Exclusives
Interview with Children’s Horror Author R.L. Stine!
Bloody-Disgusting’s Jonathan Barkan recently got the chance to do an interview with iconic horror author R.L. Stine, whose Goosebumps series has sold hundreds of millions of copies and is translated into dozens of languages around the world. In the interview, we ask about Stine’s inspirations, his new book, “It’s The First Day Of School…Forever!,” which is being made into a feature film, and more!
Stine will also be the Thrillermaster at Thriller Fest VI in New York from July 6th-9th. He will be joined by Ken Follett, John Lescroart, Diana Gabaldon, and more where they will all discuss writing techniques and meet with readers. For more information on Thriller Fest VI, check here.
BD: What inspires you?
R.L. Stine: My big inspirations have been other authors. Ray Bradbury… Rod Serling… the guys who wrote and illustrated the EC comics of the 50s–“Tales From The Crypt”…
BD: What was the first story that frightened you?
R.L. Stine: Pinocchio. It was very creepy for a young kid. Boys turning into donkeys? At one point, Pinocchio falls asleep with his feet on the stove and BURNS HIS FEET OFF! Terrifying.
BD: What was the first horror movie that you saw?
R.L. Stine: Hard to remember. I think I saw the original Frankenstein and Dracula movies at a very young age. Karloff and Lugosi. They were so dark and creepy, they made a real impression.
BD: Your new book, “It’s the First Day of School…Forever!” will be made into a feature film – can you tell us a little more about it?
R.L. Stine: The poor kid in this story has the WORST day of his life. Everything goes wrong. Everything! And it’s the first day of school. And he keeps living it over and over and can’t find a way to escape. It’s funny and scary, and I hope it makes a good movie. It’s kind of Groundhog Day Meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
BD: Is your latest TV series, “The Haunting Hour,” similar to the “Goosebumps” show?
R.L. Stine: Very similar. A new scary story each week based on my short stories. I think the new series may be just a teeny bit scarier. We’ve been lucky to get a lot of popular TV stars to appear. I’m so happy we’re doing a new season of 18 more episodes.
BD: Do you feel that the music you listen to inspires your work?
R.L. Stine: I don’t think music inspires my writing, although I find I have to keep up with pop music in order to stay in touch with kids. My musical tastes are quite eclectic. I listen to everything from country music to opera. Some of my favorites include George Jones, Van Morrison, Billie Holiday, Bonnie Raitt, Randy Travis, and Nina Simone. A mixed bag, as you can see–and nothing too scare-inducing!
Exclusives
‘Los Vampires’ Trailer Gives Deadly Twist on the Production of 1931’s Spanish ‘Dracula’ [Fantasia 2026]
The production of George Melford‘s 1931 Spanish Dracula sets the stage for murder in the period horror movie Los Vampires, and we’re exclusively premiering the trailer ahead of its festival debut.
Los Vampires will make its World Premiere at the 30th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival, which runs July 16 through August 2.
Watch the stunning new trailer below, which sees art imitate life horrifically, in the vein of Shadow of the Vampire.
The film is set in 1930 Hollywood, and follows as “a Spanish actor is cast in the night shoot of a soon-to-be-legendary vampire film, forced to imitate the English-speaking star who performs the same role by day. The two actors regularly meet at the transitory hours of their shoots, and a rivalry stirs between them. All the while, a string of murders are occurring on and around the soundstage.”
Note that the actor and star in the film’s premise aren’t named; Los Vampires is a “fantastical fictionalized account” of the making of Melford’s classic horror film, one that was shot overnight on the same sets as Tod Browning’s Dracula. That means that names have respectfully been altered.
Los Vampires is written and directed by Craig Mitchell (Komodo), who has lined up an impressive cast.
Lost actor Henry Ian Cusick and Spectre actor Thomas Kretschmann lead as uncanny surrogates for Carlos Villarías and Bela Lugosi.
Daniela Couso (Serial Beauty), Jefferson Mays (Inherent Vice), Oscar Nuñez (“The Office”), and Jorge Diaz (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones) round out the cast.
Fantasia describes the feature as “a meticulously designed, occult-tinged tribute to the dignity of performance… and a darkly imaginative, bittersweet love letter to old Hollywood – and the forgotten struggles that made it what it was.”
Stay tuned for more on Los Vampires, including premiere timing, as Fantasia gets underway next month.