December's SK Flavor(s) of the Month - Creepshow and Cycle of the Werewolf

Okay, December is likely a busy month for all, so we're choosing SK's two thinnest books: Creepshow and Cycle of the Werewolf. Creepshow can be gulped down in a half an hour or so and Cycle... isn't likely to take much longer.

Berni Wrightson (who I admired since his run on the original Swamp Thing) did the artwork for both books (as well as the extended version of The Stand, now that I think about it).

I think I'll use this as an excuse to re-watch Creepshow, which is one of my favorite 'scary' movies. It's a shame that George Romero didn't direct the sequels as they have nowhere near the level of quality that the original had.

I haven't been able to find Creepshow. Maybe because I have been searching for Creepers. D'oh *slaps forhead* Darn and I'm not even a true blonde.

I started CotW today.

I skipped Pet Sematary for now. I have it here but I am going to start it when I am done with this month's reads.

Finally I am able talk about the books while others are still reading them!!!!! I have been behind for so long.Well....

CotW was better than I thought it would be. Much better than the movie! I liked the short chapters. They reminded me of the old radio serial shows. But (you knew that there had to be a but) a small part of my mind wishes ther was more to it. Yeah sometimes simplicity is good but what happened in between the times of the full moon. I think that the panic, fear etc. could have been built on.

On to Creepshow!

Slow down Cal ;)

*kicks pebble with toe*

But I can't help it!

Finished Cycle Of The Werewolf. I liked it a lot, especially the little teases about the werewolf's identity--one of the townspeople thinking: "it was simply impossible to think of that person, of all persons, being the killer," without actually saying who that person is. And Marty of course was a great hero, really the only likeable, well-rounded character in such a short book.

I started Cycle of the Werewolf last night (just before bed) and have read up through April.

I read Creepshow this afternoon (there was nothing on TV). I liked it, but it just doesn't hold up to the movie (which I love). I wrote a review where I probably came off a little too harsh.

I read Cycle, too and found it a pleasant, nostalgic read. Apart from the virgin's bed bit, it reads like YA to me; less intense with fewer adult themes. The illustrations really add to this feeling. Will probably get to Creepshow in the next few days.

I read Cycle of the Werewolf from January to July last night and I'm enjoying it so far.

>6 LibraryLover23::
By the attack on the cafe owner, it's obvious that it's a local. I liked that, 'the little teases' about the identity, the curfew - it gives a sense of paranoia.

>8 Bookmarque::
It IS a pleasant read, strangely enough, sort of cosy and intimate. The length and the few characters emphasise the smallness of the town, and how everybody knows each other. And I think the nostalgic element comes from the short, seasonal chapters - the year passes so quickly.

>7 jseger9000::
I never got round to seeing the film of Creepshow, so I won't have that problem!

#9 - I never got round to seeing the film of Creepshow, so I won't have that problem!

Oh man, you've gotta give it a rent! The tagline was 'The most fun you'll ever have BEING SCARED!' and I think the movie lives up to it.

A lot of movies are described as a 'comic book movie', but Creepshow is the closest I've ever seen to a comic book on screen.

The sequels don't live up to the creativity of the original, but the first one is easily worth the rent.

Besides, you can see Stephen King 'acting' as Jordy Verrill and Joe Hill getting into trouble for reading the comic.

Does anybody's copy of Cycle of the Werewolf have the introduction (or afterword) where he tells how he came to write the book?

I remember reading it, but now I can't remember where.

King was challenged to write a story made up of twelve short chapters, one for each month. Each chapter would be paired with an illustration by Bernie Wrightson in a 'Stephen King Calendar'. As a result, each chapter had to be short.

I remember him thinking the calendar idea over and how he was thinking of the phases of the moon and that was how he came up with the idea of writing about a werewolf.

My memories of this are pretty vivid, but my copy at least doesn't have any foreword or afterword to speak of.

That's a good story, but I don't have a copy that bears it. Maybe it's mentioned in one of the numerous King trivia/companion books. I have two SK desk calendars & don't remember seeing it mentioned in one of them, but I can look.

That's a great bit of trivia, jseger.

Almost done with Creepshow. I must have watched the movie or read it before because a lot of it was familiar. Very creepy!!! Actually some of these shorts were more 'horror' and disturbing to me than some of his books.

My copy of Cycle of the Werewolf has a short afterword about him cheating slightly with the dates of his full moons. I wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't mentioned it.

Finished it last night. >SPOILER: I liked the little "reveal" which was unexpected, I had to take a double look. It was very much like a graphic novel, what with the illustrations and the way it was written (something about the tone reminded me of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing stories).

>10 jseger9000::
I'll be looking for a copy over Christmas or New Year. You've whetted my appetite now!

>10 jseger9000: I didn't know that was Joe Hill--crazy! I just watched it today, the bug story was the worst in my opinion. By worst I mean creepiest.

#15 - I didn't know that was Joe Hill--crazy!

I didn't realize it was Joe Hill either. Thanks Wikipedia (and IMDb)!

My favorite story was always 'Father's Day', but then I've always had a soft spot for the walking dead.

'They're Creeping Up On You' really does make you squirm, doesn't it? I liked the end of the story in the movie much better than the one in the graphic novel though. Much ickier.

Cal, now you've flown through the December reads are you going to tackle Pet Sematary? I'd still like to read the two books I missed (I came in too late) - Carrie (which I've read before) and The Shining (which I haven't). Might get round to one this Christmas/New Year, who knows?

Yes, I have started reading Pet Sematary. I'm about 100 pages in. I really want to stay on track with the King group reads. I read a lot of his books when I was in high school and it's great to see the differences in his books with a some what mature mind. I'm still plugging away at The Stand. One of these days I'll finish it.

Who's got a Hot Review for Cycle of the Werewolf? Our very own jseger, that's who!

Way to go--wouldn't it be nice to see more Stephen King reviews on the home page, and fewer Twilight reviews (I'm just sayin')?

Who's got a Hot Review for Cycle of the Werewolf? Our very own jseger, that's who!

Hey, wow! I didn't know that!

We watched Creepshow this weekend. So much fun. My wife had to sit through They're Creeping Up On You with her eyes closed!

I just kept wondering how they filmed Something to Tide You Over It looked so dangerous.

I love Creepshow! I found "The Crate" horrifying the first time I saw it as a pre-teen. And disgusting. That poor janitor! Being eaten whole, not all at once like by a great white, but starting slowing with the hand, then the forearm (all the while his lifeblood gushing out and being absorbed into his swiftly crimsoning long-sleeved work shirt, and then his upper arm being eaten - chompchomp - and finally his neck pulled into the Crate and his body spasming in death throes as his carotid artery is severed and his head imminently devoured. I was grossed out...but loving it. Though I still to this day can't watch the last one with the cockroaches....

I read Creepshow in October and I really liked it. It even gave me a little thrill. It's been forever since I've seen the movie so I think it's time to look it up on Netflix.

I have the book and the movie. Love them both. In her memoir, Adrienne Barbeau said that playing Billie was the most fun she ever had with a role.

>24 Bookmarque: Thank you for sharing that fun detail!

I read Cycle of the Werewolf in January. I loved Silver Bullet as a kid, I was about 10 when I first saw it, so this was fun to revisit as an adult. I think the movie will always be my favorite for nostalgia.