Maybe the real cosmic horror was the friends we made along the way.

Music: Temple of the Dark Side by Luis Humanoide

https://gwabryel.blogspot.com/

IN THE WOOD OF CYPRESS ( from Lovecraft's text "The Call of Cthulhu")

R’LYEH ( from Lovecraft's text "The Call of Cthulhu")

AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS ( from the text of H.P. Lovecraft )

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with production designer Vivian Gray about building the visual world of Obsession, from Southern Gothic references and texture-heavy interiors to practical blood gags and micro-budget problem-solving.

They discuss what a production designer actually does, how Gray collaborated with the director, cinematographer, costume designer, and art team, and why color, texture, aging, and window treatments can make a major difference on an indie horror film.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What a production designer does and how the role shapes the visual world of a film
• How Vivian Gray landed the job on Obsession through a recommendation and visual pitch deck
• Building the film’s Southern Gothic and Midwestern Gothic-inspired visual language
• Why production designers should come onto a project as early as possible
• Collaborating with cinematography, costumes, props, set decoration, lighting, and graphic design
• How a small indie crew used hands-on collaboration to make the film’s world feel cohesive
• Designing horror environments through texture, color, maximalism, and unease
• Practical lessons from blood gags, aging props, window treatments, and set dressing
• The highest-impact production design choices for micro-budget filmmakers
• Vivian’s advice for aspiring production designers

Epic’s next freebie is Voidwrought, a dark 2D action-platformer that looks very much like it was designed for people staring sadly at their backlog and whispering, “I still need something to fill the Hollow Knight-shaped hole.”

Voidwrought is free on the Epic Games Store from June 25 to July 2, 2026, alongside RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition.

Claim Voidwrought for free on Epic Games Store: https://store.epicgames.com/p/voidwrought-ce8f4b

Lest you think that all I do is lounge about watching movies all the live-long day, I also have a decent book collection. In particular, there’s a good deal of cosmic horror, specifically Lovecraft and Lovecraft-inspired works.

Lovecraft is, of course, a troubling figure. His influence is extensive and undeniable, but the man himself was a fairly rabid racist and xenophobe (it’s said that he later regretted and attempted to disavow such benighted attitudes). The fact remains that the world he created continues to be expanded, a practice that is unlikely to stop any time soon. So here’s a ranked list Cthulhu Mythos stories not by Lovecraft.

#10 Sticks (Karl Edward Wagner)

#9 Bad Sushi (Cherie Priest)

#8 A Study In Emerald (Neil Gaiman)

#7 The Big Fish (Jack Yeovil)

#6 Little Lady (J.C. Koch)

#5 Diana Of The Hundred Breasts (Robert Silverberg)

#4 Jerusalem’s Lot (Stephen King)

#3 Pickman’s Other Model (1929) (Caitlín R. Kiernan)

#2 Fat Face (Michael Shea)

#1 Flash Frame (Silvia Moreno-Garcia)

The Evolution of Terror in Modern Web Fiction

Horror has always been a cornerstone of storytelling, but the digital age has transformed how we experience the macabre. In the realm of web novels, horror is rarely a standalone genre; it frequently bleeds into cultivation, system-based progression, and post-apocalyptic survival. This intersection creates a unique brand of tension where the protagonist isn't just running from a monster, but often trying to understand a logic-defying system or outlevel a cosmic entity that views humanity as mere ants. The medium allows for a slow-burn psychological erosion that traditional formats often miss, dragging the reader through hundreds of chapters of escalating dread.

Godzilla debuted in theaters in Japan on November 3, 1954 making the King of the Monsters something of a cinematic Scorpio by default. But if you vibe more with Invasion of Astro-Monster than proper astrology, you might be open to a more relaxed interpretation of the western zodiac.

With nothing more than pure fun in mind, we've remapped the stars to pair some of your favorite Toho kaiju with certain astrological sign archetypes based on their onscreen personalities. Read on to discover which Godzilla monster you align with based on your birthday.

source - https://bsky.app/profile/beaucoupkevin.com/post/3mdl7ozdvys2d

source - https://bsky.app/profile/alcreed.bsky.social/post/3mdiz5al4v22w

https://cdli.earth/artifacts/346305