1. Horror novelist Scott Sigler examines originality in horror for his Monsterfest column, and wonders if Internet users slamming The Ruins novel ruins The Ruins movie.

2. Oscar-winner Paul Scofield, who gleefully burned all the witches in 1996's The Crucible and haunted Hamlet in 1990's Hamlet, passes away at 86.

3. Blogger Stacie Ponder wonders whether horror fans should be horrified at all the (mostly bad) remakes cropping up. (She decides to embrace them.)

4. Director Peter Berg is taking a swing at Arakis with a new adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune. May the Spice flow with him.

5. Those holding their breath for Matt Stone and Trey Parker's spoof Giant Monsters Attack Japan! may want to breathe; the South Park creators hint that it's not coming any time soon.

Monsterfest Talk Forum: This week the forum was discussing our all-time scariest movies. Microwaved named several nail-biters, among them "Night of the Living Dead - to this day this film still haunts me and I still have trouble watching the scene when the little girl trowels her parents," and "The Descent -- white-knuckled terror for me through must of the run time on this claustrophobic thriller. The first two reels of this film are worth the price of admission alone." I brought up the last scene of The Blair Witch Project as particularly frightening, to which Microwaved responded, "That ending was again one of the most brutal endings I have ever seen on film. Holy Crap, I've got goosebumps thinking about it again." Meanwhile, the forum is also wondering who your favorite horror villain is? Is it Needlehead from Hellraiser, or perhaps Hannibal Lecter? Log on to the Monsterfest Talk forum to join in any of these conversations, or to start a horror topic of your own!