oh the horror

A Horrible Way To Die

2011-06-22T12:10:00.001-07:00

Watch the trailer.

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The First Horror Movie - Part Two

2011-06-13T05:13:00.000-07:00

Edison's Frankenstein - Part Two
(Begin with Part One below.)

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The First Horror Movie - Part One

2011-06-13T05:07:00.000-07:00

Edison's Frankenstein - Part One

With new score by Life Toward Twilight (a group I recently discovered - such good stuff!)

More info about the movie here.

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What Hides In The Witch House?

2011-06-01T06:45:00.001-07:00

Click on the pic.

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Fragile

2010-08-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

I love the horror genre, obviously. Gore's fine. Jump scares - whatever...but what I love more than anything is atmosphere. Preferably haunted. And a slow story that builds and relies on character development and location for its backbone and flesh. Subtly. Slow, creepy realizations that turn your blood a tad cooler. That to me is horror.

This evening I watched FRAGILE by writer/director Jaume Balagueró, who is best known for REC and REC 2. It wasn't a perfect film (Really, how many of those are there? You can probably count them on one hand), but I thoroughly enjoyed it. A story that took its time, characters that were imperfect, and an atmosphere right up my alley. I liked it. It's not for everyone, but it did nicely for this horror loving girl.

Click on the pic below for the trailer.

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Most Evil

2010-08-21T06:17:00.000-07:00

There is a show on the I.D. channel titled MOST EVIL that Rot and I are fascinated by. A Columbia University professor, Dr. Michael Stone, has come up with a "scale of evil" that rates murderers, rapists, & torturers as to just how evil they are. The production value is fantastic & the music is unique and haunting. But we've always wondered...just what IS the breakdown of each number on the scale? What constitutes a rate of 1? 2? Lucky for us, NPR just did a story which breaks down every category on the scale. You can read the story here.

A 10 on Dr. Stone's scale: "In The Way" Killers, Not Fully Psychopathic

John List
Born in 1925, John List was described as rigid, joyless, angry and a neighborhood crank. A failed accountant with poor executive ability, he kept losing jobs, yet bought a big house for his wife and three children — which he couldn't afford. Caught between his indebtedness and his monstrous pride, he decided to kill his family. In 1971, he shot and killed his mother, wife and children, and fled to Colorado under an assumed name. He was at large for 18 years, until an image constructed by a forensic anthropologist was broadcast on America's Most Wanted. He died in prison in 2008 at age 82.

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The Smell of Monsters, Lost Love, Death & Halloween

2010-08-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

SO many amazing scents that I can't even begin to describe them. You'll have to check them out yourself. :)

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab

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Dead Man's Bones

2010-08-18T05:17:00.000-07:00

From the amazing, beautiful, haunting album DEAD MAN'S BONES. Bought it a few days ago and I can't stop listening to it. It's perfection from beginning to end.

Click on pic for video.

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Here There Be Monsters

2010-08-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

A fantastic looking low budget film. Can't wait to see this one. Click to watch the trailer:

View a clip from the movie here.

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First Ghost Picture

2010-08-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

I remember being little and seeing my very first "ghost" picture. It affected me greatly and all through grade school I sought out books on the subject. Whenever the "Weekly Reader" order form came, I scoured it for books on the supernatural. I would get so excited the next week when the books would come. Their crisp pages, clean, new covers...and that new book smell. I even remember buying one with this same photo on the cover.

I miss those books.

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The Haunted House

2010-07-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Bought this neat little book titled The Haunted House written by Bill Martin, Jr. The cool illustrations are by Peter Lippman.

A Serbian Film

2010-07-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. Lots of talk around this movie, supposedly shot extremely well, despite its VERY controversial content. It's making the festival circuits right now and getting rave reviews along with outrage and severe criticism.

Again, do not watch this if you are opposed to horror, sex, nudity, or extreme violence in movies.

I personally can't wait to see it. And the music in the trailer is SICK. I love it. :)

This is NOT WORK SAFE. Click on pic or link below.

YouTube Link

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Yes, please.

2010-05-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

Inception. Click image to see the trailer.

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Super 8

2010-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Don't know how long this will be up on YouTube, so check it out while you can. JJ Abrams next film. Looks like loads of fun. :)

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Happy Cinco de Mayo!

2010-05-05T05:07:00.000-07:00

This vid is definitely NOT work safe. Click pic to go to video.

There's another cool version over on Ain't It Cool News that showcases alot of the stars in it (like De Niro!)

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The Yard

2010-03-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

Great little short. Pumpkinrot found and posted this. Couldn't help myself to post it as well.

Swing by and tell them how much you dig (if'n you do).

I Can't Stop Watching. I Can't Stop Remembering.

2010-02-19T15:34:00.000-08:00

I love the opening titles of True Blood. The images coupled with the song have a mesmerizing effect, and I find myself singing the lyrics quietly to myself during the day. It has to do with being from the South; so many familiar images - some nostalgic, some unnerving, but all a part of my upbringing. I've seen those delapidated houses, those women, those kids, those congregations, those bars. It makes my heart ache in a particular way as I sit up here in the North... like a vital piece of me has gone missing. I try to find it in music, images, movies, but I know them all to be temporary fixes.

I'm a Southern girl who belongs in the South and no other remedy will do. I know it will happen in time, til then it's gotta be things like these...

The Art of the Title Sequence

2010-02-16T15:59:00.000-08:00

Thank the gods there are folks out there working hard and doing way cool things so the rest of us can just sit back and enjoy. You must check out The Art of the Title Sequence, a site that features, among other discussions, the opening credits of films. There's all kinds of wonderful goodies on there, including one of my all time favorite opening sequences - the remake of Dawn of the Dead.

Some other goodies....
The Changeling
Ginger Snaps
Halloween
Lost Highway
The Shining
True Blood

and tons of non-horror gems.

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Dawning...Best Horror Film Poster of 2010? Yes.

2010-02-02T16:47:00.001-08:00

I definitely want to see this.

Official Movie Site

LOVE the poster.

UPDATE: Looks like there will be a screening of the film Feb. 20th and 21st at the 2010 Nevermore Film Festival in Durham, NC. If you're anywhere near there, I'd suggest you check it out. (Thanks for the info Gregg!)
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The Horror The Horror

2010-02-02T16:28:00.000-08:00

INK

2009-12-15T10:13:00.001-08:00

INK
Watched this movie yesterday and I really, really enjoyed it. Quite fantastical, visually stunning, and though a bit sentimental at times, I think it's more than worth the watch. It was done with no studio backing or financing. The director also scored the film. The score is fantastic (I bought it on iTunes).

I hope someone gives this guy a shitload of money to do his next film. I can't wait.

And a track from the score:

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October 1

2009-10-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

60 degrees outside today. Windows cracked. Watched The Thing, Suspiria, & Halloween. It has begun.

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Haunted

2009-09-15T04:20:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of the short lived series Dead Like Me. I loved the concept and grew to adore the quirky, troubled characters. I've seen every episode at least a few times, and was delighted when the straight to DVD movie came out. (While I wasn't too happy about the new Daisy, I was more than happy to be back in their world.)

The episode "Haunted" takes place on Halloween night. I'm particularly fond of it because you get to see all the houses decorated for Halloween - something that doesn't happen all that often in TV shows or movies. Kids are running about in costumes, candy is flowing, and pumpkins and jack o'lanterns abound. There are spider webs stretched across doors and windows, giant spiders, skeletons hanging from trees and even a yard haunt or two. Also, the story of the episode is pretty damn cool.

You can watch the episode here. I hope you do.

Also, look for Emily Perkins from Ginger Snaps. She has a brief part.

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Oh Amazon Box, How I Love Thee

2009-07-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

Packages make me very, very happy, especially when they are from Amazon.com. The one that arrived yesterday had the above beauty inside, along with The Changeling (the George C. Scott one, of course) on DVD, and the novels Candles Burning, The Amulet, and The Winter Vault. All are horror related except for the last - a book by Anne Michaels, a Canadian poet and author whose novel Fugitive Pieces and books of poetry had a profound and life changing effect on me. This is only her second novel and I have waited 13 years for it. (Please note I have no intentions of seeing the film they made from the book Fugitive Pieces because I believe it is not an experience that can be translated to film.)

I read about The Pleasure And Pain of Cult Horror Films in the latest edition of Rue Morgue Magazine. I've linked the title to its Amazon page for a description because I figured they'd do a better job than me. I am so looking forward to curling up with a different essay each night before bed. Hopefully they will bring nightmares. :)

I adore my copy of The Changeling on VHS (as evidenced by this month's blog header). Something about that fuzzy, colors-going-wonky at times, scratchy images that I find mesmerizing. For me, horror before 1990 is best experienced on VHS. But Pumpkinrot and I got to talking and wondering what a nice, clean copy of the movie would look like. Think of the details that would pop out...things I've missed in my countless viewings of the tape. So, we ordered it. No extras on it which is a bummer, but no surprise. At least it's wide screen. And it only cost, brand new, $5.98. I was happy and insulted at the same time.

Candles Burning is a novel that Tabitha King finished when the original author (and my latest literary obsession) Michael McDowell died. The Amulet is also by Mr. McDowell whose genre is Southern Gothic Horror (which is also my genre). I first read The Elementals (which sports one of the best paperback covers ever) by him and loved it so much that I have decided to read every single one of his works. I just finished Cold Moon Over Babylon. I've many more titles to go and will be so sad the day I finish his body of work.

I won't write about Fugitive Pieces here as it isn't horror...though it is in a very fundamental way. But the main reason I won't is because it would be too complex, too personal, and in all honesty something that is ultimately, for me, ineffable. Feel free to check it out on your own, but do remember that engaging the written word is a highly subjective experience and it may not be to your liking.

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Squidbillies....You Must Watch

2009-07-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, so....it's not horror. But at least this episode has a horror-ish theme: Mephistopheles Traveled Below To A Southern State Whose Motto Is “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation."

You see, I am a HUGE fan of Adult Swim's Squidbillies. It's a show about squids who live in Goergia. I know...just go with it. I'm from the South (and boy are there ALOT of references that I get...or I should say git), but you don't have to be from the South to love it, or enjoy the witty, intelligent, and hilarious writing. Plus the background art work by Ben Prisk is simply stunning. Also the original music by Shawn Coleman is awesome (and I'm not specifically talking about the songs featured in this epsiode, though they are brilliant spoofs) and Rot and I often let the original music section of the dvd (Season One) play while we work. And Unknown Hinson as Early Cuyler (the daddy squid) is the most dead on casting ever.

Do yourself a favor and go watch Mephistopheles Traveled Below To A Southern State Whose Motto Is “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation" or any other episodes on Adult Swim. And even better, go buy Seasons One and Two. It's "gooder than hell!"

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Nostromo, Up Close

2009-07-01T12:50:00.001-07:00

Found this very, very cool site that has behind the scenes photos and reminiscences from the crew of Alien. The good ol' days when people made models and monsters for movies. What a cool job that must have been.

There's all kinds of interesting stuff on the site, so be sure to explore.

Image source and site.

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Schooling

2009-06-25T05:27:00.000-07:00

Spent the last few days visiting friends in my hometown of Memphis, Tn. While there I hung out with my good friend Bryan who owns Black Lodge Video - the coolest, most awesome video store that ever was. If you want it chances are they got it. Their VHS collection is strong, and they don't shy away from adding to it. They've everything from the latest titles to the incredibly obscure thought-you'd-never-find films. This is where I learned horror. This is where all the movies came from. (And because I know the owner, all the rentals were free.) Thanks, Bryan, for my education.

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Bad Day At The Beach

2009-06-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

This looks like it has promise.

Salvage

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The Dead Zone

2009-06-03T05:13:00.000-07:00

We recently watched The Dead Zone. It's been a few years since I've seen it and I'd forgotten how much I dig it. I think it doesn't get enough attention - it's very well done. The final scene is heartbreaking. Also, I love the score.

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Do & Don't

2009-04-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

A Must See:

The Burrowers is an elegant & intelligent horror movie. Great script, cinematography, character development, score & less-is-more on the creatures. Thank you, J.T. Petty.

A Must Be Avoided At All Costs:
Laid To Rest is a ridiculous crapfest from beginning to end. Boring, asinine, riddled with plot holes & one of the worst leading actresses I've ever seen. Just because a guy can do special effects doesn't mean he can write and direct a good horror movie. Every contrived moment was simply a set up for the next kill scene. There were some instances of good gore, but for any discerning horror fan that is not enough to make a decent movie. I actually found it insulting...a filmmaker trying to sell me a turd dressed up in a chrome skull mask. (And seriously,"Chrome Skull" as your inept bad guy?) The only good thing about it was how much my husband and I laughed while making fun of it.

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Blood Red Earth & The Burrowers

2009-03-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

I watched Blood Red Earth by J.T. Petty on Fearnet On Demand recently and was wonderfully & completely blown away. It's been awhile since I've come across a contemporary horror filmmaker who isn't afraid to take things slow. His respect for the genre and for its fans is evident - he trusts us to be intelligent and patient, and to not need lots of boobs and blood to be entertained. The look, story, and pace of the film are all graceful - traits rarely seen in horror.

Blood Red Earth is a short film & prequel to his upcoming feature film that I am excited about - The Burrowers (starring Clancy Brown who I love). You can watch the short at the link below the photo. Be sure to watch all the behind-the-scene interviews. J.T. Petty says a lot of very cool stuff - he's the kind of filmmaker I've been waiting for. I loved his first film Soft For Digging. Even though it contained hardly any dialogue at all, it managed to be thick with narrative and mystery. I can't wait to see the movies he'll be making. (I've wanted to see his S&Man, but haven't been able to find a copy.) Also it's pretty groovy that Larry Fessenden is in the short, though briefly. He's another director I am a big fan of - he directed The Last Winter.

Blood Red Earth short & interviews

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The Hand

2009-02-14T12:26:00.000-08:00

We watched The Hand with Michael Cane this afternoon. I remember watching it as a little girl and being absolutely terrified. For days after I checked every nook, every dark corner for the hand...I just knew it'd be up on all five digits, ready to pounce. It's still scary to me, but in a different way now. The tension level in several scenes is unnerving, and the chilling score by James Horner (the opening song is to die for) made this film a very pleasant way to spend Valentine's Day.

Screencap by me.

By the way, Pumpkinrot has the bootlegged score. I think it will be playing as we cook dinner tonight. How sweet.
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Night Gallery

2009-01-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

As a wedding gift to ourselves, Pumpkinrot and I bought the first season of Night Gallery on DVD. We've both seen every episode, but it's nice to occasionally put in a disc and rediscover them together.

I always wanted paintings from the show to hang on my walls. Never tried to copy one for myself, but one of these days I just might.

Paintings from Night Gallery:

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Best Movie Poster of 2009? So Far...Yes.

2009-01-22T12:10:00.000-08:00

I so dig this poster for the upcoming Ti West film The House of the Devil. Unfortunately I couldn't find a larger pic.

Ti West also wrote and directed The Roost.

Ode To Haunted Houses

2009-01-22T05:44:00.000-08:00

I love haunted house stories. They are my all time favorite of the horror genre, in literature and in film. The dark wood, the creaking stairs, the dust, the stale air of the attic, the long hallways....pure heaven to me. The quiet, subtle moments are what I love most. The idea that a house is a living being with feelings and intentions is one that is ever intriguing, as well as the notion that a house can replay and echo the horrors that happen within them over and over. In a haunted house time stops, and the connection (and safety) to the outside world is lost. For some reason I find that comforting. Perhaps it's the timelessness of it, or because the rules of the world no longer apply, or because it is a final destination and there is no more work to be done. I don't know.

There are many haunted houses that I revisit often: The Shining (novel & film), The Haunting (the 1963 film), The Legend Of Hell House (novel & film), The Haunting of Hill House (novel by Shirley Jackson), The Haunting of Julia (novel & film), and others that I will remember after I publish this post.

I've a new one to add to the list - a short story that appeared in Weird Tales Magazine. It's "Renovations" by Matthew Pridham. You can read the story here.

Screencap from The Legend Of Hell House.

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Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

2009-01-21T00:12:00.000-08:00

Pumpkinrot and I spend alot of time talking about and watching horror movies. One of the most enjoyable things we do is revisit movies that scared us when we were kids - the movies that, later that night when it was time to go to bed, transformed the closet door cracked open in the dark to a chasm filled with horrible monsters and the 2 feet on the floor next to the bed a "no foot" zone. It's often a challenge to find these movies (and sometimes hard to remember the titles), but once in a while we track them down. Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark was a made for TV movie that Pumpkinrot remembers. We managed to find it on YouTube.

I'm into any movie whose description begins, "A couple moves into an old mansion..."

It was so much fun to watch.

Screencap from the film.

I'm totally going hide a little demon doll in the medicine cabinet for Rot to find.

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The Night No One Came Home

2009-01-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

Sure wish I owned these beauties.

From here.
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VHS Lives!

2008-12-23T07:41:00.000-08:00

I got my #2 issue of LUNCHMEAT a few days ago, and I love it. The magazine is dedicated to the love of VHS horror...something near and dear to my heart. I've always said that pre-1990 horror is best experienced on VHS. I'm glad others feel the same way.

Here is a list of all the movies they review in the issue. I was surprised to find that I've only seen about half (a few of which I own)...which demotes me from Horror Badass to Puny Wanna-Be.

Dang it.

LUNCHMEAT #2:
I Was A Teenage Frankenstein (1957)
Primal Scream (1987)
Spare Parts (1979)
The Asphyx (1973)
Eyes of Fire (1983)
Creepy Classics (1987)
Terror In The Swamp (1985)
Maneater (1979)
House Of The Long Shadows (1983)
Murder Weapon (1989)
Girlfriend From Hell (1990)
Night Of The Demon (1980)
Mortuary (1983)
Endgame (1983)
Razorback (1984)
Blood Link (1982)
The Night God Screamed (1971)
The Rejuvenator (1988)
The Muthers (1976)
Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965)

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Oh, That's Just Wrong. Can I See?

2008-12-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

I really want to see this movie, Nekromantik. I've heard all kinds of wonderfully bad things about it - like even hardcore horror buffs and gorehounds find this one hard to stomach. Copies on eBay run an average of $100, so I guess it will be awhile before I'll get my hands on it. Perhaps I'll get lucky and find an old VHS at a garage sale. One can hope.

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A Must For The Holiday Season

2008-11-27T19:24:00.000-08:00

I finally got to show Pumpkinrot (who as of a week and a half ago I can now call husband) a damn fine horror film titled Black Christmas. (And I do NOT mean that god awful remake from a couple of years ago.) It was made in 1974, well before Halloween, and to this day still is one of the most original and well made horror movies out there. It was well before its time in how the story is crafted, and holds up supurbly even 34 years later. If you are serious about your horror and have not seen this one, you really should get it.

Screencap from here.
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Splinter

2008-11-15T07:03:00.000-08:00

Loved this movie. We watched in on Comcast On Demand, so it isn't on DVD yet. If you have the chance to see this, you should check it out. Very original and well made.

Splinter Official Site

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The Roost

2008-11-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

Revisited an old friend tonight - The Roost. Pumpkinrot hadn't seen it, though he was familiar with some of the score (I'd used some songs on previous Halloween cds). I'd fogotten what a joy this movie is - original, beautifully shot (the use of negative space is awesome), and some of the best and most unexpected scares I've seen in a while. The movie takes its time and does it well - something that I adore in horror but rarely see. Sure, it has its flaws (what low budget movie doesn't?), but the gems more then make up for the minor mistakes.

The score is by Jeff Grace, who went on the do the haunting & somber score to The Last Winter. Both are purchase worthy.

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Electric Halloween

2008-10-30T19:48:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween

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It Is Almost Here

2008-10-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

Batty

2008-10-29T11:29:00.001-07:00

Watching AMC's Fear Fest. Gotta love horror movies 24/7.

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Let The Right One In

2008-10-25T14:38:00.001-07:00

I can't wait to see this.

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The Wee Hours

2008-09-28T01:02:00.000-07:00

After staring at the ceiling from 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. I decided to give up and get up. I'll work on the 2008 Halloween cd while watching an old black & white horror:

I'll probably fall face first asleep in my waffles come 8:30 a.m.

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We Don't Need A Cat In The Hat On Our Rainy Day

2008-09-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

It's a rainy, dreary day today. Pumpkinrot and I will spend it making all sorts of little creatures to go up on our Pumpkin Hollow Etsy Shop. While we do that, movies will play and Halloweeny candles will be burning. In today's queue:

The Tempter, 1974. I've actually had this one laying around for quite some time and have yet to watch it. I bought it when the little video store I worked at occasionally was getting rid of all its VHS. I paid 99 cents... a much better bargain than the $59.95 list price on the box. The back of it reads:

"Picture this: a beautiful young woman becomes devilishly possessed, and after committing a series of unspeakable acts - shown in graphic detail, of course - a priest is called in to exercise some exorcism. Sound familiar? Well, move over Linda Blair, 'cause there's a new demon on the block!..."

It goes on to say that its "titillating scenes" include an "orgy in hell." Should make for some good rainy day viewing, no?

**Follow Up: Wow...that really, really sucked.

After that it's The Nanny, 1965, starring Betty Davis and my latest obssession, Pamela Franklin.

It's shaping up to be a pretty good day.

*Follow Up: The Nanny was fantastic!*

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Haunted House Day

2008-09-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of the first true days of fall. For some reason the crisp, cool air always puts me in the mood for a good haunted house story. So, I watched three old favorites in a row: The Legend of Hell House (1973), The Haunting (1963), and The Haunting of Julia (1977). Clove candles burned as the movies played and autumn air blew in through the open windows. It was a good day.

The Legend of Hell House (Awesome screencaps by a75.)

The Haunting

The Haunting of Julia

If you happen to come across this blog and know of any really good haunted house or ghost movies, please let me know. Thanks. :)

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Ginger Snaps

2008-09-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

Watched an old favorite of mine this morning, Ginger Snaps. Two sisters and a werewolf - this is some good stuff. I absolutely love the characters, their wicked backtalk and wisecracks, and how they relate to one another. The opening credits are some of the coolest I've seen. If you haven't watched it and are a fan of the wereworlf genre, you should check this one out - a new twist on an old tale. (And the whole metaphor for becoming-a-woman-thing is pretty damn interesting too).

Images from the opening credits.

Bridgette

Ginger

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Horror Convention Follow Up

2008-08-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

The horror convention with Pumpkinrot over the weekend was loads of fun. I picked up some soundtracks and two movies that have been on my wish list for quite awhile.

I also got to meet Johnny Butane of Dreadcentral.com. That was fun because I've been reading the site for a very,very long time now. Oh, and meeting Tom Savini was pretty fucking cool too. :)

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Horror Convention

2008-08-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

Pumpkinrot took me to my very first horror convention today. We had a blast and got some cool stuff. I'll post more later.

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Such A Lovely Little Thing

2008-08-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

A gift from a friend. It opens.

Unfortunately, it did not come with Tannis Root.

(And if you get that reference, kudos to you.)

Two In A Row? Impossible! (But True.)

2008-08-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

Watched two pretty good horrors this weekend: P2 & Rogue.

Rogue is from the same director as Wolf Creek and did not get a US theater release (as far as I know). It's a shame because it was well written and well made, and well worth your time. It did have its problems - I felt it needed 15 to 20 more minutes of meat in it, particularly about an hour in. There were a few things neglected that I feel could have enhanced what was already some wonderful and endearing character development. But all in all, I recommend it. And since it is a movie about a humongous crocodile and it is a horror movie, I don't think it's a spoiler to say that the first human kill is wonderfully clever & chilling.

P2 - I should start by saying I love horror movies that take place all in one setting - the whole "trapped" thing. And P2, well, I loved it. I wasn't expecting much...just your run-of-the-mill woman trapped and being hunted. But what set it apart from that bland clump of movies was how wonderfully intelligent the damsel in distress was. At no time did I think, "Now why the FUCK did she do that?" or "No, no, don't do that! Do this!" She made the right decision every time. And the chemistry between her and Tom, the antagonist, was dead on. Tom was a frightening force. When he decides to "punish" a man for an indiscretion with our heroine...well, it's pretty realistic, pretty intense, and gets you right in the guts. When I watch horrors I am generally doing something else at the same time - crocheting, sculpting, or painting - but for this one I was completely absorbed and at attention. The writing was tight & intelligent, the performances were fantastic and the pace was exactly what it needed to be. If you want a tense, fun ride, P2 is for you. (I should also add that I read no reviews of this and have no idea how the horror community felt about it. For all I know I may be the only one who dug it...or not.)

*I forgot to mention that P2 is made by the same bad asses who did High Tension and The Hills Have Eyes remake.

Since I haven't read any reviews of either of these films (I didn't want them to affect my viewing, or what I had to say about them) I am now free to do so and can finally read the piece about Rogue in the latest Rue Morgue Magazine.

Speaking of Rue Morgue, be on the look out in the October issue for an advertisement for mine & Pumpknrot's Etsy shop, Pumpkin Hollow!

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The Haunting of Julia

2008-08-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Revisited an old favorite of mine today. I think The Haunting of Julia is one of the best ghost stories on film. The look, the colors, the gauzy lens, the subtly, the pace, and the absolutely incredible & chilling score work with organic perfection that softly pulls you in and holds you silently, but firmly, to its chest. In it you will find horrors hidden in the quiet. Watch it alone on a windy night. Watch it on a cold rainy day, wrapped in blankets. Get lost in it. I promise it's worth it. And to top it all off, the film features one of the most beautiful end shots I've ever seen.

I should also add that after much searching a friend has finally found the score for me. I was desperate to have it for so long. Here is the title track, The Park.

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REDRUMREDRUMREDRUMREDRUM

2008-08-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

Looping The Shining all day. It's that kind of day.

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August 8

2008-08-08T03:54:00.001-07:00

Today is an anniversary, and it's one that makes my heart ache. So those of you familiar with my comfort movie post know what I will be doing today.

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Getting Away...But Being Followed

2008-08-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Haven't updated this blog much as I've been busy with my Etsy shop. Also, I am taking a break from the North and hanging out for a bit back home in the South.

Sat outside on the back porch this morning enjoying the fog and drinking coffee when I saw something strange...

Thanks, Pumpkinrot, for sending a bit of Halloween my way.

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Hey, I Know Those Faces...

2008-07-16T05:19:00.001-07:00

I found a blog the other day that is using one of my photos as it's header. It works well as a header...I wish I'd thought of that!

Four of my pumpkins from last Halloween!:
Seritan's Musings

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Plants & Blood & A Barber, Oh My!

2008-07-10T05:12:00.001-07:00

I finally got to watch a good horror movie on Tuesday - The Ruins. I gotta say, it was pretty damn fantastic...original idea (from the novel of the same name by Scott Smith), talented cast, and a very promising up and coming director - Carter Smith. I saw his short Bug Crush awhile ago and was extremely impressed. It's good to see a new horror director get a good gig. Hopefully he'll go on to do more...a glimmer of hope in the dark tide of tired horror remakes.

Other flicks:

Baby Blood, 1990 - Oh those wacky French! A woman becomes impregnated by a being that only wants human blood, hence a splatterfest ensues. It's your standard 90's horror fare...meaning mediocre at best.

The Barber, 2001 - Malcolm McDowell stars as a barber living in Alaska who may or may not be a killer. Interesting concept (I'm always seduced by the idea of stories set in remote, cold places), but utimately it doesn't live up to its potential. Still, it wasn't that bad and if you like McDowell it's an okay way to kill some time.

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Catching Up

2008-07-04T06:06:00.001-07:00

I've watched quite a few movies (and still need to write about Mother of Tears, Douglas Buck's shorts, and The Last Winter) and haven't been posting as I watch. So, it's time to get them listed.

Raising Jeffrey Dahmer, 2006 - I'm all for a movie from the perspective of parents of a serial killer, but not one that is thinly veiled and poorly written propaganda championing the father's status as an innocent bystander. It's one hundred minutes of Lionel Dahmer looking confused, and flashbacks that are frequent, scattered and unclear as to where they fall in the time line. I swear the actor playing Jeffrey didn't bother to spend even 5 minutes studying the tone and body language of his character, but instead opted to play it according to how he thought a psycho might act. The abominable jazz score is incredibly ill chosen and is just one in a long line of bad decisions made on the part of those who made this movie. To put it plainly, it just downright sucks. (Also, this film was made with the cooperation of Dahmer's parents, another indicator that this is all some elaborate attempt for Lionel Dahmer to clear his conscious. Whether he failed as a father or not, I have no clue. But it is clear that desperately he wants someone to tell him that he didn't.) Skip this one.

Deadly End ,2005 - Young newlyweds move into a house and quickly become the focus of one seriously demented neighbor. This one is a well made low budget film that packs some good punches and some of the most squeamish gore I've seen in awhile. Nick Searcy steals the show as the neighbor from hell.

The Eye , 2008
The remake. Blah.

Driftwood, 2006
A lot of potential, some cool actors, and an opportunity missed. Very disappointing.

Unholy, 2007
Unholy, as in God Awful. I love Adrienne Barbeau, but this one was nearly impossible to sit through.

World's Worst Neighbor
in Deadly End

Dr. Malavaqua is a Good Doctor

2008-06-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

Watched an old favorite while drinking my morning coffee - Transylvania 6-5000.

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Poem

2008-06-28T11:47:00.000-07:00

My best friend's 7 year old son wrote this poem. He is one smart, funny, talented kid.

Eye Ball

My eye is a juicy
ball.
When I drop it...
it will
burst!
It's safe in my
socket
till then...

Jacob B.

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Ed Harley, Tragic Hero

2008-06-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

As I was watching Stan Winston's Pumpkinhead the other day, it occurred to me that all the elements of the story are those of a Shakespearian tragedy. Because it was released in the 80's, had a group of teens in it, and was titled Pumpkinhead, the true beauty of this film, and its subtle genius, have been overlooked.

Please keep in mind that this post is not meant to be on the level of an academic paper, it's just my observations. Also, I am writing this assuming the reader has seen the movie, so I won't be giving a scene to scene description. I do, however, give away the end, so if you haven't seen it, consider this your spoiler warning.

Elements of the Shakespearian tragedy:

1. Shakespeare's tragic hero will be a man of rank, and the events that befall him will be out of the ordinary and fatally disastrous. The hero falls unexpectedly from a high place, a place of glory or joy. He is fundamentally a good person, but will contribute to his own destruction due to a flaw in character, or because of a tragic error.

Ed Harley, our main character, is a store owner and a loving single father. He lives in the country with his young son--a life portrayed as simple, but good. When his son is accidentally killed by one in a group of teens who've come from the city, Harley goes to the old witch to invoke Pumpkinhead and take revenge.

2. That men may start a course of events but can neither calculate or control it, is a tragic fact. All of Shakespeare's tragic protagonists are capable of both good and evil. The playwright always insists on the operation of the doctrine of free will; the (anti)hero is always able to back out, to redeem himself. The hero, though he persues his fated way, is, at some point, torn by inner struggle. But, the author dictates, they must move unheedingly to their doom.

The accident occurred in Harley's absence, so he is unaware that all but one (Steve - the one responsible) of the teens are horrified and are desperately trying to get to a phone to call for help, leaving only Steve's brother behind to stay with the boy until his father returns. However, Steve, fearing jail time due to a prior offense, doesn't allow the rest of the group to call for help, going as far as to lock two of them in a closet.

Harley calls upon Pumpkinhead to take revenge. Not long after, after significant inner turmoil, he has a change of heart. He is fundamentally good and only acted irrationally out of emotion (his tragic flaw). He also realizes that it was an accident and comes to understand that the teens tried to get help, but the knowledge comes much too late. He goes to the witch and begs for it to be called off, but even she is unable to stop it...much to her delight. Steve, our antihero, steps forward to take responsibility, even offering himself to the creature, but it is of no use. It's been called to kill them all and nothing can stop it.

3. Shakespeare also introduces the supernatural - ghosts and/or witches who have supernatural knowledge. This supernatural element cannot be explained away as an illusion and contributes to the action always in close or direct relation to the hero.

As a child Harley witnessed Pumpkinhead killing a man. This is why he knows the creature is real and not just a legend or the subject of a macabre children's song.

The witch Harley goes to and Pumpkinhead himself represent the supernatural element of the Shakespearian tragedy, as neither is a dream or an illusion. The witch knows how to call the creature, and it instinctively knows who its victims are.

4.The center of the tragedy may therefore be said to lie in the actions of the main character, his flawed perceptions, and human frailty. In Shakespeare, the hero recognizes his responsibility for the catastrophe which befalls him too late to prevent his death.

Harley goes to battle Pumpkinhead himself, desperately trying to protect the teens that are still alive. He realizes that if he dies, it will die. He shoots himself, thus ending his life, and the vengeful creature's. But death does not bring his soul mercy or rest. The witch buries him, and he will serve as the next Pumpkinhead.

In addition to the whole Shakespeare bent, this film is well written and beautifully shot. The use of color and the cinematography are poetic. There are long, fluid shots that are flawless. The scenes between the witch and Harley are pure gold, and the creature is a wonderful score in the props vs. CGI contest.

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Halloween ABC

2008-06-27T05:56:00.000-07:00

I bought this book over ten years ago and it's a favorite in my collection (I've been collecting children's Halloween books for about 20 years now). The little poems are wonderfully macabre and the illustrations are playful and beautiful.

Halloween ABC
Poems by Eve Marriam
Illustrations by Lane Smith

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Lately

2008-06-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

Trying to get some writing done, as well as some other things, so both my blogs have suffered. At least I can do a quick list of movies I've watched lately:

Otis (2008)
I wanted so much to like it, but the tone was all over the place. It tried to be too many things. Too bad because the cast was great. I love the guy playing Otis.

The Invasion (2007)
A complete waste of two talented actors, Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Perfect from beginning to end. I love everything about this movie; the cast, the cinematography and the trippy ass score. I had seen this a long, long time ago, so I decided it was time to sit with it again.

Screamers (1995)
YUCK

The Signal (2007)
Everybody loved this one and I just kept getting bored. I always feel guilty when that happens...like I somehow missed the obvious. I was in a bad mood - maybe that's a good excuse (?) - but I don't feel like revisiting it anytime soon. So, I'm in the minority on this one.

Alone in the Dark (1982)
How can you not like a movie when it stars Jack Palance, Donald Pleasence and Martin Landau? It was fun, but way too many convenient things occurred for this movie to be good. A pure popcorn watch. (I've actually seen this one before. I watched it with a friend who hadn't seen it but wanted to.)

Sisters (2006)
Why? Why do this? Another pointless remake of a perfectly good film.
And it was Douglas Buck's first major film to direct...that total sucks because I think his shorts are fantastic. I can't wait to see what he does next - his slate is still clean as far as I'm concerned.

Frontière(s) (2007)
Slick, beautiful, gory and I've seen it all before. The French version of Saw meets Hostel meets The Hills Have Eyes meets Wrong Turn meets...you get the idea.

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Still Here

2008-06-20T09:24:00.001-07:00

New post soon. I promise.

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There's A Fish In The Tub...A Really Stinky One

2008-06-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

I know today is Friday the 13th and every horror fan is getting their Voorhees on, but I look forward to this day for a different reason....because the day that follows means I'll be watching this:

I just can't help it, I find this movie oddly endearing. It's been a favorite of mine ever since I was a kid watching it over and over on Cinemax (or as we sometimes called it "Skinamax" due to their "Friday After Dark" series...but that's a whole other story). I proudly own the VHS and will make all members of my household watch it as we drink coffee tomorrow morning.

The Van Helsing character is a scream.

Is it wrong that I know every line of this movie? It is...I know.

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Another Please

2008-06-13T11:33:00.001-07:00

My dad only drinks Miller High Life. I generally stay away from it (I like the darker stuff), but come Halloween time...it's a whole different story.

(Yes, I drink it because of the cool can.)

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Some Them There Horrors

2008-06-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

I've seen several horror movies these last few days and have meant to post the list. Here they are, with three reviews (i.e. my opinion) coming soon (Mother of Tears, The Last Winter, & Family Portraits: The Shorts: Cutting Moments/Home/Prologue).

Mother of Tears (2007)
The Last Winter (2006)
Snowbeast (1997)
Teeth (2007)
Don't Open Til Christmas (1984)
Mama Dracula (1980)
Blood Tide (1982...Opps, I've already seen this one!)
Moon of the Wolf (1974)
The Creeper (1977)
Family Portraits: The Shorts: Cutting Moments/Home/Prologue (2004)

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La Terza Madre

2008-06-06T06:10:00.000-07:00

Today I finally get to see Dario Argento's Mother of Tears. I've been waiting to see this ever since I heard it went into production. It was released in Italy last Halloween, and is, of course, only getting a limited release here in the states. The city I used to live in won't be getting it (oh how they ignore the south), so it's a good thing I moved (though, I miss the south more than words could ever express). Few in the States get to say they've seen an Argento film in a theater, so I'm damn lucky to have the chance.

I'll do my best to post a review this weekend.

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Popcorn, Cotton Candy & Diesel Fumes

2008-06-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

A lazy, rainy day here. Horror of the Zombies plays in the background as I do laundry, clean house. In a black pot a dark carnival candle is burning. The scent it gives off makes me think of a short story from Ray Bradbury's The October Country titled "The Dwarf." Here's an excerpt:

Aimee watched the sky, quietly.

Tonight was one of those motionless hot summer nights. The concrete pier empty, the strung red, white, yellow bulbs burning like insects in the air above the wooden emptiness. The managers of the various carnival pitches stood, like melting wax dummies, eyes staring blindly, not talking, all down the line.

Two customers had passed through an hour before. Those two lonely people were now in the roller coaster, screaming murderously as it plummeted down the blazing night, around one emptiness after another.

Aimee moved slowly across the strand, a few worn wooden hoopla rings sticking to her wet hands. She stopped behind the ticket booth that fronted the MIRROR MAZE. She saw herself grossly misrepresented in three rippled mirrors outside the Maze. A thousand tired replicas of herself dissolved in the corridor beyond, hot images among so much clear coolness.

She stepped inside the ticket booth and stood looking a long while at Ralph Banghart's thin neck. He clenched an unlit cigar between his long uneven yellow teeth as he laid out a battered game of solitaire on the ticket shelf.

When the roller coaster walled and fell in its terrible avalanche again, she was reminded to speak.

"What kind of people go up in roller coasters?"

Ralph Banghart worked his cigar a full thirty seconds. "People wanna die. That rollie coaster's the handiest thing to dying there is." He sat listening to the faint sound of rifle shots from the shooting gallery. "This whole damn carny business's crazy. For instance, that dwarf. You seen him? Every night, pays his dime, runs in the Mirror Maze all the way back through to Screwy Louie's Room. You should see this little runt head back there. My God!"

"Oh, yes," said Aimee, remembering. "I always wonder what it's like to be a dwarf I always feel sorry when I see him."

"I could play him like an accordion."

"Don't say that!"

"My Lord." Ralph patted her thigh with a free hand. "The way you carry on about guys you never even met." He shook his head and chuckled. "Him and his secret. Only he don't know I know, see? Boy howdy!"

"It's a hot night." She twitched the large wooden hoops nervously on her damp fingers.

"Don't change the subject. He'll be here, rain or shine."

Aimee shifted her weight.

Ralph seized her elbow. "Hey! You ain't mad? You wanna see that dwarf, don't you? Sh!" Ralph turned. "Here he comes now!"

The Dwarfs hand, hairy and dark, appeared all by itself reaching up into the booth window with a silver dime. An invisible person called, "One!" in a high, child's voice.

Involuntarily, Aimee bent forward.

The Dwarf looked up at her, resembling nothing more than a dark-eyed, dark-haired, ugly man who has been locked in a winepress, squeezed and wadded down and down, fold on fold, agony on agony, until a bleached, outraged mass is left, the face bloated shapelessly, a face you know must stare wide-eyed and awake at two and three and four o'clock in the morning, lying flat in bed, only the body asleep.

Ralph tore a yellow ticket in half "One!"

The Dwarf, as if frightened by an approaching storm, pulled his black coat-lapels tightly about his throat and waddled swiftly. A moment later, ten thousand lost and wandering dwarfs wriggled between the mirror flats, like frantic dark beetles, and vanished.

"Quick!"

Ralph squeezed Aimee along a dark passage behind the mirrors. She felt him pat her all the way back through the tunnel to a thin partition with a peekhole.

"This is rich," he chuckled. "Go on-look."

Aimee hesitated, then put her face to the partition.

"You see him?" Ralph whispered.

Aimee felt her heart beating. A full minute passed.

There stood the Dwarf in the middle of the small blue room. His eyes were shut. He wasn't ready to open them yet. Now, now he opened his eyelids and looked at a large mirror set before him. And what he saw in the mirror made him smile. He winked, he pirouetted, he stood sidewise, he waved, he bowed, he did a little clumsy dance.

And the mirror repeated each motion with long, thin arms, with a tall, tall body, with a huge wink and an enormous repetition of the dance, ending in a gigantic bow!

"Every night the same thing," whispered Ralph in Aimee's ear. "Ain't that rich?"

Aimee turned her head and looked at Ralph steadily out of her motionless face, for a long time, and she said nothing. Then, as if she could not help herself, she moved her head slowly and very slowly back to stare once more through the opening. She held her breath. She felt her eyes begin to water.

Ralph nudged her, whispering.

"Hey, what's the little gink doin' now?"

They were drinking coffee and not looking at each other in the ticket booth half an hour later, when the Dwarf came out of the mirrors. He took his hat off and started to approach the booth, when he saw Aimee and hurried away.

"He wanted something," said Aimee.

"Yeah." Ralph squashed out his cigarette, idly. I know what, too. But he hasn't got the nerve to ask. One night in this squeaky little voice he says, 'I bet those mirrors are expensive.' Well, I played dumb. I said yeah they were. He sort of looked at me, waiting, and when I didn't say any more, he went home, but next night he said, 'I bet those mirrors cost fifty, a hundred bucks.' I bet they do, I said. I laid me out a hand of solitaire."

"Ralph," she said.

He glanced up. "Why you look at me that way?"

"Ralph," she said, "why don't you sell him one of your extra ones?"

Trick or Treat

2008-06-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

The full collection of Tales from the Darkside came today.

Treat.

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Christmas in June

2008-06-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

One of my most favorite purchases ever was a 50 pack of movies I found 2 years ago in a bargain bin.

(I also got the 50 Horror Classics movie pack, but it was the lesser of the two for me.) I relished the countless nights of putting in the next dvd, sitting back and discovering what was there. A few favorites emerged: A Bell From Hell; Christmas Evil; Funeral Home; Silent Night, Bloody Night; and several more. I was so bummed when I had watched all 50.... my treasure pile exhausted.

So imagine my unabashed joy yesterday (while on the hunt for a copy of Pumpkinhead--why do I not own it yet?) when I found this:

It's a mix of films from the 30's, 40's, 70's, & 80's. To say that I am in heaven would be a colossal understatement. As I write this I'm watching a selection: a made for TV horror called Moon of the Wolf, with Geoffrey Lewis and Royal Dano ~ Mr. Tom Fury of the lightning rods from Something Wicked This Way Comes. (Made for TV horrors are another untapped treasure trove I'd love to get my hands on.) It's fun, groovy, and the stuff dreams are made of.

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The Far Side

2008-06-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

À l'intérieur (aka Inside)

2008-05-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

There are rules in horror movies...understood agreements between viewer and filmmaker as to what can be done and what can't...promises of sorts. The filmmakers are always playing at the border of the forbidden, hinting and gesturing that they will cross that line, and the viewer sits back dreading and ashamedly hoping that perhaps this time the rule will be broken. From time to time, it gets pretty damn close. We are relieved when it remains intact. We settle back into the safe zone, the zone of having not seen what we feared to see. We have once again been successfully horrified, but not scarred. We have been threatened by the unimaginable, but the threat slunk away when the credits rolled, without making good on its word.

But then, once in a great while, a filmmaker comes along and does the unthinkable. He dances us straight into the dark, and what was once beyond the pale is suddenly all around us. The French film À l'intérieur is one of those films.

From the very beginning, we are in uncomfortable territory: our main character is pregnant and her husband has been killed in a car accident. The night before she is to be induced to give birth, her last night at home alone, a woman shows up who desires only one thing: the baby. Set on Christmas Eve in the time of the riots, the hope for help seems doubtful at best. Neighbors are out at holiday dinners; the police are preoccupied with street violence and vandalism. But, help does come. It comes again and again. Each time we are filled with hope, and each time the violence is shocking, and, in one awful instance, heartbreaking. With each newcomer the violence escalates, further bloodying the walls and damaging the mind of our already damaged main character. This is the type of movie where you find yourself talking to the screen, informing, begging, pleading. The brutality is horrifyingly exquisite. And as you think to yourself that it can't get any worse, it does. It does it with a grace that, at times, borders art. (Correction: it IS art.)

And that promise that is ultimately broken? Well, that one you'll have to see for yourself.

This movie is not for everyone. It's not even for all horror fans. No doubt some who see it will deem it vile trash, corruptive, and criminal. I thought it was well-written, well-acted, graceful, monstrous, and terrifying.

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Halloween 4

2008-05-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

The opening sequence of Halloween 4 has some of the best Halloween imagery I've ever seen.

It's A Hard World For Little Things

2008-05-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

Truly one of the most beautiful, most chilling films ever made.

The Halloween Tree

2008-05-26T17:19:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree:

The Ravine.

The ravine filled with varieties of night sounds, lurkings of black-ink stream and creek, lingerings of autumns that rolled over in fire and bronze and died a thousand years ago. From this deep place sprang mushroom and toadstool and cold stone frog and crawdad and spider. There was a long tunnel down there under the earth in which poisoned waters dripped and the echoes never ceased calling Come Come Come and if you do you'll stay forever, forever, drip, forever, rustle, run, rush, whisper, and never go, never go go go...

The boys lined up on the rim of darkness, looking down.

And then Tom Skelton, cold in his bones, whistled his breath in his teeth like the wind blowing over the bedroom screen at night. He pointed.

"Oh, hey -- that's where Pipkin told us to go!"

He vanished.

All looked. They saw his small shape race down the dirt path into one hundred million tons of night all crammed in that huge dark pit, that dank cellar, that deliciously frightening ravine.

Yelling, they plunged after.

Where they had been was empty.

The town was left behind to suffer itself with sweetness.

Blood Moon Music

2008-05-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

The DVD box art for my beloved Blood Moon is a prime example of bad and misleading marketing, not to mention it's just down right atrocious. But give it and click and hear the very cool music which opens the film.

And I promise this will be my last entry about it...for awhile at least.

More Blood

2008-05-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

I feel like I should have gone into more explanation in my last post about Blood Moon (also known as Wolf Girl).

The story is about Tara (played superbly by Victoria Sanchez), a sixteen year old girl who was born with hypertrichosis (excessive body hair) and has been with the freak show since she was a baby. Like anyone, especially a teenager, all she wants is to fit in and be accepted...to be "normal." When the traveling freak show arrives in a small town, the son of a local research scientist becomes smitten with her and offers her an experimental drug his mother is working on. From there, well, things go down hill and it doesn't help that she's become the focus of a group of sociopath teens (played very well by four talent actors including Shawn Ashmore and Shelby Fenner, and not one cliche character in the bunch). The end is surprising and heartbreaking. You really should check this one out.

Here are a few photos, followed by some clips.

Harley (ring leader and father figure) and Tara

Tara

Harley on stage

Teens

World of Wonders (Unfortunately this video jerks a bit)

The Pluck Song

Scientist and her smitten son

And now after all this writing about it, I think I'll watch it!

That Screaming in the Background Is Just My Lullaby

2008-05-20T04:33:00.000-07:00

Horror movies are a major part of my life (obviously, seeing as this blog exists). Probably 80% of everything I watch is a part of the horror genre. They are an element in my life that, no matter what is happening, I can count on and I often take comfort in them. The following is a list of what I call my "comfort movies." Whenever I've had a bad day, feel sad, have a major stressful or painful event, I find myself turning to these movies for comfort again and again. They are like a great big security blanket that wraps me away from the world.

But bad things don't necessarily have to happen for me to watch them, sometimes it's just that I want to feel something familiar -homey. These films, for whatever reason, feel like home to me. I never tire of watching them. They are never far from the DVD player, and I even own some on VHS.

Now, all that said, it doesn't mean that all these films are winners...not all of them are examples of fine cinema, though several of them are.

Here they are in no particular order.

THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE, 1973

The whole atmosphere of this film is fantastic. The cinematography is gorgeous and conveys the mood and feel of the film perfectly. I find myself constantly pausing it so I can take in the unique frame of a shot. The opening theme music is some of my favorite in the horror genre.

BLOOD MOON (AKA WOLF GIRL), 2001

This is actually one of my main comfort movies. I played it over and over again one weekend when I had a terrible headache and didn't get out of bed. Even as I lay with my eyes closed, I followed along with the dialogue, listened to th music, and saw the scenes play out in my mind.

Unfortunately, the trailer for this unknown gem is misleading. While it is technically in the horror genre, it is more of a drama set in a standard horror frame -a traveling freak show. It has several musical numbers (strange, I know) with Tim Curry and Grace Jones as performers in the show. I'd kill, or pay a very large sum, to have this soundtrack, but to my knowledge (and ALOT of internet searching) there isn't one.

The movie is beautiful, very original (how often do you see that these days?), well acted, and very genuine. It has a big heart without ever being sentimental or cheesy.

SUSPIRIA, 1977

The original trailers for this were, well, awful. This is a fan made trailer that is much more representative of the feel and mood of the film. Also, it showcases GOBLIN's absolutely flawless score which belongs to horror's movie score canon.

THE BEYOND, 1981

Fulci at his best, in my opinion. The ending shot is to die for.

THE SHINING, 1980

This is my all time favorite movie... ever. It's PERFECT. I've included the trailer (goddamn! I love love love this trailer), and the breathtaking opening sequence which is vast, beautiful, and bone chilling at the same time. Talk about feeling small and isolated.

Trailer

Opening Credits

Halloween III: Season of the Witch, 1982

What can I say? I love everything about this movie. It gets quoted at my house alot. LOVE the opening sequence. Cochran is one of my favorite villains of all time. And yes, I own the "special edition" score.

Fright Night, 1985

I think I have every line in this movie memorized. Also another bootlegged score in my collection.

DEEP RED, 1975

Another fabulous score by GOBLIN. I couldn't decide which trailer to feature since they are both fabulous in their own way. So, here are both.

The original Italian trailer

The American trailer

DAY OF THE DEAD, 1985

My favorite Romero. Is that wrong?

THE HAUNTING, 1963

I think this is the greatest haunted house movie ever made. No special effects here... just scary as hell.

GRAVEYARD SHIFT, 1990

Stephen Macht as the psycho boss Warwick steals the entire movie.

MACABRE, 1980

Okay, so this one is, well, a little embarrassing. All horror fans have some movie like this...the dirty little indulgent secret kept in the back of the closet...that one movie we absolutely adore but would never tell other horror fans for fear of being shunned. It's cheesy, uneventful, and just plain stupid...and I love it. The build up is unbloody and the climax is ridiculous. And I just watched it again as I wrote out this blog entry. (I also watched Suspiria while making this list.) Note: There is nudity in this trailer.

Wash Your Hand Before You Eat...It

2008-05-19T04:53:00.000-07:00

The Severed Arm, 1973. Watched it yesterday. Fantastic concept, not so great execution. Beginning was okay, the middle was terribly boring, and the end was a gem. This is one I'd love to see remade....and I never say that.

Dark Tales

2008-05-19T04:42:00.000-07:00

Bought this yesterday... all 90 episodes.

When Networks Were Cool

2008-05-18T14:28:00.001-07:00

I miss local stuff like this (though, I'm not from Albany).

Over The Moon

2008-05-17T05:35:00.000-07:00

Listening to Steam by Loscil.

Movies, etc.

2008-05-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

I recently watched:

The Living and the Dead (2006)
The Weight of Water (2000)
Targets (1968)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Been listening to:
The Album Leaf - various songs from three of their albums
M83 - M83
Sweeney Todd Soundtrack

a different kind of blog

2008-04-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

i've decided to challenge myself to create some kind of halloween art every single day. i'll be chronicling my endeavor at thepumpkinhollow.blogspot.com*. check in once in a while and let me know what you think!

***the link above has been corrected! (linked to wrong blog before.)

lil' pumpkins

2008-04-03T11:38:00.000-07:00

i've started working with clay to create little pumpkins. i hope to start selling them sometime soon at www.pumpkinhollow.etsy.com, along with a few other halloween-esque goodies.

i'll stop trick or treating when i'm dead

2008-03-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

i love this photo by diane arbus.

home

2008-03-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

books

2008-03-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

Reading Book of the Dead, a gift from my sweetie, as well as Weird Pennsylvania.

absence

2007-12-30T13:24:00.000-08:00

lost my password for so long.

test
test

Dr. Loomis, you say the nicest things...

2007-08-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

For fans who love the movie Halloween, a little something to play with:

Dr. Loomis Soundboard

Horror Montage

2007-06-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

A friend pointed this little gem out to me. I love Rosemary's Theme playing over the images--it touches on the intimacy that lies deep in the horror genre.

Warning: this is very graphic.

Original Trailer

2007-06-01T14:22:00.001-07:00

Trick or Treat

2007-05-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

The creator of this little short, Michael Dougherty, has a movie coming out in October titled Trick or Treat. I haven't looked forward to a film this much for a very long time (though now I have two, this one and Rob Zombie's Halloween).

There can be only one

2007-05-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

Ain't It Cool News posted a review the piece of vomitous wanna be hack tripe that is known as the upcoming Day of the Dead "remake." I would have been much more vicious and used loads foul language, only I plan to never lay eyes on one single frame of the puny thing.

There can be only one Bub.

Help Save Internet Radio

2007-05-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

We always become aware of political issues when they effect something in our lives. There is one happening right now that may force the end of something very cool I've only just discovered: SomaFM--an internet radio station. Not only SomaFM, but the thousands of small independent internet radio stations that are a way to tap into and be exposed to non-mainstream music.

For example, I love ambient electronica. It's most certainly not for everyone. It's wordless, minimalist, long, quiet, full of atmospheric textures....and considered boring or just plain weird by some. But for me it's a way to relax, and it never fails to put me in a creative state of mind--one of the few places that brings me happiness & a sense of wholeness. Of all the people I know, only one other digs it as much as me, and he's several states over. We fans are few and far between, but if you count us up nationwide we are a pretty sizable little sub-culture. Getting our hands on this type of music and learning about all the different artists is not very easy. The internet has pretty much been my one and only tool for exploring this genre of music--though the search can still be difficult...following little threads here and there. So, having a radio station that plays nothing but the tunes is an unprecedented windfall for a fan like me. It's like having an unending, always evolving laundry lists of music and musicians to check out--bands and artists I would not have found any other way. And it's a windfall for the artists as well--it's a tool for fans finding them. I hear music on the station, then I go buy the music--helping to support the artists. It's win-win.

And, it's all about to go away.

A bill has been introduced that will save independent internet radio from the huge royalty payments that the CRB recently handed down. Please call your Representative right now (I did it--it was painless) and ask him/her to cosponsor the "Internet Radio Equality Act", H.R. 2060, introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL). This bill will set royalty rates that internet radio pays to the same reasonable level that satellite radio pays. US Citizens: Please call the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to your representative, and ask them to support H.R. 2060, the "Internet Radio Equality Act" today!

It's not saving the world, but it is making it a bit more pleasant to live on it. Please call.

SomaFM

2007-05-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

Amazing internet radio station I came across a few days ago. SomaFM. I am especially fond of Drone Zone. If you are into this type of music, this is a gold mine.

Enjoy.