Skylar Banach
Bio
I'm a freelance writer with an interest in true crime, entertainment, and a wide range of other things.
My avatar was created on Picrew with a generator created by the very talented Hunbloom!
Stories (31)
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Halloween Horrors: The Poisoning of Timothy O'Bryan
One of my clearest memories of Halloween growing up was the ritual when we got home. My mom would take my sister and I's pillowcases of candy, spread them out in two neat piles, and check to see if there was anything tampered with. I imagine that millions of parents all across North America do a similar thing on October 31st every year.
By Skylar Banach5 years ago in Criminal
Polybius: The Birth of a Video Game Legend
Urban legends are an integral part of childhood. We have monsters under our beds, and witches who live in abandoned houses. Some locales have more specific legends—Mothman in Point Pleasant, VA, or Ogopogo in the Okanagan in Canada.
By Skylar Banach7 years ago in Gamers
The Making of a Monster: Jason Voorhees. Top Story - October 2018.
Friday the 13th is arguably one of the most iconic, well-known horror franchises ever created. The centerpiece for this franchise is, of course, Jason Voorhees - the king of all psycho killers. Though he had a slow start, only appearing in flashbacks and hallucinations in the original Friday the 13th (1980), he quickly became an icon as he slashed his way through film after film (there are currently 12, but who knows if they'll make more). But how did Jason go from an innocent kid who drowned in a lake to the subject of a collective pop culture nightmare?
By Skylar Banach7 years ago in Horror
5 Horror Movies for the Age of the App
Nowadays, there's an app for everything. Apps for getting food, apps for finding taxis, apps for making friends and talking to friends you've already got. Apps to make your dog look like he talks. Apps everywhere. So of course, there are horror movies that have emerged in response to the age of the app. Unfortunately, all of these selections have HORRIFIC ratings (the highest is a 6.1 on IMDb), but these first pioneers could be a picture of what is in our future, so check them out anyway.
By Skylar Banach7 years ago in Horror
The Top 10 Asian Horror Movies to Binge this Halloween
Along with manga, music, and fashion, horror movies are one of Asia's main cultural exports. With different censorship laws, different legends to draw from, and unique cinematic styles, Asian horror movies are uniquely terrifying, especially to a Western audience that's unfamiliar with some of the legends and themes. Here are the 10 best Asian horror movies to binge this Halloween.
By Skylar Banach7 years ago in Horror
5 Amazing Online Tools for D&D Enthusiasts
Dungeons and Dragons (which I'm shortening to D&D from here on in) has been around for decades, ever since Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson published their original box in 1974. Back then, it was all pen to paper - MAYBE you had a handheld calculator to handle the numbers. But it's the Digital Age now, and there are tools out there to make all aspects of D&D easier for players and dungeon masters (DMs) alike. Here are 5 that I've checked out since I started playing.
By Skylar Banach8 years ago in Geeks
Going Punk: A Writer's Guide to the Punk Side of Sci-Fi. Top Story - June 2018.
When you hear the word "punk," what do you think of? Hoodlums on skateboards? Or maybe a kid wearing black eyeliner and their bangs all swept over one eye? Punk means different things to different people, but the word—and everything that goes with it—has forged a new meaning in the genre of science fiction.
By Skylar Banach8 years ago in Futurism
'Stardew Valley' Multiplayer: The Beginning of a Beautiful Adventure
Stardew Valley is one of the hottest casual farming games for PC. Welcome to Pelican Town, an idyllic place settled in lush Stardew Valley. You've inherited a farm from your late grandfather, and can participate in all facets of country life: planting crops, raising animals, fishing, mining, and developing relationships with the townsfolk. The game was released in 2016 and has received critical praise. But there's more: the developer, ConcernedApe, has just released a public beta for Stardew Valley's multiplayer mode!
By Skylar Banach8 years ago in Gamers
7 Abandoned Asylums That Are Definitely Haunted. Top Story - April 2018.
The abandoned asylum is the quintessential horror movie setting; crumbling buildings where humanity's most helpless members were shut away, abused, neglected, and experimented on. Quite a few of these sites are rumored to be haunted, and honestly, it's not surprising. After all, thousands of people suffered greatly in these places, and some things don't go away when the doors close.
By Skylar Banach8 years ago in Horror
13 Horrifying Incidents That Happened at Disney Parks
Disney parks have long been the epitome of childhood dreams. Wondrous rides and attractions, photo-ops with beloved characters, and a plethora of parades and shows make Disney a place where innocence and magic come to roost.
By Skylar Banach8 years ago in Wander
