Launching this week via ComiXology, Rafael Scavone and Rafael de Latorre’s series Hailstone is historical fiction with action and horror themes. In fact, it has a lot of inspirations from work you’re likely familiar with like the iconic HBO series True Detective, the incredibly horrific Ravenous, and the inspired western Bone Tomahawk (seriously you need to see that movie if you haven’t). Hailstone is a series set in the isolated Montana town of Hailstone, and the dangers of living in the wilds are ever-present.
But wait, what’s Hailstone about?
In the isolated Montana town of Hailstone, food is running low. Trapped in by relentless snow, the hungry and desperate townspeople come into conflict with the well-stocked military factory. And to make matters worse, a local girl — Mary — has just disappeared. Sheriff Denton Ross and his deputy Tobias step in to keep the peace, but their efforts start them down a dangerous path of investigation; into Mary’s disappearance, the factory, and just what it is doing here in this isolated place, so far from the war.
To learn more about the series, read about its inspirations from Scavone himself below. He shares all of the inspirations for the new series, along with explanations and how they tie into his series, below!
– True Detective (2014 TV Series)
The first season of this Nic Pizzolatto’s brilliant series was a real inspiration for the good level of mystery it carries with it and the amazing characters who drive us through that great mystery. True Detective also shows us how it is possible to approach horror in different ways, mixing it, bending in order to deliver a weird but chilling story at the end.
– The Revenant (2015 film)
Iñárritu’s movie was an instant reference when depicting North American wilderness in the XIX century. Hugh Glass’ fantastic trajectory brought us some ideas to our characters and setting, but the movie’s stunning visuals and cinematic sequences were, without doubt, a great inspiration for us.
Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘The Revenant’
– Ravenous (1999 film)
I instantly fell in love with this movie the first time I watched it. Military men isolated in the wilderness facing dangers that end up to be much worse than a regular war is always a great setup for a good horror tale. I definitely drank from this fountain to write Hailstone.
– Bone Tomahawk (2015 film)
The unknown is always a wonderful resource one can use to build a horror story and this film did it pretty well. Although I don’t dig the way this movie developed in its third act, the setup is great and the characters played it well too! Sheriff Franklin Hunt, brilliantly played by Kurt Russel, served as an inspiration for Hailstone’s Sheriff, Denton Ross.
– The Witch (2015 film)
Robert Egger’s film is one of the best horror movies I’ve seen in recent years. The chilling historical atmosphere it creates already worth each minute of it, but the way this story is told to us is amazing. The psychological conflict in the movie and its uneasy dynamic between the characters was of great inspiration for creating Hailstone’s characters.
The first page of Hailstone.
Credit: ComiXology
– Hellboy (Comic)
Mike Mignola’s masterpiece is always a reference for me. I love the way he walks us through historical themes and the supernatural, always telling great stories, full of layers and symbolism. Hellboy is a delight for comic and horror fans.
– The Great God Pan (Book)
Arthur Machen’s story presents a cunning use of Victorian science in a brilliant horror narrative. I always find it fascinating the blurred boundary between science and superstition that the XIX century allows us, writers, to play with. In Hailstone, I also explored a bit of both fields but transposed to the context of the XIX century in North America.
– The Shining (Book)
Stephen King’s book served as a big inspiration especially because of its setup. The constant fear of being isolated, without help from the external world, is presented since the start of Hailstone, and it serves as a gateway to put the reader up there, isolated in the mountains surrounded by an unknown danger, chilling to the bones.
You can purchase Hailstone digitally via ComiXology today.
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