of a "horror movie" on some of these selections. But nonetheless, all of the aforementioned titles scared the heck out of me.

What are some of your LEAST favorites?

Yeah, I don't roll like that.

Hmm... Interesting. What about television? Any particular shows you follow?

Many. Currently, I'm very much into "Breaking Bad" (AMC), "Doctor Who" (BBC), "Game of Thrones" (HBO), "Homeland" (SHO), "Justified" (FX), "Bates Motel" (A&E), "Orphan Black" (BBC), "Hannibal" (NBC), "American Horror Story" (FX), "In the Flesh" (BBC), "Broadchurch" (BBC), "Archer" (FX), "Sherlock" (BBC), "The Walking Dead" (AMC),  and "The Fall" (BBC). So, basically, I'm obsessed with BBC.

 Wow, you have no life. Anyways. What really scares you?

Home invasion, for sure. Some other obvious ones, spiders, being buried alive... I am a believer in the supernatural, and I appreciate when filmmakers don't take ghosts too literally when presenting them in their work. In others words, if the film happens to center around the manifestation of ghostly beings, less is more.

What's your process for grading these films that you claim to love soooo much?

Hold on, I never said I loved them all. Far from it. I mean, at the end of the day, I am a very fair audience member. On one hand, if I am taking the time to watch something, I give it my undivided attention and I don't judge it before I've actually seen it. I believe that a quality film can come out of nowhere, it's happened many times. On the other hand, I am not blind to flaws, even in movies that I do love. On the other other hand, it is my natural impulse to look for the good in each piece. Whether it be a masterpiece or a creative misfire, they are all someone's baby, and I feel it's important for all critics and bloggers to keep this in mind when reviewing.

In general, I don't believe criticism is about telling people what to think. In fact, that couldn't be farther from the truth. It's about taking in art from your unique perspective and, by expressing your thoughts on why it does or does not work, encouraging those who are listening to observe said piece in a new light. It's about exploration.

Why horror?

Great question. I guess it's because, whether I'm sitting in a packed cinema or curled up in a darkened room, there is nothing like the roller-coaster thrill of a scary movie. I love when talented filmmakers come across a story that is engineered specifically to frighten. I love that one of the main givens is that it be unpredictable. It has the potential to be a visceral, unforgettable experience. It is a way to confront the darkest aspects of humanity, and storytelling itself, all the while knowing that no harm will actually come to you. And while some horror movies these days tend to favor a more downbeat and depressing tone, I believe the ultimate goal of the genre is to entertain, to send the audience back out into the world on a high, laughing and gasping for breath.