P.T. Serial: The Impact of Minimalism in Horror Environments

As stated in my previous post, I originally set out to do a retrospective on the Silent Hill franchise before the wiki went off the rails and became a temporary laughing stock of a man's delusions about circumcision and the evils of...

I can write about that later because watching it all unfold was a borderline religious experience. Anyway, the retrospective was supposed to follow from Silent Hill 1 through Downpour but why not milk the cash cow discuss the most recent attempt at revival: P.T. . P.T is an interesting subject to discuss, even though the game (or more accurately the teaser) itself is less that forty-minutes long, even less if you know the solutions to all the puzzles. But make no mistake, this teaser has been lauded as one of the scariest experiences put on the PlayStation 4.

The question then becomes: Why? What did this game do that was so much more effective than other console releases and PC games of the same genre? 

In the weeks ahead, one aspect of the teaser will be examined, leading to the legacy PT has built up since its untimely removal and Konami's attempts at making this short-lived masterpiece disappear. In my opinion, P.T. has one of the most immersive environments I've seen in quite some time...and it's all in one hallway.

Upcoming Attractions for January 2016

Did I fall off the wagon? Yes. Yes, I did but for the circumstances that were completely on my own. I tend to have problems focusing but rest assured (or not given this genre) that content will come along and give you, dear reader, something to ponder or consider.

That said...my original serial on the Silent Hill franchise was derailed spectacularly as one of the main sources of information links was in turmoil. I'm talking of course about the Silent Hill Circumcision Debacle of 2015. This is the article on Storify and The New York Magazine Article on the event. Needless to say, there is a fair amount of repairs the mods have ahead of them. This will also get its own post.

I do have another serial story for next Friday, and it will be related the dearly departed P.T. game, the tumultuous cancellation and its successors, among some Allison Road.

For now, rest easy and with a light on.

Introductory Post - What Is Restless Dreams and Machinations?

Hello! And welcome to Restless Dreams and Machinations, a blog dedicated to discussing the horror genre in every way that it comes, with research and maybe some irreverence along the way. I'm your host, Swattie (pseudonym of course) and I'll be providing content every week on a topic, or a serial on a series that I enjoy or suggested by you, the readers. If the stars align just right, each post will come with a podcast on youtube, featuring art by yours truly or by guest artists that enjoy this genre along the way.

What brought this blog about? A profound love of horror, discussion and a lot of free time perhaps. It's strange to think that once upon a time, when I was a kid, I hated the horror genre for being terrifying but the more I got exposed to it, the more I began to enjoy it. It also helps that I grew up and the monsters in the closet were phased out of my mind. There's a lot to be said, and a lot to be desired from a genre that can delve deep into fears and the consequence of humanity in various ways. There is a difference in the terror you feel during a slasher flick than you do in a psychological horror movie. There's a difference in having the jumpscare and the build-up that comes with it. In my opinion, it's all about the immersion of the audience and the thoughts that come along with it,

Of course, this blog is all about discussion and thought provoking content, so it won't necessarily be all about horror. There are many other genres that can be discussed here, such as magical realism, romance, comedy, and suspense, just to name a few. What this blog aims is to give you tidbits and discussions (bordering on rambling) that can further enhance your experiences with this fickle genre and maybe you can learn something along the way!

While I mostly focus on horror video games and movies because it's what I have readily available, I'll also be reviewing books, art, movements and more.

Stay tuned and we'll keep a light on for you.