Flashback: The Frighteners (1996)
The 1996 horror comedy The Frighteners starred Michael J. Fox as Frank Bannister, a man running a kind of “Ghostbusters” scam. Yes, he can see real ghosts, but they’re actually his accomplices: They haunt a place until someone pays Bannister to, um, “bust” them. But when the spirit of a mass murderer can attack the living and the dead, Frank and his ghost friends have to stop him.
The Frighteners was directed by Peter Jackson and co-written with Fran Walsh. The film also starred Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson, John Astin, Dee Wallace Stone, Jeffrey Combs, R. Lee Ermey, and Jake Busey. The Frighteners was Fox’s last leading role in a live-action feature film.
In the 1970s, rock band Blue Oyster Cult released their light-hearted tribute to Japan’s legendary monster. Since then, there have been MANY cover versions, including rock, bluegrass, rap, and more.
New documentary The Thing Expanded explores the history of the 1982 horror classic—with more than 30 interviews! In-depth analysis will feature memories, facts, and theories about the movie.
The first big bug feature, Them! is often considered the greatest of the genre. We share two videos that discuss the impact of the groundbreaking giant-bug-movie.
SF author Robert Sheckley’s only series featured an interplanetary decontamination service. “Basically Ghostbusters in space,” noted one reader. “What more could you want?”
Maybe the greatest monster movie ever, Bride of Frankenstein (1935) was directed by James Whale, and starred Boris Karloff and Colin Clive. The sequel also starred Elsa Lanchester in two roles.
Celebrating the 120th birthday of one of the most influential authors of all time! Most remembered for Conan, but REH typed out more than a hundred stories for many more pulp categories.
The 1980s sword & sci-fi & sorcery cartoon show Thundarr the Barbarian is returning as a comic book by Jason Aaron and Kewber Baal. Find out about the history of the original TV show—and what to expect from the comic book series!
1960’s monster family sitcom The Munsters continues to reach new fans. To celebrate the classic show, we’re sharing several links to find out more about the show, or to watch the original series.
A private detective that has to face crooks, corruption, and—well, gods, vampires, wizards, elves, centaurs, and the like. These fantasies are totally for fans of detective fiction.
Want books that mix urban fantasy and crime fiction? Including the Dead Jack Series by James Aquilone, plus books from Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, X-Files, Supernatural—and more.
What sets these two 1960s fantasy sitcoms apart? Bonus points when we talk about crossover details with pop rock legends Boyce and Hart! And The Monkees!
A spin on the Dracula legend vs the iconic rock festival. Darin S. Cape shares why he focused on the classic rock festival, his favorite vampire stories, and a surprising list of literary inspirations.
Few have reached the same heights as the Man of Steel. For Superman Day 2026, we look at various media where you can find stories about the Last Son of Krypton.
There’s a monster in the neighborhood. And she lives next door. “Circe meets Stranger Things. Throw in a helping of Desperate Housewives and that’s my book.”
Webmaster Ståle Gismervik on his website The World of Robert E. Howard—The Father of Sword & Sorcery. (Including how REH wrote so much more than just that one genre.)
The comic book series expands the drama where kaiju stomp on more figures from literature. “Get ready to explore exciting new and old territory Godzilla’s never gone before.”
Dungeons & Dragons meets The Wizard of Oz in the darkly hilarious romantasy Mayhem and the Mortal when a woman hires an assassin to save her sister from an evil sorcerer. (Chaos ensues.)
Horror, SF, and fantasy characters that come out boxing and wrestling, including Hellboy, The Hulk, and Herman Munster. Plus that boxer from the man who gave us Conan the Barbarian.
Chris Well been a writer pretty much his entire life. (Well, since his childhood.) Over the years, he has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio, and books. He now is the chief of the website Monster Complex, celebrating monster stories in lit and pop culture. He also writes horror comedy fiction that embraces Universal Monsters, 1960s sitcoms, 1980s action movies, and the X-Files.
What sets these two 1960s fantasy sitcoms apart? Bonus points when we talk about crossover details with pop rock legends Boyce and Hart! And The Monkees!