Five TV-movies you haven't seen (but should)

This is a guest post by Amanda Reyes, the author of Are You in the House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium 1964-1999.

It would probably not be an understatement to declare most made for TV movies as lost. With over 5,000 telefilms in existence, to call just a few of them “obscure” might be opening up a can of worms since this list could probably be compiled of hundreds of titles that came and went during the golden age of the telefilm (by my count, that would entail several decades, encompassing the mid-sixties until the end of the nineties). But, here I am, shaving down the list to five films that have been forgotten, and which, in my very humble opinion, deserve to be rediscovered. That’s all to say, lists are difficult. I’m sure I’m missing something noteworthy, but I do think these TV movies would play really well to new eyes, so if you haven’t seen them, give ‘em a shot.

Book Tip - Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror on Film and Television

Are you looking for an unusual Christmas treat? Look no further. The new book Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror on Film and Television is what you should be reading today.

Here's what to expect...

Yuletide essays and interviews

The first half of Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror on Film and Television consists of essays on famous Yuletide horror films and themes, as well as interviews.

Acclaimed horror writer Stephen Thrower is the one to open the party with an essay on the most famous Christmas horror film, Black Christmas. He discusses the production and initial reception of the film, how it got its cult status, and how it influenced many genre filmmakers.

126 Best Movies of All Time

Earlier this year, my friend Wim Castermans passed away after a short battle with cancer. Some of you will know him as the skilled programmer of the Offscreen Film Festival and as one of the writers of When Animals Attack (he wrote the essay on The Killer Snakes).

Today would have been his 45th birthday. For the occasion, I'm sharing with you his favorite movies of all time.

Clowders | Cover reveal

I'm thrilled to reveal the cover of my upcoming supernatural thriller, Clowders.

The design is once more by Gilles Vranckx, who also created the covers for Avalon, Drowned Sorrow, When Animals Attack, GPS with Benefits, and Next to Her.

What do you think of the cover of Clowders? Let me know in the comments.

Blurb

Clervaux, Luxembourg. This secluded, picturesque town in the middle of Europe is home to more cats than people. For years, tourists have flocked to this place – also known as “cat haven” - to meet the cats and buy cat-related souvenirs.

When Aidan, Jess and their five-year-old daughter, Eleonore, move from America to Clervaux, it seems as if they've arrived in paradise. It soon becomes clear, though, that the inhabitants' adoration of their cats is unhealthy. According to a local legend, each time a cat dies, nine human lives are taken as a punishment. To tourists, these tales are supernatural folklore, created to frighten children on cold winter nights. But for the inhabitants of Clervaux, the danger is darkly, horrifyingly real.

Initially, Aidan and Jess regard this as local superstition, but when Jess runs over a cat after a night on the town, people start dying, one by one, and each time it happens, a clowder of cats can be seen roaming the premises.

Are they falling victim to the collective paranoia infecting the entire town? Or is something unspeakably evil waiting for them?

Their move to Europe may just have been the worst decision they ever made.

14 Best French Christmas movies

What are the best Christmas movies made in France?

Tired of watching the same ones over and over again? Do you need something different?

We heard you.

Here's a list of the most popular French Christmas movies in chronological order. The films in this list are an interesting mix of comedies, animated children's stories, war dramas, and horror.

Be sure to let me know your favorite French holiday fare in the comment section!

Book tip - Cats on Film by Anne Billson

I found the purrfect present for the cat-loving movie fan in your life: Cats on Film by Anne Billson.

I first met the author at the Offscreen Film Festival in 2014 when a mutual friend suggested we get in touch because of our common interests: we both publish horror fiction and movie reference guides, and we both write blogs about cats and movies.

Around the same time, we were also thinking about creating a book about cinema cats. As I was concentrating on Avalon and When Animals Attack, Anne was the first to develop the idea. The result is now available for purchase.