Interview: Talking Horror with Otherworldy Entity (Written)
Who doesn’t love a bit of horror? In this interview we spoke to indie nu-metal, alternative rock, and hard rock band, Otherworldy Entity about all things horror.
1. What’s some of your earliest memories surrounding horror films and at what age do you think you experienced your first one?
I think my first horror movie was Hellraiser when I was like 6 or 7. I snuck into my older brother’s room and hid to watch it. I didn’t sleep for a week.
2. What effect do you think it had on you, either positive or negative?
I think it’s been positive, honestly. I spent 10 years in the haunted attraction industry designing attractions and costumes for Frightworld in Buffalo and Frightmare Farms in Pallermo, NY. Frightworld is where I started learning lighting and engineering. Scary was appealing to me, but it branched me out into other areas. I use a lot of what I learned in the special fx field in Otherworldly today.
3. Do you have a particular moment in horror, be it a specific film or even a scene, that defined your childhood?
I can’t think of one more universal than the fact that an entire generation of people can’t drive behind a lumber truck anymore.
4. What used to scare you?
I’ve always been more afraid of paranormal things than I have been of physical things. If you just tripped Leatherface, he’s just a guy running with pretty aggressive scissors. But Freddy, he’s beyond that possible defense.
5. How did your early experiences blossom into a love of all things horror?
I’ve now become a paranormal investigator, with almost 500 investigations under my belt. I’m a special lecturer at Syracuse University on the topic of Paranormal Anthropology, and I’m co-founder of Pride Paranormal NY. As much as the paranormal scared me, it intrigued me, too. I bring every aspect of that into my life, whether it’s masks and costumes for music videos, or it’s going into paranormal locations.
6. How about genres – are you a slasher fan, paranormal lover, gorefest enjoyer, etc, or is a little bit of everything ok with you?
I love Norwegian horror. There’s so much folklore often brought into it.
7. What’s the best horror film to watch alone and why?
Honestly, Warm Bodies is one of my comfort films. A romcom zombie movie, it just hits every spot.
8. Likewise, what’s the best horror film to watch with a group (beers and popcorn included) and why?
Insidious. The first time I saw it was with a huge group of people and we were making fun of it, MST3K style. But it became so good that we just got engulfed by it.
9. What is an overrated film or franchise? Please explain.
I don’t think any are “over-rated.” People are allowed to enjoy what they enjoy. I don’t really like the gore franchises, like Saw and Hostile, but I get why people like them.
10. What is a modern horror film (the last ten years) that you just loved and why?
The Ritual. It just had a little bit of everything I like. Paranormal, cultural, folklore, Magick, and idiots. It’s just a solid movie.
11. What scares you now?
People. That’s about it. People are scary.
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