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
‘Family Dinner’ Director Peter Hengl Returns With Gothic Short ‘The Fated Hour’ [Exclusive]
Family Dinner filmmaker Peter Hengl is back with “The Fated Hour“, a nightmarish Gothic short film executive produced by Kier-La Janisse (Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror), and we have the exclusive first look.
“The Fated Hour” will begin its festival run this summer, with Severin Films handling the film’s North American release.
The synopsis: “Austria, 1810. Three days before her wedding, Florentine visits the grave of her younger sister Seraphine — brilliant, otherworldly, and gone too soon. As the ceremony approaches, Florentine finds herself unable to share in her bridegroom Bruno’s joy. Over dinner, she recounts to him the strange and melancholy story of Seraphine’s life and death — and of the dark legacy she left behind. Soon it becomes clear that Florentine is not merely mourning her sister…“
Alina Schaller (Breaking the Ice), Fanny Altenburger (Counterpart), Cornelius Obonya, and Daniel Holzberg (The Zone of Interest) star.
The short is a 19th-century period piece set in Austria based on Friedrich Laun’s short story “The Relationship with the Spirit World,” famously cited as a key influence on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Shot on location in Austria, the film is produced by Hengl and Lola Basara of Vienna-based Capra Film with support from Stadt Wien Kultur (MA7) and the Lower Austrian Film Commission.
“The Fated Hour” was commissioned by Kier-La Janisse with Severin’s founders, David Gregory and Carl Daft, as Executive Producers.
“I’m very excited to have Peter Hengl’s Austrian ghost story joining our growing family of original gothic shorts,” said Janisse. “Especially with all the incredible heritage locations and rich period detail.“
Hengl added: “The oldest gothic dread is always the most modern: that fate cannot be outrun. I was fortunate to explore this timeless story alongside performers who understood completely that the past and the present are never truly separate—that some things bleed through. For the production, we used analog distortions like various lenses and mirrors not just to evoke a retro vibe, but also to represent the spirit world in the film.“
Check out the first images below, and be sure to watch Family Dinner on Screambox while we wait for “The Fated Hour”.
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