Scare tactics: scientists offer insights on what makes a perfect prank

Science and Health

Whether it’s a friend jumping out from behind a bush or accidentally walking into a web of fake cobwebs, most of us will have fallen victim to a scare prank at some point.Now scientists have come up with a theory for why “jump scares” are so often followed by laughter – with insights for pranksters hoping to concoct Halloween tricks that tickle rather than terrify.A popular explanation for why certain jokes or situations provoke laughter is that humour is all about surprise: successful jokes tend to set up an expectation that is overturned by the punchline.“The problem with that theory is that we find all sorts of things funny that aren’t surprising, and there are lots of surprises that we don’t find funny,” said Marc Hye-Knudsen, a PhD fellow and humour researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark, who led the research.Another recent theory is that humour requires both a violation in our sense of how the world “ought” to be, and the almost simultaneous assessment that this breach is harmless or benign. Such violations can take many different forms, from the violations of linguistic norms in puns and wordplay, to the social norm violations of embarrassment humour.Hye-Knudsen and his colleagues suspect that something similar may explain why the initial shock of a jump scare is often quickly followed by laughter.To explore this, they examined evidence from various experimental and real-world situations, from toddlers’ experiences of peekaboo – a game that most initially find upsetting, until they learn that it is benign and it becomes hilarious – to a field study conducted at a haunted-house attraction, which found that guests smiled or laughed after jump scares three-quarters of the time.“Haunted house attractions and horror films both deliberately immerse audiences in their make-believe worlds to increase their general state of fear, which makes their startle responses to the jump scare bigger. But that startle also immediately pulls them out of that narrative world, so they can reappraise it as benign,” said Hye-Knudsen.The team also examined data from 100 online scare prank videos, finding that successful pranksters tended to intensify the stimulus their victims were exposed to – by, for example, targeting common phobias, which perhaps compensates for viewers’ psychological distance from these events.“Seeing a video of a complete stranger being the victim of a scare prank may not register as much of a violation, because you’re not socially close to them, so online pranksters must spice up their pranks to get a bigger response,” Hye-Knudsen said. The research was published in Evolutionary Psychology.Hye-Knudsen believes his findings could have implications for pranksters plotting Halloween scares this week. “The main lesson would be, know your audience and tailor your Halloween scares accordingly,” he said. “Don’t dress up like a serial killer and hide in your grandmother’s closet, but don’t just walk up to your friend and say: ‘boo’, either: you need to anticipate what level of scary is going to violate your target’s expectations, but they’re also going to be able to laugh at afterwards.“Also, when you laugh, invite them to laugh along with you, so that they don’t feel they’re being laughed at, and the situation really is benign.”Dr Coltan Scrivner, a behavioural scientist at Aarhus University’s recreational fear lab, who was not involved in the study, said its conclusions fitted with his own research on the psychology of scary play. This showed that fearful experiences such as haunted houses are only perceived as playful if the fear is at the right level.“Many people, including scare actors, think that more fear is always better for the person being scared. However, research suggests this is not the case. Instead, people seek out a sweet spot of fear, where fun is maximised,” Scrivner said. “This paper suggests that humour may be one tool a scare actor can use or promote, in order to help people achieve [that] sweet spot.“Just keep in mind that one scare doesn’t fit all,” he added. “Everyone’s sweet spot of fear is a little different.”

Deborah Jackson Taffa grew up loving libraries — for both the books and the air conditioning

Arts & Culture, Books

In Deborah Jackson Taffa’s memoir “Whiskey Tender,” which is a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award, the author recounts how she found the so-called American Dream not by giving up her own culture, as her ancestors had been forced to, but by reclaiming it. Taffa is a citizen of the Quechan (Yuma) Nation and Laguna Pueblo.She earned her MFA at the University of Iowa and is the director of the MFA in Creative Writing Program at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico.BOOKS: What are you reading?TAFFA: A book to blurb, “This Music: A Poetic Memoir.” It’s a very elliptical collection by Janice Gould, a Native poet from California. She is not well known, but she was very influential in the Native poetry world. Her work doesn’t lean on the typical stereotypes that you see in indigenous fiction. That’s one of my problems with a lot of Native fiction. We rarely have middle-class narratives.BOOKS: Who are the writers you turn to for that kind of writing?TAFFA: Louise Erdrich has done some of that. She came into the publishing world during the Native American Literary Renaissance, which started in the ‘70s with writers like Leslie Marmon Silko and N. Scott Momaday. Then there was this really quiet time in the publishing world with native writers. They had Sherman Alexie, and they were happy with him. Then a second wave started.BOOKS: Who are some of the writers in that second wave you’ve been reading?TAFFA: Ramona Emerson is dealing with modern-day issues that you see on the ground in Albuquerque. That’s exciting. She writes whodunnits about a forensic photographer in Albuquerque who hears dead people’s voices. Her first book was “Shutter” and her second, “Exposure,” just came out. I’m in the middle of “The Man Who Could Move Clouds” by Ingrid Rojas Contreras, which was an NBA finalist. She chronicles a lineage of medicine people in her family. I’m thrilled to see more books like that. For a long time, nonfiction was taboo in Native literature. We didn’t talk about our culture or spiritual practices openly. There were many reasons for that, but we need to become more influential and less worried about appropriation.BOOKS: How much of your reading is for work?TAFFA: A lot. I really only read for pleasure in the summer. This summer I read “The Listeners,” by Canadian author Jordan Tanahill. It’s an incredible story about these people who can hear a low hum that nobody else can. People are frightened by them. The way the book resolves is fascinating.BOOKS: What else do you read?TAFFA: I have an affinity for children’s literature because I read my children a ton of books, and I used to review young adult indigenous books for Kirkus. The books coming out of Alaska are so beautiful, such as Aviaq Johnson’s “Those Who Run in the Sky.”BOOKS: How did you become a devoted reader?TAFFA: I started reading before I started school. I grew up in Yuma in the desert. We didn’t have AC so we’d go to the library around 10 a.m. every day. My mother read novels in the adult section, and my sister and I would lay between the stacks and read. We’d go home when it began to cool off outside. I was lucky I grew up in Indian country because it was not as difficult to find books by Native writers as it was in other places.BOOKS: Do you still use libraries?TAFFA: I absolutely do. I’m over at the [Institute of American Indian Arts’] library twice a week. In fact, I have an overdue book sitting in my living room, Melissa Febos’s nonfiction book “Girlhood.” I’m reluctant to bring it back because I marked some pages to transcribe. One time, back in the ‘80s, I admit I kept a library book, the “Pueblo Indian Cookbook” by Phyllis Hughes. You couldn’t find it anywhere to buy. I pretended that I lost the book and paid to replace it. I still cook from it. The pumpkin piñon soup recipe is yummy. Of course, now you can easily get it online.Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @GlobeBiblio. Amy Sutherland is the author, most recently, of “Rescuing Penny Jane” and can be reached at [email protected].

New Jersey ties found in many horror movies

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

As Halloween comes creeping around the corner, a scary movie night may be in order to set the monstrous mood.And if you look closely, you may spot some familiar frights in your favorite flicks. The Garden State has hosted many different horror films since the 1978 inception of the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, according to nj.gov.Have you seen them? Read on for some tantalizing titles and a sneak peek into their IMDb info.More:This South Jersey pastry chef is returning to Food Network for ‘Halloween Wars”The Amityville Horror’ (1979)Ready to start a new chapter of their lives, newlyweds in “The Amityville Horror” move their young family into what they believe to be a charming home.A paranormal presence, however, soon causes them their worst nightmares.The movie, starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger, is based on the 1977 book by Jay Ansen, which tells the story of the real-life Lutz family’s paranormal experiences in a home where a murder previously occurred.While this tale is set in Long Island, many shots were filmed in New Jersey, including the film’s iconic poster-worthy house located in Toms River.Other locations include Georgian Court University and Point Pleasant, according to IMDb.’Friday the 13th’ (1980)Summer camp is all fun and games until a killer is involved in “Friday the 13th.”Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King and Jeannine Taylor star in this teen slasher with a familiar, hockey-mask-wearing antagonist at Camp Crystal Lake.Better yet, New Jersey’s Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco was the stage for this movie.’The Prowler’ (1981)An unknown killer is terrorizing a college graduation dance in the 1981 horror thriller “The Prowler” from the director of “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,” Joseph Zito.”The Prowler” may be set in a California town, but much of the filming took place in South Jersey’s very own Cape May.Locals will notice that the graduation dance hall is actually the Inn of Cape May, with other properties in the town disguising themselves as the college dormitory and Major Chatham’s house.If you look closely enough, you may spot that the bridge and gazebo in the film are really the Seaville United Methodist Church.More:’Riotous trend’: Violent melee in Collingswood cuts short hayride, closes Wawa’Creepshow’ (1982)This classic may feature five gruesome vignettes from a kids’ comic book, but don’t let “Creepshow” fool you; it’s still rated R.Written by Stephen King, this film stars Hal Holbrook, Leslie Nielson and Adrienne Barbeau.And keep an eye out for a familiar beach — “Something to Tide You Over” was filmed in Ocean County.’Cat’s Eye’ (1985)Another Stephen King anthology, “Cat’s Eye” follows a feline perspective as the titular cat dodges various unsettling situations to go protect a little girl.Some may recognize a young Drew Barrymore in this PG-13 flick, which was partly filmed in Atlantic City.’Desecration’ (1999)”Desecration” is a bewilderingly biblical psychological horror that follows 16-year-old Bobby into the depths of hell after he accidentally causes the death of a nun.With gruesome costuming and an unsettling plot line, this unrated horror film was shot in Bedminster.’Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor’ (2002)In “Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor,” this fourth installment of a slasher series, Carrie Chambers’s Allison Kramer returns to camp in an attempt to remember and unravel the massacre that occurred there years ago.But the killing doesn’t stay buried in the past.Comprised of archived and updated footage, this early 2000s flick includes sets in the Garden State.’13th Child: The Legend of the Jersey Devil’ (2002)Obviously, “13th Child: The Legend of the Jersey Devil” from directors Thomas Ashley and Steven Stockage is an ode to the creepy creature said to be lurking in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.When people are being gruesomely murdered, a district attorney’s assistant must investigate to find out if there’s a human culprit or something much more sinister.Not only does this movie explore the legend of a New Jersey icon, it’s filmed in the state as well. Watch closely and you may notice that this mystery thriller was shot at the Batsto State Historic Site in Hammonton.’The Village’ (2004)”The Village” centers on a small countryside town with an ominous wood sitting just on its border and instructions never to enter for fear of the monsters that live within it. So what happens when life in the village suddenly goes awry?While this Shyamalan movie takes place in Pennsylvania, parts of the film were shot in Salem County’s Pedricktown, specifically a stunt scene when the character Ivy is almost run over by a truck as well as a gas station scene.Watch closely and see if you can spot a cameo from Shyamalan.’Satan’s Playground’ (2006)Again, set in the Jersey Pine Barrens, “Satan’s Playground” follows a family vacation gone awry when the Jersey Devil shows up.This movie was shot in Whitesbog.’I Am Legend’ (2007)What would you do if you were the last person in New York City… with (zombie-ish) monsters?Will Smith stars in “I Am Legend,” a dystopian zombie horror with some scenes shot in West Amwell and Mount Airy.’iMurders’ (2008)In the unrated mystery horror”iMurders,” a group of online friends are killed one after another.Follow along as the plot thickens, and keep an eye out for scenes shot in the Garden State.’Torture Chamber’ (2013)What could be a better Halloween watch than the classic demonic possession?In “Torture Chamber,” a possessed boy has escaped an asylum, and he’s has murderous tendencies that the clergy must stop.IMDb lists this movie with production locations in Maplewood.’Jersey Shore Massacre’ (2014)Yes, like that Jersey Shore.Filmed in Newton, Sparta and Woodbridge, “Jersey Shore Massacre” bears an uncanny resemblance to the antics of everyone’s favorite Jersey-Italians, the cast of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” reality show.After a vacation to Seaside Heights goes awry, this crew finds themselves relocated to the Pine Barrens for a terrifying night.And yes, there is cheetah print, hair poofs and plenty of fist pumping.’The Unborn’ (2020)Two security guards face an eerie night in “The Unborn,” a horror film set in an old factory.The plot grows more complicated as a secret love unfolds and an unborn child becomes caught in the sinister mix.’Army of the Dead’ (2021)”Army of the Dead” may take place in Las Vegas, but it’s got some filming credits at the Showboat in Atlantic City.In this twist on the classic post-apocalyptic zombie thriller, one ambitious team takes a life-risking run into the quarantined city for a multimillion-dollar payout.More:Pirates, skeletons & witches — this Lumberton Halloween display is a can’t-miss’Smile’ (2022)Contrary to the title, “Smile” is not a happy Halloween film.Shot in multiple Garden State locations such as North Arlington, Jersey City and Elizabeth, this movie follows a psychiatrist’s haunting run-in with a sinister curse.’Goodnight Mommy’ (2022)In “Goodnight Mommy,” twins Elias and Lukas arrive at their estranged mother’s house hoping to reconnect, but they soon start to feel that something is wrong.Full of unpredictable twists, Naomi Watts stars alongside Carmen and Nicholas Crovetti in this dramatic psychological thriller, filmed partially in Bedminster.’Insidious: The Red Door’ (2023)”Insidious: The Red Door” is the fifth and final installment of a frightening franchise that follows the Lambert family once again as they must return to “The Further.”And, you guessed it, the film shot in Morristown.’Knock at the Cabin’ (2023)Would you sacrifice a family member to save the world from an impending apocalypse? “Knock at the Cabin” from M. Night Shyamalan dives into a family’s worst nightmare with psychological thrills, and the location may feel familiar.Parts of the film were shot in Burlington County’s Tabernacle Township, according to multiple sources, and Southampton’s Evergreen Dairy Bar even took on a role as “Angie’s Roadside Diner” for the thriller.’The Zombie Wedding’ (2023)”The Zombie Wedding” is a recent flick that has South Jersey written all over it. No, actually — Vineland’s Weekly World News Studios fronted this film with tons of the city’s scenery.The film centers around the first-ever wedding between a living and zombie couple, and all of the comedic nonsense that takes place as the nuptials unfold, including coverage from WWN reporters.Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times. If you have a story she should tell, email her at [email protected]. And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.

New Jersey ties found in many horror movies

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

As Halloween comes creeping around the corner, a scary movie night may be in order to set the monstrous mood.And if you look closely, you may spot some familiar frights in your favorite flicks. The Garden State has hosted many different horror films since the 1978 inception of the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, according to nj.gov.Have you seen them? Read on for some tantalizing titles and a sneak peek into their IMDb info.More:This South Jersey pastry chef is returning to Food Network for ‘Halloween Wars”The Amityville Horror’ (1979)Ready to start a new chapter of their lives, newlyweds in “The Amityville Horror” move their young family into what they believe to be a charming home.A paranormal presence, however, soon causes them their worst nightmares.The movie, starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger, is based on the 1977 book by Jay Ansen, which tells the story of the real-life Lutz family’s paranormal experiences in a home where a murder previously occurred.While this tale is set in Long Island, many shots were filmed in New Jersey, including the film’s iconic poster-worthy house located in Toms River.Other locations include Georgian Court University and Point Pleasant, according to IMDb.’Friday the 13th’ (1980)Summer camp is all fun and games until a killer is involved in “Friday the 13th.”Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King and Jeannine Taylor star in this teen slasher with a familiar, hockey-mask-wearing antagonist at Camp Crystal Lake.Better yet, New Jersey’s Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco was the stage for this movie.’The Prowler’ (1981)An unknown killer is terrorizing a college graduation dance in the 1981 horror thriller “The Prowler” from the director of “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,” Joseph Zito.”The Prowler” may be set in a California town, but much of the filming took place in South Jersey’s very own Cape May.Locals will notice that the graduation dance hall is actually the Inn of Cape May, with other properties in the town disguising themselves as the college dormitory and Major Chatham’s house.If you look closely enough, you may spot that the bridge and gazebo in the film are really the Seaville United Methodist Church.More:’Riotous trend’: Violent melee in Collingswood cuts short hayride, closes Wawa’Creepshow’ (1982)This classic may feature five gruesome vignettes from a kids’ comic book, but don’t let “Creepshow” fool you; it’s still rated R.Written by Stephen King, this film stars Hal Holbrook, Leslie Nielson and Adrienne Barbeau.And keep an eye out for a familiar beach — “Something to Tide You Over” was filmed in Ocean County.’Cat’s Eye’ (1985)Another Stephen King anthology, “Cat’s Eye” follows a feline perspective as the titular cat dodges various unsettling situations to go protect a little girl.Some may recognize a young Drew Barrymore in this PG-13 flick, which was partly filmed in Atlantic City.’Desecration’ (1999)”Desecration” is a bewilderingly biblical psychological horror that follows 16-year-old Bobby into the depths of hell after he accidentally causes the death of a nun.With gruesome costuming and an unsettling plot line, this unrated horror film was shot in Bedminster.’Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor’ (2002)In “Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor,” this fourth installment of a slasher series, Carrie Chambers’s Allison Kramer returns to camp in an attempt to remember and unravel the massacre that occurred there years ago.But the killing doesn’t stay buried in the past.Comprised of archived and updated footage, this early 2000s flick includes sets in the Garden State.’13th Child: The Legend of the Jersey Devil’ (2002)Obviously, “13th Child: The Legend of the Jersey Devil” from directors Thomas Ashley and Steven Stockage is an ode to the creepy creature said to be lurking in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.When people are being gruesomely murdered, a district attorney’s assistant must investigate to find out if there’s a human culprit or something much more sinister.Not only does this movie explore the legend of a New Jersey icon, it’s filmed in the state as well. Watch closely and you may notice that this mystery thriller was shot at the Batsto State Historic Site in Hammonton.’The Village’ (2004)”The Village” centers on a small countryside town with an ominous wood sitting just on its border and instructions never to enter for fear of the monsters that live within it. So what happens when life in the village suddenly goes awry?While this Shyamalan movie takes place in Pennsylvania, parts of the film were shot in Salem County’s Pedricktown, specifically a stunt scene when the character Ivy is almost run over by a truck as well as a gas station scene.Watch closely and see if you can spot a cameo from Shyamalan.’Satan’s Playground’ (2006)Again, set in the Jersey Pine Barrens, “Satan’s Playground” follows a family vacation gone awry when the Jersey Devil shows up.This movie was shot in Whitesbog.’I Am Legend’ (2007)What would you do if you were the last person in New York City… with (zombie-ish) monsters?Will Smith stars in “I Am Legend,” a dystopian zombie horror with some scenes shot in West Amwell and Mount Airy.’iMurders’ (2008)In the unrated mystery horror”iMurders,” a group of online friends are killed one after another.Follow along as the plot thickens, and keep an eye out for scenes shot in the Garden State.’Torture Chamber’ (2013)What could be a better Halloween watch than the classic demonic possession?In “Torture Chamber,” a possessed boy has escaped an asylum, and he’s has murderous tendencies that the clergy must stop.IMDb lists this movie with production locations in Maplewood.’Jersey Shore Massacre’ (2014)Yes, like that Jersey Shore.Filmed in Newton, Sparta and Woodbridge, “Jersey Shore Massacre” bears an uncanny resemblance to the antics of everyone’s favorite Jersey-Italians, the cast of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” reality show.After a vacation to Seaside Heights goes awry, this crew finds themselves relocated to the Pine Barrens for a terrifying night.And yes, there is cheetah print, hair poofs and plenty of fist pumping.’The Unborn’ (2020)Two security guards face an eerie night in “The Unborn,” a horror film set in an old factory.The plot grows more complicated as a secret love unfolds and an unborn child becomes caught in the sinister mix.’Army of the Dead’ (2021)”Army of the Dead” may take place in Las Vegas, but it’s got some filming credits at the Showboat in Atlantic City.In this twist on the classic post-apocalyptic zombie thriller, one ambitious team takes a life-risking run into the quarantined city for a multimillion-dollar payout.More:Pirates, skeletons & witches — this Lumberton Halloween display is a can’t-miss’Smile’ (2022)Contrary to the title, “Smile” is not a happy Halloween film.Shot in multiple Garden State locations such as North Arlington, Jersey City and Elizabeth, this movie follows a psychiatrist’s haunting run-in with a sinister curse.’Goodnight Mommy’ (2022)In “Goodnight Mommy,” twins Elias and Lukas arrive at their estranged mother’s house hoping to reconnect, but they soon start to feel that something is wrong.Full of unpredictable twists, Naomi Watts stars alongside Carmen and Nicholas Crovetti in this dramatic psychological thriller, filmed partially in Bedminster.’Insidious: The Red Door’ (2023)”Insidious: The Red Door” is the fifth and final installment of a frightening franchise that follows the Lambert family once again as they must return to “The Further.”And, you guessed it, the film shot in Morristown.’Knock at the Cabin’ (2023)Would you sacrifice a family member to save the world from an impending apocalypse? “Knock at the Cabin” from M. Night Shyamalan dives into a family’s worst nightmare with psychological thrills, and the location may feel familiar.Parts of the film were shot in Burlington County’s Tabernacle Township, according to multiple sources, and Southampton’s Evergreen Dairy Bar even took on a role as “Angie’s Roadside Diner” for the thriller.’The Zombie Wedding’ (2023)”The Zombie Wedding” is a recent flick that has South Jersey written all over it. No, actually — Vineland’s Weekly World News Studios fronted this film with tons of the city’s scenery.The film centers around the first-ever wedding between a living and zombie couple, and all of the comedic nonsense that takes place as the nuptials unfold, including coverage from WWN reporters.Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times. If you have a story she should tell, email her at [email protected]. And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.

Scientists Develop Advanced Materials To Capture Benzene in the Atmosphere

Science and Health

Scientists have developed a new material capable of capturing the harmful chemical benzene from the polluted air, offering a potential solution for tackling a major health and environment risk.The study, led by scientists at The University of Manchester, has revealed that a material known as a metal-organic framework (MOF) – an ultra-porous material – can be modified to capture and filter out significantly more benzene from the atmosphere than current materials in use.Benzene is primarily used as an industrial solvent and in the production of various chemicals, plastics, and synthetic fibres, but can also be released into the atmosphere through petrol stations, exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke. Despite its widespread applications, benzene is classified as a human carcinogen, and exposure can lead to serious health effects, making careful management and regulation essential.Want more breaking news?Subscribe to Technology Networks’ daily newsletter, delivering breaking science news straight to your inbox every day.Subscribe for FREEThe research, published in the journal Nature Materials today, could lead to significant improvements in air quality both indoors and outdoors.MOFs are advanced materials that combine metal centres and organic molecules to create porous structures. They have a highly adjustable internal structure, making them particularly promising for filtering out harmful gases from the air.The researchers modified the MOF structure – known as MIL-125 – by incorporating single atoms from different elements, including zinc, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper to test which would most effectively capture benzene.They discovered that adding a single zinc atom to the structure significantly enhanced the material’s efficiency, enabling it to capture benzene even at ultra-low concentrations – measured at parts per million (ppm) – a significant improvement over current materials.The new material – now known as MIL-125-Zn – demonstrates a benzene uptake of 7.63 mmol per gram of material, which is significantly higher than previously reported materials.It is also highly stable even when exposed to moisture, maintaining its ability to filter benzene for long periods without losing effectiveness. Tests show that it can continue removing benzene from air even under humid conditions.As the research progresses, the team will look to collaborate with industry partners to develop this and related new materials, with the potential of integrating it into ready-made devices, such as air purification systems in homes, workplaces, and industrial settings.Reference: Han Y, Huang W, He M, et al. Trace benzene capture by decoration of structural defects in metal–organic framework materials. Nat Mater. 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41563-024-02029-1This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source. Our press release publishing policy can be accessed here.

Six famous horror movies if they took place in Luxembourg

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Luxembourg’s everyday horrors come to life as the Wurst re-imagines classic horror films with a local twist, featuring tales of vanished holiday bonuses and eerie expat encounters.

Month of Salary the 13thIt was a festive time. A jolly time. Everyone in the company was looking forward to the holidays. As per tradition, it was understood that the 13th month of salary would be distributed mid-December, just in time to help out with Christmas expenses. But then it’s the 22nd, the 23rd, and the 24th of December – and the 13th month of salary doesn’t come. Based on Friday the 13th (1980).The Belair Rich ProjectThree student filmmakers venture into the affluent Luxembourg City neighborhood Belair to make a documentary about a supposed witch who lives there. They get lost amid the maze of streets with names like Rue Charles Arendt and Avenue Gaston Diderich. Their adventure turns into panic when they discover they are being followed by a malevolent spirit. It turns out that it’s not a witch, but a rich (woman) who demands to know what they are doing in her neighborhood and threatens to call the police. Based on The Blair Witch Project (1999).182 Days LaterA Big Four firm hires a new guy who seems to be the ideal employee. Everything goes well until his six-month probationary period ends. The very next day, he turns into a zombie – not the kind that attacks people and eats brains, just the sort that moves around slowly and drags his feet, can no longer communicate, and sleeps during meetings. The real horror is that his team is stuck with him – forever. Based on 28 Days Later (2002).

The AnererA wealthy Luxembourg woman and her two children live in a huge family home. Soon they begin to sense the presence of others – creepy beings who only show up at night and speak in whispers. After weeks of fear and horror, the mother discovers that ‘the others’ are simply the young expat tenants to whom she has rented rooms and forgotten. Based on The Others (2001).

The SchéinenThis movie follows the Torrance family who relocate to Luxembourg after the father, Jacques, gets a one-year assignment at a tech firm. As part of a house-swap program, they move into an old hotel in the north of the country. The mother Windy is horrified to learn that her son Dany has developed the ability to communicate with spirits in the area. As it turns out, the spirits are just friendly elderly neighbors who speak to Dany in rudimentary Luxembourgish which he understands because he goes to the local preschool. Based on The Shining (1980).

The ExercisistFollowing the winter holidays full of drinking and overeating, a young woman joins a fitness club. By February, however, it becomes clear that she will never actually find the motivation to go there and exercise. When she tries to cancel her membership, she is informed that she cannot – she signed a contract for life. That is when she finds a lawyer who reluctantly agrees to perform an old legal procedure called an ‘exercism’ to free her from the evil clause. Based on The Exorcist (1973).Read more at Wurst.lu.

Six famous horror movies if they took place in Luxembourg

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Luxembourg’s everyday horrors come to life as the Wurst re-imagines classic horror films with a local twist, featuring tales of vanished holiday bonuses and eerie expat encounters.

Month of Salary the 13thIt was a festive time. A jolly time. Everyone in the company was looking forward to the holidays. As per tradition, it was understood that the 13th month of salary would be distributed mid-December, just in time to help out with Christmas expenses. But then it’s the 22nd, the 23rd, and the 24th of December – and the 13th month of salary doesn’t come. Based on Friday the 13th (1980).The Belair Rich ProjectThree student filmmakers venture into the affluent Luxembourg City neighborhood Belair to make a documentary about a supposed witch who lives there. They get lost amid the maze of streets with names like Rue Charles Arendt and Avenue Gaston Diderich. Their adventure turns into panic when they discover they are being followed by a malevolent spirit. It turns out that it’s not a witch, but a rich (woman) who demands to know what they are doing in her neighborhood and threatens to call the police. Based on The Blair Witch Project (1999).182 Days LaterA Big Four firm hires a new guy who seems to be the ideal employee. Everything goes well until his six-month probationary period ends. The very next day, he turns into a zombie – not the kind that attacks people and eats brains, just the sort that moves around slowly and drags his feet, can no longer communicate, and sleeps during meetings. The real horror is that his team is stuck with him – forever. Based on 28 Days Later (2002).

The AnererA wealthy Luxembourg woman and her two children live in a huge family home. Soon they begin to sense the presence of others – creepy beings who only show up at night and speak in whispers. After weeks of fear and horror, the mother discovers that ‘the others’ are simply the young expat tenants to whom she has rented rooms and forgotten. Based on The Others (2001).

The SchéinenThis movie follows the Torrance family who relocate to Luxembourg after the father, Jacques, gets a one-year assignment at a tech firm. As part of a house-swap program, they move into an old hotel in the north of the country. The mother Windy is horrified to learn that her son Dany has developed the ability to communicate with spirits in the area. As it turns out, the spirits are just friendly elderly neighbors who speak to Dany in rudimentary Luxembourgish which he understands because he goes to the local preschool. Based on The Shining (1980).

The ExercisistFollowing the winter holidays full of drinking and overeating, a young woman joins a fitness club. By February, however, it becomes clear that she will never actually find the motivation to go there and exercise. When she tries to cancel her membership, she is informed that she cannot – she signed a contract for life. That is when she finds a lawyer who reluctantly agrees to perform an old legal procedure called an ‘exercism’ to free her from the evil clause. Based on The Exorcist (1973).Read more at Wurst.lu.

MOTAC backs plan to turn Desa Gemalai into tourist attraction area

Travel

KOTA BHARU: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has given its backing should Desa Gemalai in Lubok Jambu, Mulong here, which offers ‘padi alami’ or organic paddy planting, be turned into a tourist attraction. MOTAC deputy secretary-general (Management) Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot said the area, which is considered unique, not only offers organic paddy within a six-hectare paddy field but also showcases a camping-style holiday concept. “This area is very unique and it’s rare for us to find paddy planted without fertilisers and pesticides. My survey today found that the yield is also satisfactory as it could produce 10 tonnes from one hectare, similar to paddy planted using fertilisers. “MOTAC gives its backing should the area be recognised as a tourism area since it offers accommodation in traditional houses in the centre of the paddy field. However, it (the recognition) needs to undergo several processes first, including approval by the local authorities,” he said. He told reporters this after attending the Desa Gemalai Padi Alami tourism product programme in Lubok Jambu, Mulong, here today. Also present were Kelantan MOTAC director Mohd Aidil Afizie Daud and Kelantan Kraftangan director Nariman Yusoff. Elaborating, Shaharuddin said MOTAC will hold more tourism product promotions and marketing in the country, in line with efforts in Thailand, which is seen to be more aggressive in empowering its tourism sector. “For example, Desa Gemalai has the potential to be turned into a tourism attraction so we will continuously promote and support it, and even provide grants to the entrepreneurs for arts and culture-related programmes,” he said. Meanwhile, Desa Gemalai owner Mohd Yusri Muhammad Nor said he began planting organic paddy in August last year and, so far, it has entered its third season, with each season taking about 110 days. He said that planting paddy without using fertilisers and pesticides could still produce quality rice, save resources, including costs, and not affect the environment. “I now have five workers to manage the crop and each kilogramme of rice is sold at RM10. Alhamdulillah, so far the crop produced is satisfactory and I welcome MOTAC’s backing should this area be turned into a tourist destination,” he said.