The Lunatics Project

09/04/2024

As far as we know, Goblin mythology originated in France around the 14th century. In short, a Goblin is a type of Fae. We've learned everything about Goblins, so that we could tell you about it: https://buff.ly/45UWFZK

09/03/2024

The first part of our Ocean Horror Stories series is now live! Featuring incredible work by elou carroll, , , , and Alex Grehy. Listen anywhere you listen to podcasts or https://buff.ly/3AXRjkO

09/03/2024

Look at this weird postcard that is both an ad for ci******es, and defines a whirlpool.

09/02/2024

We finally watched Skinamarink (2022), and oh boy, we have a lot to say! https://buff.ly/4cP5EgL

09/02/2024

Last year, we had the honor of sitting down with to discuss goblins, Hellier and all things paranormal. https://buff.ly/43UzsF6

09/01/2024

There's nothing darker than the history of black masses, right? https://buff.ly/3jDayI5

08/31/2024

Despite being born in the 1800s, Harry Houdini remains one of the most famous magicians and illusionists of all time. Houdini was born Erik Weisz on March 24th 1874 in Budapest, Hungry. He was one of seven children in the family.

When he was only 9 years old he started out as a trapeze artist. He was called “Erik, the Prince of the air.” In 1891 Erik read the biography of French Magician Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. The biography both inspired his stage name, Houdini and motivated Erik to pursue a career in magic.

It took Houdini many iterations and failures to finally find his path. He tried several different types of acts and magic. Working as a strong man, a stand by act in a circus and even trying his hand at cards. For a while he called himself the “King of Cards,” despite his lack of notoriety and success.

In 1893, Houdini met a fellow performer named Bess. Both brothers had romantic interest in Bess, but Houdini married her the following year. Bess replaced Dash in the act, which was changed to “The Houdinis.” She worked as his assistant for the rest of his career.

Later on, Houdini signed on manager Martin Beck, who advised him to focus on his handcuff escape trick and lean into escape magic on the vaudeville circuit. This change helped to boost his career into new levels of fame.

In 1911 Houdini escaped from the belly of a whale, because he was dared to do so by a Boston businessman. He was restrained in shackles and handcuffs supplied by the police and put inside the of a whale, which was sewn and chained up as well. It only took him 15 to get out, though he nearly died from the Arsenic that was being used to embalm the beached whale.

One of Houdini’s signature tricks was the Milk Can Escape. When this trick started out Houdini would be placed inside a Milk Can with water, which could kill him if he didn’t escape. He’d even ask the audience to hold their breath as he did. Later this evolved to include locking the milk can inside of a padlocked chest to make it even harder.

Harry Houdini died on October, 31st 1926.

08/30/2024

Did you know the Phantom of The Opera is based on true events? The first version of The Phantom of The Opera came in the form of a serialized novel released in 1909. It was written by Gaston Leroux. Leroux was born in 1868 in Paris, as an adult he was known for his journalism and detective based fiction stories. He had big plans to become a lawyer but after he gambled away his inheritance money, he had to make a living. https://buff.ly/4eRszKH

08/29/2024

Here are some of the best examples of Fungi based horror.

🍄 Let’s start with The Quatermass Xperiment from 1955. A British science fiction Hammer horror film (say that 5 times fast) that centers around a spore monster from space.

🍄 There are several films and tv episodes based on the short story “A Voice in The Night” by William Hope Hodgson. But one specifically I want to mention is Matango, directed by Ishiro Honda. Honda is of course responsible for the first Godzilla film from 1954.

🍄 Amanita Pestilens is worth mentioning because it’s the first Canadian film in color, it was released in 1963. And the first film shot in both English and French with the same cast.

🍄 The video game and show The Last of Us also deals with a fungus based enemy that has turned the world into a post-apocalyptic nightmare.

🍄 I also highly suggest the book Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, though it’s so new I won’t tease any other spoilers.

🍄 There is also an excellent X-Files episode called Field Trip, that is worth checking out.

🍄 And if none of those suggestions scratch your fungus itch: try In the Earth from 2021, Shrooms from 2007, Gaia from 2021, The Girl with all The Gifts 2016, or Fungus from 2023.

For more on the history of plant horror, listen to episodes 109 and 110 of the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast.

08/28/2024

In 1518 in the town of Strasbourg, a horrifying plague took as many as 400 lives. It started with a single woman who could not stop dancing. Almost for an entire week she danced alone until others slowly joined her. Dancing until their bodies gave out. https://buff.ly/45VEEdG

08/27/2024

A vintage postcard showing Skerryvore Lighthouse, Scotland.

08/26/2024

Obsessed with this postcard from 1909, showing the East River Tunnel.

08/25/2024

Join our discord for horror writers, horror movies and history 👻 🔪 🩸 ✨

Check out the Lunatics Project community on Discord - hang out with 49 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.

08/25/2024

I’m ashamed to say that we did not discuss Charybdis in depth during our Horror on The High Seas series on Lunatics Radio Hour. And I’ve been living with the guilt ever since. So let me make it up to you. Read more here:

Charybdis and Scylla are vicious sea monsters from Greek mythology.

08/24/2024

🌩️ Obviously, The Lighthouse from 2019 is one of the most iconic lighthouse based horror films ever. Directed by Robert Eggers and starring Robert Patinson and Willem Dafoe, The Lighthouse brings us into a swirling, and desperate attempt by two lightkeepers to stay sane in isolation.

🌩️ I’d also include John Carpenter's The Fog from 1980 on this list. The lighthouse in that story is integral to the plot, and a fun setting for the movie.

🌩️ The Vanishing from 2018 is similar in some ways to The Lighthouse, in its depiction of light keepers grasping at their sanity, but with a fun twist.

🌩️ There is a 2015 film called Edgar Allan Poe’s Lighthouse Keeper, which was directed by Benjamin Cooper. And like most of these films plays with the fear of desolation.

🌩️ Tower of Evil from 1972 has that 70s horror charm that I can’t resist.

🌩️ And finally, Tormented from 1960 brings the paranormal and some truly hilarious special effects into the mix.

For more ocean horror, listen to episode 140 of the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast. https://buff.ly/3Wj6UT6

08/23/2024

Beautiful Gustave Doré illustrations of The Rime of The Ancient Mariner, written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

08/22/2024

Kaiju films, though often lumped together into a broad science-fiction or creature feature genre, span from light-hearted entertainment to political and social critique. Films like Godzilla, Shin Godzilla, and The Host are obvious in their commentary. Here are the best and most impactful Kaiju films ever made.

As we researched the many Kaiju films out there for our series on Lunatics Radio Hour, we are putting together two lists. One on the best Kaiju films out there, and one on the campiest. Kaiju films, though often lumped together into a broad science-fiction or creature feature genre, span from light-...

08/21/2024

Late 1800s, Silver Lake at Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery.

08/20/2024

Horror on The High Seas part 3 is now live! ⚓ We discuss maritime folklore, legendary ships, historic shipwrecks and so much more. Listen here: https://buff.ly/2Qqupvd

08/19/2024

A new series launched today on our Patreon. Every month, through a series of essays, we are exploring the dark and truly horrifying, nightmare inducing depths of internet horror. https://buff.ly/3yV2Hxc

08/19/2024

Summer isn't over yet. And neither is our Ocean Horror series on Lunatics Radio Hour. Head to lunaticsproject.com and click on merch to get yours. Designed by the incredible Pilar Kep, modeled by Sam Owens. https://buff.ly/3wR69m4

08/18/2024

143 years ago today, according to their ship's log, the future King George the 5th and Price Albert Victor of Wales thought they saw the Flying Dutchman. Here are their words:

"July 11th. At 4 a.m. the Flying Dutchman crossed our bows. A strange red light as of a phantom ship all aglow, in the midst of which light the masts, spars and sails of a brig 200 yards distant stood out in strong relief as she came up on the port bow, where also the officer of the watch from the bridge clearly saw her, as did the quarterdeck midshipman, who was sent forward at once to the forecastle; but on arriving there was no vestige nor any sign whatever of any material ship was to be seen either near or right away to the horizon, the night being clear and the sea calm. Thirteen persons altogether saw her ... At 10.45 a.m. the ordinary seaman who had this morning reported the Flying Dutchman fell from the foretopmast crosstrees on to the topgallant forecastle and was smashed to atoms."

08/18/2024

Found footage horror films have their roots in epistolary novels (that's my theory anyway). More about this connection here: https://buff.ly/3zzbSn9

08/17/2024

Photo of a large wave and a merchant ship, captured in 1940. Bay of Biscay, France.

08/16/2024

For the spooky water baby tote bag queens 💦 https://buff.ly/3y5OVHX

08/16/2024

Some families go on vacation to the seaside in the summer, other families prefer the calm, cool, peace of a quiet, serene lake. Similar to horror films set at the beach, lake horror is a prolific sub-genre. Bringing audiences along on a quaint trip destined for disaster lends itself well to tension. While all of these films intersect with other sub-genres in horror; from creature features and slasher films, to supernatural thrillers, they all are truly terrifying in their own special ways. Here are some of the best lake horror films:

Some families go on vacation to the seaside in the summer, other families prefer the calm, cool, peace of a quiet, serene lake. Similar to horror films set at the beach, lake horror is a prolific sub-genre. Bringing audiences along on a quaint trip destined for disaster lends itself well to tension....

08/15/2024

In June of 1998, Peter Weir’s “The Truman Show” was released. While not technically a horror film, I think most of us would agree that the premise is indeed horrifying. For anyone not familiar, The Truman Show tells the story of Truman, played by Jim Carrey, who was officially adopted by a television studio after an unwanted pregnancy. Truman is the subject of an always on reality program that streams every second of his life to viewers. In the world of the film, the television station uses 5,000 cameras to cover every element of Truman’s life and present a relatable and honest program for viewers. Truman lives in a giant bubble dome where everything inside is a set that centers around him. Truman finds out that he is living in a reality show that’s being streamed around the clock and across the globe, and that every person in his life was an actor. It's a film that changed the course of film history, television history, and society. Read more here: https://buff.ly/49c1leF

08/14/2024

Historic photos from the late 1800s and early 1900s from South Eastern Connecticut towns (near where I grew up). Towns include New London, Mystic, and Putnam.

08/13/2024

Along this tree lined path is the Lawrence Family Chapel and graveyard.The chapel was built in 1880. And the graveyard was erected before that. The chapel is not in use today except for occasional marriage ceremonies and events. It's a truly magical little graveyard, tucked out of sight.

08/12/2024

From 1900 - The Siren, by John William Waterhouse.