31 Days of Horror: The Horror Syndicate

You may think that this is a little goofy or self-serving. It’s not, really. When Rayzor, the boss man here at THS, first discussed this 31 Days of Horror idea with us, I knew that I had to include a post about being a part of the site. When I was thinking about the things within the horror community that meant a lot to me and my fandom, this obviously was near the top of the list. So that’s why for my latest tribute article this month I am discussing The Horror Syndicate.

I’ve always loved to write. When I was a kid I wrote short stories and song lyrics. During my school years I really didn’t mind writing all the papers (unless it was a topic I was completely uninterested in). For a couple years after high school my best friend Mike and I had our own horror blog. We had a blast reviewing movies, writing editorials, and revealing news. It was a great way for me to have a small part of the horror world I cherished so dear.

As I have mentioned elsewhere, there was a time when I really wasn’t watching any horror. I had all but left the genre behind. Obviously now I am back in full force, and The Horror Syndicate has a lot to do with it.

I remember exchanging PMs with Ray years back in 2016 before the site was even created.  We were a part of the same Facebook group and had interacted with a few times. At that point we had discussed my writing for THS, but I backed off as I didn’t think I was watching enough horror to keep up with quality content. Fast forward to 2018, I knew it was time to get back into the genre I loved.

Since 2018 I have had an absolutely amazing time writing for the sight. It gave my fandom a massive jolt. It what became the worst year of my life personally (dealing with the sudden loss of my father and an uncle), I always had the support of the THS staff. The horror genre, and the site itself, helped me get through a lot of rough times. I am happy to continue to give back to the site that has given me so much the last almost two years.

One of the personal highlights for me since joining The Horror Syndicate are being able to take part in a roundtable discussion on the legacy of the Friday the 13th movies. It was great shooting the breeze with the team about my favorite series. I also loved getting a reaction on my recent article on Jason Goes to Hell by the director of the film himself. I have loved talking to the directors and authors who have appreciated my reviews, and I cherish being able to do my part in continuing the support for independent horror.

I am so looking forward to the year to come as a member of The Horror Syndicate. The team is growing and the content is as good as ever. The fan response has been overwhelming and their support continues to grow as well. I will continue to do my best to contribute to the success in any way I can. Writing for this site has opened many doors for me, and strengthened my love for the horror genre in innumerable ways. For that, I am grateful.

About Chuck Ransford 100 Articles
Ah now for the one thing everyone loathes...writing about themselves! Well for starters, my name is Chuck, and I am a south Jersey transplant living in Amish country. I’ve been a horror fan since 5th grade, about 16 years ago. My horror fandom started when I got my hands on a copy of Jay Anson’s novel The Amityville Horror. The book terrified me, and I knew I just had to watch the movie. An older cousin of mine had a copy of it, and that was the genesis of my obsession with the genre. Over the years I have expressed my horror fandom in many ways. Since about 2005 I have been regularly attending horror conventions. These have been great ways to amass collectibles, movies, and to meet some of my favorite celebrities. My best friend Mike and I used to run our own horror blog years ago, and we also dabbled in script writing. I am looking forward to going back to writing about horror, something I’ve always loved. When I’m not working (I work at PNC Bank), my non-horror interests are studying theology and economics, watching Japanese tokusatsu, and doing play-by-play commentary for professional wrestling. I’m also a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society and singing in a Barbershop quartet. Oh, and I’m probably the biggest fan of the Golden Girls you’ll ever meet. My top 5 horror flicks (definitely subject to change): 1. Cannibal Holocaust (1980) 2. Basket Case (1982) 3. Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) 4. The Beyond (1981) 5. Dawn of the Dead (1978)