> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://there-might-be-cupcakes-podcast.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Macabre Monday: Abigail and Horror in the High Desert: Firewatch - URL: https://there-might-be-cupcakes-podcast.ghost.io/macabre-monday-abigail-and-horror/ - Published: 2024-08-19T20:16:37.000Z - Updated: 2025-02-03T15:53:36.000Z - Description: Recent movie reviews - Author: Carla Pettigrew - Tags: Newsletter, #Migrated-1738597973835, #Import 2025-02-03 15:53 My current run of horror movies hasn’t been good. On a run of questionable films, such as [Nine Miles Down (2009)](https://letterboxd.com/film/nine-miles-down/)—two stars, interesting idea based upon an urban legend, delivered as an off-brand TV movie—and The Outwaters (2022). Here’s [my one-star review](https://letterboxd.com/claradox/film/the-outwaters/) of that filmic experience: > “Do you see it? Do you see it?” > > No. Not at all. And if I cannot perceive what is on the screen, I cannot care about it. > > I have no idea what happened. I’ll not be researching it. So dark. Just darkness and murkiness and one big muddle. And then there was [Against the Night (2017)](https://letterboxd.com/film/against-the-night/), which was a rip-off of other movies in the found footage genre, and had such a “aren’t I clever?!” ending that I was too cranky to review it. I’m a little cranky just remembering it. But there’s good news! Abigail (2024) 4 and 1/2 stars: > My favorite vampire universes exist when everyone remembers that vampires are disgusting. This delivered. ([Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/claradox/film/abigail-2024/)) Fun, an original premise, and gross. Vampire stories are too often focused on the seduction, and forget the aftermath; when you only drink the blood of a human, that’s a whole lot of leftovers. Leftovers rot. Ergo, vampires are disgusting. Let’s do this. Plus, this pokes all my nannying/babysitting memories with disturbing children. Trust me, there is nothing quite like being alone in a strange or semi-strange house with a child that could be dangerous or deeply mentally ill. That’s a different flavor of isolating and frightening; I know this from experience. Then, finally, I was able to watch the third installment in the Horror in the High Desert found footage series, Firewatch. That day, I rewatched the first two, Horror in the High Desert and Horror in the High Desert 2: Minerva back to back, then swung right into Firewatch. What a fun, chilling experience! > If you think it’s a good idea to go down in an old mine, think about the canaries. > > My childhood home was built on the site of a quartz mine; its blocked-up entrance was in our back yard. And that brand-new home was haunted. Do I think there was causation? You’re damn right I do, and this movie just solidifies that belief. > > Also, canaries, for a reason. > > I’m not sleeping tonight. > > Edit: I did have a movie-related nightmare last night, so upping my rating from 4 1/2 to 5\. Favorite of the series so far. Looking forward to number four. ([Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/claradox/film/horror-in-the-high-desert-3-firewatch/)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6d/f5/6df583d7-3da2-455c-b104-e0c5ab8c796a/content/images/2025/02/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2ff0568256-d2c3-4323-b5b4-69c983f80418_780x439-heic.jpg) In the third movie, the viewer really gets to know one character, spending a great deal of time alone with him, and this heightens the fear factor, because I really grew to care about him and his outcome. An example of immersive storytelling. About that quartz mine…I told my personal paranormal stories in episodes 3: Ghoulies and Ghosties and Long-Legged Beasties… and episode 4: …And Things That Go Bump in the Night. Available everywhere you catch your podcasts, or ad-free here, linked below. Enjoy. [Episode 3: Ghoulies and Ghosties and Long Legged Beasties…True ghost stories as told by Carla, round one:![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6d/f5/6df583d7-3da2-455c-b104-e0c5ab8c796a/content/images/2025/02/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f3c812009-7017-4af3-ad7c-f184b20161b2_512x512-png-1.jpg)There Might Be Cupcakes PodcastCarla Pettigrew](https://there-might-be-cupcakes-podcast.ghost.io/p/episode-3-ghoulies) [Episode 4: And Things That Go Bump in the NightFirst episode in series: Episode 3: True Boo, Part 1: Ghoulies and Ghosties and Long-Legged Beasties![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6d/f5/6df583d7-3da2-455c-b104-e0c5ab8c796a/content/images/2025/02/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f3c812009-7017-4af3-ad7c-f184b20161b2_512x512-png-2.jpg)There Might Be Cupcakes PodcastCarla Pettigrew![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6d/f5/6df583d7-3da2-455c-b104-e0c5ab8c796a/content/images/2025/02/99ee3419-4fc3-4ff9-a23d-e94b0aa0da57_1440x1080-jpeg.jpg)](https://there-might-be-cupcakes-podcast.ghost.io/p/episode-4-bump-in-the-night)