Monday, 9 November 2026

"Zombie Man & Fan Girl vs The Cathode Ray Cult" - a short story free to read...

 

Zombie Man & Fan Girl

vs

The Cathode Ray Cult



A novelette by

© 2026 Nick Thomson. All rights reserved.

 

Nick Thomson has asserted his right under

the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

to be identified as the author of this work.



To have one's eyeball sucked from its socket was a form of passion to which few beings were accustomed, and even fewer approved of.

Indeed, theirs was a love that was banned in thirty-one countries.

To see his lover's cold tongue swirl it about her mouth, like one might do with the stem of a cherry, or a never-ending super sour sugar-coated gobstopper, was an experience like simultaneously riding atop a rumbling washing machine and clattered about inside it akin to a forgotten penny during the spin cycle.

Nobody performed an eyejob like Fan Girl did.

That was all just foreplay, however, and the bone ash kept him going all night long if they so desired, which was usually the case, and that night was typical of many others – at least up to that point of their evening.

Some people say “I'll sleep when I'm dead”, but they don't know what fun they would be missing. Similarly, those who profess to be experiencing an undying love don't know the meaning of the depths that those two words can summon, like so many incantations brewed together.


Afterwards, he rolled back onto the red silk sheets, listening to her contented sigh, and watched as she stretched her limbs, working out the exhausted feeling of pleasure. It stretched out through her dancing toes with their chipped Deepest Noir polish, and to the tips of her similarly adorned fingers, which brushed the burgundy velvet curtains that hung over their bedstead.

Fan Girl loved him dearly, but there still resided a sense of guilt deep within his bones about that one particular night.

As she allowed her arms to fall back down against her naked, moon-lit form – those lingering goosebumps melting away as her feet curled together to brush back and forth – he looked over to her and brushed aside the long and tangled black hair from her face.

“You know, tonight is the six month, six day, and six hour anniversary,” he said.

She rolled to face him and laced her fingers between the ridges of his protruding ribs. “It is? Well, aren't you a sentimental slice of something special?” Her hair fell back off the shoulder and revealed the healed-over scar on her neck, the pattern of the teeth that bit her matching those of her lover and partner in crime.

He gazed at the pattern of the pitted teeth marks sunk into her cool, grey flesh, and traced the bumps and divots with one bony finger.

What had started out as a holiday romance on a faraway island, caressed by the ultramarine waves lapping at the shores of the white sandy beaches, quickly evolved into a passionate love affair that straddled the line between life and death. Fan Girl's glowing soft peach skin in contrast to her raven black hair, and his own flesh with its multitude of festering purples and greys and blues, had struck the spark between them. She was a very peculiar woman indeed, and the only one who had not only wanted to be that close to him, but had actively pursued such a communion.

For weeks they spent their nocturnal hours in various states of supercharged chaos, either in the bedroom or amidst the gloomy neon-tinged shadows of down town, seeking flesh and blood, danger and violence. It was clear that Fan Girl fit the bill like a poison pill, and he was enraptured.

But six departed months, days, and hours beforehand, as he was lost in the strenuous pangs of forced withdrawal, with his middle brain and medulla oblongata drowning in delirium, a terrible flash of hunger overtook his entire being. Fan Girl's warm blooded, peach perfect skin bled away to greyscale and the sparkle in her cerulean eyes dissolved into a pure, infinite whiteness.

At the very least he was thankful that he had kept that scrap of paper with Doctor West's phone number scribbled on it, and so she was resurrected quickly enough to reconstitute the fibres of her being, and though her bloodlust had increased, it was nothing that they couldn't handle.

Still, sometimes he found himself watching her in the early glimmers of dawn with a melancholic eye...


Click “READ MORE” below to continue the story...


Thursday, 5 November 2026

Private School (Noel Black, 1983) Review

Find more exploitation movie reviews here.



“That was the finest example of bare back riding I've ever seen.” The follow-up to a movie you definitely couldn't make today (nor shouldn't), featuring quite a few scenes you definitely couldn't (or wouldn't) film today, wrapped-up in a chalk and cheese mash-up of sweet young love taking the next step and, well, lots of pretty lasses with their bits out...



Click “READ MORE” below to continue the review and see more screenshots…

Thursday, 29 October 2026

Flavours of the Month: September/October 2026...

A wheel-squeeling reboot, monster garden gnomes, and a killer mommy are just some of what's been setting the tone of my September/October 2026...

Click "READ MORE" below to see this month's looks, sounds, vibes & flavours...

Thursday, 22 October 2026

Milton Keynes IFF 2026 Selects 'Ms Green' & Surrey Hills Radio 21-10-2026...

Ms. Green & Other Lovely Beasts will be screening as part of the Milton Keynes International Film Festival 2026 on Friday 20th November 2026 at the Chrysalis Theatre. 

We have also received three nominations: Best Director, Best Experimental Short Film (English), and Best Comedy Short Film (English).


A huge thank you to everyone at MKIFF for including our strange little world in this year’s festival, and to our brilliant cast and crew who helped bring Ms. Green & Other Lovely Beasts to life.
 
Another festival, another big screen, another chance to unleash Ms Green on an unsuspecting audience.
 
You can follow the film's progress on Facebook and visit the Oakhill Productions website.
 
You can also listen to actress Lauren and producer Ali's appearance on Surrey Hills Community Radio for the 'Wednesday Fun 11 - 1' segment from October 21st 2026 HERE.

Sunday, 11 October 2026

V/H/S/Mixtape (Various, 2026) Review

Find more horror movie reviews here.



“It smells like a gloryhole in here.” The annual outing for the Shudder-resurrected V/H/S franchise of portmanteau horror, but with a patchy track record – and two disappointing years in a row with 2025's V/H/S/Halloween and 2024's V/H/S/Beyond – can a music-themed iteration reignite the spark and send us back on an upswing?...



Click “READ MORE” below to continue the review and see more screenshots…

Thursday, 8 October 2026

Dorking Film Festival 2026 Selects 'Ms Green'...

Ms. Green & Other Lovely Beasts will be screened at the Dorking Film Festival at Denbies Wine Estate on Sunday 25 October 2026.


It will be screened as part of the Adult Short Films section of the festival's line-up - information HERE.

Saturday, 5 September 2026

Evil Dead Burn (Sébastien Vanicek, 2026) Review

Find more horror reviews here.



“To your perfect family.” Hey kids! What do you want out of an Evil Dead movie? Well, if it's a colour scheme that looks like three-day-old porridge and weighty themes about miserable personal relationships, then you've come to the right place...



Click “READ MORE” below to continue the review and see more screenshots…

Sunday, 30 August 2026

Flavours of the Month: July & August 2026...

The sardonic arm of the law, foul-mouthed kitty-cats, and baloney in a galaxy far far away is just some of what's been setting the tone of my July/August 2026...


Click "READ MORE" below to see this month's looks, sounds, vibes & flavours...

Friday, 7 August 2026

Murder at the Grindhouse - available now...


Murder at the Grindhouse, my new coming-of-age murder mystery thriller novel set during the last notorious years of New York City's 42nd Street, is now available to purchase in paperback and eBook formats worldwide via Amazon.

UK Paperback 

UK eBook

USA Paperback

USA eBook

Or just search for "Murder at the Grindhouse" on your home nation's Amazon website.

Set during the dying years of the most notorious street in America: New York's 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, Murder at the Grindhouse is a coming-of-age murder mystery thriller set against a backdrop of social upheaval, the encroachment of corporate America, and a sensational killing streak. The propulsive story is told primarily through Calvin, a scorned small town zero forever chasing to catch up only to arrive too late, who is drawn to the city by a stunning, morbid mystery: who was the second body hidden inside his Aunt's funeral casket?

Calvin enters this extraordinary land of outlaw film culture and illicit freedoms as a wide-eyed innocent seeking answers and personal redemption, drawing him into a world of copycat murders, temptation, and mob intrigue. Besieged by alluring distractions, he is guided by Angela, a hard-nosed punk rocker; Carol-Ann, a jocular dancer with Broadway dreams; and their coterie of misfit friends. However, when Calvin's amateur sleuthing puts him in the middle of one too many crime scenes, Detective Armstrong begins to like him as a prime suspect for 'The Devil of The Deuce' serial killer. Will Calvin be able to peel back the layers of secrets, lies, and sordid actions to unveil horrifying truths – and at what cost to his soul?

A vivid and gleefully lurid journey through society's edge during a bygone era, Murder at the Grindhouse consumes the reader in a world populated with humorous, vibrant, and emotionally flawed personalities cast against a mix of absurd fringe fantasia and sudden danger.

Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Murder at the Grindhouse - a little sample to read...

My new novel "Murder at the Grindhouse" is coming out August 7th 2026, available worldwide on paperback and eBook via Amazon - so here's a little sample to read: the prologue that kicks things off.

 

Murder at the Grindhouse

Copyright 2026 Nick Thomson 

PROLOGUE

January 1982


Granted, I've never rode behind a hearse before, but I don't think they're supposed to ride that low to the ground. Aunt Teresa was a robust woman, and yeah, she's only been present in occasional letters since sixty-nine, but there's no way she's put on this much weight since then.

The black Caddy up ahead wallows along the freeway, its undulating rear bumper scraping against the patchwork tarmacadam as the winter sun, wreathed in freezing clouds, slithers across the soft curves and sharp details of its gleaming body.

Uncle Gene's up front. He hasn't said a word since this morning at JFK, his frosty silence imposed upon everyone else in the limousine.

“At least the sun came out for her,” I say, disregarding the verbal embargo.

In the middle row of seats, Dad's gaze refuses to peel away from the world passing by, as Mom turns her head an inch or two, that all-too-familiar blankness on her face. Neither utter a word. The same goes for Angela, head to toe in black and keeping her distance. Despite the veil, there's a hint of a smile under the brim of her hat. She must like folks stewing in their awkwardness...

Click "READ MORE" below to contiue...

Friday, 24 July 2026

We Are Zombie Men...

My buddy Brian and I have been mucking around with a music generator these past few months, and with me writing the lyrics and him prompting the tunes, we've accidentally gone and made a whole album of tracks - some of which act as a prequel/re-telling/sequel for the "I Am Zombie Man" series of literally no-budget short films I made many moons ago.


We've called ourselves We Are Zombie Men, and the album is called Bolivian Bliss. You can check it out on the the WAZM YouTube Channel:

Bolivian Bliss

Bolivian Bliss (Alternative Cuts) 

I used Microsoft Designer to prompt the images of Zombie Man and his new beau Fan Girl.

A quick FAQ after the jump...

Sunday, 19 July 2026

Murder at the Grindhouse - my new novel...

Murder at the Grindhouse - my new novel - is releasing on August 7th 2026 worldwide via Amazon.


The eBook is already up for pre-order worldwide (e.g. UK, USA) and the physical print edition of the book will go live for purchase on August 7th.

Set during the dying years of the most notorious street in America: New York's 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, Murder at the Grindhouse is a coming-of-age murder mystery thriller set against a backdrop of social upheaval, the encroachment of corporate America, and a sensational killing streak. The propulsive story is told primarily through Calvin, a scorned small town zero forever chasing to catch up only to arrive too late, who is drawn to the city by a stunning, morbid mystery: who was the second body hidden inside his Aunt's coffin?

Calvin enters this extraordinary land of outlaw film culture and illicit freedoms as a wide-eyed innocent seeking answers and personal redemption, drawing him into a world of copycat murders, temptation, and mob intrigue. Besieged by alluring distractions, he is guided by Angela, a hard-nosed punk rocker; Carol-Ann, a jocular dancer with Broadway dreams; and their coterie of misfit friends. However, when Calvin's amateur sleuthing puts him in the middle of one too many crime scenes, Detective Armstrong begins to like him as a prime suspect for 'The Devil of The Deuce' serial killer. Will Calvin be able to peel back the layers of secrets, lies, and sordid actions to unveil horrifying truths – and at what cost to his soul?

A vivid and gleefully lurid journey through society's edge during a bygone era, Murder at the Grindhouse consumes the reader in a world populated with humorous, vibrant, and emotionally flawed personalities cast against a varied mix of absurd fringe fantasia and sudden danger.

Friday, 10 July 2026

Faces of Death (Daniel Goldhaber, 2026) Review

Find more horror reviews here.



“DIY horror is trafficking right now.” How do you resurrect and reinvent a semi-obscure horror franchise that focused on 'real' death and destruction to shock its audience many years before anyone had even heard of something called the World Wide Web and viral videos? In the case of this unexpected 2026 rebirth of the 1978 original, the approach is to make things timely to meet our current world of social media...



Click “READ MORE” below to continue the review and see more screenshots…

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Flavours of the Month: May & June 2026...

Cruising around the galaxy with my little alien buddy, the fall of a villain, a modest amount of Cage Rage (and two blistering heat waves!) is just some of what's been setting the tone of my May and June 2026...


Click "READ MORE" below to see this month's looks, sounds, vibes & flavours...

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

The Independent Critic reviews 'Ms Green & Other Lovely Beasts'...

Richard Propes of The Independent Critic has published a review of 'Ms Green & Other Lovely Beasts' - and you can check it out HERE.

Directed by Barnes from a script by Nick Thomson, Ms. Green is a deliciously dark delight, a dramatic short with a comedic gleam in its eye and a film that carries with it the spirit of a gothic poet's heart. Koster's Green is an unusual sort, though I'm hesitant to ruin any of it for those may eventually see the entertaining short. Koster makes us rather love Ms. Green, though perhaps from a distance. She's seductively psychotic, a wee bit fractured and yet possesses a sweetness that makes her endearing. Koster makes all of this believable and rather fun to watch.

Lensing by Will Middleton and Aaron Whitehead is effective throughout, and Veronika Koubova deserves immense credit for editing that makes Ms. Green work despite its slight 15-minute running time and an undeniable desire to spend more time with these characters. 

You can follow the film's progress on Facebook, visit the Oakhill Productions website, and visit the film's IMDb page.

Saturday, 13 June 2026

'Ms Green & Other Lovely Beasts' on Ridge Radio...

This Sunday (June 14th, 6pm to 8pm GMT), there will be something of a 'Ms Green & Other Lovely Beasts' reunion on the award winning Ridge Radio, as Mark Pendry - who played Ed Gein in the short film - hosts his radio show with guests Ali Causon (Producer) and actors Lauren Koster (Elnora) and Rohan Singh (Parker).
 
They'll be talking about the making of the film amidst a selection of music relating to some of the aspects of the film.
 
You can tune in to Ridge Radio via this LINK. 

Friday, 15 May 2026

Jason Goes To Hell (Adam Marcus, 1993) Review

Find more horror reviews here.


“I don't think so.” What does an audience want from a Friday the 13th movie? Not too much, for we're not a particularly demanding bunch when it comes to the machete-wielding franchise – Jason Voorhees in his iconic hockey mask hacking up some campers with style and verve will do nicely, thank you: real meat and potatoes stuff. It shouldn't be difficult to not fuck that up, right? … Right?!...



Click “READ MORE” below to continue the review and see more screenshots…

Tuesday, 28 April 2026

Flavours of the Month: March & April 2026...

Killer mutated vines, isometric law enforcement, and a galaxy that's a bit of a walk away is just some of what's been setting the tone of my March and April 2026...


Click "READ MORE" below to see this month's looks, sounds, vibes & flavours...

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Indie Shorts Mag review of 'Ms Green & Other Lovely Beasts'...

Another great review of our short film Ms Green & Other Lovely Beasts, this time from Indie Shorts Mag. Check out their full review HERE.


"Green is the undeniable backbone of the whole affair (puppet Dziga may be the femora). She makes Elnora a particularly enjoyable heroine. Elnora is sweet-spoken and snarky, earnest and sarcastic. Patient. Secretly furious. And borderline psychopathic. The insanity is painted delicious, a tongue-in-cheek approach that transfers to other comedic moments, like a swish pan back and forth between Elnora and Dziga. For Elnora and Parker, the tone is softer than fluffy clouds, even as they share in the task of skinning a dead animal."

You can follow the film's progress on Facebook and visit the Oakhill Productions website.

Sunday, 29 March 2026

Trailer #2 for 'Ms Green & Other Lovely Beasts'...

Check out the new trailer for our short film "Ms Green & Other Lovely Beasts" below...

This trailer takes on a more quirky, romantic vibe, angling towards some of the other shades to the complex protagonist Elnora Green, played by Lauren Koster.

You can follow the film's progress on Facebook and visit the Oakhill Productions website.