Toni Stanger

Lifetime’s YOU has become a buzzy hit since releasing on Netflix. Based on the book by Caroline Kepnes, YOU tells the story of bookstore manager Joe Goldberg who stalks and then dates aspiring writer Guinevere Beck.

The couple have their ups and downs as Joe keeps some alarming secrets from her. Joe’s ability to tell right from wrong is pretty skewed when it comes to love, and how it ended only leaves us wondering where it will go next.

The Haunting of Hill House, a fantastic Netflix series written and directed by Mike Flanagan, follows the Crain family and the supernatural experiences they had at Hill House.
It was adapted from Shirley Jackson’s novel the same name and has left fans craving more after its 10-episode run in October. The last episode answered some of the biggest questions, but it also left some quite uncertain.
When asked about plans for a season two, Flanagan said the Crains have been through enough, but he ...

The Haunting of Hill House, adapted from Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name, follows the Crain family and the supernatural experiences they had at Hill House. The limited series only ran for 10 episodes but created an enigma of a tale which leaves some things open to interpretation.

We all have our favourite horror films and directors, but have you ever wondered what their favourites are? These 10 filmmakers absorbed plenty of films themselves before going on to create iconic work of their own.

CN: drug use, anxiety, depression,
Many people believe those who experience addiction are simply lacking in moral judgement and willpower, making the wrong decisions and flushing their lives down the drain. But they have no idea what would drive someone to take drugs in the first place––addiction isn’t a flawed character trait––it’s a complex and chronic disease, one that is often linked to mental illness.
Addiction typically starts how you think it does—without the intention of becoming addi...

From mindless gory fun to clever psychological fear, horror is an incredibly diverse genre. It translates well into the short format too, managing to evoke fear in a shorter amount of time – some within only a matter of minutes – which can be a fun challenge for filmmakers.

Horror shorts are also a good source of inspiration for budding filmmakers who wish to make one of their own, regardless of budget. Some filmmakers have created such remarkable shorts that they’ve gone on to turn them into...

From good old fashioned cannibal movies like Cannibal Holocaust to beloved gore fests such as the Saw franchise, horror films have the ability to evoke strong and often unpleasant emotions in their audience, whilst simultaneously remaining captivating enough for us to not look away. This is exactly why I love horror films – they’re a hell of a good time and if they’ve left me feeling a little too disturbed or queasy, then they’ve done a damn good job!
Here are some of the most gruesome scenes...

*WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS*

The emergence of prestige horror films in recent years has sparked a new discussion. Hereditary is being called a “family drama disguised as horror”, instead of a straight-up horror film. This isn’t, however, intended as insult. Fandor used it to describe the fact that Hereditary is “more like a family tragedy, imbued with supernatural elements” and believe this makes it all the more terrifying.

Vice jumped on this bandwagon too, adding that Get Out, A Quiet Place...

Depression is said to be the most common mental health problem in the world, but its prevalence doesn’t make it any easier to live with.
It’s normal to experience low moods from time to time, but depression is when those low moods become persistent and start to interfere with daily life.
Coping with the symptoms of depression can be a very difficult and often isolating experience. The thought of getting better is usually overwhelming, but you’ve got to start somewhere. It’s incredibly importa...

This essay is by our guest writer, Toni Stanger.

I first watched Suspiria (1977) and Tenebre (1982) before I ever knew what “giallo” was. These two films–both directed by Italian filmmaker Dario Argento–are some of the more defined classics of the giallo genre. I also remember watching Don’t Look Now (1973) at university around the same time, which–although not typically cited as a one–does carry some of the key characteristics of the giallo film. A few years ago, I started to get more into t...

I wasn’t overly enthused when Alicia Vikander was first announced as the new Lara Croft. I believed her to be an incredible actress – especially having seen her in Ex Machina – but she didn’t seem like the right fit for Lara. However, her performance in Tomb Raider fortunately proved me wrong. Vikander was exceptional in her most physically demanding role yet. She brought something new to the screen and, whilst I still feel she’s not entirely right, I am finally content with Vikander as the n...

Photograph by: Marten Bjork
IBS could easily mean irresponsible butt shits, but instead it means irritable bowel syndrome.
I’m sure you’ve heard of it. You might even be among the 10-15% of the population who has it. There’s this idea that it’s “just IBS” – this small and non-impacting condition. It’s an idea that I, too, once believed, but it’s actually a huge misconception. The main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are stomach pain and cramps, bloating and gas, and diarrhoea and/or cons...

This essay is by our guest writer, Toni Stanger.

Arguably the most fascinating phenomenon within television history is BBC’s Ghostwatch. It first aired on Halloween night in 1992 and never aired again on British television. The BBC kept it buried deep until they released it on VHS ten years later, with the DVD release in 2011. Ghostwatch was a programme with a very simple premise. It was broadcast as live television as its hosts explored the haunting of a very ordinary British family in Great...

Sheffield
CN: Parkland shooting, violent crime (specifically gun violence),
murder, autism, ADHD, medication, depression,
stigma, Ann Coulter, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,
substance abuse, childhood abuse, suicide,
police violence, racism, terrorism, white nationalism
Nikolas Cruz – the 19-year-old charged with murdering 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14th – is described as a “depressed loner” with a “significant history of mental illnes...

Writing by Toni Stanger // Photograph by Nadia Bautista
I was in my mid-teens when I first started questioning my sexuality. Back then – circa 2009 – the idea that I might be attracted to women was absolutely terrifying. Every time I thought about it, it made my heart race and struck me with immense panic. Could I be gay? I didn’t know if it was true. But I knew I didn’t want it to be.
One of my biggest concerns was that I hated the terms “lesbian” and “bisexual”. I didn’t feel comfortable id...