Thursday, December 30, 2021

2021 . . . and done.

Amphibian freak


It’s been a strange year. 


Honestly, I think 2021 was worse than 2020.  People, from every side of every issue, seemed louder and more annoying than ever. 


That’s why I found refuge in blogging.  An escape from so-called reality, which we all need every so often.  So click the pics below ⤵️ to escape into some of my best creative stuff from 2021…


Andy Milligan

Paper cuts

Blind date

Josie and the pussycats in outer space

Sabrina the teenage witch

Shriek of the mutilated

Therapy sesssion

Bubbas truck

Before 2021 becomes history, I must make two announcements.  


One…

I’m taking a break from The Collective Eye Hopefully it will eventually reopen in some form or another.  However, you can always explore the Archive for creative stuff from other creative minds…⤵️


The Collective eye archive

Two…

Haunting Sturgeons will continue, and conclude, in 2022!  You can catch-up here…⤵️


Haunting Sturgeons by john L. Harmon

So, stay tuned and thank you for all of the support in 2021.  I sincerely appreciate it. 🤓


Have a Happy (freaky) New Year! 🎉 🍸 


A freaky baby new year

Freak Out, 

JLH 


~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s short and sweet and some people die! 🤓


DARKENING STURGEONS 

(an LGBTQ sci-fi horror romance


Darkening sturgeons, By john l. Harmon
get ebook

Make 2022 the year of Sturgeons! 


Sunday, December 19, 2021

A Haunting Breath

 

‘Tis the season to sit back, relax and take a mental breath.  


HAUNTING STURGEONS has been chugging full steam ahead, but I feel like I’m running on fumes.


So, please consider Chapter Nineteen a mid-season finale, of sorts, as I take a couple of weeks off to rest and regroup before the steep climb ahead. 


I apologize for the short notice, but don’t worry…


The HAUNTING will continue in 2022! 


Until then, tell your friends to click the pic ⤵️ to catch up on the small town intrigue of HAUNTING STURGEONS


Haunting Sturgeons by john l. Harmon

Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words! 


Also, thank you for your patience and support! 


Happy Holidaze! 


Freak Out, 

JLH 


~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you know someone who claims to HATE soap operas, but LOVES to binge… 


This Is Us 

You 

Game of Thrones 

or 

Desperate Housewives 


…then DARK EXCURSIONS is the perfect gift for that special LIAR in your life! 📚


paperback… 

myBook.to/DarkExcursions


Dark Excursions by john l. Harmon
click for more info


Tuesday, December 14, 2021

HAUNTING STURGEONS: Chapter Nineteen

 Previously in this blog serial...


(Click here to read Chapter Eighteen


Now the HAUNTING continues...

______________


Haunting Sturgeons, chapter 19, by john l. Harmon

    I am gazing into the dark brown eyes of Eddie Newcastle.  We had been at Gordon’s Bar, sitting at ‘our’ table and talking.  He had a busy day at the body shop with a carburetor and multiple tire changes.  No matter how fast he worked, his dad yelled at him over every little thing.  I suggested my presence was probably the reason, but Eddie didn’t think so.  He figured his dad was just being his dad.


    Eddie moves closer, reaching for my hand.  He asked me about my day as we drank the pitcher of beer.  I told him about visiting Ms. Minch and how age had failed to soften her.  Eddie wasn’t surprised to hear the gossipmonger is as bitter and nasty now as she was then.  I grudgingly admitted that, despite her toxic personality, she had been helpful.  This shocked him even more than it had me.


    I entwine my fingers with Eddie’s, feeling the warmth of his skin.  We drained the last of the beer into our glasses and I told him about the library.  He agreed the ending of the lawman’s book sounded crazy, but he wondered if the truth could be stranger than fiction.  I also told him about the proposition I received, which made him chuckle.  It turned out that he had briefly dated Simon Hollis, but their relationship ended when Eddie wouldn’t give the head librarian what he wanted.  


    “I waited for you, Jimmy,” Eddie confesses in a gentle whisper.  We emptied our glasses over a brief discussion about the Abernathy-Woodhouse clan.  The scientist had been Eddie’s high school chemistry instructor and she still teaches, but works at the pharmacy on the side.  My old police crush had become sheriff when Sturgeons was rebuilt, but now he’s a stay-at-hone dad.  This made me wonder if having kids was why the scientist pushed me and the past away. 


    Placing a hand on his cheek, I move closer to Eddie.  My phone vibrated in my pocket as we said goodnight to Val and left Gordon’s Bar.  The inevitable text was short and to the point, asking me if I was still all in.  I apologized to Eddie for the interruption, but he didn’t mind waiting as I dealt with the message.  With only a moment of hesitation, I replied with a ‘yes’ and then quickly shut off the necessary evil.  Eddie inquired if everything was alright as we walked towards our vehicles.  This shook me a bit, but I assured him that everything was fine.  He believed my words because I believed them.


    Standing together in my room at the Teeter-Totter Motel, I still believe my words.  The words I said to Eddie.  The word I texted, but morning will come soon enough.  Tonight is about us.  About what might have been.  About the connection that never faded away. 


    Moving as one, we kiss for the first time.  Tender and passionate, our lips taste the affection we missed out on over our long separation.  I whisper his name within a breath and feel Eddie tremble.  Pulling back just a little, I ask if he’s sure.  He answers with a kiss so full, so deep, so open that we melt into the night…into each other. 

______________


The HAUNTING continues in…


Chapter twenty

Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words


Freak Out, 

JLH 


~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was 5 years ago this month when I saw a chunk of my vision fading away.


A few years later, I published this small volume about my experience, along with some poetry. 


ebook 

getbook.at/VBebook


paperback 

getbook.at/VisionBent

Vision bent, half-blind poems, by John L. Harmon
click for more info 

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

HAUNTING STURGEONS: Chapter Eighteen

 Previously in this blog serial...


(Click here to read Chapter Seventeen


Now the HAUNTING continues...

______________


Haunting Sturgeons, Chapter 18 by john L. Harmon


    I am entering a less suspicious atmosphere in Gordon’s Bar.  A few heads turn at the sound of the door, but I no longer hold their interest.  They quickly return to their conversations and drinks as a slow instrumental song plays on the jukebox.  There is no sign of Eddie, so I take a seat at the bar. 


    Valerie Danforth steps up to the other side and scrutinizes me with a genial smile.  “Long day, Jimmy?”


    After the emotional land mind of Ms. Minch, reading the lawman’s book while being watched by an eager librarian and the disappointing conversation with the bride of Woodhouse, a long day seems like an understatement.  “Yeah, and a strange one, Val.” 


    “Welcome to Sturgeons,”she gently smirks, placing a coaster in front of me.  “What will it be?”


    We lock eyes and I once again see the haunted look of someone who lost a loved one to Sturgeons.  “Maybe just a water while I wait for Eddie.”  


    She nods in what I assume is approval.  “Is he why you came back to town?” 


    From someone else, the blunt question might irritate me, but she is obviously protective of Eddie.  “He is one reason.  Another reason is my brother.”  


    Val places a glass of water on the coaster and leans in, “I understand.  The memory of my grandfather brought me back here.” 


    “Eddie told me your grandfather owned this bar.” 


    “Oh, he didn’t just own it, he started Gordon’s.  Turned an empty building into a thriving business.”  She briefly glances towards the jukebox and the mounted croquet mallet above it.  “Gramps loved this place, so I knew Gordon’s Bar would return when Sturgeons was rebuilt.”


      “Do you ever wonder what happened to your grandfather?”  I cringe inside, hoping I haven’t crossed a line.  “Sorry.”  


    “It’s ok, Jimmy.  I do think about all the rumors and theories, but I try not to dwell on it.”  She randomly wipes a rag over an area of the bar, “My gramps wouldn’t want me to get lost in mourning.” 


    I take in her words, a sentimental variation of the scientist’s advice, and try to apply them to my situation.  We both lost someone, but I suspect our last ten years have been extremely different from one another.  Did Val experience the endless crying or the encompassing rage?  Did she end up losing so much more than her grandfather?  I open my mouth to ask, but she stops me before I can begin. 


    “Besides, there are better things to dwell on.”  Val moves away from the bar, her curly hair bouncing lightly.  “I’ll bring you a pitcher.” 


    This confuses me until a  hand comes to rest on my shoulder and I hear his voice, “Thanks, Val.”  


    I turn a little to find Eddie standing at my side, his lopsided grin larger than usual.  “Hope you haven’t been waiting long.” 


    “No,” I answer, feeling the warmth of his touch.  “You’re right on time.” 

______________


The HAUNTING continues in…


Chapter 19/

Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words! 


Freak Out, 

JLH 


~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click the pic ⤵️ for an interview with a duo of horror bloggers…


Maniacs and monsters


Friday, December 3, 2021

freakboy on film: THE DUNGEON OF ANDY MILLIGAN

 It was the morning after Thanksgiving.  I was sitting in front of the TV, digesting my (mostly) made from scratch pumpkin pie, when it happened.  I received an Andy Milligan film in the mail while watching an Andy Milligan film.  This is when I began wondering if I might have a serious filmic problem.  


I mean, in just a year I went from never having heard of Andy Milligan to obsessively searching for his films.  Even purchasing two players just so I could watch them.  Yes, I said two.  A friend suggested there might be an adapter to hook up a Blu-ray player to an older TV and there is, and it works.  If I had even thought about such a gadget before, I would’ve skipped the Region-free DVD player and went directly to the ARAFUNA Blu-ray player, which also plays multi-Region DVDs.  


Arafuna blu-ray Player with FLESHPOT and seeds disc

(I feel you judging me, but whatever!  Am I not supposed to use stimulus money to stimulate myself?)


Anyhoo, the reason for joining the Blu-Ray revolution as it’s dying is because I won an eBay auction for a 14 (technically 17) Andy Milligan film box set from Severin Films.  I knew in advance that 8 of the 9 discs were Blu-ray, so it was finally time.  Though it is a little sad that John Waters hadn’t already convinced me to upgrade.  This is a testament to either Andy Milligan or my obsessive personality or both.


Before this post becomes a novella, here is a list of four reasons to buy, love and obsess over THE DUNGEON OF ANDY MILLIGAN… 


The dungeon of Andy Milligan

1…COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION 

From the bathhouse in VAPORS (1965) to the Jekyll & Hyde experiment in THE MAN WITH 2 HEADS (1971) to the haunted house in CARNAGE (1984), this box set contains Andy Milligan’s New York and London based films.  Some I had seen, such as THE BODY BENEATH (1970) and BLOOD (1973).  Some I had not, such as CARNAGE and LEGACY OF BLOOD (1978), including the latter’s TV edit called LEGACY OF HORROR (1978).


Carnage poster

2…DIRECTOR’S CUTS 

A few films get a posthumous Director’s Cut, which actually improves on disjointed perfection.  There’s more gore in the Sweeney Todd-inspired BLOODTHIRSTY BUTCHERS (1970) and the man-on-man kiss is uninterrupted in the exquisitely demented TORTURE DUNGEON ((1970).  Then there is a Milligan miracle!  Pointless, producer demanded non-character sex scenes are removed from SEEDS OF SIN and replaced with deleted footage to create SEEDS (1968), its original title.  This tale of family and murder is finally everything I wanted!  You also get to experience both the utter craziness of THE RATS ARE COMING! THE WEREWOLVES ARE HERE! (1971) and a rodent-free original cut called THE CURSE OF THE FULL MOON (1971).


Torture dungeon poster

3…SPECIAL FEATURES 

There are some entertaining audio commentaries, including on NIGHTBIRDS (1970) and THE GHASTLY ONES (1968).  You can also find a splattering of interesting featurettes.  A tour of film locations then and now is my favorite, probably because it highlights FLESHPOT ON 42ND STREET (1973) and GURU THE MAD MONK (1970).  Then, like a wet Andy Milligan fever dream, fans are treated to the trailer to lost film DEPRAVED! (1967) and one German language reel of the mostly lost THE FILTHY FIVE (1968).  I still need to take photos of my TV during the latter so my tablet can read the English subtitles for me.  Oh, there’s also a bonus film called TOGA PARTY (1977), but Andy only directed a handful of sequences and was uncredited.  It’s a mess, but it has some amusing non-pc songs.


Guru the mad monk poster

4…BONUS CD 

Sadly, this is not a soundtrack to an Andy Milligan film.  Happily, THE BEARDED LADY’S WAKE (1998) is an instrumental album from Milligan actor Hal Borske, best known as Colin Trask in THE GHASTLY ONES His music is rather beautiful and occasionally whimsical.  Sort of the antithesis of an Andy Milligan film.


Hal borske  as Colin Trask  in the ghastly ones

All that being said, there are a few things that disappointed me.  First, the lack of audio commentary on FLESHPOT ON 42ND STREET, but maybe not everyone loves this film as much as I do.  Second, the exclusion of existing footage from Andy Milligan’s unfinished film HOUSE OF SEVEN BELLES (1979), but it is streaming on MUBI.  Third, the absence of the trailer to his lost film TRICKS OF THE TRADE (1968), but maybe it was discovered after the box set was released.  These are just minor quibbles on my part.


Tricks of the trade poster

In conclusion, even if I do have a serious filmic problem, I have no regrets entering THE DUNGEON OF ANDY MILLIGAN So, if you want to have an experience unlike anything you’ve experienced, grab a pitchfork and follow the screams and histrionics to Andy’s inner sanctum of glorious grindhouse cinema.      


Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words! 


Freak Out, 

JLH 


P.S.  If you think this massive box set means the late Andy Milligan is finally through with me, think again! 😱😁


(Click the pic ⤵️ for my previous Milligan blog excursion…


Nightbirds

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click the pic ⤵️ for a maniacal interview with a duo of horror film bloggers… 


Maniacs and monsters


Tuesday, November 30, 2021

HAUNTING STURGEONS: Chapter Seventeen

Previously in this blog serial...


(Click here to read Chapter Sixteen


Now the HAUNTING continues...

______________


Haunting Sturgeons, chapter 17, by john L. Harmon


    I am waiting for Christine Abernathy-Woodhouse to say something.  She is just staring, her brown eyes looking right through me.  Maybe she’s thinking about how to respond or maybe I triggered an unwanted memory.  Perhaps she’s just ignoring me.  Growing uncomfortable, I take a bite of the candy stick.  


    She blinks at the sound and locks unwavering eyes with me, “I don’t know who you are or how you found me, but that book is ancient history.” 


    Feeling desperation under my skin, I completely forget about taking it slow, “I just want to know if the ending is true.” 


    “It doesn’t matter, kid.  What’s done is done.”  She casually crunches on the candy.


    “Please, I need to understand.”


    “There’s nothing to understand, kid.  The town was destroyed and rebuilt.  The boogeyman was vanquished and everyone moved on.  You should do the same.”  She emphasizes her point with another cracking bite. 


    “But when did Straker…” 


    “Just leave it alone, kid,” she interrupts, her even tone turning sympathetic.  “Forget the past and go live your life.  Take up a hobby or find a warm body to hold onto when the world doesn’t make sense.  That’s what I did.  Hell, that’s what he did.” 


    Christine Abernathy-Woodhouse takes a final loud bite of her candy stick and moves past me.  Stunned into silence, I turn to watch the scientist walk away, the white lab coat billowing behind her.  She was someone who was there, who saw what happened to the entire town, but I let her slip through my fingers.  I go through what I could have said to elicit a different response.  Maybe I should’ve explained about Tommy.  Maybe I should’ve told her about my parents.  Maybe it wouldn’t have made a damn bit of difference.


    I toss the remaining candy stick down with the rest of the litter and slowly walk back towards my car, feeling deflated and uncertain.  Somewhere behind me is the enormity of Stickler Hill, what it represents clutching at my soul.  It’s only a matter of time before I climb that wretched landmark, but her advice keeps ringing in my ears.  How can I fully let the past go after everything that’s happened?  


    The weight of this moment makes me want to go back to the Teeter-Totter and curl up in bed until dawn.  Hide away from myself, from everything until it’s time.  It’s a tempting notion, but I’d rather do something else instead.  As I reach for the necessary evil, it suddenly vibrates in my pocket.  I pull out my phone to a text from Eddie.  


Off work.  Gordon’s?  An hour?


    Meeting at Gordon’s Bar is exactly what I had in mind, even though I know there are other factors to consider.  The pain that brought me here.  The need to understand.  The expectation placed on my shoulders.  Hesitating for only a moment, I respond with a resounding yes.  Eddie Newcastle is one of the reasons I came back and I don’t want to spend my last night in Sturgeons alone. 


______________


The HAUNTING continues in…


Chapter 18

Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words! 


Freak Out, 

JLH 


~~~~~~~~~~~~

DARK EXCURSIONS is the perfect gift for the reader/soap opera fan in your life…


Dark excursions, by john L. Harmon
Click for more info