Sinister Screens

Sinister Screens movie reviews is an online ‘zine published by horror professional Shane Ryan Staley, focused on his love for horror & weird cinema. Here you’ll find his latest reviews, articles and year’s best lists.

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LATEST NEWS & REVIEWS

The Cleansing

The Cleansing

February 17, 2026

The Cleansing is a dark descent into inherited guilt, buried trauma, and the terrible cost of erasing sin rather than confronting it. When Chris Tyler witnesses his father die whispering about something that must be found and destroyed, grief becomes obsession. Nightmares pull him back to a forgotten campground, to a childhood memory that refuses to stay buried. Beneath the quiet woods and abandoned trailers lies a secret older than faith, older than forgiveness—a ritual promising absolution by carving darkness out of the human soul. But what is removed does not disappear. As Chris uncovers the truth behind a forbidden cleansing performed decades earlier, he is drawn into a cycle of corruption that spreads from body to body, soul to

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Gamaliel

Gamaliel by Edgar Kerval

February 2, 2026

Gamaliel offers a groundbreaking journey into the Black Moon—an immersive, initiatory system of lunar vampirism, erotic necrosis, and post-human tantra unlike anything previously described in occult literature. Based on years of direct oneiric immersion, Edgar Kerval reveals a current that dissolves identity, erodes form, and transforms the practitioner into a vessel of the nocturnal Queen. This limited hardcover edition features the entire cycle of Gamalielic gnosis: an experiential collection of pathworkings, rituals, visionary immersions, and transformative trials, all drawn from lived practice rather than inherited dogma. Across nineteen chapters, the reader is led through the black waters of the Moon, the cultivation of the shadow-body, the banquet rites of oneiric

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Occultism for Beginners

Occultism For Beginners

January 19, 2026

PROJECT DETAILS Author Unknown Publisher Manifesto Infernal Released January 2026 Info Contracted by publisher Mort Octavius Black to do book layout/design of 3D web book and audiobook. Link Miskatonic Books Description Occultism for Beginners is not a how-to manual. It is an initiation into a way of seeing. First published in the early twentieth century, this foundational occult text explores the hidden relationships between body and spirit, matter and consciousness, the individual and the cosmos. Written at a moment when mysticism and emerging science still spoke a shared language, it approaches the mysteries of life through correspondence, analogy, and unity—rather than dogma or belief. This web book edition presents the

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A World Full of Strangers

A World Full of Strangers

January 19, 2026

A World Full of Strangers is a collection of dark, intimate stories that move through grief, fear, memory, and the quiet terrors that linger just beneath everyday life. These are not tales of spectacle or shock for its own sake. They are slow-burning, emotionally charged narratives that examine what happens when ordinary people brush against the unknowable—and are forever altered by it. Set in familiar places—bus stations, quiet lakes, childhood homes, fog-swallowed fields—each story reveals how isolation can twist compassion into obsession, love into terror, and memory into something dangerously alive. Children return from rivers that should have taken them forever. The dead whisper from beneath water, earth, and shadow. Loneliness

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Brotherhood of the Serpent by Tau To Naas

December 1, 2025

Project Details Project Leads Larry Roberts (Publisher, Production)Shane Staley (Publisher, Book Layout + Design) Author Tau To Naas Publisher Infernal House Released December 2025 Info 333-copy limited HC3d Web Book + Audio Link Limited HardcoverWeb Book Description Brotherhood of the Serpent is a groundbreaking exploration of Ophite Gnosticism—the forgotten serpent-wisdom tradition that dared to challenge the foundations of Judeo-Christian cosmology. Drawing on ancient sources such as Origen’s Contra Celsum, Hippolytus’ Refutation of All Heresies, and the Nag Hammadi scriptures, Tau To Naas reconstructs the Ophite Diagram. It unveils its hidden role as a living map of initiation. Far from a mere historical study, this work reimagines the serpent not as a tempter, but

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Triple Goddess Web Series

November 4, 2025

Notes Years Active November 2025-February 2026 Developer / Design Shane Ryan Staley Work Full development and design; webmastering The Triple Goddess web series is an online publication from Grayle Press supporting its limited edition hardcover anthology edited by Jack Grayle. Buyers of the limited edition get exclusive access to both the text and audio online, months before publication. This was hosted at Miskatonic Books and focused on the company’s native 3D web book platform. https://www.miskatonicbooks.com/product/triple-goddess-edited-by-jack-grayle-limited-hardcover

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ABOUT SINISTER SCREENS

Sinister Screens Movie ReviewsSinister Screens Movie Reviews is a captivating online publication curated by the esteemed horror aficionado, Shane Ryan Staley. As an established figure in the realm of horror and weird literature, Staley’s passion permeates every aspect of the ‘zine, offering readers a thrilling journey into the dark and enigmatic world of cinematic artistry. With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering dedication to the genre, Staley’s reviews share what he’s been watching, general thoughts and critiques, providing readers with insightful analyses that delve deep into the heart of each film.

Within the pages of Sinister Screens, readers can expect to discover Staley’s latest musings on a diverse array of horror and weird cinema offerings. From spine-chilling classics to avant-garde masterpieces, Staley’s reviews offer a comprehensive exploration of the genre’s rich tapestry, catering to both seasoned enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike. With each review, Staley invites readers to join him on a voyage of discovery, where the boundaries of reality blur and the macabre beckons.

In addition to his reviews, Sinister Screens also serves as a hub for Staley’s thought-provoking articles and meticulously curated year-end lists. Through these features, Staley sheds light on the intricacies of horror cinema, exploring themes, trends, and emerging talents within the industry. Whether delving into the psychology of fear or celebrating the innovative visionaries pushing the boundaries of the genre, Staley’s articles offer readers a deeper understanding of the cultural significance and artistic merit of horror and weird cinema.

At its core, Sinister Screens is more than just a platform for movie reviews—it’s a testament to Staley’s unwavering passion for the macabre and his relentless pursuit of cinematic excellence. Through his work, Staley invites readers to embrace the darkness, to confront their deepest fears, and to experience the transcendent power of horror and weird cinema in all its spine-tingling glory.