Top 10 Scary Stories

BY KARL PFEIFFER

As I pull out books from the shelves, starting with Straub's American Fantastic Tales anthology and then Palahniuk's Haunted, it's quickly apparent I'll need an energy drink over a glass of wine for this one; I'll be up late tonight, and not solely because it will take a bit of time to reconnect with these old friends. See, before I began I even had to make a round through the house above me under the guise of grabbing my laundry to double check the doors and the windows. Just in case.

That's the thing about scary stories, see? They strike those deep-seated fears within all of us that register something as primal as love or joy. That's why we read horror stories, isn't it? To get in touch with that depth again. To wonder. The true scares, the ones that keep us up at night, question the very world around us and maybe even our own experience of it.

The tales that scare me the most are the ones that could be true.

'American Horror Story: Coven' Recap: 'The Seven Wonders'

(courtesy of hypable.com)

BY KARL PFEIFFER

And that's all she wrote.

If there's one thing "American Horror Story" absolutely needs to be consistently good at, it's finales, particularly given that each season wraps its own story in a way no other show on television can boast. Lucky for us, their endings are excellent.

"The Seven Wonders" brought back nearly everything I wanted to see in order to best put a bow on the season. We started the episode with a beautifully filmed Stevie Nicks return, recalling Donnie Darko for me, as we snuck glimpses at the finalists as they prepared for the Seven Wonders. The cinematography was excellent for the entire episode (except for the brief return of Papa L -- Why the hell can't they shoot that guy?). The musical score was back in force. And we even saw some bow-tying on my favorite element: the themes.

'American Horror Story: Coven' Recap: 'The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks'

Papa Legba wants your soul!

BY KARL PFEIFFER

Where do I even begin with this week's AHS recap? It's almost as if every scene was equally fantastic and seriously underwhelming.

I mean, we start with Fiona making nice and tucking Marie into bed. I love seeing enemies come together, but this one leaves me wondering too much. Sure, Fiona just wants Marie's secret to immortality, and Marie has no coven of her own left, but now they're BFFs forever? I like it, but I'm just not buying it so soon. Like, really? Hank wiped badass Marie off the map and now she needs tucked in by Fiona?

But! We hit a string of ups as we first begin to learn about Marie's backstory and how she gained her immortality, which, as it were, was by selling her soul to a kind of crossroads spirit, Papa Legba of Haitian Vodou lore, who requires an innocent soul every year to ensure her longevity.

'American Horror Story: Coven' Preview

BY KARL PFEIFFER

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us! Crisp blue skies, autumn leaves, grinning pumpkins, and another season of "American Horror Story."

I make no hiding of the fact that I think "American Horror Story" is one of the most brilliant shows on television right now. What makes "AHS" so unique and smart is that it's ultra-stylized, its social-awareness is razor sharp, and it's not afraid to dig around in the dirt.

Despite strong ratings (Seasons One and Two stayed solid at three million viewers, dipping occasionally into two million), the show can be divisive amongst fans. Why? Horror breeds division. The biggest challenge that the show faces is that what scares some people doesn't scare others. Some people find "American Horror Story"'s drifting camera-angles and quick-cuts, the jarring gore and the oh-hey-there-sex-scenes, to be just what the doctor ordered. Other people see right through them.

You can't please everybody.

Edgar Wright to helm 'Night Stalker' reboot with Johnny Depp

BY KARL PFEIFFER

Disney just hired Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright to helm a new Night Stalker movie? With Johnny Depp set to star and produce? Consider my day made.

The Night Stalker was originally a 1972 movie that spawned a sequel and a short television run called Kolchak: The Night Stalker. It was quite popular at the time and starred Darren McGavin in the lead role of Carl Kolchak. (If you don't know your older TV stars, well, shame on you. He's the dad on A Christmas Story. If you don't know A Christmas Story, well, get off my lawn. Or I'll shoot your eye out, kid.)

The original formula was quirky, using comedy and lighthearted wit to present a reporter looking into some darker supernatural topics...

'From Beyond' with AJ Barerra: The Latino ghost hunter on his new Mun2 show

BY KARL PFEIFFER

Paranormal programming is a dynamic realm, but a pretty white one.

After the successes of industry changers like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures, networks are looking for fresh paranormal television that explores the field in new ways. But those new ways rarely included a diverse cast of investigators. Until now.

Barrera, photo by Jen Venegas

Enter From Beyond, the new show airing Sundays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC's Latino cable network Mun2. Debuting July 31,  the show follows intuitive AJ Barrera, investigative reporter Christian Vera and paranormal investigator Ramiro Ramirez.

Where few shows have explored the cultural impact of paranormal investigations beyond the anglo approach, From Beyond follows these three investigators into the Latino community in Los Angeles, Calif., to bridge the diversity gap and spread awareness about life on the other side. It also touches on spiritual topics such as seances - as shown in the embedded clip from this Sunday's episode - a subject not typically covered in paranormal reality-TV.

Barrera started his career as a medium at age 19 as a regular guest on two L.A. radio shows. His notoriety grew in celebrity circles among actors and singers after a number of well reviewed readings. He now hosts his own radio program, "Breakthroughs with AJ Barrera," leads lectures and workshops, gives personal readings, actively investigates the paranormal, is a columnist for Latina magazine and leads the team on From Beyond.

He spoke with ParanormalPopCulture.com’s Karl Pfeiffer about the new show, and life spent dealing with the afterlife (after the jump).

'Alex Van Helsing' author brings rock 'n' roll to young adult lit

BY KARL PFEIFFER

In my best Dracula voice, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you, Van Helsing!"

Photo by Julia Guzman

No? What? It's actually Jason Henderson (shown here)? Perhaps I messed that one up again, but don't hold it against me. The two are easily confused. After all, the worlds they live in are essentially the same. Henderson has been described as a writer of the supernatural who wears his darkness within. His first young adult novel, 2010's Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising has been named by the Texas Library Association to the 2011 Lone Star Reading List, a list of the top 20 books for young readers.

His character Alex, is described as James Bond meets the quintessential vampire hunter, a 14-year-old badass. Henderson is also the writer of the Sword of Dracula comic miniseries and his new Alex Van Helsing novel, Voice of the Undead is out July 26. I spoke with Henderson to discuss his fascination with vampires, paranormal pop culture and how both impact his work in YA fiction.