Deep within the bowels of Gruesome Magazine headquarters, an elusive ghostly creature lurks. The Grue Crew can’t put their finger on what it is. Some say it’s a Batman style superhero lurking for justice in the corners. Others say it’s a vampire with massive fangs using the evasiveness to further draw you in. Plenty of others just say it’s Doc roaming the halls to the fridge at night. Regardless, this indefinable creature is something many try to figure out. Little do they know that that creature metamorphosizes from week to week. Yes, you the fan choose the form of this creature and The Grue Crew spend the last moments of Horror News Radio  trying to guess what it is. All of you forge the…  Phantom Factor! Here are the rules:

1. I’ll put up a call to action post like this one announcing a topic.
2. This topic (The  Phantom Factor, as it were)  will be based around a favorite horror/genre character, actor, director or even film.
3. The listeners will post suggestions in the comments of social media or this very post.
4. I will pick three suggestions from those listed.
5. On Horror News Radio, I will have list three facts about each mysterious figure that the other Grue Crew members will try to guess. Each fact is in descending order of vagueness.
6. Those who guess from the first fact — the vaguest one — will receive three points. Then two points at the second fact. One point at the final. If no one guesses by that point, no one receives any points
7. Those who enter will be in contention for a random drawing to win a prize at the end of the month! See below for more details.

This Week’s Topic

In honor of the main subject for Horror News Radio episode 254  Victor Crowley,  Phantom Factor  is all about slasher icons. While the  Hatchet  isn’t the most famous example, the slasher genre has been thriving for four decades as a massively popular subgenre. Of course, the key to any greater slasher film is a slasher villain. The one with the knife… or hook hand… or razor glove… or whatever weapon of choice. So, please make sure to enter your favorite Slasher Villain in the comments below or on social media by Monday February 12th at 8:00 pm and we’ll have it in contention for this edition of  Phantom Factor!

This Month’s Prize

We’re excited to announce our first monthly prize for  Phantom Factor  generously provided by the folks at Horror Pack! Said prize is a free  Horror Pack  for March, featuring a DVD or Bluray from choices provided. Those who enter throughout February — as well as those who previously entered in January — with US addresses will be put into a list to be randomized and drawn at the end of the month. The winner will be contacted via social media to confirm the address.

Thomas Mariani

Thomas Mariani is a born geek, with a bit of nerd mixed in here & there. A native of the (less) swampy parts of Florida, Thomas has always been a fan of films, television & other sources of media ever since he was a child, having been raised on Jim Henson, Star Wars and the basic cable cartoons of the ’90s & ’00s.

Some of his favorite horror films include Evil Dead II, Poltergeist and An American Werewolf in London. He already has experience writing and podcasting about pop culture, which you can read/listen to on sites like www.oneofus.net, www.horrornews.net or even on twitter as @NotTheWhosTommy.