INTERACTION

Some interesting reading. I have to say, I like to feel uncomfortable with certain things in film, literature, well, all art I guess, but I think it's all about context isn't it. The artist's intent is clearly part of that, but there's all sorts of other factors. Regarding the kiddie porn example, I thought Hard Candy marvelous for putting the viewer in a strange place - who do you sympathise with, is she justified, all of that.

It does amuse me in some 'popcorn' movies, the things they will and won't do - I've seen film where people die left right and centre, but then put a dog in danger and you hear the audience gasp - people are funny creatures, aren't they.

Regarding Ghostwatch, by the way, I still consider that a huge touchstone of my childhood. It terrified me as a kid and I loved it. (I went to bed to hear banging on the wall, the mysterious Pipes of course, to my mind, but actually only my equally terrified sister in the next room throwing her toys at the 'figure' she could see in the dark! Thanks for the scares, Mr Volk)

Regarding the BBFC, the trouble is that refusing a classification is the same as banning it. By all means they should give age guidance for films,but as an adult I take offense at another adult saying something isn't suitable for me to watch AT ALL. That's shouldn't their descision to make, but it is.

Personally as long as no crime is actually being perputrated in the film itself (eg absuing animals or humans for real) then it should be up to individual adults to decide for themselves whether they want to watch it. I don't buy the 'ban it in case someone imitates it, or it turns them insane' etc arguement. You can't ban something from public view just because a few already loose screws may be negatively affected. In the cource of history a massive amount of death and suffering has been caused by the Bible, certainly far more than Ghostwatch - so does that mean we ban the Bible? Madness.

Anyway, regarding Black Static #12, almost a themed issue with the amount of ghost stories. A close run thing, but I think 'His Brother's Keeper' was my favourtite of the bunch.

Pete moved/restarted the censorship threaddown into the General section.

As for Clockwork O. I thought the movie revelled in its violence whereas the book, which had a different ending, did not. As I remember the whole point of the title was lost in the movie version.

It's a long time since I saw it and I was impressed but I would not try to see it again or any remake. (That latter will happen one day)

Colin Harvey's Suite 101 review. We all did very well.

The Horror Fiction Review on Black Static #12 - 'This is easily the best horror fiction magazine on the market today'

Scroll down to the second item for the review in full:-

http://www.freewebs.com/hfrzine/oddsends.htm

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Dave Simms at Horrorworld (scroll down to the bottom – it says issue 11 but it means issue 12).

And a blog review here:-

http://bugpowderdust.co.uk/?p=31

Not sure whose blog that is. Says 'Posted by Dan', so is that you whokilledculture?

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My browser won't load it. Must be a bad review.

Nope. All positive, except for some criticism of "Unearthed".

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Got it eventually Pete, after a couple of internal server errors. Thanks for the review, whoever you are!

An aside: is a story of 4,000 words really a "short short"?

I expect it's so masterfully written it only seems really short.

Not me Pete! A different Dan

DaN

I just knew there had to be more than one

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Just read the mag and this is the result from the Norwich jury:

Again, all non-fiction is superb.

"My Brother's Keeper" - probably my favourite story. Unnerving, subtle, a brilliant inner intelligence, and totally gripping. Exactly the kind of stuff I want to read.

"Bryson Feeds Families" - slightly familiar subject matter dealt with in an off-kilter way, which added to the creepiness and supercharged the story. Hard to get emotionally involved, but the distance worked.

"Flatrock Sunners" - Enjoyed the trippy surrealism and undercurrent of menace in this story. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

"Stone Whispers" - Casson works great characters into an intriguing story which ultimately managed not to head off in the direction I was expecting and was all the better for it. Solid stuff, and is up there with his other Black Static stories so far in terms of enjoyment.

"Charles" - Interesting idea which eventually grew on me with the penultimate paragraph really hitting home. Wasn't sure whether the final paragraph added or detracted however...

"Unearthed" - An evocative and intriguing story which - for me - was a little too rich in description to tug me into it's heart. I wasn't entirely convinced by the group to want to go along for their ride, however the ending which said less rather than more redeemed it.

Another totally satisfying issue!

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Just finished this issue. My favourite was "My Brother's Keeper" - despite a nagging doubt about the plot logic. Would you really offer a child for adoption to a depressive who's just attempted suicide? Surely the potential risk to the kid would weigh heavier than the potential for "healing" the depressed adult? As a sometime Brightonian, I also couldn't stop racking my brains about where there were WWII prefabs anywhere near the West Pier. (Mind you, I can get lost in Tescos, me!)

I think "Stone Whispers" was my second favourite, closely followed by "Flatrock Sunners", which I liked for its sheer oddness.

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