Interview with Dice Rollen - By David Kempf

When did you first become interested in horror films?

Oddly enough I didn’t truly get into horror until two years into doing YouTube, so about 2016. There were hints throughout my life that I would develop a tremendous love for the genre though. I’ve always adored Halloween, the season, and the classic Universal monsters. 

The first horror movie that I remember seeing, that burned itself into my brain, was Gremlins (1984) and before that, I had gone to Universal Studios in California when I was 4 years old. The Amity Island portion of the tram ride gave me both a phobia of great white sharks and animatronics as well as a fascination with scary things.

If you met me as a child it would be a stark contrast when it comes to horror. If anything looked even remotely scary in a movie I would cover my eyes. Now it’s pretty hard to scare me.


How did you get involved in reviewing fantasy/horror?

It was about the same time that I really started to pay attention to horror movies through my YouTube channel. I had asked on a YouTube advice forum for ways that I could improve my content and someone there pointed out that I seemed to like horror so I should focus on that. So reviewing horror and fantasy started with The Chronicles of Prydain and The Black Cauldron (1985). Since then I’ve crossed 100 horror movies that I’ve reviewed.


Tell us about your podcast.

Brain Mucus was a pretty basic idea initially. I had met a lot of creative and inspiring people at the point where I was considering starting the podcast. But I wanted to do something different from other horror-based podcasts. The idea for the series The Horror of Mental Health came about when I became more aware of the link between mental health and horror movies. Horror movies can be comforting, cathartic, and like coping mechanisms for many people. Exploring how different films could be seen through people’s eyes is fascinating to me.

I finally created Brain Mucus, and subsequently, The Horror of Mental Health, when a documentary that was supposed to cover the very same subject fell through. I figured that was the time to move ahead with my podcast.

The idea is to bring a guest or guests on each episode with a horror movie of their choosing to discuss it and how mental health is woven into the story and characters. The goal is to destigmatize mental illnesses and hopefully help listeners through the filter of these horror movies. It also gives my guests a chance to share their experiences and be vulnerable.

How would you classify the genre you review?

Horror is such a wide umbrella and I have a lot of fun reviewing the fringes of it and everything in between. I’m not terribly picky about what I’ll cover as long as it has elements of horror. The fun of it is that horror, much like comedy, is extremely subjective.

I classify horror as anything and everything from a deeply unsettling, thought-provoking A24 film to a cheesy, 80s, man-in-a-bad-monster-suit film.


Why do you think horror and fantasy books remain so popular?

Just like with movies, books are a fantastic way to escape and explore. Through them, you’re able to experience things you may not otherwise. Or wouldn’t want to, but you have that filter of seeing through a character’s eyes. Many of the horror and fantasy movie fans that I know are also avid readers and that love of reading typically starts during childhood with books like Goosebumps or Stephen King.

There are also a plethora of options for consuming books now, like audiobooks and digital readers that make it accessible even if you’re busy.

What inspires the movies you to pick certain movies? (I was very impressed that you picked In the Company of Wolves and The Hunger).

Thank you! I’m happy to cover movies like that. I don’t have a strict set of requirements for a horror movie to be covered. I do like to shine a light on underappreciated or forgotten films. Anything that I can have fun with, dissect, and/or grabs my attention. All I really require from a movie is for it to allow me to put my creative and comedic spin on it.

The hardest movies to cover are the ones that I can’t do much with, I can’t make jokes about it or it’s just not interesting to me. The easiest, no matter how bad they are, are the ones that inspire so many jokes and creativity that I have to write quickly so I don’t forget anything. If I can write a script in one sitting that’s when I know it will make for great content.

What do you think the main differences between American horror and British horror are?

From what I’ve noticed thus far in my exploration, I need to delve more into British horror, is that it isn’t afraid to be dark and gothic. There are castles and curses and classic stories. In America, people love their masked killers and shock rather than the building of tension. There are exceptions, of course. More often than not American horror will provide a happier ending. British horror doesn’t shy away from a somber ending.


What are your favorite horror books?

I’m a sucker for books that cover the history and behind-the-scenes events of horror movies, like Shock Value by Jason Zinoman and The Horror of It All by Adam Rockoff. I’m endlessly intrigued by information like that.

I also collect Stephen King novels and Goosebumps books. My mom is a King fan and I missed out on R.L. Stine as a kid so I’m making up for it.


What are some of your favorite horror movies?

My friends and viewers are probably sick of me talking about these movies, but my absolute favorites are Phantom of the Paradise (1974) and The Frighteners (1996). Followed by The Wolf Man (1941), Evil Dead II (1987), and Re-Animator (1985).

These are the movies that pushed me towards the genre and showed me how fun it can be.


What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as a podcaster/movie reviewer?

There are a few that I’m rather proud of. Reaching 1K subscribers has been a dream of mine since I started my channel and to keep growing past that has been tremendously exciting. This has also allowed me to monetize my channel thus making reviewing movies a legitimate career for me. I’ve been present on YouTube for over 10 years and that’s not something I could even conceive when I decided to start being a content creator. Getting the chance to interview and collaborate with so many talented creators. Receiving messages from people telling me that I made them smile when they were having a bad day is something I can’t properly express in words.


Do you have any advice for new writers and podcasters?

Don’t be afraid to be bad at it when you start out. The important thing is to create something and keep learning as you move forward. Listen to constructive feedback, ask other writers or podcasters for advice, and ignore the haters. Building a supportive circle of friends that you can bounce ideas off of helps a lot.


What is your opinion of the new self-publishing trend?

I think it’s a great opportunity for writers to be able to get their work out there when they otherwise wouldn’t have that chance. With self-publishing being so readily available it allows practically anyone to reach their dream of being an author without receiving dozens of rejections. There’s more creative freedom to be had from what I’ve heard.

Self-publishing is a method I’ve considered for when I’m ready to publish my own novels.


What are your current projects?

I’m always working on something. My primary projects are growing my Brain Mucus podcast with The Horror of Mental Health series and different review-based episodes sprinkled in, covering more horror movies on my channel, and a couple of ideas for documentaries that I’m hoping to make a reality in the near future. One would cover the history of a specific kind of horror category and the other would be covering a real asylum that I grew up not too far away from. These would definitely be a longer and more in-depth format of content than I’m used to, but I’m excited about them.


Please in your own words, write a paragraph about yourself & your work.

First and foremost, I’m a complete geek. The persona that you see in my videos or hear on my podcast is me. I’m just as sarcastic, off the wall, and goofy as I seem on the screen.

I’m an extremely passionate person who loves to share things that I enjoy or find interesting with others. I’ve been told that I have a unique way of viewing horror and presenting it in my content. I’ve said many times before that as long as I get to create something, I’m happy. And if I can make one person laugh per day then I’ve done my job as a content creator.

I love interacting with fellow creators and viewers and exploring this genre as much as I possibly can.

Links: 

YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/dicerollen
Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5KpQdD0mrOtc6K2NbIt7mi
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dicerollen
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dice_rollen/

COMPETITION: Win Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker Blu-ray

Severin Films cooks up a brand new special edition 4K UHD/Blu-ray release of notorious nasty ‘Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker’ for the UK on 13 May 2024.

And to celebrate we have a great competition and a copy on standard Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis

One of the notorious 1980s video nasties Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker has been lauded as ‘Brilliantly insane’ (Cool Ass Cinema) and a ‘horror gem, well-crafted, ripe for analysis… should not go overlooked (Bloody Disgusting) and now, thanks to Severin Films, you can witness the film like never before. The company announces a brand-new Special Edition Dual 4K UHD and Blu-ray is set for its UK release on 13 May 2024.

In a surprising change of direction, William Asher – veteran of gentle TV delights such as I Love Lucy and Bewitched – directed one of the most joltingly brutal, psychosexual shockers of the ‘80s, the eye-poppingly violent and demented Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker, which can now be experienced for the first time ever in UHD.

This controversial horror stars character actor Susan Tyrrell (Fat City, Cry-Baby) in ‘a show-stealing performance’ (Bloody Disgusting), as the insanely brilliant lead Cheryl Roberts, who will stop at nothing to ensure her nephew, high-school student Billy Lynch (Jimmy McNichol – Smoky Bites the Dust, California Cowboys), never returns to his parents’ home.

Following a devastating car ‘accident’, Billy is forced to live with his strangely overprotective psychotic aunt, who soon becomes implicated in a grisly murder that sees a police investigation led by an equally unhinged police detective (Bo Svenson – Inglorious Basterds, Kill Bill: Vol. 2). Seven times Emmy® nominee Julia Duffy (Palm Royale, Scream Queens, Newhart) and Bill Paxton (Aliens, Apollo 13, Twister), in one of his first film roles, also star in this ‘jaw-dropping hunk of genre insanity’ (Pop Culture Beast). 

The former DPP 39 Video Nasty – also known as Night Warning – is now scanned in 4K from the negative with hours of new Special Features including new audio commentaries and is presented in a stunning new slip case.

Meet the Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker as Severin Films bakes up this this must-own physical release.

Pre-order on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3JOt0qM

Enter now for a chance to win.

Whob stars as Cheryl Roberts in Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here

1. Closing date 20-05-24

2. No alternative prize is available

3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.

4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Interview with Stephanie Rosengrant of The Haunted Horrorstorian Podcast - By David Kempf

When did you first become interested in ghost stories?

I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. By the time I was in high school, I was on a first-name basis with my school and local librarians (as you may have gathered, I was also kind of a dork).

I read every fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy book the library had to offer. As I started running out of fiction books at my small school library, I gravitated towards authors like Dean Koontz and Stephen King, and from there, it snowballed into who I am today.

How did you get involved in fantasy/horror? 

I’ve always enjoyed reading and watching fantasy and horror, so it seemed natural to try writing my own stories. I started writing just for myself, as a creative outlet. Then, my husband (aka Producer Joe) encouraged me to start telling them as a podcast.

I liked the idea of doing a narration-style podcast, where I controlled the stories I told, but I knew it couldn’t be all original work; I just didn’t write fast enough!

Right now, the only way to hear these stories is on my podcast, The Haunted Horrorstorian. However, in time, I hope to publish these stories, specifically the Naomi story, which is still in production and should come out later this year.

Tell us about your first podcast. 

The Haunted Horrorstorian is my first podcast! It started as a way for me to express my creativity. I do all voice work myself and tell a variety of spooky stories. Some are my personal writings and others I’ve cultivated from various sources, including public works by authors like Poe and Dickens and friends I’ve made in the creative writing space. All of my stories include links or credit to the authors.

We came up with the word Horrorstorian ourselves. We wanted to convey the vibe of an old, haunted library, and the word librarian just didn’t seem to fit. The word historian was close but didn’t capture the spooky elements enough. Thus, Horror-storian was born, then Horrorstorian.

How would you classify the stories you write? 

Spooky and spine-tingling! My stories tend to focus on a less is more mentality. I don't use gore because I am not a huge fan of over-the-top gore. I prefer psychological and supernatural scares; it's what I lean towards in my books and movies and what I tend to write.

I also like to keep it pretty PG. I loved stories like Goosebumps when I was younger, and I want this show to be a good starting point for younger listeners to be able to get spooked without hearing R-rated language and violence.

Why do you think horror and fantasy books remain so popular? 

I believe everyone can see a piece of themselves in the heroes or antiheroes of horror and fantasy. These genres also provide an escape from the mundane, and allow us to fully immerse ourselves in another world. What would we do, how would we survive? They make us think, plan, and dream.

What inspires your stories? 

Most of my stories start out with a small piece of the real world. I often lay in bed at night imagining, ‘What if this happened when that happened?’ For example, the story I’m currently working on, Naomi (part one currently available in my podcast) is based on an adventure my best friend and I had together several years ago, where we explored an old abandoned building.

Of course, the scariest thing that happened while we were there was that the floor was rotting, and I nearly fell through the kitchen into the basement, but hey, that’s why it's fiction, right?

What do you think the difference between American horror and British horror is? 

From a movie perspective, I have found that British horror tends to focus more on the storyline, on the people, and the place. In contrast, many American horror movies tend to jump from one big cinematic moment to the next, trying to get the most jumps and the biggest reaction. Sometimes, this works, but it often sacrifices the story to get to the scare.

What are your favorite horror books? 

Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House is a personal favorite. I’ve also enjoyed Stephen King’s works and Dean Koontz's since I was a teen. I would be remiss not to mention Poe, as he’s been my favorite poet since childhood.

And, of course, you can’t forget the Goosebumps books! I still have quite a collection of them on my shelves, and I’ve been known to go back and reread them when I need something light.

What are some of your favorite horror movies? 

There are so many! Hell House LLC, Insidious, Psycho, Scream, You’re Next, The Ritual, and The Descent, just to name a few. I don’t think I’ve ever met a supernatural horror film I don’t like.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as a podcaster? 

Before we started The Haunted Horrorstorian, my producer (also known as Producer Joe) and I tried a different type of interview-style horror show, and we had a virtual sit-down with Andrea Perron.

She was amazing to chat with and really told us a lot about the actual history of her family and the hauntings they were plagued by. I always think it's fascinating to get to the truth behind the story.

Do you have any advice for new writers? 

There is no wrong way to write. Not every day will result in you writing a hundred pages, but something is always better than nothing. Make an outline, then build out from there. Attend workshops and ask others for their opinions, but don’t take every critique to heart; reading is subjective.

What is your opinion of the self-publishing trend? 

Self-publishing tremendously lowers the barrier of entry for aspiring authors. However, you have to commit to getting yourself out there and ensuring your work is ready for publishing. This can be risky if you’re not entirely confident in your editing skills! Be sure to have a team you trust.

What are your current projects? 

Right now, I’m working on more short stories for the podcast and a longer-form written version of the Naomi story. Producer Joe and I are also working on a different podcast, where we will discuss procedurals and true crime shows!

Please, in your own words, write a paragraph about yourself and your work. 

First and foremost, I’m a nerd. I like words, and I like movies. When I’m not working on my writing and podcasting, I’m probably playing a game or watching a movie with Producer Joe and our three cats. In my free time, I also enjoy crocheting.

As for my podcast, it really came about as another way to express creativity. I’ve always enjoyed telling stories, and I thought it would be fun to put some out there for others to hear. I would love to be a voice actor or read audiobooks!

You can find me on Facebook at Haunted Horrorstorian.

Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify