jump scare Archives - Zombies in My Blog

The Haunted Forest Gets Lost in Its Own Woods

Back in the mid-2010s, when I worked at Monster Mountain Haunted Attraction, I had what I still think is a genuinely solid horror-movie idea. Picture an outdoor haunted house tucked deep into the woods, fog machines humming, actors screaming on… Continue Reading →

Afraid? is a Slasher That’s Lost in the Woods

I have always believed the purest horror is the kind that strands you in the woods with bad choices, worse friends and a killer who solves problems like a MacBook powered by evil. For me, Friday the 13th is the… Continue Reading →

December 12, 2025

The Rule of Jenny Pen Turns Assisted Living Into a Nightmare

There are some life decisions you never expect to be part of the job description, when you sign up for adulthood. Taxes? Sure. Car troubles? Expected. Realizing I am finally at the age where my shoulders make more noise than… Continue Reading →

November 16, 2025

Frankenstein: The Ride I Couldn’t Take, But the Movie I Needed

I’ve loved classic movie monsters for as long as I can remember. Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon… they were my bedtime stories, but Frankenstein’s Monster was probably my favorite. So, when Universal’s new Epic Universe… Continue Reading →

November 10, 2025

V/H/S/Halloween: A Candy-Coated Nightmare

I have a deep love for anthology horror films. They remind me of digging into a trick-or-treat bag at the end of Halloween night: You dump it all out on the floor, not knowing what you are going to find…. Continue Reading →

October 24, 2025

Scurry Brings the Skitters, Screams and Suffocation

When I was a teenager, my family took a road trip through New Mexico and one of the stops was Carlsbad Caverns. If you’ve never been, imagine a place where the Earth seems to swallow you whole. The park ranger… Continue Reading →

October 7, 2025

Can Dogs See Ghosts? Good Boy Makes You Wonder!

There’s something about living with a dog that can be both comforting and unnerving. My black lab, Luna, has been my faithful companion for years, and she’s usually the picture of calm. But every so often, she’ll do something that… Continue Reading →

September 29, 2025

Him Kicks Off Strong, but Fumbles the Ball

It’s that time of year in Tennessee when the leaves change colors — from bright reds and fiery oranges to golden yellows — covering the landscape in stunning fall hues. We are patiently waiting for cooler temperatures and more signs… Continue Reading →

September 19, 2025

Meet Mr. Shiny of Strange Harvest: The Newest Villain to Haunt Your Nightmares

As I’ve gotten older, I find that fewer horror movies scare me. Sure, I check the backseat before getting into my car (thanks to Urban Legend), and I sometimes look under my bed just to be safe, but I don’t… Continue Reading →

September 16, 2025

Virtual Blood, Real Hype: My First Fantastic Fest

For years I’ve read about Fantastic Fest like it was a secret clubhouse where horror, sci-fi, fantasy and general cinematic mayhem gathered under one Austin roof. This year, for the festival’s 20th anniversary, I finally get to step inside… sort… Continue Reading →

September 13, 2025

Geek Culture, Zombies... and Other Monsters

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