Let's Catch Up
New work published in Dread Central, new They/Them trailer, and Dead End: Paranormal Park
Hi campers,
Last week was rough. I hope you’re all doing what you need to take care of yourselves, the people you love, and those around you. I debated saving this post for a different time, but figured that maybe some of you need a distraction. If this serves as a small one for you then I appreciate you taking the time to read it—I’m keeping it short and sweet.
I mainly wanted to check in and share some good news, plus take a look at the brand new trailer for They/Them coming out in August.
First, the news! I teased this in the previous post listing my top 10 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but now I can actually share that I wrote a piece for Dread Central about my relationship to Buffy and identity. Here’s a snippet:
In the end, you never have to have it all fully figured out. Grief, anxiety, depression, hope, identity, love—these are lifelong, human feelings, not just phases of life or themes from a TV show. I don’t know when or if I would’ve fully embraced that if it weren’t for Buffy. My hair is the longest it’s been since I was a child. I still mostly wear all black, but I’m not scared to add pops of color, nail polish, some jewelry. I don’t think I feel “complete,” and I’ve let go of the belief that I ever have to be.
You can read the full piece over at Dread Central—let me know what you think! I’m super grateful for this publication and hope you all enjoy it 💞
Next up: the first They/Them teaser trailer was released last week. Now, I’m not one to shy away from a gay as hell summer camp experience (if you haven’t gathered by now, that’s kind of the entire Monster Camp brand), so this film seems right up my alley. The addition of a wildly interesting cast including Theo Germaine, Quei Tann, Austin Crute, and…Kevin Bacon (who looks very hot in this teaser?) comes with more and more questions.
My main concerns are that I don’t know much about the write John Logan, and we all know Jason Blum is a huge asshole, so I’m hoping this movie is treated with care and a full scope of what queer/trans representation in horror can look like. What do you all think? Will you be watching They/Them on August 5? If so, can I borrow your Peacock password?
Lastly, I have to leave you with a recommendation: please watch Dead End: Paranormal Park for three reasons.
One, because it’s one of the most intelligent, heartwarming, and honest shows for children (or anyone, really) that I’ve ever watched. Two, the cast and voice acting is incredible. Three, I NEED SOMEONE TO TALK ABOUT THIS SHOW WITH. Some of the horror elements in Dead End are unlike anything I’ve ever seen in an animated show before—monsters and themes that are truly terrifying. I loved the show so much that I decided to pick up the graphic novels it was based off of from my library, and they’re just as good!
If you need more reasons to take a chance and dive in to the short 10 episode long season, our main protagonists are a trans boy named Barney with cool blue hair (voiced by trans actor Zach Barack), a neurodiverse South Asian girl named Norma (voiced by Indian-American actress Kody Kavitha), and the sweetest pug accurately named Pugsley (who just so happens to be possessed by an ancient demon).
I really hope you decide to check out this incredibly special show—it’s funny, it showcases beautiful animation, and is a total tear-jerker. Definitely a comfort watch for me as we approach the Halloween season.
That’s all for this week! I’ll be back next time with a Monster Camp content corner to share all the queer horror media I’ve been enjoying lately. Until then, consider having a listen to the latest episode of Fear Queers where we basically scream about Stranger Things for an hour and a half.
If you haven’t already, also consider donating to our local abortion fund. I’m including some links down below to a few you can check out. Stay safe and spooky, friends.
Find your local abortion fund here
National Network of Abortion Funds
How to keep your abortion private and secure
Stay queer, spread fear,
Beyza 🎃 🖤