Blaise Balas
@blaisebalas.bsky.social
Writer and creator of So Desensitized (https://buttondown.com/blaisebalas/archive/), published in What Sleeps Beneath, Twin Peaks, comics and horror lover, generative AI hater, Sleepaway Camp defender 🔪🩸
Reposted by Blaise Balas
This week's Centennial Series movie at the Fargo Theatre is ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST! Check out @blaisebalas.bsky.social's essay about it at the High Plains Reader: hpr1.com/index.php/ar...
A half century of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’
Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is among the most famous stories of the American counterculture.
hpr1.com
June 23, 2026 at 10:00 PM
This week's Centennial Series movie at the Fargo Theatre is ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST! Check out @blaisebalas.bsky.social's essay about it at the High Plains Reader: hpr1.com/index.php/ar...
A little piece I wrote on Re-Animator for So Desensitized Pride yesterday! On both Medium and my Buttondown, so check it out!
#reanimator #horror #horrorwriting #horrormovies
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
medium.com/@bucbalas/ki...
#reanimator #horror #horrorwriting #horrormovies
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
medium.com/@bucbalas/ki...
Kids These Days Don't Re-Animate Their Classmates Anymore
Hey all and welcome back to So Desensitized! Today, we’re discussing a movie I think all movies should be more like, but also…classic literature? Let’s dive...
buttondown.com
June 14, 2026 at 9:43 PM
A little piece I wrote on Re-Animator for So Desensitized Pride yesterday! On both Medium and my Buttondown, so check it out!
#reanimator #horror #horrorwriting #horrormovies
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
medium.com/@bucbalas/ki...
#reanimator #horror #horrorwriting #horrormovies
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
medium.com/@bucbalas/ki...
In honor of today’s two year anniversary of So Desensitized, I got to write about my two favorite shows ever - @alexhirsh.bsky.social ‘s Gravity Falls and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks! Happy reading, stay spooky, and happy two years of So Desensitized!
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
The Falls are not What They Seem: Gravity Falls as an Extension of Twin Peaks
It’s here, y’all! The two-year anniversary of So Desensitized, a project started out of equal parts genuine passion for horror and critical writing, and...
buttondown.com
April 30, 2026 at 4:43 PM
In honor of today’s two year anniversary of So Desensitized, I got to write about my two favorite shows ever - @alexhirsh.bsky.social ‘s Gravity Falls and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks! Happy reading, stay spooky, and happy two years of So Desensitized!
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Kids These Days Don’t Appreciate The Town’s Creepy Clown Mascot anymore is out now! The in-depth critical analysis of @adamcesare.bsky.social ‘s Clown in a Cornfield series you didn’t know you needed!
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorsky #horrorwriting #horrorblog #clowninacornfield
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorsky #horrorwriting #horrorblog #clowninacornfield
Kids These Days Don't Appreciate the Town's Creepy Clown Mascot Anymore
Hi all! Today is the first time in the almost two years of So Desensitized that I have written about a book series by itself without it being part of a...
buttondown.com
March 29, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Kids These Days Don’t Appreciate The Town’s Creepy Clown Mascot anymore is out now! The in-depth critical analysis of @adamcesare.bsky.social ‘s Clown in a Cornfield series you didn’t know you needed!
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorsky #horrorwriting #horrorblog #clowninacornfield
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorsky #horrorwriting #horrorblog #clowninacornfield
Reposted by Blaise Balas
All these "old books are good and new books are bad" takes are really starting to piss me off because I don't know wtf books they're reading, exactly, because I'm finding plenty of wonderful books written in the past decade, but also the past several years. I feel like maybe this is on them.
March 15, 2026 at 7:33 PM
All these "old books are good and new books are bad" takes are really starting to piss me off because I don't know wtf books they're reading, exactly, because I'm finding plenty of wonderful books written in the past decade, but also the past several years. I feel like maybe this is on them.
SO excited for @chucktingle.bsky.social ‘s upcoming release Fabulous Bodies! Does anyone know how an aspiring bookstagrammer buckaroo would go about getting an ARC? (Either for this book specifically or for future reference)
March 14, 2026 at 11:25 PM
SO excited for @chucktingle.bsky.social ‘s upcoming release Fabulous Bodies! Does anyone know how an aspiring bookstagrammer buckaroo would go about getting an ARC? (Either for this book specifically or for future reference)
Happy Valentine’s Day from So Desensitized! This post is about horror and romance, and the various ways they fit together! Book recs include @stephenking.bsky.social ‘s Carrie and many more! 💝💗🌹🔪🩸
#horrorblog #horrorwriter #horrorsky
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorblog #horrorwriter #horrorsky
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Bloody Valentines: Horror and Romance as the Perfect Combo
Hi all, and happy Valentine’s Day! On this most romantic day during what is objectively the worst month, I thought I’d take this opportunity to discuss the...
buttondown.com
February 14, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Happy Valentine’s Day from So Desensitized! This post is about horror and romance, and the various ways they fit together! Book recs include @stephenking.bsky.social ‘s Carrie and many more! 💝💗🌹🔪🩸
#horrorblog #horrorwriter #horrorsky
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorblog #horrorwriter #horrorsky
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Happy Friday the 13th! To celebrate, here’s a special announcement from So Desensitized! The two year anniversary post will be decided on by YOU my faithful readers, for the next four weeks starting today! Voting on my Instagram story @blaisebalas.
#horrorblog #horrorsky #fridaythe13th
#horrorblog #horrorsky #fridaythe13th
February 13, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Happy Friday the 13th! To celebrate, here’s a special announcement from So Desensitized! The two year anniversary post will be decided on by YOU my faithful readers, for the next four weeks starting today! Voting on my Instagram story @blaisebalas.
#horrorblog #horrorsky #fridaythe13th
#horrorblog #horrorsky #fridaythe13th
February 12, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Late announcement of the memorial post I did for the great Catherine O’Hara on Saturday. I hope she’s met up with friends, wherever she is.
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
February 3, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Late announcement of the memorial post I did for the great Catherine O’Hara on Saturday. I hope she’s met up with friends, wherever she is.
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Was gonna write about something else but then Catherine O’Hara died, so here’s a short memorial post for her. Get out there and be strange in her honor. 💚🪲🌹
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Catherine O'Hara: An Absolute Legend
Hi all, and welcome back to So Desensitized! Today’s post was going to be about something else, and then Catherine O’Hara died and I just didn’t feel right...
buttondown.com
January 31, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Was gonna write about something else but then Catherine O’Hara died, so here’s a short memorial post for her. Get out there and be strange in her honor. 💚🪲🌹
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
A little piece I wrote on David Lynch on what would have been his 80th birthday yesterday. I do like to think he got all the birthday wishes wherever he is.
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#davidlynch #twinpeaks #horrorwriter
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#davidlynch #twinpeaks #horrorwriter
January 21, 2026 at 2:24 PM
A little piece I wrote on David Lynch on what would have been his 80th birthday yesterday. I do like to think he got all the birthday wishes wherever he is.
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#davidlynch #twinpeaks #horrorwriter
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#davidlynch #twinpeaks #horrorwriter
Kids These Days Don’t Do Research in Antarctica Anymore has crash landed and is taking over your inboxes! Check it out here, happy reading, and stay spooky! ❄️📡🦮🔪🩸
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorwriter #horrorsky #horrorblog #johncarpenter #thething #eightieshorror #eightiesmovie #bodyhorror
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorwriter #horrorsky #horrorblog #johncarpenter #thething #eightieshorror #eightiesmovie #bodyhorror
January 17, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Kids These Days Don’t Do Research in Antarctica Anymore has crash landed and is taking over your inboxes! Check it out here, happy reading, and stay spooky! ❄️📡🦮🔪🩸
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorwriter #horrorsky #horrorblog #johncarpenter #thething #eightieshorror #eightiesmovie #bodyhorror
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorwriter #horrorsky #horrorblog #johncarpenter #thething #eightieshorror #eightiesmovie #bodyhorror
In anticipation of my post about #thething coming out tomorrow, here’s some related book recs!
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey: The Thing but its erotic horror in the desert!
Final Cut by Charles Burns: Kids making a movie similar to The Thing!
#horrorwriter #horrorsky #horrorblog #johncarpenter
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey: The Thing but its erotic horror in the desert!
Final Cut by Charles Burns: Kids making a movie similar to The Thing!
#horrorwriter #horrorsky #horrorblog #johncarpenter
January 16, 2026 at 10:13 PM
In anticipation of my post about #thething coming out tomorrow, here’s some related book recs!
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey: The Thing but its erotic horror in the desert!
Final Cut by Charles Burns: Kids making a movie similar to The Thing!
#horrorwriter #horrorsky #horrorblog #johncarpenter
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey: The Thing but its erotic horror in the desert!
Final Cut by Charles Burns: Kids making a movie similar to The Thing!
#horrorwriter #horrorsky #horrorblog #johncarpenter
New blog post! Just some plans for So Desensitized in the new year, with one new surprise I’m very excited to share with all of you!
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorsky #horrorblog #horrorwriter #newyear
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorsky #horrorblog #horrorwriter #newyear
a man in a clown costume says happy new year in a store
ALT: a man in a clown costume says happy new year in a store
media.tenor.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:36 PM
New blog post! Just some plans for So Desensitized in the new year, with one new surprise I’m very excited to share with all of you!
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorsky #horrorblog #horrorwriter #newyear
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorsky #horrorblog #horrorwriter #newyear
Happy New Year’s Eve to everyone, and happy Stranger Things finale to all who celebrate! Coming on here to do a quick plug for my #strangerthings post from before s5 aired to celebrate this wonderful show. Check it out!
#strangerthings5 #horrorsky #horrorwriting
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#strangerthings5 #horrorsky #horrorwriting
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Totally Tubular Thinger Strangs Spectacular!
Hi all, and welcome back to So Desensitized! I took a little break, as you may have noticed, to get myself back together after the Spooktacular took a bit...
buttondown.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:28 AM
Happy New Year’s Eve to everyone, and happy Stranger Things finale to all who celebrate! Coming on here to do a quick plug for my #strangerthings post from before s5 aired to celebrate this wonderful show. Check it out!
#strangerthings5 #horrorsky #horrorwriting
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#strangerthings5 #horrorsky #horrorwriting
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#HorrorWritersChat
I don’t have a lot to promo because all my fiction is stuck in query/submission hell, but I do have a blog! So check out So Desensitized (buttondown.com/blaisebalas/archive/) (esp. the very relevant Stranger Things post) and the rest of the cool stuff on here!
I don’t have a lot to promo because all my fiction is stuck in query/submission hell, but I do have a blog! So check out So Desensitized (buttondown.com/blaisebalas/archive/) (esp. the very relevant Stranger Things post) and the rest of the cool stuff on here!
December 31, 2025 at 11:24 PM
#HorrorWritersChat
I don’t have a lot to promo because all my fiction is stuck in query/submission hell, but I do have a blog! So check out So Desensitized (buttondown.com/blaisebalas/archive/) (esp. the very relevant Stranger Things post) and the rest of the cool stuff on here!
I don’t have a lot to promo because all my fiction is stuck in query/submission hell, but I do have a blog! So check out So Desensitized (buttondown.com/blaisebalas/archive/) (esp. the very relevant Stranger Things post) and the rest of the cool stuff on here!
#HorrorWritersChat
He knew she wouldn’t be able to come with him. He’d known it the whole time, but he’d hoped anyway. She couldn’t go with him, she was never going to, and he figured he could be alright with that. Even without her home, there would always be enough water in the kettle for her tea.
He knew she wouldn’t be able to come with him. He’d known it the whole time, but he’d hoped anyway. She couldn’t go with him, she was never going to, and he figured he could be alright with that. Even without her home, there would always be enough water in the kettle for her tea.
December 31, 2025 at 11:21 PM
#HorrorWritersChat
He knew she wouldn’t be able to come with him. He’d known it the whole time, but he’d hoped anyway. She couldn’t go with him, she was never going to, and he figured he could be alright with that. Even without her home, there would always be enough water in the kettle for her tea.
He knew she wouldn’t be able to come with him. He’d known it the whole time, but he’d hoped anyway. She couldn’t go with him, she was never going to, and he figured he could be alright with that. Even without her home, there would always be enough water in the kettle for her tea.
#HorrorWritersChat
Our family motto is ‘Always Bring A Book’ so I think I’d have to say my books. I wouldn’t go without at least one of them.
Our family motto is ‘Always Bring A Book’ so I think I’d have to say my books. I wouldn’t go without at least one of them.
Q3, #HorrorWritersChat.
We're inundated with fireworks and a cat who is remarkably unbothered for a change. She's powered by spite today.
Anyway. Questions questions.
We're inundated with fireworks and a cat who is remarkably unbothered for a change. She's powered by spite today.
Anyway. Questions questions.
December 31, 2025 at 11:14 PM
#HorrorWritersChat
Our family motto is ‘Always Bring A Book’ so I think I’d have to say my books. I wouldn’t go without at least one of them.
Our family motto is ‘Always Bring A Book’ so I think I’d have to say my books. I wouldn’t go without at least one of them.
#HorrorWritersChat
I think it would absolutely be my past, but I also think I’m OK with that. Which is kind of how it goes for my characters too.
I think it would absolutely be my past, but I also think I’m OK with that. Which is kind of how it goes for my characters too.
December 31, 2025 at 11:12 PM
#HorrorWritersChat
I think it would absolutely be my past, but I also think I’m OK with that. Which is kind of how it goes for my characters too.
I think it would absolutely be my past, but I also think I’m OK with that. Which is kind of how it goes for my characters too.
#HorrorWritersChat
Here we go! I’m Blaise Balas, I write a lot of nonfiction on my blog So Desensitized, and a lot of body horror and atmospheric, haunting horror. I think if I were bound to a threshold I’d be forced to haunt my house most likely.
Here we go! I’m Blaise Balas, I write a lot of nonfiction on my blog So Desensitized, and a lot of body horror and atmospheric, haunting horror. I think if I were bound to a threshold I’d be forced to haunt my house most likely.
Here we go, #HorrorWritersChat!
Q1.
New Year’s Eve is a threshold.
Horror understands thresholds better than hope does - because something always comes through.
Q1.
New Year’s Eve is a threshold.
Horror understands thresholds better than hope does - because something always comes through.
December 31, 2025 at 11:10 PM
#HorrorWritersChat
Here we go! I’m Blaise Balas, I write a lot of nonfiction on my blog So Desensitized, and a lot of body horror and atmospheric, haunting horror. I think if I were bound to a threshold I’d be forced to haunt my house most likely.
Here we go! I’m Blaise Balas, I write a lot of nonfiction on my blog So Desensitized, and a lot of body horror and atmospheric, haunting horror. I think if I were bound to a threshold I’d be forced to haunt my house most likely.
Did a little #johnconstantine art! Recolored and wrote on my favorite comic panel ever, from Hellblazer 50 written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Will Simpson. I love this character and his complexities so much it’s unreal <3
#johnconstantine #comicart #hellblazer #comics
#johnconstantine #comicart #hellblazer #comics
December 7, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Did a little #johnconstantine art! Recolored and wrote on my favorite comic panel ever, from Hellblazer 50 written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Will Simpson. I love this character and his complexities so much it’s unreal <3
#johnconstantine #comicart #hellblazer #comics
#johnconstantine #comicart #hellblazer #comics
Get in losers, we’re going to read my new blog post about Damien Leone’s Terrifier 3 and what it indicates about the current horror climate ✨🎄🔪🩸
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorwriter #terrifier3 #horrormovie #arttheclown #christmashorror #theexorcist #horrorblog
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorwriter #terrifier3 #horrormovie #arttheclown #christmashorror #theexorcist #horrorblog
December 6, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Get in losers, we’re going to read my new blog post about Damien Leone’s Terrifier 3 and what it indicates about the current horror climate ✨🎄🔪🩸
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorwriter #terrifier3 #horrormovie #arttheclown #christmashorror #theexorcist #horrorblog
buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
#horrorwriter #terrifier3 #horrormovie #arttheclown #christmashorror #theexorcist #horrorblog