Fright-day Foods!

We've had Monster Monday, and now devils & dolls, we bring you Fright-day Foods! In addition to using horrifically bad puns, we're also going to feature deliciously disturbing delicacies (or just some horror-themed culinary goodies) every Friday.

Previous Fright-day Foods

As with Monster Monday, we'd also love to see submissions from everyone else as well, so if you want to take part in Fright-day Foods, let us know and we'll link to your post too or feature your contribution on HSL! Posts can be about any kind of horror-themed food and drink. All we ask is that submissions are in by the preceding Thursday so that we have time to compile the list. To submit a link or ask a question, please post a comment on this entry, or e-mail us at: 1x15x5@gmail.com

If you want to be kind and link back to Fright-day Foods, please use the banner below:

Events: Run for Your Lives

'Run for Your Lives' is a 5 kilometre, charity obstacle run,  taking place on October 22nd, 2011, in Darlington, Maryland (1 hour north of Baltimore, 1.5 hours south of Philadelphia). Maybe than doesn't sound very scary or horror-related and it wouldn't be, except that whilst you navigate these 12 man-made and natural challenges, you'll be chased by brain-chomping zombies! Obstacles include 'The Terrible Tubes', 'The Finish Line', and 'The Uphill Climb' and many more! You can even dress like a zombie if you want to; it will, no doubt, confuse the rotting shamblers into thinking you're one of them!

There are awards to be had by anyone who completes all of the obstacles, but if you're caught by a zombie (a flag will be taken from your flag belt) then you'll be listed as one of the undead. You can either buy a spectator 'Apocalypse Pass', which allows you to watch the race and attend the 'Apocalypse Party' afterwards, or alternatively, you can register as participant, which allows you to take part in the course and attend the after party for free. All participants must be over the age of 14, but children under that age are also welcome to spectate, with those under 10 being admitted for free.

A portion of all tickets sold will be donated to the American Red Cross and the zombie virus will be spreading to even more locations next year. Save your brains - RUN!

For more information, and to buy tickets, check out the following sites:

Run for Your Lives Website

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Monster Monday - Jiang Shi, the Hopping Zombie Vampires

Today Madame Luciel and myself bring you...the Jiang Shi!

Still from 'Encounters of the Spooky Kind', via Aluajala's sampler video

Jiang Shi (Geung Si in Hong Kong) are supernatural beings from China. They are also called Kyunshii in Japan and Gangshi in Korea and are brought back from the dead for many different reasons, some of which include: improper death, suicide, trouble-making personalities in life and being raised from the dead by a necromancer. 

Although Jiang Shi are somewhat similar to Western vampires and zombies in the respect that they are undead, can be in various stages of decomposition and hide in caves or coffins during the daylight hours, but rather than feasting on brains or blood, Jiang Shi breathe in the lifeforce (Qi / Chi) of their victims. Depending on how advanced their rotting was at the time of their resurrection, Jiang Shi differ in appearance; some are pale white with relatively in-tact bodies, whilst others have parts missing and a green moss growing on them. 

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Jiang Shi however, is the way that they move. Big, jumping hops, with their arms outstretched like a zombie! This unusual movement is said to come from the difficulty the corpses have moving, due to the onset of rigor mortis (hence the meaning of their name "stiff corpse"). The clip below illustrates their movement very well, and is from the movie 'Encouters of the Spooky Kind' from Sammo Hung:

For a list of more movies with Jiang Shi-like creatures in, visit the Latarnia Forums. There is also a boss called Jiang Shi, in the Castlevania game series, which is also based on this mythology.

Information via: Mythical Creatures & Beasts Wiki and The Castlevania Wiki

Monster Monday!

Welcome boils and ghouls to Horror Shock Lolipop's first Monster Monday! We'll be featuring a different monster (from movies, books, games, mythology etc.) every Monday from now on, because honestly, who wouldn't want to kick their week off by reading about scary creatures!

Previous Monster Monday Posts

We'd also love to see submissions from everyone else as well, so if you want to take part in Monster Monday at your blog, let us know and we'll link to your post or feature your contribution on HSL! Posts can be about anything monster themed - movie reviews, art, cupcakes, game trailers, fiction, cryptids, figures & dolls etc. All we ask is that submissions are in by the preceding Sunday so that we have time to compile the list. To submit a link or ask a question, please post a comment on this entry, or e-mail us at: 1x15x5@gmail.com

If you want to be kind and link back to Monster Monday, please use the banner below:

Happy chest-bursting, building stomping, blood-sucking posting all!

Books: A Field Guide to Monsters by Dave Elliott



A Field Guide to Monsters by Dave Elliott



'A Field Guide to Monsters', by Dave Elliott, C.J. Henderson, R. Allen Leider and...Abraham Van Helsing...was given to be by our very own sadOasis a few years ago and since then it has become one of my favourite "monster compilation" books. Its approach to writing about our beloved creeps and ghouls is to use factual data about various fictional characters, which is wonderful, as it really does come across as a "field guide".

138 monsters are included in the guide and, whilst there aren't many post-2000 creatures (so no Sadako, Kayako, Jigsaw, Human Centipede, House of 1000 Corpses etc.), the amount of information given on each page is stunning. Each monster has a page, except for those that have been in a ridiculous number of remakes and sequels, such as Dracula, Godzilla and Frankenstein's Monster, who get two. Within that single page however, the biography, height, weight, weaknesses, powers, behaviour, lethality, family, habitat, history, intelligence, size comparisons and photograph of  the featured creatures are all included.

The monsters each fit within one of seven categories, some of which are a little jumbled and similar, but generally you can find the ghoul you're looking for in the place you would expect it to be.

The categories:

• Mutated Lizards, Fish and Dinosaurs (The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Anaconda etc.)
• Mutated Men, Women, Animals and Insects (The Fly, The Invisible Man, Gorgons etc.)
• Mutated Vegetables (Killer Tomatoes, Pods, Swamp Thing etc.)
• Monster Men (Leatherface, Jack Torrance, Doctor Caligari etc.)
• Manufactured Monsters (Frankenstein's Monster, Colossus, Hal 9000 etc.)
• Supernatural Monsters (Zombies, Count Dracula, Countess Maria Zaleska etc.)
• Monsters from the Beyond (Candyman, Creeper, Pinhead, Chucky etc.)

The whole book is very thorough, but tongue in cheek, making it both entertaining and informative at the same time. It would be a great introduction to the world of monsters for a budding fan of all things spooky, or an equally enjoyable read for those already familiar with the creatures of horror, science fiction and dark fantasy.

Books: Tales of the Sisters Kane

I recently received a package, from Kei of Unfortunately Oh! (thank you!), filled with Halloween recipes, spooky brooches she had made and this delightfully strange book. 'Tales of the Sisters Kane' is a collection of cautionary rhyming tales and charming photographs by Christy Kane. The book contains four extended poems:

• Lily...the seamstress
• Polly...the roller skater
• Callalilly...the pianist
• The Triplets...and Wisteria

Lily...the Seamstress by Christy Kane

The tales, which were apparently told to Kane by the dolls she creates and photographs, are peppered with high-contrast, slightly creepy pictures illustrating each unfortunate, but life lesson-teaching fate. (I cannot stress enough how much more beautiful the photographs are in the book compared to the photographs I've taken of them!)

The Triplets...and Wisteria by Christy Kane

The style of the story telling rather reminds me of authors/artists like Edward Gorey, mixed with traditional dark fairytales such as Hansel and Gretel. However, despite that slight reminiscence, this book is very unique, unusual and is definitely one to check out if you enjoy child-like, creepy fables mixed with original and spooky art.

Callalilly...the Pianist by Christy Kane

One of the stories, 'Callalilly...the Pianist', has also been made into a great short film by Jerrold Ridenour, which features The Sisters Kane themselves:

Christy Kane:

"About the Author:

Christy Kane graduated from NYU with a degree in photography.

She has been creating dolls and documenting their happenings

for centuries. To learn more or inquire about purchasing a doll of

your very own visit www.christykane.com "

Christy Kane