Fictional Influence

Fictional Influence

Film & TV

Your Nightmares are Real

Weapons (2025) and the creatures that never left

Kristin McTiernan's avatar
Kristin McTiernan
Aug 15, 2025
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On a recent appearance on the Dad Lit Podcast, I was asked why I wrote paranormal—what about it appealed to me. My answer was simple.

Our legends, myths, and supernatural entities are real and pretending they’re not is a mistake. Demons walk among us and they’re right there for all to see.

To be clear, I don’t think all supernatural creatures are real. At least not anymore. We can be fairly certain the giants are gone, for instance. But I won’t be convinced they weren’t around in times past.

I’m 50/50 on vampires, honestly. But I think if they ever did exist, they were of the hideous Count Orlock variety rather than than sexy-goodtime Erik Northman flavor.

Alexander Skarsgård Says Brother Bill Skarsgård's Nosferatu Is Sexier Than  His True Blood Vampire, But His 3-Word Review Of The Performance Is Really  Making Me Laugh
Two hot Skarsgards

I bring it up because I just got done watching Weapons, which is in "holy-shit-it’s-good” territory. I have so much to say but don’t want to spoil it for you, so I thought I would skip the movie tie-in and go straight to the life advice.

Besides, you’ve heard this all from me before.

There’s a point in Weapons where the…

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