Editorials
[Viral Horrors] Exploring the Darkness of “TheSunVanished”
Since the dawn of civilization, human beings have been scaring the crap out of each other with horror stories inspired by their immediate environments. Nowadays, however, many people don’t seem to realize that we spend most of our waking hours online, be it at home or work, on computers or phones, and our stories have adjusted accordingly.
That’s why I believe it’s time to discuss the Viral Horrors that surround us every day. From Creepypastas to killer memes, these sordid tales are as much a part of our culture as classic campfire stories, only on a much larger scale. So, let’s dive into the story of TheSunVanished, and see if we can come to appreciate these online scares and what they mean to us.
For centuries now, Horror and epistolary storytelling have walked hand-in-hand. From classics like Dracula and Frankenstein to modern-day found-footage films, presenting scary stories as if they were a real collection of recovered diaries, letters and other media is something of a tradition at this point. That being said, in the year of our lord 2019, people rarely share meaningful letters anymore, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find transcripts of phonographic recordings like that of Dracula‘s Dr. Seward. So, what kind of paper-trail can our characters leave behind in order to tell these shocking tales in the digital age? Well, creators like Aidan Elliot have wholeheartedly embraced social media as a means of presenting updated spooky stories like that of TheSunVanished, featuring the same innovative spirit that originally motivated masters like Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley.
Now, what exactly is TheSunVanished? Well, it’s an online horror story and ARG (alternate reality game, for the uninitiated) about a world where the sun quite literally disappeared, leaving survivors to deal with preternatural beings, bizarre infections and impending insanity. While the bulk of this Lovecraftian plot is mostly conveyed through snippets of text, there are also several uploaded photographs and even videos that help fill in the gaps as our nameless protagonist chronicles his plight in this nightmarish environment.
Not scary at all.
To go into further detail would spoil the fun, as this is one online yarn that takes full advantage of Twitter’s peculiar format, but suffice to say that things escalate very quickly. We’re only fed tidbits of information at a time through concise threads, making the narrative something of a puzzle that must be solved by immersed readers. Of course, there are also the occasional media attachments to remind us that, at least for these unfortunate characters, this is very much a true story.
Sure, the neo-epistolary format has a few drawbacks, especially when you consider some of the less-successful interactive ARG elements (after all, there’s a strange disconnect as the protagonist tries to survive in this desolate reality while still showing up alongside cat memes on your personalized Twitter feed) but the creative energy behind this convincing zero-budget apocalypse more than makes up for that. Plus, the unusual format allows for more realistic interaction between the main character and the other survivors he meets along the way, not to mention the readers that he frequently consults for advice.
The general story begins to stutter a bit as the plot thickens and the protagonist makes contact with more characters (such as in some of the later “segments” when we’re introduced to a mysterious human faction that’s also been trying to survive this mess), though this is a common issue with many online narratives. It also feels a bit too convenient that the most outlandish events are usually told through text-only. I know it’s unreasonable to expect an actual effects budget from a Twitter profile of all things, but the reasoning behind the post formats could have used a little work, and dealing with these “script” issues wouldn’t actually cost any more.
The low resolution somehow makes it freakier.
Nevertheless, aspiring horror creators should take note of how TheSunVanished handles the unique language of its chosen platform when preparing their own terrifying digital yarns. I’d also recommend thinking about a satisfying endgame, since most of these projects begin to stumble as they approach the finish line, and some never even make it to the end. Even beyond the realm of the internet, however, I’d love to see these fresh new ideas applied to film and television. A new generation of filmmakers willing to pull inspiration from the current digital world would be quite refreshing, especially in the horror genre.
TheSunVanished may not be a perfect horror experience, but it’s a simple idea that’s been extremely well-executed. I’m in awe at how such a large-scale story can convincingly told with absolutely no outside investment, and can’t wait to read more. While the account is currently on hiatus, the story is still ongoing, with the last post dating back to May, 14th. Aidan Elliot has also been teasing a web-series adaptation of this chilling apocalypse for a while now, and he’s involved in other horror projects as well, such as a short film titled Freywater.
If you’re willing to step into this shadowy world of loneliness and paranoia, the main account to follow is @TheSunVanished, though you’ll also need to keep up with @lostsunnews and @thmadjoy if you want to get the full story. Now, good luck, don’t talk to strangers and beware the headlights as you journey through a mysterious world where the Sun Vanished…
No conversation about cartoons based on live-action movies is ever complete without mentioning The Real Ghostbusters.
This animated continuation is, warts and all, a notable example of turning a hit movie into a hit series. And although the new target demographic skewed a little younger, even kids-at-heart could partake in the further adventures of Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore and Egon Spengler.
For a good part of its run, the show required fans to wait at least a week for more Ghostbustin’. That’s torture for a kiddo. Luckily, though, the entire series, or at least most of it, is now available for streaming.
So, as you revisit The Real Ghostbusters on Tubi—for now it’s just the first five seasons there—use this guide to help prioritize some must-see episodes.
The Boogieman Cometh
“The Boogieman Cometh” (Season 1)
Season One’s “The Boogieman Cometh” is a classic episode featuring one of the show’s more iconic villains. It’s hard to forget the unique character design used for the Boogieman (whose creepy voice was provided by Ray and Slimer’s actor, Frank Welker). In this story, Egon is reunited with that bump-in-the-night entity who haunted his own childhood, all while trying to keep him away from his latest targets: the brother and sister claiming to have the Boogieman in their closet. Although the Ghostbusters do save the day here, the Boogieman eventually returns (“The Bogeyman Is Back“). That same episode also features the love-’em-or-hate-’em Junior Ghostbusters.
Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream
“Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream” (Season 1)
You could say the namesake of “Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream” had good intentions for putting mankind to sleep for the next few centuries—he wanted to end war and keep everyone dreaming. Sounds nice until you remember that whole free will business. But when it seems like the Ghostbusters have lost to their latest foe, the last one standing, Winston, gains a sudden ally. Janine’s dream of becoming a Ghostbuster is manifested, and she helps put this rogue spirit to bed.
When Halloween Was Forever
“When Halloween Was Forever” (Season 1)
Before the show’s execs capitalized on Slimer’s popularity by making him the focus of later episodes, early stories like “When Halloween Was Forever” better utilized that gooey ghost. Here, the spirit of Halloween itself, Samhain, hopes to make the holiday a permanent thing by stopping time. And who does the embodiment of All Hallows’ Eve use in his nefarious plot? Slimer, of course. Thankfully, the lil’ green bud knows where he really belongs, and Samhain is banished (at least until Season 3’s “Halloween II 1/2“).
Night Game
“Night Game” (Season 2)
Because Season Two was rather long, in comparison to other seasons, it accumulated quite a few solid episodes. One of the most beloved, though, is that ultimate good-versus-evil story, “Night Game“. Winston gets to shine here as he participates in a battle that was 500 years in the making. Except this time, the fighting is done on the baseball field. The other-dimensional settings in The Real Ghostbusters are always great, but the one here is particularly memorable.
Drool, the Dog-Faced Goblin
“Drool, the Dog-Faced Goblin” (Season 2)
Not all ghosts and whatnot were bad in The Real Ghostbusters. As “Drool, the Dog-Faced Goblin” showed, some were actually benevolent. Sadly, it took a lot of convincing, and one very heroic act, for Peter and the others to see past this goblin’s grotesque appearance. The heroes find more than one shapeshifter at a sideshow carnival in the Poconos; a sinister Class-4er called the Metamorph does a swell job of menacing the Ghostbusters before they finally realize Drool’s not their culprit. The good guys indeed win here, but that victory is a bittersweet one.
The Collect Call of Cathulhu
“The Collect Call of Cathulhu” (Season 2)
While “The Collect Call of Cathulhu” does misspell “Cthulhu” in the title (probably to avoid legal issues), it is clearly the Old One in this Lovecraft-inspired episode. The story kicks off with the Necronomicon being stolen by the deity’s modern-day cult, who then raise their ancient god at Coney Island. From there, the Ghostbusters’ typical methods don’t work on the big guy, so they seek advice from an old issue of Weird Tales (or “Wierd Tales”, as it’s spelled on screen). That build-up to the finale comes with a decent amount of dread before the Ghostbusters, as well as a scholar named Alice, face off with one of the show’s most powerful entities.
Knock, Knock
“Knock, Knock” (Season 2)
A number of Real Ghostbusters episodes could be reworked into big-screen features, but perhaps “Knock, Knock” is the most hopeful. It helps that this story feels in step with the first two movies. Here, some ignorant construction workers accidentally uncover and open an ancient door in the subway. What’s behind said door is none other than those unspeakable evils that only the Ghostbusters can quell. A good deal of the imagery here is prime for adaptation.
The Grundel
“The Grundel” (Season 3)
One of the darker episodes, which was written by the prominent J. Michael Straczynski, is “The Grundel“. Here, a boy is being influenced by the titular entity, a type of ghost who ultimately turns his targets into new Grundels. The episode does have something of an after-school special quality to it, but that doesn’t take away from the eerier moments. For more Grundel lore, be sure to check out the episode “Grundelesque” from the sequel series, Extreme Ghostbusters.
Standing Room Only
“Standing Room Only” (Season 4)
It’s no secret that The Real Ghostbusters experienced multiple changes after the second season. Out of all of them, though, retooling the show so that Slimer would get more of the spotlight is maybe the most egregious. Thankfully, Season Four (the first to be called Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters) didn’t completely obey that new directive; episodes like “Standing Room Only” felt more like the old days. The focus here was on the well-being of the city and its people, rather than on the series’ green mascot (or the Junior Ghostbusters). In the episode, Peter’s new ghost attractor isn’t to blame for the ensuing chaos; the ghost-eating Mee-Krah is what’s really imperiling everyone. And the Ghostbusters must dish out everything they have to avoid a doomsday situation.
The Halloween Door
“The Halloween Door” (Season 5)
While many fans will skip the later seasons in their rewatches, episodes like “The Halloween Door” are still worth checking out. This colorful helping of Halloween pandemonium premiered on primetime, so the animation is better than usual. And save for a random musical moment, it’s an enjoyable event. Here, a group of anti-Halloweeners tries to cancel the holiday, but they only end up making things worse by unleashing a baddie named Boogaloo.
The first five seasons of The Real Ghostbusters are available on Tubi, starting on July 15.
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