S.M. Douglas

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Year: 2016 (page 2 of 4)

The Super Moon

Early this morning we had the “super-moon”.  What’s that? Because it’s come so close to Earth, the full moon looks bigger than an average full moon and it is much brighter. In fact, it’s the biggest and best full moon in half a century.

The distance between Earth and its moon is measured from their respective centers, and that distance dropped to 221,524 miles early this morning. January 26, 1948 was the last time the moon edged this close, and it won’t do so again until November 25, 2034. But if you missed it, don’t sweat it.

That’s because even though the moon technically turned full this morning (at that point the moon came closest to the earth) because of the timing of fullness, the moon will appear full on both Sunday and Monday nights—though the exact moment of fullness technically falls right between the two. Obviously, for werewolf fans this is all quite fun. For me, it’s more fun yet.

That’s because my new werewolf book Apex Predator actually gets into some of the nuts and bolts of the NASA lunar tables. This occurs during a scene where the book’s heroes are coming to terms with the thought that they may be fighting for survival against our favorite monster. Something else to think about when you are standing outside tonight staring up at the fullest of full moons!

 

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Apex Predator is Available for Purchase

I am thrilled to say that my novel, Apex Predator is available for purchase in both softcover or electronic formats. Thank you to everyone who has inquired as to when it would be made available. I hope you enjoy it!
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Apex Predator Cover Reveal

The publication date for my debut novel Apex Predator is quickly approaching. As I mentioned in a previous post professional help in producing a book often pays for itself. Editing and formatting services are only part of it. The cover is not a place to cut corners. To that end I am thrilled to reveal Apex Predator’s cover:

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The artist I chose is Dean Samed, and I couldn’t be happier with his work. For those of you interested in learning more about Dean note that he is a UK-based illustrator / cover artist, and a specialist in the horror genre. He has illustrated the works of Stephen King, Clive Barker, H.P. Lovecraft, Graham Masterton, as well as a wide range of genre authors. Dean started freelancing at the age of 14, and throughout his young adult years, worked with promoters and record labels in urban dance music. Later, the e-publishing boom allowed him to switch focus to his first love, macabre art. As a horror specialist, he is known for his complex creature designs and sharp compositing style. He holds a First Class degree in Digital Media, and is currently undertaking his Masters in Fine Art. Dean likes to explore horror, occult, sci-fi and cyberpunk themes in his personal and commercial work.

Beyond that, Dean is responsive and professional. I enjoyed working with him and cannot recommend him enough.

 

Horror, Science-Fiction, and Action: Doing it Right in the ’80s

I have previously discussed just how good the early ’80s were in terms of horror films. In addition, I have discussed why the best horror film of all-time was a pioneer in terms of effectively blending the horror/adventure genres. Let’s build upon those discussions and look at several 1980s films that successfully brought together three of my favorite genres: horror, science-fiction, and action.

The year 1984 produced a bevy of entertaining films that rank it as one of the great years in movie-making history.  No list of 1984’s best would be complete without The Terminator.

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We all know the plot and particulars of The Terminator. What really made the movie resonate was the way in which a classic science fiction trope of time travel was layered onto an early ’80s slasher style unstoppable villain. From there, the film’s centerpiece was arguably not the final confrontation between the Terminator and Sarah Connor, a good action sequence in and of itself. Instead, the Terminator’s mid-film assault on the police station harboring Sarah Connor has since become one of the iconic 80’s action sequences. This in a film filled with above average action scenes that include the gunfight at the disco Tech Noir and a car chase featuring a dueling shotgun battle. James Cameron wrote and directed Terminator and perhaps it is no surprise that he also crafted Aliens.

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Released in 1986, Aliens accomplishes the tricky feat of being a sequel that is ranked by many the near equal of its predecessor.  1979’s Alien was a horror movie grounded in science fiction. However, Aliens can best be described as an action movie with strong horror and science fiction elements. Though the action and violence are stunningly done it is in the in-between or “down time” scenes where Aliens really shows it’s teeth, leaving the viewer with an almost constant feeling of dread. Put simply, there is an unrelenting intensity to Aliens that few movies can achieve.

If heavy action is a central element of Aliens it’s taken one step further in our third and final movie in this list: 1987’s Predator.

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Is the testosterone too high at times?  Sure. Can the dialogue be somewhat stilted or even schlocky? Of course. Nevertheless, what is perhaps the quintessential Schwarzenegger film is still fun and entertaining nearly thirty years later. So much so it is almost impossible to pull your eyes away given the film’s rapid pace, solid special effects, and the way the viewer is immersed in the jungle where the action takes place.  This last point is important. Director John McTiernan does a wonderful job of using the jungle as a secondary monster to the titular Predator stalking his prey.

I have staked my upcoming novel Apex Predator (to be published early next month) on the concept that blending genres is a great way to produce an entertaining experience for readers or viewers alike. Few decades can match the 1980s in terms of producing multiple films that stand the test of time and combine horror, science-fiction, and action so well. This list could have easily been expanded if for no other reason than 1982’s The Thing. Nevertheless, I’ll leave that one for another day. In the meantime, can anyone guess the only two actors to have played characters killed by the Terminator, Alien, and Predator?

The Horror Writer’s Journey Part Two: Juxtaposed Against Lessons from Recent DC Comics Film Disasters

Two months ago I published part one of this insider look at the final pre-publication stages of the writing process. Since then, I have been a busy little bee. So busy, I wasn’t going to publish anything new for at least another week as I wrap up my final round of proof reading before my manuscript is submitted for distribution.  However, the recent mistakes made by the DC Comics film franchise almost demand a response if for no other reason than the lessons they can provide for the aspiring novelist. As encapsulated by perhaps the most awkwardly long blog post title I have ever written.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad are our key reference points in this discussion. Though the latter’s foibles are all over the internet, let’s start with Batman v Superman. First off, I’m a huge fan of the Christoper Nolan Batman films and am one of the few people who thought Man of Steel was a good Superman movie. Minus the fact Superman kills Zod and lays waste to Metropolis in the process – two huge no-no’s that played a key role in the film’s lukewarm reception.

Nevertheless, and though I like it dark, Batman v Superman manages the dubious task of attempting to be so grim it sucks the entertainment value right out of the equation. If this weren’t bad enough Batman v Superman also tries to do way too much. This is done via introducing a slew of iconic DC characters to the big screen in a rushed and botched manner that fails to build the anticipation that otherwise accompany, say, Wonder Woman getting her own first-time feature length film.

This isn’t an essay on all that is wrong with the DC film universe. That said, stuffing Wonder Woman into a Superman movie that already has Batman levered into it was a huge mistake, and this is notwithstanding Wonder Woman being one of film’s highlights. And don’t get me started on this being a co-Batman/Superman movie. Little about Batman v Superman even remotely feels like the Christoper Nolan batman films that include what is arguably the greatest comic book movie of all time – The Dark Knight. No, Batman v Superman is a Zach Snyder Superman movie all the way. However, let’s get back to the trying to do to much mistake. Because that’s also a key problem with Suicide Squad, another movie of enormous promise squandered.

Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad is problematic on a number of levels. Even so, it’s biggest issues are related to the basic fact that that film does not know what it is and in the manner in which it tries, once again, to do to much. Both of these are related. The issues surrounding the characters, some of whom just magically appear while others vanish from the film without explanation are part and parcel of the film’s larger identity problems.

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For instance, Suicide Squad‘s tone is all over the map. At one time it was being marketed as an almost comedic light hearted action film, yet there are many scenes that are undoubtedly dark.  This is a product of the studio’s decision to take David Ayer’s grim looking original cut and meld it with the studio’s own contemporaneously produced cut that test audiences seemed to approve of – all of which led to extensive last minute re-shooting which when coupled with the rush of characters introduced and in some cases forgotten results in the film’s disjointed feel. This is a process only exacerbated by Suicide Squad’s  awkward treatment of one of the greatest comic book villains of all time: The Joker.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to go back and completely revamp my manuscript over the past two months following its return from my editor. My delays are more over my obsession with getting the words right as well as last minute struggles nailing down the logistics of publication. Which as a writer is where you want to be in the weeks before the release of your work. This is where Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad offer their greatest lessons.

Creating a product that is grim is a perfectly acceptable form of entertainment. One need look no further than the superb Showtime series Penny Dreadful for a prime example of this simple truth. The key however, is to remember the entertainment component. The other key is in knowing how important it is to have a clear vision of what you are trying to accomplish with your work and how much the story will drive everything else. Both of the DC films discussed here missed those important points.

In failing to find and establish an identity Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad not only didn’t entertain, but ended up compensating by stuffing into their respective running lengths all sorts of characters that they couldn’t possibly do justice. Trying to do too much is almost laudable if done for the right reasons. That wasn’t the case here. Knowing what we know about big Hollywood studios the right reasons, like actually trying to make a film the audience will love without rushing to duplicate what the Marvel franchise spent nearly a decade doing, was not part of the equation in the case of these films. This offers another key point, too many studios or writers are in a hurry to set up a franchise of bankable movies or books when they need to slow down and get it right the first time. The life of a writer is a journey. Done right, everything else will follow.

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