Five movies and documentaries like Rise of the Nephilim

This is a guest post by Marcus James, author of the book Rise of the Nephilim

As a writer, anything can inspire me. A news article, a song, a television show, movie; even a commercial. The visions come to me fast and bring the characters through and they show me glimmers of their lives and what is going to unfold. For me, it’s mostly about research. I love the research process. I acquire books for research that can make a two-foot tall pile on my table and I love nothing more than my notepad and highlighters to go through page after page.

With Rise of the Nephilim, the standalone prequel to my Gothic horror witch series, The Blackmoore Legacy, which follows the sexy stone fox and future matriarch to the Blackmoore dynasty of witches, Kathryn Blackmoore as a 26 year old in 1987 Los Angeles, my research took me to watching a lot of documentaries that focused on the famed Sunset Strip and horror films the truly captured the look and feel of the late 70’s and 80’s.

Below is a list of the films and docs I watched to immerse myself in that rebellious time of life.

Sunset Strip (2012)

This documentary couldn’t be more perfect. A fascinating look at the entire history and culture of the strip. It is fun and compelling, and a must-see if you’ve ever been interested in the allure of the Strip.

Somewhere (2010)

This understated Sofia Coppola film takes place almost entirely at the infamous Chateau Marmont Hotel, a place where celebrities often go to disappear and where Kathryn goes to reinvent herself within its secluded bungalows.

The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)

This documentary reveals the Los Angeles punk scene in 1980, just before its takeover on the Strip by the hair metal bands that dominated the 1980’s.

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)

The follow-up to the film above, this documentary exposed the pitfalls, substance abuse, and desire by bands to be the next Motley Crue or Guns n Roses.

Halloween (1978)

The most successful independent film of all time, Halloween, is a constant source of inspiration for me and the first part of Rise of the Nephilim, which takes place in 1979, is a love letter with a witchy spin to this wonderful film that is so close to my heart.

The remaining things I watched were old episodes of MTV's Headbangers Ball and documentaries on Ancient Sumer and Babylon to explore the mythology and world of my ancient and murderous monsters that are set out to kill my witch.

One of the greatest gifts we are given as writers, especially writers of fiction, is getting to explore lives and times and cultures throughout history and to discover new things and places, son of which don’t even exist anymore. I have loved discovering the West Hollywood of the 1980’s and those few city blocks that defined a point in pop culture history. The Strip has been a place of oddities, murder, crime, hedonistic parties, late nights, shadows, ghosts, and neon, and Rise of the Nephilim has been a fun ride. You can find horror anywhere, especially in Los Angeles.

About Marcus James

Marcus James is the author of five novels and has contributed to several anthologies with Alyson Books and has been a contributing writer for Seattle Gay News. He lives in Seattle with his husband and Staffordshire terrier. He is 32 years old.

About Rise of the Nephilim 

LOS ANGELES, summer of 1987.

Kathryn Blackmoore, the 26 year old heir to Blackmoore World Corp. and the future matriarch of the Blackmoore dynasty of witches has fled the haunted old monied neighborhood of South Hill in Bellingham, Washington looking to trade in a century of rumors, superstition, and her own heartache for the sun, sex, and music of the Sunset Strip.

Taking up residence in the famed and decaying Chateau Marmont hotel, Kathryn quickly finds herself in an erotic and thrilling journey into the world of Niiq, Arish, and Kuri; members of the band Nephilim, who seem to have the women of the Strip enthralled by their dark and sensuous sound. When bodies begin to turn up all over town and a mysterious and haunting figure fixates on Kathryn, she quickly learns that you can never escape your destiny.

Rise of the Nephilim is the first of a two-part erotic paranormal romance/thriller revealing the beginnings of one of the most captivating characters in The Blackmoore Legacy series. It is a standalone prequel of eroticism, romance, and suspense.

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