Your Nightmares are Real
Weapons (2025) and the creatures that never left
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.
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 cause of all the horror is revealed. Neither the audience, nor the characters on screen know precisely what they’re dealing with yet. But they know the creature in the doorway is bad. It doesn’t belong there, and it is asking to be let into their house.
In this case, I’m not sure declining the invitation would have saved all the characters in question, but maybe one of them would have gotten out alive at least.
Which brings me to my first lesson: Listen to your gut.
I won’t go on a persuasive diatribe on why you MUST believe in the paranormal or supernatural. You don’t have to. But whether you believe or not, you know when you encounter someone who is wrong. They don’t move right. They don’t talk right. They’re wrong—you just can’t put your finger on exactly why.
May I remind you that uncanny valley is an inborn instinct in all humans. Take a moment and ask yourself why.
It’s not a good idea to push away what your instincts are screaming at you because you think you’re being silly.
It might be the last mistake you ever make 👇🏻
Atheism Will Get You Killed
“Are you religious at all?” the old woman asks our protagonist, taking a long drag on her cigarette.
This year’s other surprise success Sinners, also demonstrated the importance of listening to your gut and being versed on your lore. Annie, our boobalicious queen, found it highly suspicious that one of her friends suddenly couldn’t enter the premises without an invitation. And she didn’t push it away.
Like I said, I’m 50-50 on the vampires. But I know there’s a lot of monsters who rely on your refusal to be impolite, to sit in discomfort. They relish the fact that you’ll accommodate the creature right up until it kills you.
Lesson Two: Your gut trumps manners
Few lines have stuck with me as violently as the last lines of Speak No Evil:
Bjorn: Why are you doing this?
Patrick: Because you let me.
The article I wrote about it leaned into the gender dynamics because that was one of the big changes in the American version vs the original Danish film. But the rule applies to everyone. Those who want to victimize you will often take the time to make you feel bad for not making it easy for them.
“Oh, are you scurred because I’m a man/black/poor?”
“Why are you being rude when all I want to do is come in and get a drink of water?”
Let your instincts feel no shame.
Speak No Evil: The Danger of a Weak Man
When Speak No Evil came out earlier this year, audience sentiment was staunchly divided between those who preferred this new Americanized version and those who insisted the original Danish version (released only 2 years ago) was superior.
And it’s not just scummy people who set off your danger signals. It’s easier to listen when the person looks outlandish. A lot easier. The final rule is, for obvious reasons, the hardest for most people to take to heart and apply in their own life.
Rule Three: Be no respecter of persons.
“You guys, I’m so excited! Puff Daddy, the filthy rich, mega powerful music producer wants a meeting with me! Isn’t that great? I mean, yeah, it’s at his gated house. And I’m not allowed to bring my mom. And no one else is going to be there. And I had to sign an NDA that promised horrible consequences if I speak out of turn. But it’ll be fine. Right?”
The worst of the demons take pains to put themselves in positions of power before they start preying on people in earnest. They start small of course. Junkies, ex-cons. Assorted ruffians who wouldn’t be believed even if they bothered to report what happened. But once they have power and respectability, that’s when the horns come out.
And yes, that goes for the church too. 👇🏻
The X-Files: Spotting Evil in the Church
We’ve all heard about wolves in sheep’s clothing, but do any of us actually know how to spot them? I think we all do, even if it takes some of us longer than others. The great strength of shows like the X-Files is they challenge us to think deeply about who is actually the good guy
No one likes the idea of having to always be on your guard, to never trust anyone ever. But really, you don’t have to. You just have to stick to what you know is true.
Business deals sometimes happen in hotel rooms, but not one-on-one, and not in a fucking bathrobe.
Ask yourself why you’re being asked to keep a secret? Why are you being steered away from the crowd? Why are you being told that every rule and standard you’ve learned in life is “just not the way it’s done here?”
You don’t have to jump at shadows and feel you’re about to be attacked at any moment. You only have to look at people’s actions, the circumstances surrounding them, and cross-reference to what you know is correct and normal behavior. When it’s off, you know it.
All you have to do is listen.
There are sometimes good reasons to willingly walk into danger. But being afraid of offending the monster who’s come to harm you should never be one of them.
Speaking of monsters, part 2 of my thriller, The Twitter Crush, is live now for you to read. Enjoy!
Great post. Horror movies are certainly an odd duck in our cultural stew: works of conservative/traditionalist art made by liberals, and often distrusted by conservatives.
Jason Voorhees is the force behind your parent's warnings not to do drugs, drink, and have lots of casual sex. The teenagers who break these rules always get chopped up, while the girl who's pure, self-disciplined, and courageous lives to see another day.
If Vampires exist, they’re nestled in some midwestern town. We can’t help but let people impose on our politeness.
Jokes aside, I love the stance that these things are real. Simply because they are.
And I’m constantly torn between wanting to see something like a giant myself or being thankful I never have.