#like i’m thirsting over enough yt men

[serabiet]

Hi! I have a couple of questions re: Strange County. I was was wondering if you have any film recs that have a similar vibe to your story? Also, do you use/make moodboards? I've read through a bunch of your posts but I don't think I saw anywhere that you have a pinterest?

Hello! I don’t use pinterest, I have a very strong, permanent aversion to the site, and dislike how when trying to find cc (or anything) it’s taken over most of the google results instead of the original sites the stuff is actually located on. It’s like one of those sims forums you can’t download anything from without becoming a member, except more invasive and bigger scale. That isn’t to say the dislike applies to people who do use pinterest, with an account it’s probably making searches easier :D

For the films: interesting question! I don’t know about similar vibe, but I wrote down a list I tried to narrow down to desert/gothic horror movies that I’ve sucked inspiration from, either intentionally or automatically. Warning: I like to talk about movies.

Dust Devil (1992): I just recently rewatched it and realized how big an influence this one actually has been. Like, all the way down to dialogue. Cinematographically gorgeous movie set in Namibia and South Africa in the early 90s with all that entails, it’s laid heavy with symbolism, and ticks every genre box of desert, gothic, horror, and romance. The lead couple are both white, which you know, uhh okay, but the movie is fascinating nevertheless, and Sgt Mukurob’s story running parallel is brought out as equally as important. The long version I recommend over the 108 minutes cut one is available on yt, at least at the moment.

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968): One of my favorite movies, ever. Like all Leone westerns, it’s absolutely beautiful but this one he considered his goodbye to the genre so it tells a story of the end of an age: simplified, men’s way of running the world isn’t sustainable, women come along and build on the ruins a new order that is. Fun fact: I wrote a kickass analysis of it at school when I was 18. Influence it’s had on Strange County? Everything :D but I especially draw from the visuals, Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack, and the inherent sadness and hopefulness (death and rebirth) that are a part of transitioning to a new era.

Come to think of it, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) uses that same base for its story, just updated to this century and dressed differently, which is probably a big reason I love that movie so much as well. Huh. I think a lot of my other favorites do, too. Well, to be fair and less pretentious every story is about transformation, so no shit Inka.

All the other Leone westerns kind of go on a list of recommendations. Eastwood might be a dick of a grandpa but he sure was pretty at the time. And all the movies are prettier than him. I mean look at the colors and the desert.

Isolation is thematically a big thing for me in everything I do, so good examples of movies here featuring that: the Shining (1980) is an eternal fave, I can’t help it, Alien (1979) is one, Aliens (1986) is too with the added spin of motherhood as a driving force, plus they’re GORGEOUS, but they’re less of a direct source of inspiration with SC. More like silently informing everything because I’ve taken them into my heart and spine so fully.

I’m having a hard time trying to think of a more traditional (read: everyone has tuberculosis and every other person is a ghost type of hella victorian even if it’s contemporary) gothic horror that’d stuck with me enough to fit on the list. I like Guillermo del Toro’s movies well enough, but they’re not that big for me personally. The Orphanage (2007) made a big, lasting, impression at the time, but I haven’t really returned to it since like other favorites mentioned above. Oh! The Candyman (1992) works in this category and I love it! I tend to watch everything in the genre I can get my hands on, but not that many really FULLY satisfy the thirst. Which is probably why I’m so desperately trying to write in that vein. Make your own etc.

So that’s something! A long waffle of a something, hopefully including things for you to look into :) Most of the movies I listed are old and well-known, so you might have seen them before, but I’d say they’re worth a re-watch even then.

Also if anyone has recommendations or just wants to talk about this stuff, I’m open to it! Big chance is I’ve at the least heard about the movie/show if it has anything to do with gothic horror, but any selling points might get me to check it out if I haven’t yet. And if I have, I very likely have an OpinionTM :D

#asks replies answers #anonnonns #strange county related but #nonsims #io talks movies in a #long post