Amanda Norman
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So Long 2011
Well it’s certainly been a challenging year and as I write this now, I’m suffering with severe tonsillitis. As soon as I opened my mouth at the emergency GP clinic, the doctor almost jumped backwards stating the obvious. Thankfully I now have my anti-biotic tablets, but of course, I can’t have a drink for the next week. New Years Eve without a drink! 
My 2yr old granddaughter, Holly is most definitely providing the terrible two syndrome and yes, Christmas has been very different this year. To be honest, my patience has been very thin and I wish I could have crawled into a hole and hibernated instead of putting on a show for everyone and pretending that I’m not as bad as I feel. At least I’m feeling better and to while away some alone time, I’ve decided to highlight the good and bad points of 2011.
Gothic and Horror Photography
It’s a huge struggle selling Gothic and horror photography. This year I’ve made about five sales, if that as it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
Obviously I get lots of really nice feedback, which is much appreciated and I thank you all for your kind words. I’ve recently updated my photography gallery (click here to view) as it presents the photographs a lot better. The music is supplied by the lovely Tony Longworth, who I miss working with on a daily basis due to being made redundant a few years back.
I will carry on with my photography, but some of you may have noticed that I’m gradually stepping out of the shadows and dipping my toes into the world of commercial photography. I’ve taken child/family portraits and completed one wedding this year.
Mother and Child Portrait Photography
Gail & Stuart’s Wedding Photography
My heart will always be with the Gothic and horror photography though and I will update my galleries soon.
Gothic Jewellery Box
My big drive this year has been pushing my Gothic jewellery that I started to create at the beginning of the year. It is inspired by my love of classic horror. I’ve been more successful with selling items of jewellery than my photography, but if I’m to make a profit, I need to sell a lot more.
There’s currently a massive sale on where you get 15% off any item of jewellery from now until the end of January using code NY2012. http://www.gothicjewellerybox.com
What I’m really pleased about happened very recently. My mother asked me if I could make a pendant featuring a photograph of a girls deceased mother as a nice gift for Christmas day. The girl loves it and it might bring in some more orders for me, so that’s brilliant news.
Meeting Twitter Friends in Person
I’m really happy that I got to meet the following Twitter peeps in person as it’s been fun and it’s always nice to make new friends.
- The wonderful @PepperyApple who is a local girl and we had a really nice chat over a Starbucks coffee. I’m guessing it will be the first of many.
- I finally got to meet @Cyberschizoid and @ScareSarah in person at the Manchester Horror Campaign Festival. I also met some other followers such as @liverecs and more.
- Of course @HorrorExtreme has been to stay a couple of times with us this year, but fancy passing out on Halloween…
and finally……
The Hammer Horror Poster is Framed and Up
To my amazement, Luke purchased this poster as a Christmas gift last year and today, yes today, it’s actually been placed on the wall and doesn’t it look FANGTASTIC?
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours all the best for 2012 and thanks for supporting my classic horror creativeness as again, it’s much appreciated.
Classic Horror
Paranormal Activity 2
I watched Paranormal Activity 2 last night and I must say that for a sequel, this was VERY GOOD! In fact, it’s just as good, if not better than the original.
The first loud bang really made me jump, but I’ve learned now not to be holding a hot cuppa when watching movies since freaking out once at Halloween and the coffee went all over me. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been stoned at the time.
When the movie finished, even though Luke was with me, I was very apprehensive and worried about walking down my long, long hallway that descends into darkness. Luke told me that I’m not watching movies like that again, but it goes to show how good this movie is.
So my question is, why do most people state that it’s a load of rubbish?
Perhaps it wasn’t that good watching it in a cinema or perhaps it’s because today, a persons appetite for horror has gone beyond the bounds of classic horror and it’s reality horror with torture, blood and guts that is required to satisfy?
I really don’t know the answer, so feel free to tell me.
Personally, I love classic horror and I find films about ghosts, supernatural, demons to be bloody scary in case they do exist. It’s the unknown that fuels my appetite and I’ve experienced reality horror in my life time and I don’t want to be reminded of it. Perhaps people who love these torture films haven’t experienced true horror?
I got half way through Wolf Creek and I couldn’t take it anymore and had to turn it off. OH MY GOD! The film was so intense and well made, but I couldn’t watch that a minute longer.
Perhaps I’m from a generation that was brought up on Hammer Horror and sneakily watching films like The Exorcist, The Entity and Amityville as a teenager that truly terrified me. If this is the case, what will future generations be like after watching movies like, Hostel, The Human Centipede, Saw? In case you’re wondering, no I haven’t watched them and I don’t intend on doing either.
Marchlands
Has anyone been watching Marchlands that is currently showing on ITV1?
Although not scary, it is a very good ghost drama that is quite apprehensive when you see the young lad fitting when the ghost of Alice appears. I love this drama because Alex Kingston’s character is in true denial of the existence of ghosts and can’t bear to think that her daughter is being haunted. For more information about Marchlands, visit the website by clicking here.
Classic Horror To Come
Wake Wood
I can’t wait for Wake Wood, a Hammer film that will be released in the UK on March 25 2011. It has already been described as ‘an instant folk horror classic’.
Synopsis
Still grieving the death of their only child Alice at the jaws of a crazed dog, vet Patrick and pharmacist Louise relocate to the remote town of Wake Wood where a local pagan ritual gives them three more precious days with her… but what will they do when it’s time for their new daughter to go back?
Further information about the film can be found on the Hammer Films website by clicking here.
The Woman in Black (2011)
Synopsis
Produced by Talisman Films in association with Hammer Films
The story follows a young lawyer, Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe), who is ordered to travel to a remote village and sort out a recently deceased client’s papers. As he works alone in the client’s isolated house, Kipps begins to uncover tragic secrets, his unease growing when he glimpses a mysterious woman dressed only in black. Receiving only silence from the locals, Kipps is forced to uncover the true identity of the Woman in Black on his own, leading to a desperate race against time when he discovers her true intent.
For further information about this film can be found on the Hammer Films website by clicking here.
Hammer Horror and The Karnstein Trilogy
Last night in memory of Ingrid Pitt who sadly died this week, I decided to watch the 1970 film The Vampire Lovers and although I’ve seen it before, tonight’s viewing was very special.
This is one of my favourite Hammer films that is based on the novel Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, which was first published in 1872.
Carmilla is a tale full of vampire lesbianism and Hammer’s adaptation of it is very good. Carmilla played by Ingrid Pitt preys upon two females, killing one and almost succeeding with the second named Laura.
Sometimes after an hour of apathy, my strange and beautiful companion would take my hand and hold it with a fond pressure, renewed again and again; blushing softly, gazing in my face with languid and burning eyes, and breathing so fast that her dress rose and fell with the tumultuous respiration. It was like the ardour of a lover; it embarrassed me; it was hateful and yet overpowering; and with gloating eyes she drew me to her, and her hot lips travelled along my cheek in kisses; and she would whisper, almost in sobs, “You are mine, you shall be mine, and you and I are one for ever”. (“Carmilla”, Chapter 4).
Laura grows very close to Carmilla, not suspecting that Carmilla is a vampire as she can happily survive during daylight hours. At night, Laura suffers terrible encounters with a large black cat biting her bosom and drawing blood. She screams and unfortunately for her, she’s told that it’s just a bad dream. Later on in the story, the villagers reveal the history of the Karnstein vampires and we see Carmilla being staked and beheaded.
What I adore about this film is the opening sequence. The tale of how Baron Joachim von Hartog played by Douglas Wilmer watched a Karnstein vampire rise from its tomb in a plume of smoke, all shrouded and mysteriously glide off out of the smoke filled graveyard. He steals the vampires shroud knowing that the creature will not be able to rest without it. The vampire returns and he coaxes the vampire to him by revealing its shroud. When approached, Baron Joachim von Hartog is consumed by the vampires beautiful appearance, her naked body covered lightly with a soft see through gown. He’s mesmerised until the vampire reveals its fangs and he makes one strike of his sword and decapitates the vampire in one.
The Vampire Lovers is the first Hammer film to base its story on Carmilla. It was followed by the 1971 film, Lust for a Vampire and in this film we see Yutte Stensgaard playing Carmilla. I’ve hunted down my favourite clip of Lust for a Vampire to show you below. The third and final film is the 1971 film, The Twins of Evil which doesn’t feature the character Carmilla, but does feature members of the Karnstein family. Twins of Evil is another favourite vampire film of mine and I love Madeleine Collinson’s portrayal of Frieda Gellhorn.
I’ve just been informed that reference to the Karnstein vampires is made in the film 1972 film ‘Vampire Circus’ although I will have to watch this film again at some point to confirm that.
I have such a passion for vampires thanks to Hammer Horror. They always casted their vampires as beautiful women with heaving bosoms and scantily clad, with the exception of Christopher Lee as Dracula of course! Ingrid Pitt played Carmilla with such passion and of course she was stunningly beautiful.
RIP Hammer Queen Ingrid Pitt
I’m really saddened about the loss of Hammer Horror actress Ingrid Pitt who has died today at the age of 73.
The Hammer Horror films she starred in, Countess Dracula, The Vampire Lovers are among my all-time favourites and I was lucky enough once to interview Ingrid a few years ago for a vampire site that I used to run. I emailed Ingrid and asked if she would agree to be interviewed via email and I didn’t expect the response I got.
She talked in-depth about Countess Dracula, her trip to Romania and of course Hammer Horror and she had a lovely warm sense of humour.
She even signed the photograph pictured here and I have it together with a signed copy of the script for Countess Dracula.
We should never forget Ingrid! She’s a true star and was a worthy ambassador of Hammer Horror.