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OCTOBER 13: THIRTEEN REMAKES WE CAN GET BEHIND
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OCTOBER 14: FOURTEEN WRETCHED REMAKES
Remakes really aren't our thing. Both Marie and I (and no doubt most of the horror-viewing world) want to see original ideas come to light (and theaters!). Is it really necessary to keep dredging out these less-than-inspired re-imaginings that make us throw up in our mouths just a little bit more each time it happens? There have certainly been a whole tractor-trailer's worth of crap come our way in recent years. Some is passable, even mediocre - but most of it....dreck of the highest degree.
How many would you agree with??
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THE WOLFMAN (2010)
How many would you agree with??
It is amazing that this film came out two years ago and I have already nearly forgotten about it. The 1941 is charming and a classic, held close to the hearts of all horror buffs. Director Joe Johnston has done a lot of big name movies, such as Captain America, Jurassic Park, and Jumanji; I'm not going to lie, I wanted his remake to be good. I am a HUGE Benecio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins fan (not so much of an Emily Blunt fan). You see those names and you think, "How could this go wrong?" Oh, but it did. I was expecting it to be cheesy and fun, maybe even a little bad-ass, but it was hardly even laughable. Can we just pretend this never happened?~MR
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WHEN A STRANGER CALLS (2006)
With the original boasting some of the scariest first twenty minutes in film, it would be hard to capture the gritty feel of the 1979 version that frightened the hell out of anyone who dared think about babysitting. This remake was just a poor excuse for horror, barely scaring up enough frights to keep it above board. Seeing as how 2006 was one of the worst years for the genre, it's utterly shocking that this film made enough money to open at #1. It feels more like a Lifetime movie of the week, which is fine for a rainy Saturday afternoon, but it stinks if you've just blown twenty bucks on a ticket and snacks. Gah! ~CH
With the original boasting some of the scariest first twenty minutes in film, it would be hard to capture the gritty feel of the 1979 version that frightened the hell out of anyone who dared think about babysitting. This remake was just a poor excuse for horror, barely scaring up enough frights to keep it above board. Seeing as how 2006 was one of the worst years for the genre, it's utterly shocking that this film made enough money to open at #1. It feels more like a Lifetime movie of the week, which is fine for a rainy Saturday afternoon, but it stinks if you've just blown twenty bucks on a ticket and snacks. Gah! ~CH
This Thing, directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. and starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead (I hate her face, I don't know why) is supposedly a prequel to John Carpenter's 1982 Thing. All I know is that it sucks. Lacking character development and any sense of dread or terror, the only compliment I can give this film is that it's "thing" looks pretty cool, thanks to modern day technology.~MR
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THE FOG (2005)
John Carpenter's 1980 classic is rife with atmosphere and creepy moments. The 2005 version is a load of hooey with horrible acting (I'm talking to you, Maggie Grace!) and even worse effects. As so many horrendous remakes of this time period, it was bogged down with a lame PG-13 rating, rendering it a sad wannabe that never quite induces the chills and thrills of its far-superior predecessor. Hard to believe Carpenter and Debra Hill even got behind this monstrosity to produce it. ~CH
John Carpenter's 1980 classic is rife with atmosphere and creepy moments. The 2005 version is a load of hooey with horrible acting (I'm talking to you, Maggie Grace!) and even worse effects. As so many horrendous remakes of this time period, it was bogged down with a lame PG-13 rating, rendering it a sad wannabe that never quite induces the chills and thrills of its far-superior predecessor. Hard to believe Carpenter and Debra Hill even got behind this monstrosity to produce it. ~CH
You know what I have to say to this made-for-TV piece of crap? No. Just no. Directed by Mick Garris, most famous for the Masters of Horror series, and also the director of The Fly 2 and Critters 2, this guy isn't exactly the greatest. Okay, he did also do Hocus Pocus, which I LOVE, but still! That is no excuse. What was he THINKING? Remaking The Shining? There is no way he was aiming for greatness because that would be silly. He must have known there was no way he could compare to Kubrick's 1980 masterpiece. I am confused on the motive to make this film. One time I turned on the TV and saw The Shining was on and got all pumped, and then when I realized it was this crap... I was pissed.~MR
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BLACK CHRISTMAS (2006)
More proof that 2006 was an abomination, this pointless remakes has some lovelies in scanty clothing and plenty of gratuitous gore. But what it lack is the heart of the 1974 slasher. Just because there are girls willing to get naked and run around screaming doesn't mean they should be. Bob Clark took his time building plot in the original but in the remake we barely got to know anyone before they were offed in some spectacular fashion. It has the dubious distinction of making the least amount of money of all the sequels within that 2-3 year time period, and with good reason. It's a real dud. ~CH
More proof that 2006 was an abomination, this pointless remakes has some lovelies in scanty clothing and plenty of gratuitous gore. But what it lack is the heart of the 1974 slasher. Just because there are girls willing to get naked and run around screaming doesn't mean they should be. Bob Clark took his time building plot in the original but in the remake we barely got to know anyone before they were offed in some spectacular fashion. It has the dubious distinction of making the least amount of money of all the sequels within that 2-3 year time period, and with good reason. It's a real dud. ~CH
Good god, I hate this movie. First of all, I hate Ryan Reynolds--I'm sorry, he is just dreadful. This film was all creep-outs and cheap scares, none of the real fear or suspense given by the 1979 original. Director Andrew Douglas is one of those who has done literally nothing else, which is probably for good reason (sorry, bro). They play this movie like every other weekend on Oxygen for reasons I will never understand--I guess to see Ryan Reynolds shirtless? Not worth it, if you ask me.~MR
I saw this movie when I was 14 when it came out on 6/6/06, the day many people believed the world would end even though the date 6/6/06 has happened many-a-time before. The earth kept spinning but the release of this movie certainly made it a horrible day. Being a proud young horror fan already and having seen the 1976 original, I knew this was going to suck but I saw it out of curiosity and novelty purposes. The director, John Moore, must have remembered that 6/6/06 was coming up and thrown this movie together, because that is certainly what it seemed like watching it. Let's all be honest with ourselves, new Damien could never be as creepy as old Damien.~MR
Aww, Liam. You let me down. Big time. This film is such an embarrassment. I don't like Owen Wilson much in the first place, so casting him didn't exactly make my day. But Liam Neeson? I like the dude in practically everything, and he is really the only good thing about this bomb. Sure, CZJ is nice to look at, and Lily Taylor tries to bring all her indie film finesse to it, but in the end it's just a mess of CGI and a lot of screaming. A real dud considering the classic status of the original. Potential, unrealized. ~CH
This is director Neil LaBute's most famous and successful film--way to go. Starring the always crazy Nic Cage, this movie was inevitabley going to suck as the 1973 original is a masterpiece (if you haven't seen it, Christine's Vital Viewing article will convince you why you NEED to)! Even if there was no original Wicker Man, and this movie wasn't a remake at all, it would still be god-awful. There is a wonderful Youtube video showcasing the "best" scenes from this film, most of them are of Nic Cage punching out women. Please view it here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6i2WRreARo) and please never view this movie.~MR
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APRIL FOOL'S DAY (2008)
The original April Fool's Day was a campy good time, and remains to this day one of my favorite 80's flicks. This remake totally changed the original plot points and tried to be a clever, modern day version of the '86 movie. Unfortunately, they didn't get one bit of it right. It was described as Mean Girls crossed with horror, but it is just a flop with characters who have trite names such as Desiree, Barbie, Milan, Blaine, and Torrance. Seriously, Torrance? I can think of absolutely NO idea to ever struggle through watching this shoddy and inferior lemon. ~CH
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PROM NIGHT (2008)
I wasn't really expecting much, truth be told. And I didn't get much, that's for sure. They called this one a re-imagining. Well, I imagine there was no real reason to make it over. Yet another piece of dreck that opened at #1 at the theater (what has this world become?), every ounce of the original plot was basically exchanged for pretty actors and a glossy set. And let's face it, without Jamie Lee, there's no real hope of a groovin' dance scene! ~CH
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A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (2010)
People. Did you really think this was destined to be a new classic? Really? How many times has that ever really happened? Despite the inspired casting of Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy, the film morphed into a CGI-heavy disaster that served notice to future remakes: just because it seems like a good idea doesn't mean it is. It did have the sense to make Freddy more evil than humorous, because let's face it, no one does Freddy like Robert Englund. Perhaps what this film was missing all along.....? ~CH
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PSYCHO (1998)
Naturally I saved the very worst for last. I have NO idea what on earth Gus Van Sant was thinking. To try to think about remaking one of the most iconic films in horror history would take balls the size of watermelons.
Seeing as how I have no idea of the size of Van Sant's privates, let me just say: why? A remake should bring something new to the table. This film just brought....color.
Psycho (1960) is my second favorite horror film of all time. The fact that someone felt it necessary to make a shot-for-shot remake of it made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. Like the Beatles said: Let it be. ~CH
*A final thought: The day that someone decides to remake Jaws is the day I become a vigilante for the integrity of the horror classics. This is your final warning...
The original April Fool's Day was a campy good time, and remains to this day one of my favorite 80's flicks. This remake totally changed the original plot points and tried to be a clever, modern day version of the '86 movie. Unfortunately, they didn't get one bit of it right. It was described as Mean Girls crossed with horror, but it is just a flop with characters who have trite names such as Desiree, Barbie, Milan, Blaine, and Torrance. Seriously, Torrance? I can think of absolutely NO idea to ever struggle through watching this shoddy and inferior lemon. ~CH
I wasn't really expecting much, truth be told. And I didn't get much, that's for sure. They called this one a re-imagining. Well, I imagine there was no real reason to make it over. Yet another piece of dreck that opened at #1 at the theater (what has this world become?), every ounce of the original plot was basically exchanged for pretty actors and a glossy set. And let's face it, without Jamie Lee, there's no real hope of a groovin' dance scene! ~CH
People. Did you really think this was destined to be a new classic? Really? How many times has that ever really happened? Despite the inspired casting of Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy, the film morphed into a CGI-heavy disaster that served notice to future remakes: just because it seems like a good idea doesn't mean it is. It did have the sense to make Freddy more evil than humorous, because let's face it, no one does Freddy like Robert Englund. Perhaps what this film was missing all along.....? ~CH
Naturally I saved the very worst for last. I have NO idea what on earth Gus Van Sant was thinking. To try to think about remaking one of the most iconic films in horror history would take balls the size of watermelons.
Seeing as how I have no idea of the size of Van Sant's privates, let me just say: why? A remake should bring something new to the table. This film just brought....color.
Psycho (1960) is my second favorite horror film of all time. The fact that someone felt it necessary to make a shot-for-shot remake of it made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. Like the Beatles said: Let it be. ~CH
*A final thought: The day that someone decides to remake Jaws is the day I become a vigilante for the integrity of the horror classics. This is your final warning...
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OCTOBER 15: FIFTEEN FAMOUS GRAVESITES
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| 1) H.P. LOVECRAFT. * PROVIDENCE, RI. * AUGUST 20TH, 1890-MARCH 15, 1937 Howard Phillips Lovecraft lived and died in Providence and much of his fiction is set in the city on real locations that are still standing. Even though H.P. Lovecraft isn't buried under his headstone (he lies in another location in the cemetery) in October 1997 someone attempted to unearth his corpse. However, they only dug about three feet deep and then fled, leaving only a single footprint. ~MR  Bela started his career on stage and when he played Dracula for the first time, the wheels were set in motion for a career in horror. He was stereotyped though, and never really got out of horror to make an impression anywhere else. But we're happy for his contribution nonetheless. A recovering drug addict, Lugosi died of a heart attack at age 73 and was buried in his Dracula cape (a request of his fourth wife).~CH |
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| EDGAR ALLAN POE (original grave site) |
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| 4) STANLEY KUBRICK * MANHATTAN, NEW YORK * JULY 26, 1928-MARCH 7, 1999 Kubrick is my favorite director; any one of his films could be my favorite but when asked I usually respond with "The Shining". He died at his home in Hertfordshire and was buried there under his favorite tree. ~MR |
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| 5) WASHINGTON IRVING * NEW YORK * APRIL 3, 1783 - NOVEMBER 28, 1859 Best known for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Irving was famous for his short stories and writings on history. He died of a heart attack at age 76. It is said that his last words were: "Well, I must arrange my pillows for another night. When will this end?" He is buried at Sleepy Hollow cemetery in New York.~CH |
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| 6) NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE * SALEM, MASS. * JULY 4, 1804 - MAY 19, 1864 Author of The House of Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter, among other great literary works, Hawthorne is the descendant of John Hathorne - the only judge in the Salem Witch trials that never repented for his actions. Nathaniel added the 'w' to his name to separate himself from that tragic family history. He died in his sleep after feeling sick to his stomach. Strangely, he's also buried in Sleepy Hollow cemetery, but this one is in Massachusetts.~CH |
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| 7) MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT SHELLEY *LONDON * AUGUST 30, 1797 – FEBRUARY 1, 1851 The author of Frankenstein, Shelley lived to the age of 53, when she died after being plagued with headaches and other maladies for many years. Her physician thought it could have possibly been a brain tumor that she was living with prior to death. So heart-broken was Shelley after her husband's demise, she kept his ashes and the remains of his heart in a box until her own death. ~CH |
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| 8) HARRY HOUDINI * BUDAPEST, HUNGARY * MARCH 24, 1874 – OCTOBER 31, 1926 The master of escape met his end after a queer incident involving a man who allegedly wanted to test Houdini's resolve by punching him in the stomach several times (just to see if Houdini could take it). Unfortunately, this later caused Houdini's appendix to burst, causing peritonitis to swarm his insides and after several days eventually kill him. After his death, his beloved wife Bess would try (unsuccessfully) to reach her husband in the afterlife by having frequent seances. It became an obsession of hers, poor thing. And it does seem that if it would be possible to reach out from beyond the grave, the master of escape would sure be a likely candidate to perform that last trick... ~CH |
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| HOUDINI, A closer look |
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| 9) JERRY GOLDSMITH * LOS ANGELES, CA. * FEBRUARY 10, 1929 – JULY 21, 2004 Nominated for 18 Academy Awards (and winner of one for The Omen in 1976), Goldsmith is one of the most prolific composers in history. Besides his amazing work on films of other genres, he wrote many of horror's most famous scores, including Poltergeist, Gremlins, Alien, The Mummy, Psycho II, Leviathan, Deep Rising, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Basic Instinct, Hollow Man, Coma, Magic....etc. He died of colon cancer at his California home at age 75. ~CH |
Ray Bradbury contributed a great deal to the world of horror and sci-fi, his most famous work being "Fahrenheit 451". His 1972 novel "The Halloween Tree" was written to teach children about the origins of Halloween and similar holidays. Though Bradbury only died several months ago, his headstone has been in place for over a year, the date of his death left simply blank. I can only speculate that this was done because Bradbury had been suffering from illness for some time before his death. You may visit him completely at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.~MR
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| 11) INGRID PITT * WARSAW, POLAND * NOVEMBER 21, 1937 – NOVEMBER 23, 2010 Born in Poland and the survivor of a concentration camp in WWII, Ingrid Pitt became a staple in Hammer films in the early 70's. She starred in such flicks as The Vampire Lovers (1970), Countess Dracula (1971), The House that Dripped Blood (1971) and The Wicker Man (1973). Pitt also did a lot of theater, television, and even boasted a lengthy writing career before her death at age 73. Before she died, she finished production on an animated short film (Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest, 2011) about her experiences in the Holocaust. ~CH |
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| A closer view of Pitt's grave. |
Montague Rhodes James is the master of the supernatural short story. After his death at age 73 he was buried in Eton Town Cemetery in Berkshire. He grave was restored in 2000. The inscription on his stone reads, "No longer a sojourner, but a fellow citizen with the saints and of the household of God." ~MR
A mere 12 years old at the time of her death, O'Rourke was of course famous for her role as Carol Ann in the Poltergeist film series. Her iconic "They're heeeere" line is one of the most famous utterances in horror. At the time of her death, apparently she was misdiagnosed as having Crohn's disease. Then it was told that she had the flu. After which the hospital she was being treated at retracted that story and went on record stating she had died during surgery for a bowel obstruction complicated by septic shock. The official death record eventually stated cardiac arrest. Her grave site is on the "Haunted Hollywood" tour. Besides the tales of a "Poltergeist Curse", O'Rourke's ghost is claimed to have been seen haunting the set where she filmed episodes of Happy Days in the mid-80's. ~CH
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(How Heather gets classified with Truman Capote and Mel Torme is beyond me...) The premier Voodoo priestess, Marie Laveau was a Creole from the French Quarter. It's not really known how she became such a force of Voodoo and Voudoun. What is much more interesting is her life "after" death. It has long been reported that she was seen in town after her own death, and her name remains synonomous with the occult and magical practices of the mysterious New Orleans culture. Her burial crypt proves her popularity has not waned, and it is visited by thousands of people every year - many of whom draw three "x"'s onto the tomb, in hopes that she will somehow grant their wishes from beyond the grave.~CH   In 1992, Salem commemorated the 300th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials by dedicating a memorial to the twenty people who died as a result of the trials. Each of those executed was memorialized with a stone bench, and the result is a park within Salem that serves as a reminder of the wrongful deaths, and yet enriches the history of the town by making a right of something that was so terribly wrong. In 2001, all the wrongfully prosecuted and executed people were legally proclaimed innocent, putting an end to 300+ years of a different kind of heresy. ~CH *Note: If you are wondering where other some of the other famous folks might be that you can't find on this list, I give you this: Both Vincent Price and Alfred Hitchcock were cremated and had their ashes scattered out at sea. Lon Chaney Jr. donated his body to science. Boris Karloff has only a marker under a rosebush, as his ashes remain in a crematorium. |
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OCTOBER 16: SIXTEEN VAMPIRES WE LOVE
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OCTOBER 17: SEVENTEEN FILMS THAT WOULD LOOK AWESOME IN BLACK & WHITE
I've done this type of feature before, three times. I love the look of black and white horror, and while I'm not saying that all films should be monochrome - I do love the way the atmosphere and mood changes when a film is only a few colors. Take these seventeen shots for example...
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| 1) ABSENTIA |
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| 2) THE RAVEN |
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| 3) SHUTTER |
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| 4) THE PRESENCE |
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| 5) HELL NIGHT |
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| 6) ROSEMARY'S BABY |
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| 7) SAW |
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| 8) FRAGILE |
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| 9) THE AWAKENING |
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| 10) AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM |
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| 11) PHENOMENA |
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| 12) THE MIST |
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| 13) SHIVER |
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| 14) THE WOMAN IN BLACK |
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| 15) GOSFORD PARK |
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| 16) HOUSE OF VOICES |
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| 17) THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW |
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OCTOBER 18: EIGHTEEN OF OUR FAVORITE VILLAINS
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OCTOBER 19: NINETEEN HIGHLY RECOMMENDED HORROR WRITERS
While we are not experts on the written word, both Marie and myself are serious aficionados of frightening tomes. Here are a list of our favorite authors - all are worthy of the utmost praise and are generally well regarded and beloved by anyone blessed with a love of horror and great ghost stories. If you can't find someone here on this list to scare the bejesus out of you, then you're lying like a rug.
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STEPHEN KING - SEPTEMBER 21, 1947 - We'll start with my favorite and probably the most well-known horror author of perhaps all time. I'd have to say his older works are (in my opinion) by far superior, but regardless of when they were written, all of King's novels, short stories, e-books, and the likes are written in layman's terms with an uncanny ability to capture your attention and have you helplessly reading well into the night. So many of his works have been captured on the big and small screen it would be entirely too time-consuming to list, but suffice it to say that Misery, Carrie, The Shawshank Redemption, and Stand by Me are probably a few of the best. ~CH MUST READS: -THE SHINING (1977) -SALEM'S LOT (1975)-PET SEMATARY (1983) ON WRITING (2000) DIFFERENT SEASONS (1982) |
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PETER STRAUB - MARCH 2ND, 1943 - MILWAUKEE My favorite book in the horror genre is Straub's Ghost Story, which is a brilliantly descriptive and horrifying novel. It was made (albeit loosely) into a movie of the same name in 1981 which I make no bones about it being one of my favorite horror films as well. Influenced by H.P. Lovecraft, Straub's books are both gripping and macabre, and he has won several Bram Stoker Awards in his time. Having collaborated with pal Stephen King on both The Talisman and Black House, it is rumored that the dynamic duo may eventually write a third book together. I say, get on that - stat! ~CH MUST READS: - GHOST STORY (1979) THE THROAT (1993) LOST BOY, LOST GIRL (2003) JULIA (1975) |
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DAN SIMMONS - APRIL 4, 1948 - PEORIA, IL. An author that more horror fans need to experience, Simmons weaves his tales somewhere in between fantasy and horror. His Summer of Night is a lot like Stephen King's IT, in that a small group of kids grow up together and fight off the evil that has descended upon their tiny town. The Terror is a fabulous book in which a nautical expedition turns to horror when the crew gets stuck in the Arctic ice and is terrorized by an unseen monster, as well as having to turn to cannibalism for survival. And Carrion Comfort is an excellent novel about psychic vampires. You really need to check this guy out! ~CH MUST READS CARRION COMFORT (1989) SUMMER OF NIGHT (1991) CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT (1992) THE TERROR (2007) |
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CLIVE BARKER - OCTOBER 5, 1952 - LIVERPOOL Highlighting the darker side of fiction, Barker has to be one of the most macabre and hypnotizing voices in horror. His Books of Blood short stories have paved the way for several movie adaptations including Hellraiser, Candyman, Midnight Meat Train, Lord of Illusions, Nightbreed, and Dread. Barker is also an amazing artist/illustrator and often uses his skills for his own works. ~CH MUST READS BOOKS OF BLOOD (1984-85) THE DAMNATION GAME (1985) THE HELLBOUND HEART (1986) MISTER B. GONE (2007) |
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RICHARD MATHESON - FEBRUARY 20, 1926 - ALLENDALE This is a man who should need no introduction. His contributions in the world of horror really are countless. Not only were many movies made from his original works (I Am Legend, The Legend of Hell House, Stir of Echoes... but he was the screenwriter for such gems asThe Pit and the Pendulum, House ofUsher, The Raven, The Devil Rides Out...etc. He also wrote a ton of Twilight Zone episodes (including Shatner's 'Nightmare at 20,000 feet'), Night Gallery, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.... the man just can't be stopped. ~CH MUST READS -I AM LEGEND (1954) -HELL HOUSE (1971) A STIR OF ECHOES (1958) |
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RAMSEY CAMPBELL - JANUARY 4, 1946 - LIVERPOOL He's been around since 1976 with his debut novel "The Doll Who Ate It's Mother", after that writing novelizations of classic monster movies, "Bride of Frankenstein", "Dracula's Daughter", and "The Wolfman", and is still pumpin' em out. He is widely considered a master of the genre, equal to his predecessors. He style is that of the weird and unsettling, and damn is he good at it. ~MR MUST READS -THE DARKEST PART OF THE WOODS (2003) -MIDNIGHT SUN (1990) -THE FACE THAT MUST DIE (1979) |
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EDGAR ALLAN POE - JANUARY 19, 1809-OCTOBER 7, 1849 - BOSTON Okay, everyone knows how awesome this dude is. With Poe, there is no such thing as "overrated", because the guy is a fucking genius. He may have some issues with infatuation, but he knows how to send a shiver down your spine. When the thunder cracks during a storm at night, I have to put down my book of forgotten lore and pick up some Poe. ~MR MUST READS - THE BLACK CAT (1843) -LEGEIA (1838) -THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO (1846) -THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1839) -THE RAVEN (1845) |
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ALGERNON BLACKWOOD - MARCH 14, 1869-DECEMBER 10, 1951 - SHOOTER'S HILL One of the most recognized ghost story writers and one of my personal favorites. Novelist and short story writer, he also delved in "the weird", a term you are probably familiar with if you are a horror fiction fan. He's got a good storytelling face, don't you think? ~MR MUST READS -THE WILLOWS (1907) -ANCIENT SORVERIES (1908) -THE DAMNED (1914) -THE WENDIGO (1910) |
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SHIRLEY JACKSON - DECEMBER 14, 1916-AUGUST 8, 1965 - SAN FRANCISCO She may look humble but she is one spooky bitch. In fact, she weaved my favorite tale, "The Haunting of Hill House". She knows all about the psychology of the scare; the Shirley Jackson Award was established in 2007 to award achievements in psychological suspense, horror, and dark fantastic fiction. I hope to win that award someday! ~MR MUST READS -THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (1959) -WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE (1962) -THE LOTTERY (1948) |
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M.R. JAMES - AUGUST 1, 1862-JUNE 12,1936 - GOODNESTONE An English mediaeval scholar, James is a favorite for many hardcore horror lit. fans (including us at FWF!). He left behind the gothic and brought the modern world to his stories, which gave readers a more realistic, and therefore more terrifying experience. British television has done several television adaptations of his works, including the much beloved BBC series "A Ghost Story For Christmas". ~MR MUST READS -COUNT MAGNUS (1904) -OH, WHISTLE AND I'LL COME TO YOU, MY LAD (1904) -CASTING THE RUNES (1911) |
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H.P. LOVECRAFT - AUGUST 20, 1890-MARCH 15, 1937 - PROVIDENCE This man is now hailed for his creation of the Cthulu Mythos, Lovecraft was a master of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. He was obsessed with the universe and what he called "cosmic horror", which is pretty cool but also sounds fucking scary, which is why it worked so well, I guess! One thing that stinks is that he was apparently a big ole racist. Boo on that, Lovecraft! ~MR MUST READS -THE CALL OF CTHULU (1928) -THE SHUNNED HOUSE (1937) -THE DUNWICH HORROR (1929) -THE THING ON THE DOORSTEP (1937) |
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AMBROSE BIERCE - JUNE 24, 1842-1914 - MEIGS COUNTY Bierce wasn't widely known for his horror stories, but his ghost stories are my personal favorite. I love them so much because they are set up to be told as a personal account, or an urban legend. They are great for reading on stormy nights and in front of campfires!! Plus, check out his 'stache. ~MR MUST READS -AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE (1891) -A WATCHER BY THE DEAD (1891) -THE DAMNED THING (1894) |
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JOSEPH SHERIDAN LE FANU - AUGUEST 28, 1814-FEBRUARY 7, 1873 - DUBLIN The Irish know the supernatural arguable better than anyone, and our writer here is no exception. You can find him published under the name Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, Sheridan Le Fanu, or J.S. Le Fanu. I have a soft spot for Irish boys, but with exceptional literary talent and a taste for Victorian Gothic--this guy is a shoe in. His famous story of lesbian vampire, "Carmilla" predates Bram Stoker's Dracula but is remembered by few. Yes, I have a crush on a dead writer, SO DO YOU! Probably... ~MR MUST READS -CARMILLA (1872) -UNCLE SILAS (1864) -IN A GLASS DARKLKY (1872) |
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ANNE RICE - OCTOBER 4, 1941 - NEW ORLEANS You know her, you love her--ladies and gentlemen, the one and only. This woman knows how to write a BOOK! With her vast imagination and effortless talent she imagines entire worlds and the histories and generations that fill them. She has had extremely successful film adaptations, and she DID go through that weird religious crap (remember that?)--we'll let that go. Oh yeah, and she used to write some really raunchy shit. ~MR MUST READS -INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (1976) -QUEEN OF THE DAMNED (1988) -THE WITCHING HOUR (1990) |
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NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE - JULY 4, 1804-MAY 19, 1864 - SALEM Although you may know him (and abhor him) for having to read "The Scarlet Letter" in school, Mr. Hawthorne has written some brilliant supernatural short stories. He is related to John Hathorne--known as the most cruel and unrelenting judge in the Witch Trails (also mentioned in the Insane Asylums list). He added the 'w' to his name to hide the relation. ~MR MUST READS -FEATHERTOP (1852) -THE MINISTER'S BLACK VEIL (1836) -THE BIRTH MARK (1843) -RAPPACINNI'S DAUGHTER (1844) |
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BRAM STOKER - NOVEMBER 8, 1847-APRIL 20, 1912 - DUBLIN Although (in my opinion), "Dracula" is by no means a masterpiece, and certainly not the first vampire novel, we have to give Stoker some props for making the most popular horror novel in history. Now-a-days he gets overlooked by a certain terrible vampire series (I'm confident that nobody who reads this blog is a "Twilight" fan), but Count Dracula remains to be the most famous vampire EVER! ~MR MUST READS -DRACULA (1897) -DRACULA'S GUEST (1914)  FRITZ LEIBER - DECEMBER 24, 1910-SEPTEMBER 5, 1992 - CHICAGO Even though he is considered the father of Sword and Sorcery fantasy, he is also an amazing horror writers. His most famous work, "The Conjure Wife" has been adapted for the screen three times. The films are called "Weird Woman" (1944), "Burn, Witch, Burn!" (1962), and "Witch's Brew" (1980). ~MR MUST READS -THE CONJURE WIFE (1942) -OUR LADY OF DARKNESS (1977)  JAMES HERBERT - APRIL 8, 1943 - LONDON MUST READSOne of Britain's most famous horror novelists, Herbert writes mostly supernatural tales but also mysteries and thrillers. He also had a career as an art director, which is probably the reason that he designs his own book covers. Several of his novels have been adapted into films, including the 1995 "Haunted", starring Adian Quinn and Kate Beckinsale. Herbert was appointed OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2010. ~CH HAUNTED (1988) THE FOG (1985) MOON (1985) THE MAGIC COTTAGE (1986)  At first a science fiction writer in the 60's, Koontz moved on to horror/suspense in the 70's and hasn't looked back since. A NY Times best selling author, Koontz has a special affection for Golden Retrievers and has made substantial donations to CCI (Canine Companions for Independence, a charitable organization that provides service animals for the disabled). He has had Goldens in several of his novels. ~CH MUST READS: PHANTOMS (1983) INTENSITY (1995) STRANGERS (1986) ODD THOMAS (2003) |
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OCTOBER 20: TWENTY SEXY WOMEN IN HORROR
It was incredibly difficult to just pick twenty members of the fairer sex for this particular post. Horror has some of the best looking and sexiest women in the film industry. Granted many of them meet an untimely end, but nonetheless horror knows how to kill a beauty. Like I said, it was exceedingly difficult to pick just twenty.
But here goes:
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But here goes:
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| 1) KATE BECKINSALE This English beauty has made a name for herself in horror as the vampire Selene in the Underworld film series (2003, 2006, 2009, 2012), but she has done other genre films, including Van Helsing (2004), Haunted (1995), Whiteout (2009), Vacancy (2007), and was most recently seen in the remake of Total Recall (2012). |
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| 2) MONICA BELLUCCI Hailing from Umbria, Italy, Bellucci starred in one of the most controversial films of our time, Irréversible, in which she is the victim of a violent rape. She also was one of Count Dracula's s brides in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), and has also been seen in Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001), The Brothers Grimm (2005), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003) as well as many French films - including a cameo in the disturbing and bizarre Sheitan. |
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| 3) ADRIENNE BARBEAU This lovely lady should need no introduction to horror fans. Her body of work (and her body in general) have made her a staple in horror films and at the top of everyone's sexy list. Some of the films she has starred in: The Fog (1980), Escape From New York (1981), Swamp Thing (1982), Creepshow (1982), Two Evil Eyes (1990), and Terror in the Aisles (1984). |
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| 4) MICHELLE PFEIFFER Pfeiffer has done her fair share of genre films, including the above film, What Lies Beneath (2000), Ladyhawke (1985), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Batman Returns (1992), Wolf (1994), and just this year as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard in Tim Burton's Dark Shadows. |
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| 6) SHERI MOON ZOMBIE Pretty much every movie Sheri has done has been for her hubby, Rob Zombie, which would include House of 1000 Corpses (2003), The Devil's Rejects (2005), Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009). She also was seen in the remake of The Toolbox Murders (2004) and stars in the upcoming The Lords of Salem - another of her husband's films. |
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| 7) CATRIONA MACCOLL Without this English actress, Italian horror just wouldn't have been the same! Director Lucio Fulci's favorite leading lady, MacColl has even went as far as vomiting up sheep entrails during City of the Living Dead (1980). She was also seen in Fulci's The Beyond (1981) and House by the Cemetery (1981). More recently she was in House of Voices (2004) and the anthology film: The Theatre Bizarre (2011). |
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| 8) MEGAN FOX Besides the Transformers movies, Fox hasn't done a whole lot as far as films go. But one role sets her apart and moves her onto this particular list: Jennifer's Body (2009). While the film did have a lot of unnecessary goofy (and now dated) dialogue, it was still an entertaining horror flick that really did showcase Fox as just that....a Fox. |
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| 9) INGRID PITT A Polish actress who lived through her own horror as a youth (being in a concentration camp), who would have thought she'd be interested in making horror films? But she was prolific in her acting and starred in several horror movies in the 1970's. The Vampire Lovers (1970), Countess Dracula (1971), The House that Dripped Blood (1971), and The Wicker Man (1973). |
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| 10 ) KATE HUDSON Mostly known for romantic comedies and light drama, Hudson switched gears and starred in 2005's The Skeleton Key. Anything to do with voodoo is cool with me, so she had to get on here somewhere! |
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| 11) KIM NOVAK Not just another pretty face, Novak made an impression starring as one of Alfred Hitchcock's famous blondes in Vertigo (1958), in which she played a mysterious woman that Jimmy Stewart has his eye on. She teamed up again with Stewart in Bell, Book and Candle - a lighthearted comedy about witchcraft. Of note, she also starred in the Agatha Christie adaptation, The Mirror Crack'd (1980). |
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| 12) ELIZA DUSHKU Most of Dushku's claim to fame comes from television within the realm of the horror genre, including Buffy the VampireSlayer, Angel, Tru Calling and Dollhouse. But she also did the films Wrong Turn (2003), The Alphabet Killer (2008), Open Graves (2009), and Soul Survivors (2001) |
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| 13) GRACE KELLY Another of Hitchcock's signature blondes, Kelly starred in a trifecta of the master's films: Dial M for Murder (1954), Rear Window (1954), and To Catch a Thief (1955) - all before she ran off and became a princess. |
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| 14) JORDANNA BREWSTER Though she's only been in a few horror films: The Faculty (1998) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006), Brewster is pretty hard to forget. Hopefully she'll set her sights on something other than another Fast & Furious film... |
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| 15) NANCY ALLEN Allen has done her fair share of horror (then again, being married to Brian De Palma for a time may be part of that reason). She counts Carrie (1976), Dressed to Kill (1980), Blow Out (1981), Terror in the Aisles (1984), Robocop (1987), Poltergeist III (1988), Robocop 2 (1990), Robocop III (1993), and Children of the Corn 666: Issac's Return (1999) among her horror credits. |
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| 16) SALMA HAYAK The spectacularly gorgeous Hayek stunned both men and women alike in her role as a dancing vampire in From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). But she was also in Desperado (1995), The Hunchback (1997), The Faculty (1998), Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009), and Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003). |
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| 17) MARIA BELLO The rough and sexy beauty of Maria Bello shines through in all her work, in particular the horror films she has done, which include Secret Window (2004), The Dark (2005), A History of Violence (2005), TheMummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), and Butterfly on a Wheel (2007, a.k.a. Shattered). |
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| 18) BARBARA STEELE Another British actress who was famous for making Italian horror films, Steele is a raven-haired beauty who made classic films that people still enjoy to this day. Her impressive catalog of films include: Black Sunday (1960), The Ghost (1963), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962), Castle of Blood (1964), Nighmare Castle (1965), Shivers (1975), Piranha (1978), Silent Scream (1980), and many more! |
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| 19) CERINA VINCENT Natural good looks and a heavenly body make Cerina Vincent a prime choice for this list. Some of the films she has been in include Return to House on Haunted Hill (2007), Sasquatch Mountain (2006), It Waits (2005), and of course- Cabin Fever (2002), where it's okay to shoot squirrels "cause they're gay!" and shaving your legs can prove to be your undoing. |
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| 20) DANIELLE HARRIS No list would be complete without one of our current "scream queens". Harris has been making horror films since she was a little girl and made Halloween IV: The Return of Michael Myers (1988). From there she has made Halloween V: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989), Urban Legend (1998), Halloween (2007), Halloween II (2009), Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet (2009), The Black Waters of Echo Pond (2009), Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer (2010), Hatchet II (2010), Stake Land (2010), Chrome Skull: Laid to Rest 2 (2011), among many other horror films - and she will star in the upcoming Hatchet III (2013), and Night of the Living Dead : Origins 3D (2013). Truly she is the genre's favorite leading lady these days. |
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OCTOBER 21: TWENTY ONE SEXY MEN IN HORROR
Just as it was difficult to pick twenty sexy women in horror, it is equally as challenging to pick just twenty-one men. There are a lot of attractive guys roaming around in the woods, fighting zombies, biting people's necks, and hunting ghosts... So narrowing it down - not easy! But here are the picks for the sexiest guys in horror.
{This post is dedicated to my dear friend Pax, with love.}
{This post is dedicated to my dear friend Pax, with love.}
I've already had the sexy vampires of True Blood (Stephen Moyer and Alexander Skarsgård) on another list this month so it was high time to highlight the sexiest actor on the whole damn show. Werewolf Alcide Herveaux is, simply put, sex on two legs. Manganiello has all the right moves and makes them at every opportunity. He's certainly half-naked a lot of the time, not that I'm complaining! Besides True Blood, he hasn't done much else within the genre yet, but he did portray Flash Thompson in Spider-Man 2 and 3.
Currently rocking the kick-ass role of Raylan Givens on Justified, Olyphant has had several roles in horror to show off his acting prowess and charming good looks. He started his venture into horror in Scream 2 (1997), then continued with Dreamcatchers (2003), Hitman (2007), A Perfect Getaway (2009), and my personal favorite of his: The Crazies (2010).
Yes, he has popped up in this month's lists before, but there was really no way to leave him off this particular list. Somerhalder is a sarcastic, brooding heart-breaker on The Vampire Diaries, but he was near the opposite as Boone on LOST, so it's safe to assume he's a decent actor. His horror credits in movies are just one: the forgettable Pulse remake (2006). To his benefit, Somerhalder is heavily involved in multiple charities, including the St. Tammany Humane Society and the It Gets Better Project (associated with The Trevor Project) which strives to prevent bullying and suicide among LGBT teens.
Johnny looks good in every film he's in, even when he's a disheveled psychotic writer (2004's Secret Window) or a swaggering pirate in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. His contribution to the horror genre is quite vast actually, as the man apparently prefers the darker side of cinema. He's headlined numerous genre outings, such as Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Ninth Gate (1999), Sleepy Hollow (1999), The Astronaut's Wife (1999), From Hell (2001), The Pirates series (2003, 2006, 2007, 2011), Corpse Bride (2005), Sweeney Todd (2007), and most recently as vampire Barnabas Collins in Dark Shadows (2012). No matter what character Depp is playing, he brings all his quirkiness and his timeless and unfaltering good looks to every role.
Holy hotness, Batman! The first time I saw Lee was in the utterly fantastic I Saw The Devil. His portrayal of Soo-hyun - a grieving yet relentless special agent set on finding the man who savagely murdered his fiance - was truly mind-blowing. But it's not just his acting that is so astounding - just look at this guy, he's beautiful. He also starred in the South Korean thriller Addicted (2002), I Come with the Rain (2009), and had a role as Storm Shadow in G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra (2009) and the forthcoming G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
Bale became noticable in 2000 to horror fans with his spine-tingling performance as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. The extent that he seemed to get into his character was both amazing and rather scary. He turned the tables and shocked his fans when he starred as an insomniac who hasn't slept in a year and is plagued with nightmares and strange thoughts in the disturbing The Machinist (2004). Bale lost over 60 pounds for the role and it is highly distressing to watch this movie. He also has garnered much fame and critical acclaim for his role as Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Genre fans also appreciated him in The Prestige (2006), Reign of Fire (2002), and Terminator Salvation (2009).
Marie has a special affinity for Oldman in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), in which he portrays one of horror's most legendary characters, the count himself. But Oldman has shown up in several films that horror fans can appreciate, including Murder in the First (1995), Romeo is Bleeding (1993), The Scarlet Letter (1995), The Fifth Element (1997), Lost in Space (1998), Hannibal (2001), Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Red Riding Hood (2011), The Backwoods (2007), The Unborn (2009), several Harry Potter films (2004, 2005, 2007, 2011), and will be seen in the upcoming Paranoia (2013).
Known primarily for his work as Prince Caspian in the Chronicles of Narnia film series (2008, 2010), Barnes is an English actor who began his career in musical theater, and moved on to film in 2007 with the release of Stardust (2007), a adaptation of a Neil Gaiman novel. He has also shown up in the independent thriller Locked In (2010) and in the excellent Dorian Gray (2009) as the title character from Oscar Wilde's classic novel.
One of my favorite actors, Sean Bean has a fairly prolific resume in genre films since his turn as Boromir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He has since shown up in Equilibrium (2002), Flightplan (2005), The Island (2005), The Dark (2005), Silent Hill (2006), The Hitcher (2007), Black Death (2010), Silent Hill: Revelation 3D (2012), and perhaps most famously as Eddark Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones. Bean is an excellent multi-faceted actor, though it does seem he meets an untimely end in many of the roles he has taken on.
I am in love with Michael Fassbender. There, I said it. Meanwhile, all of you folks can gaze upon his striking beauty whilst I tell you of his stellar acting skills. The Fass has just, within the last few years, come into his own in the world of film. Thinking back, he was seen in 300 (2007), Eden Lake (2008), Blood Creek (2009), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Centurion (2010), Jonah Hex (2010), Jane Eyre (2010 and my personal favorite of his), X-Men First Class (2010, and the just out on DVD Prometheus (2012). His critically acclaimed film Shame (not horror, but scary-good nonetheless) was simply terrific - though not for kids as it has an NC-17 rating. He does, after all, play a sex addict. Bonus: Fassbender is German and Irish. Just like me. SCORE!
My first experience with Jack Huston was in the low-rent Shrooms (2007), which for some reason I hold a special liking for - and that reason just may be Huston. The grandson of acclaimed director John Huston and nephew of Angelica Huston and Danny Huston, it would seem like Jack would have easy access to decent roles and be a bigger star than he is. Besides Shrooms, he has been in Outlander (2008), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010), and on the TV shows Eastwick (2009) and currently Boardwalk Empire (2010- )
If there is a better looking, sexier Spanish actor out there, please direct me to him. I have long admired Banderas' seductive good looks and sultry accent, and have found myself watching the films he has been in many times over just to see that sexy swagger of his. In 1994's Interview with the Vampire, he was perfectly cast as Armand, and since then he has been in Desperado (1995, again - perfect casting), Assassins (1995), Never Talk to Strangers (1995), The Mask of Zorro (probably the role most suited to him in film), The Thirteen Warrior (1999), The Body (2001), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), The Legend of Zorro (2005), and The Skin I Live In (2011). And let's not forget his charismatic turn as Puss in Boots in Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), Shrek Forever After (2010) and Puss in Boots (2011).
This Australian hottie hasn't done a lot in the horror field (yet) but what he did accomplish so far leads me to believe we will be seeing a lot more of this guy in the future. Bait 3D (2012) is just what you think: a monster shark terrorizes a group of friends. Road Kill (a.k.a. Road Train in Australia, 2010) seems to be very similar in theory to Joy Ride (2001) and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse has Samuel a newborn vampire leading a group of baby vamps to destroy the planet (or whatever shit they do in those films). But my favorite of Samuel's limited film credits has got to be The Loved Ones (2009), in which he plays Brent, a teenager who has lost his father, is in a deep depression, and ends up being kidnapped by a demented fellow student with her eyes set on Brent and the dream of the perfect prom.
Before he was Barbra Streisand's other half, Brolin gave a truly believable performance as George Lutz - the head of the Lutz family who move into 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville and are bombarded with supernatural experiences until they have to flee in the dead of night. The Amityville Horror (1979) was not the only horror film Brolin was in. He also was in the 1977 thriller The Car - in which Brolin attempts to lasso a rogue Lincoln and stop the terror! He also starred in Fantastic Voyage (1966), The Boston Strangler (1968), and Night of the Juggler (1980).
Not too much to say about Michael Watson. He played the "good" vampire Stefan in Subspecies (1991), but you won't find him on Wikipedia, and though he is listed on IMDB, he doesn't have any kind of bio to speak of - so who knows what the guy is up to these days. IMDB does list him as being in a few genre TV series like Freddy's Nightmares (1989) and Sleepwalkers (1997-1998), and surprisingly it notes he was on Melrose Place in 1998-1999 in a small (apparently forgettable) role....because I don't recall him and I watched that show. Regardless, the first time I saw Subspecies I about had a heart-attack just gazing at his damn good looks.
With Psycho (1960) being one of my most favorite films (ok, it's number two), I am very familiar with the charms of John Gavin. He is one splendid looking individual, and I would most certainly lick the stamps too (inside Psycho joke there). This is a guy who (rightly) played Julius Caesar in Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus (1960). Cast often as the love interest for the stunning young actresses of the time, Gavin can't claim horror as being his forte. Though he did do a few episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Sadly, he was all set to play James Bond, until Sean Connery nixed that by coming back to the role.
Yeah, I went and did it. I added another True Blood actor to my list. Well folks, if we're talkin' sexy then we're talkin' Ryan Kwanten. This Aussie is just pure testosterone and all kinds of come-hither yumminess. With his boyish good looks and his out-of-control libido, Jason Stackhouse gets himself into more trouble than a fox in a hen house. And generally, his kind of trouble involves shedding clothing. Kwanten himself has another couple horror creds on his resume with the spooky Dead Silence (2007), the thriller Red Hill (2010), and the upcoming supernatural thriller 7500 (2013).
As older brother Dean Winchester on the addictive television show Supernatural , Ackles has made a name for himself in horror as a brooding yet charismatic ghost hunter/demon wrangler/monster nabber. He rose to fame in the late 90's when he played Eric Brady on the popular daytime soap, Days of our Lives. I guess there is some crossover into horror when Eric's mother Marlena became possessed by the devil. (Yeah, someone really wrote that script!). Right after leaving Days, he was a cast member in Dark Angel. Ackles hasn't done a lot of horror, but he did stand out in the remake of My Bloody Valentine (3D, 2009), and starred in the straight-to-DVD Devour (2005).
As Max Evans in the popular television series Roswell, Behr caught the eye of many a young lady, I'm sure - and continues to do so, since he made this list. His genre credits include Rites of Passage (1999), The Grudge (2004), Skinwalkers (2007), and The Tattooist (2007).
Most people remember Patric as being the man that Julia Roberts ran off with days after she canceled her wedding to Kiefer Sutherland (can you really blame her?). But Patric has horror cred. He is probably most famous for portraying Michael in The Lost Boys - and this is where I first saw him and still the film I think of when I hear his name. He was also in After Dark My Sweet (1990), Frankenstein Unbound (1990), and Sleepers (1996). But for me, he'll always be Michael.
Well known for being the former long-time love of Charlize Theron, the Irish-bred Townsend also has the dubious distinction of being cast as Aragon in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and then removed from the role just days before shooting began. Tough break there, no doubt. (But then again, he had Charlize to go home to, so...) Townsend has acted in a few genre roles including his portrayal of Dorian Gray in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003). He also took over the reins from Tom Cruise and played Lestat de Lioncourt in Queen of the Damned (2002), and starred as Carl Kolchack in the revamped series Night Stalker, which ran on TV in 2005.
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OCTOBER 22: TWENTY-TWO STELLAR BLACK & WHITE HORROR FILMS
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| 1) FRANKENSTEIN (1931) One of the all-time great horror movies (regardless of color), James Whale's tale of laboratory experiments gone wrong is one of the greatest tales of terror in horror history. From Mary Shelley's novel comes the definitive adaptation that follows the book closely and manages to bring its own flavor of spine-tingling chills. It's rare to have a monster be so loved by an audience, but Dr. Frankenstein's creation has the audience feeling so sympathetic towards him that it's hard to call him a villain. He's a misunderstood figure, unable to help himself from wreaking havoc in the village and towards his creator. I'm not sure you can be a real fan of horror if you haven't seen this film. So if you haven't, rectify that immediately. |
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| 2) NOSFERATU (1922) Unable to secure the rights to Bram Stoker's Dracula, director F. W. Murnau went ahead with this film regardless, changing the names of the main characters in the novel. Many of the novel's elements remain basically the same, with Count "Orlock' laying waste to the town and creeping around in the shadows. Speaking of shadows, Count Orlock has the BEST shadow in horror, hands down. |
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| 3) THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951) Sci-Fi always looks great in black and white. This film is one of the best examples of monochrome, pitting man against aliens when a flying saucer lands in Washington D.C. and an alien disembarks, claiming to come in peace and good will. But when things go awry and the "alien" is wounded by one of America's soldiers, his robot comes to the rescue with his laser-ray weapon. It's hard to pick just one sci-fi flick to grace this list, but this one is an important part of film history and to me, one of the better sci-fi films of that era. |
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| 4) PSYCHO (1960) By 1960, Hitchcock could have certainly used color - as he had in Rear Window (1954) and Vertigo (1958), but budget constraints made him choose to shoot in black in white - which turned out to be an inspired decision. A critical and box-office success, Psycho introduced us to Norman Bates, a repressed mama's boy with a penchant for dressing up like Mother and visiting the shower. Everything about Psycho is excellent, from Hitch's idea to off the main star in the first twenty minutes to Norman's nervous discussion with Arbogast to the psychiatrist's definitive speech at the end. It's just great filmmaking. What else would you expect from Hitchcock? |
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| 5) THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932) One of the great "horror comedies", James Whale brought us the Femm family - a motley crew of weirdos who welcome a group of travelers into their eccentric homestead during a nasty thunderstorm. Naturally, chaos ensues. Boris Karloff stars. |
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| 6) THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925) Phantom has been done and re-done to death, but I quite prefer this silent version starring Lon Chaney. The Paris Opera House is the background to a story of music, murder, and of course - unrequited love. The "de-masking" scene is legendary. |
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| 7) DEAD OF NIGHT (1945) One of the first (and best) horror anthologies, Dead of Night links several stories together by having a group of guests at a party exchange chilling stories. It works a lot like The Twilight Zone, with a twist ending tying everything together. The best vignette by far is the tale of a ventriloquist dummy who may or may not be alive... |
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| 8) STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951) Another thriller by Hitchcock, Strangers on a Train is first and foremost a morality play - what would you do in this situation, it suggests. Two men meet on a train (natch) and joke about pulling a "criss-cross". They both have people in their lives they would like to get rid of - wouldn't it be perfect if they could exchange murders? One man kill the other's problem and vice-versa. The problem occurs when one of the men is all too serious. |
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| 9) CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962) This film is one of my favorites, and cannot be beat for pure atmospheric chills. Mary survives a deadly car crash in which her three friends were killed. But for some reason, Mary's life takes a turn towards the bizarre. She is pursued by a ghoulish man as she tries to make a new life as a church organist. The haunting musical score is unbeatable and sets a mood of both melancholy and dread. Not to be missed. |
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| 10) NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) What can I say about Romero's classic that hasn't already been said by me and millions of others? NOTLD is the film from which all other zombie films are judged. And none of those films have come close to generating the raw fear and revulsion of this gem. Barbra and Ben fight for their lives among the reanimated dead. Simple plot, wildly effective. |
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| 11) THE INNOCENTS (1961) Based on the Henry James story, The Turn of the Screw, this tale of a governess who takes a job in a country estate can't be beat for ghostly goodness. When she notices the children seem to be obsessed with the memory of the former governess (who committed suicide after her lover died), she begins to wonder if the spirits of the dead couple have possessed the children. The Innocents is a truly scary film, with creepy imagery and a haunting story you won't soon forget. Highly recommended. |
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| 12) THE HAUNTING (1963) Forget the '99 remake! This is the original spookfest. Based on Shirley Jackson's consummate story of a haunted house, this film tops any connoisseur's list of ghostly tales. Paranormal Activity has nothing on The Haunting, as the film tells the tale of a group of people charged with trying to discover whether or not the Hill House is indeed, haunted. Loud bumps in the night and supernatural events drive one of the guests crazy and lead the others to try and discover the truth about Hill House before it is too late for all of them. |
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| 13) BLACK SUNDAY (1960) Italians, as you know, can make excellent horror movies. Black Sunday is no exception - telling the tale of a witch and her lover who are gruesomely executed and then come back from the dead to claim the lives of those who wrongfully murdered them. A true gothic horror experience starring the gorgeous and vivacious Barbara Steele, Black Sunday is a sexy yet macabre film that once you've seen, you'll realize what all the fuss is about.Mario Bava rules. |
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| 14) FREAKS (1932) Tod Browning's venture into the lives of carnival sideshow performers was ahead of its time and one of the most shocking early horror films around. The cast of "freaks" were actual carnival performers, and the film really was a graphic yet genuine look at their lives. Instead of the freaks being the villains, the "normal" people that abused and mistreated them were the antagonists. The story tells of a trapeze artist who lures a sideshow midget into her clutches when she learns he has a large inheritance. The other freaks discover the ruse and take it upon themselves to right the wrong. |
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| 15) DRACULA (1931) Béla Lugosi made a star out of himself in the role of Count Dracula. He was just too good at it though, stereotyping himself for the rest of his career. This version of the story is essential in horror history as Lugosi swaggers his way through lines like "Listen to them, children of the night..what music they make..." and "I never drink...wine." Universal hit the nail on the head with this one, causing a sensation that continues to this day and made this Dracula the classic adaptation to which all other vampire films (good or bad) are compared to. |
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| 16) SPIDER BABY (1964) Bizarre yet crazy-good, Spider Baby is probably a film that not everyone reading this blog has seen. But if you like eccentric, inbred families that are both corrupt and immoral, then this movie is just for you! With both Lon Chaney Jr, and Sid Haig in the cast, you know it's going to be weird. Sexual deviancy, murder, and mayhem are the name of the game here, and when people start visiting the wacko's mansion, all hell breaks loose. The family is both perverted and vicious, which as you know, is not a good combination. |
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| 17) THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954) Universal monsters are so much fun! I have a special place in my heart for the Gill Man - he was one of my first real monster films that I saw. An expedition to the Amazon has a group of geologists discovering a gilled creature stalking the Black Lagoon. When members of the team are mysteriously murdered, the search for the creature begins. However, the creature has his eyes set on a female geologist, and will do whatever he has to to have her. Great stuff! |
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| 18) BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) Whale struck film gold again with this sequel to 1931's Frankenstein. Here, the monster gains a partner - if only she was as thrilled to see him as he was her. One of the best sequels in horror, hands down, Bride continues the tale of the monster by starting right where Frankenstein left off. The monster, not killed after all, is disheartened to find out that even though a mate was created for him, she doesn't like him anymore than any of the villagers. A film abounding with depth of feeling, I seriously believe it is better than its predecessor. |
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| 19) HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959) Vincent Price stars as an eccentric millionaire who throws a party for his wife, inviting five guests - but neglects to let them in on the history of the house. It's haunted, and hungry for more souls. Spirits abound in this classic William Castle flick - as do twists and turns. This movie was colorized in 2005, but I don't recommend it - this should be seen in its original black and white. It's got some hilarious special effects that date it pretty badly, but it more than makes up for shoddy effects with the entertaining turn by Price. |
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| 20) LES DIABOLIQUES (1955) The psychological thriller was alive and well in 1955 with this tale of deceit and murder. A cruel man who cheats on his wife has another thing coming when the wife and the mistress come up with a plan to off the nasty bastard. They tranquilize him, drown him in a bathtub, and dump him in a pool to make it look like an accident. What they weren't counting on is the body disappearing. All is not what it seems in this excellent French film. |
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| 21) EYES WITHOUT A FACE (1960) Another French offering, Eyes Without a Face is a disturbingly good film about a man whose daughter has been horribly disfigured in an accident and the lengths he will go to to give his daughter a new face. It raises so many questions of morality and ethics - and is It is said that this film influenced John Carpenter to go with a blank, emotionless mask for his own wildly famous film - Halloween. |
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| 22) THE UNINVITED (1944) A man and his sister discover an abandoned seaside mansion while on vacation in England and impulsively decide to buy it when they find out the price is right. What they fail to realize is that the house was so cheap because it is haunted. Eventually though, they uncover the truth and try to make nice. This film was scheduled for release on DVD in September but as of this writing is still unavailable, which is a shame - it is a wonderful example of atmospheric locations combined with a spooky story. A true classic. |
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OCTOBER 23: TWENTY-THREE FAVORITE TRUE BLOOD MOMENTS
SPOILER ALERT!!
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| SOOKIE DREAMS OF ERIC Though involved in a relationship with Bill, that tricky Eric makes sure Sookie ingests some of his blood so that she can't help but to dream about him. Shades of the future, perhaps? That'd be a yes, folks. |
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| ALCIDE CHANGES I think this photo pretty much says it all. |
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| SAM KILLS MARYANN In a shocking but justified turn of events, Sam finally gives Maryann what she deserves. The silly maenad believes that a large bull in the road is a god who has come for her, but when the bull shapeshifts back into Sam, the tables are turned and Sam finishes the job by ripping out her heart. |
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| BILL AND SOOKIE....FINALLY! We all waited through six episodes for that magic moment, and it really didn't disappoint. Always the romantic, Bill seduces Sookie in front of the fire and makes her virginity go bye-bye. |
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| BILL "MAKES" JESSICA Though completely against it, Bill is forced to create a new vampire to replace the one he killed. He ends up changing 17 year old Jessica, and after five seasons they are as close as a real father and daughter could be. |
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| ERIC GETS AMNESIA Marnie the witch casts a spell on Eric to make him forget who he is. Thinking it would put him at risk and cause his true death, Marnie's plan backfires when Sookie takes him in - and discovers a whole new side to the Viking. |
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| SOOKIE LEARNS THE TRUTH ABOUT SAM For those of us who have read the books, we were well aware Sam was a shapeshifter, and we were wondering how long it would take for them to let TV Sookie find out. It happened one night Sam was at Sookie's over night to protect her (in his doggie form), and when she woke up he was human and Sookie was shock & awed. |
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| ERIC DELIVERS THE TRUTH DEATH TO RUSSELL In an unexpected turn of events, Eric swiftly and surprisingly snuffs out the big baddie, Russell Edgington, putting an end to his ridiculous self-love and evil reign. |
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| ERIC AND SOOKIE....AT LAST We waited several seasons for this event, and though it was nearly perfect, we fans were torn when we witnessed Bill's agony - knowing that Sookie would go to Eric and they were destined to be lovers. |
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| GODRIC MEETS THE SUN Though Eric begged (cried, even) Godric not to do it, Godric was finished with life as he knew it. He'd been around for thousands of years and was fed-up with just existing. And so...here comes the sun. |
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| JASON GETS A SPONGE BATH Jason is attractive, no doubt. But his head is full of rocks most of the time. When preacher's wife Sarah tempts Jason when she tries to help him take a bath, it's a tough no for Jason, who still allows her to give him a hand... |
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| JASON SAVES JESSICA That evil bitch Marnie! Tried to kill all the vampires by controlling their brains to want to meet the sun. Thankfully Jason was nearby when Jess wandered outside of Bill's mansion. He flew through the doorway in the nick of time and saved the day for his fanged lover. |
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| LAFAYETTE AND JESUS GET HIGH ON V LaLa and Jesus get wacky on vampire blood and hallucinate (or do they?) about Jesus's bizarre shaman family. What a wild, trippy night that was. |
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| TARA'S DEATH In a surprising (or was it?) turn of events, when Debbie Pelt comes to try to kill Sookie with a shotgun, Tara gets caught in the cross-fire and has half her head blown off in a season ending cliffhanger. We had to wait until the season opener the next year to find out that Tara does die, but gets reborn as a newbie vamp. |
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| LAFAYETTE SERVES UP AN "AIDS BURGER" When some white trash good 'ol boys hit up Merlotte's for lunch, they shoot some unkind remarks towards the kitchen and the resident cook. In return they are given some sage advice: "Bitch, you come in my house you gonna eat the food the way I fuckin' make it!" |
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| JASON GETS A "BIG" PROBLEM When Jason downs an entire vial of V, it has some side effects that are hard to handle. So who does he call to help him? His good friend Tara, who has to wait with him while a doctor tackles his priapism with a great big fat needle. Ouch! |
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| THE DEATH OF LONGSHADOW When the third partner in Fangtasia is discovered as being an embezzler by Sookie, he makes the mistake of trying to come after the mind-reading gal. But it's Bill to the rescue - he stakes Longshadow in a gory display of blood and guts. Probably the most blood we've ever seen at one time on a show named for the red stuff. |
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| PAM'S FACE ROTS OFF When a vengeful witch gets pissed at Pam, she gets back at her by hexing her so that her face literally starts to rot off. Pam even has to wear a veil for several episodes until things are back to normal. Her sarcasm was never better when her looks were gone. |
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| RUSSELL SHOWS SOME BACKBONE When Russell decides to make a surprise visit to the television station, he does his own type of editorial by ripping out the spine of the newscaster and then proceeding to tell America that vampires are going to eat them and their children. Then he casually leads in to the weather. Smooth. |
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| SOOKIE DROWNS HER SORROWS IN PECAN PIE Because I couldn't bear to put a pic of Gran's death here, I settled for the scene where Sookie eats an entire pecan pie while reminiscing about Gran and mourning her gruesome death. |
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| SAM DREAMS OF BILL When Sam ingests a pretty substantial amount of Bill's blood, he has a helluva dream about Bill and him.....well, together. Only on True Blood could we get this kind of homoerotic tension on a regular basis. |
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| TOMMY DOES SOME SKINWALKING Sam could forgive his little brother a lot... stealing money, stirring up trouble, sponging off him, even killing their parents and having Sam help get rid of the bodies. But when Tommy skinwalked into Sam and slept with his lady, that was pretty much all she wrote. ( But Sam Trammell channeling Marshall Allman's mannerisms was truly inspired!) |
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| TWISTED SEX When Lorena forces Bill to come over to her side, he tells her she can make him do a lot of things, but she can't make him love her (which is all Lorena has ever wanted). Just to prove this point, they begin to have sex and Bill takes her head and forces it to do a 180 degree turn. Yikes. |
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OCTOBER 24: TWENTY-FOUR BAD-ASS BUGS
I'm not sure anyone hates bugs more than me. I despise most types of bugs. I can tolerate honeybees because they serve a purpose, but other than that, pretty much forget it. That said, most of these films in this list made me relatively uncomfortable - at least parts of them. I'm lumping all the creepy crawlers together here - even though I realize some are arthropods, some are invertebrates, some are just flat-out insects - but they are all creepy as hell.
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| THEM! (1954) Old science fiction really was a hoot, wasn't it? What could be better than nuclear waste causing all the bugs to super-size. People in a desert town have to defend themselves against a swarm of giant ants. Seriously fun film that pits man vs. super-size beasties. |
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| BUG In this intense thriller directed by The Exorcist's William Friedkin, a lonely and somewhat sad couple blur the lines between reality and delusion when they believe the motel room they are sharing is infested with bugs. I'm not actually sure that we see any actual bugs at all, but the effects of their paranoia is quite arresting. |
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| THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979) Nothing more annoying than pesky flies, and in this (first) adaptation of the bestselling novel, we get a room full of flies that seem to signify evil is present and that the house needs blessed by a priest. Oh, and James Brolin in his tighty whiteys. Score! |
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| ARACHNAPHOBIA (1990) Even horror comedies can disgust sometimes, which is the case in this Jeff Daniels flick that has him moving his family into the country so he can practice medicine, and instead he just practices screaming. A huge nest of deadly spiders is infesting his property, and no one is safe. Including this chick in the shower. |
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| CANDYMAN (1992) Bees are very important to the cycle of life. However... they are a gruesome way to die, as Candyman found out when a lynch mob smeared him with honey and allowed bees to sting him to death. You really gotta hate someone to do that. But Candyman will have his revenge, as you know. |
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| CASE 39 (2009) In a film that had potential and utterly squashed it, Case 39 faltered in so many ways. It did however, have a nasty scene with hornets which made me squirm a little bit. Poor Bradley Cooper's character makes the mistake of telling demon child Lillith what scares him. That night, he feels a humming vibration in his ear and pulls out a hornet. Then another. And another.... and soon ol' Bradley is wearing a shirt of hornets. |
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| CREEPSHOW (1982) In the last story within the film, a man with germophobia strives to keep his apartment completely clean and sterile. He's a cruel old bastard, so it seems only fitting that he meets his end when cockroaches appear in his abode without any apparent reason. Things escalate until he is completely overrun with them. He escapes to his panic room but unfortunately the roaches have beat him to it, and the last scenes are of his body basically bursting with the vile insects. |
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| EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS (2002) What do you get when you take David Arquette and mix him with toxic waste and spiders? A comedy of hilarious proportions. And we're not just talking one kind of spider here, we're talking tons of different kinds. Jumping spiders, orb spiders, tarantulas...we've got it all. And they grow to massive sizes, kind of like all those bugs do in the old sci-fi flicks. |
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| CRONOS (1993) Guillermo Del Toro's first feature film focuses on a strange device called the Cronos mechanism. Created by an alchemist in 1535, the intricate gold mechanism holds inside it an ancient insect which will sustain life so long as it is fed human blood. But gaining eternal life through the Cronos device comes with some nasty side-effects, such as your skin falling off and generally becoming really unattractive. Greek mythology bares characters with similar names and revelence; Chronos was the personification of time, the figure from which we obtained Father Time. Cronus was a Titan who castrated his father and devoured his children--sounds like a nice guy. (MR) |
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| INDIANA JONES and THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984) While not horror films, the Indiana Jones films often have some horrific elements to them. Temple of Doom has always been my favorite. The awesome dinner party with the monkey brains, the snakes slithering all over the table, and the eyeballs in the soup? Great stuff. But what makes me squirm in disgust is the tunnels in the Pankot Palace that are filled with all the damn insects. When Willie sticks her hand in one to find the lever to stop the walls from closing in on Indy and Short Round...Gah! The stuff nightmares are made of! |
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| KING KONG (2005) Because the special effects with the bugs in the most recent version of KK are so good, that is what warrants its inclusion here. I would have passed out from fright (or perhaps even had a coronary) if I had to make my way through that pit of insects. No. Can. Do. |
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| KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS (1977) Starring William Shatner, KotS is a fun romp and one of those classic "man vs. nature" films we all love so much. What we have here is a bunch of pissed off tarantulas who are mad because man has used so many pesticides that it is killing off their food supply. So they decide to get even! |
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| MIMIC As in Creepshow, we have more cockroaches, but this time - they are fucking huge. It's hard to believe Guillermo del Toro directed this, but it's not really a bad film, truth be told. Children are dying because of a disease that roaches are spreading, so entomologists genetically engineer a bigger bug (the "Judas Breed") to eradicate the smaller bugs. Now you have probably guessed how that turned out... |
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| PHENOMENA (1985) Also known as Creepers (but don't watch that heavily edited version), this is a film by Dario Argento (who seems to like bugs for some reason) that stars a young Jennifer Connelly as an adolescent who comes to a Swiss boarding school and makes friends with a forensic entomologist. Stranger even than that, the girl has a special bond with insects, which proves helpful when trying to find a murderer. |
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| SLITHER (2006) Once again, outer space brings bad juju. When a meteorite crashes and unleashes an evil parasite, a local man from the neighboring town becomes infected and not only impregnates a young lady with allien sperm, if you will, but he himself starts to change into a giant slug. Yeah, I can't make this shit up. |
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| SQUIRM (1976) Let's try to keep the moral of this tale in mind, okay? When there is a bad storm, don't let the power lines come down on water-logged land, or the earthworms under the ground will get an electrical charge and start to surface. That's not the worst of it. Apparently they can lose their wormy minds and just start burrowing into anything that's near. I hate worms the most out of everything. So I can never watch this film again. |
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| STARSHIP TROOPERS (1997) Surprisingly, this film was a box office success, which isn't easy when they couldn't even come up with a name for the insects in question, simply labeling them The Bugs. Wildly creative. But nonetheless a fun jaunt down giant insect lane. |
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| SUSPIRIA (1977) Back to worms. Again, Argento tests our resolve by having maggots infest the attic of the German dance school (which is actually a cover for a witches' coven). The girls wonder what is dropping from the ceiling and guess what they see when they look up? Thousands of maggots. Falling on their dressers, clothes, even their hair. Apparently caused by rotting food in the attic, which begs the question of why would anyone keep food that would spoil in their attic? Silly witches! |
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| THE BEYOND (1981) Leave it to Fulci to gross us out more than we thought possible. A plumber fixing a water problem in the basement of a house that boasts one of the seven doors of death has a fate worse than death in his future as he watches as spiders come out of nowhere and parade towards him, eventually crawling all over him, at one point eating his face off and poking out his eye. Ah, Fulci and his eye trauma fetish! |
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| THE MIST (2007) Such an exellent adaptation of the Stephen King short story, The Mist has all kinds of bugs. Huge, tentacled creatures, thousands of spiders, and whatever insects that those are in the pic, above. There were so many kinds it was hard to keep up. But let's just say, the big ones ate you whole. No wonder the would-be survivors decide to off themselves when there is seemingly no hope. I would run, not walk, away from these buggers. |
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| THE THAW (2009) A small group of scientists in the Arctic uncover a wooly mammoth. Sounds like a great discovery until you realize it has been infected with an unknown illness and find out something was still alive in said mammoth. The above pic is of a polar bear that is infected with thousands of the bizarre insects. The insects are hard to kill and/or contain, and it's all because of global warming. Or so they say... |
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| THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) This multiple Academy Award winning film would have been nothing without bugs, namely the Death's Head moth, an integral part of the storyline. When Clarice finds that pupa in the throat of a murder victim, it's up to her (and Hannibal Lecter of course) to discover the clues to the puzzle. Which she most certainly does, as you can see by the end of the film when she stumbles upon Jame Gumb in his killer's lair - and spots the Death's Head moth amongst his mess. |
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| THE FLY (1958) Man vs. science. Gone horribly wrong. I could have just as easily put Cronenberg's 1986 version here, but dare I say I like the look of the fly is this film. You can tell it's really just a mask and some fake hands, but it just does something for me. And come one people, VINCENT PRICE! |
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| THE WICKER MAN (2006) And lastly, I finish with this gem from just a few years ago. Nicholas Cage can be a good actor - he does have the Oscar to prove it after all - but in this completely unnecessary remake of the 1973 classic, he performs his classic, overcooked style to the limit. You just have to laugh at the "Not the bees!!" moment. |
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OCTOBER 25: TWENTY-FIVE FIRST-RATE HORROR TV SHOWS
Now before we start, this is not a definitive list. I don't want anyone bad-mouthing us before we start. It's just a list of shows that Marie and I have been lucky enough to see and call our favorites. I'm sure you'll see some of yours here too, and maybe something you're not familiar with and want to take a look at on DVD.
There are some really important shows in horror history here, and some of them are just pure, unadulterated FUN. See if you'll agree....
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There are some really important shows in horror history here, and some of them are just pure, unadulterated FUN. See if you'll agree....
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| THE WALKING DEAD (2010-present) Currently my favorite show, it manages to mix true human emotion with zombies and come out smelling like a rose. Or should I say like a corpse? In any event, this is top-notch, fan-friggin'-tastic television. It also boasts the highest ratings of any basic cable program in history. ~CH |
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| ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS (1955-1962) Even though this show is more thriller than horror, we must include it because it is from the Master of Suspense, himself! And if will definitely freak your shit out. ~MR |
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| AMERICAN GOTHIC (1995-1996) Produced by Sam Raimi, the abbreviated series starred Gary Cole as a corrupt sheriff in a small town who tries to get people to step down to his evil level. It was a show that was ahead of its time and wasn't given a chance on network television. If it would have been on HBO, it would have lasted at least five years. ~CH |
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| ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? (1991-1996) Another one from my generation, but I'm sure many will fondly remember this Nickelodeon anthology series. Some very memorable spooky episodes. ~MR |
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| BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1997-2003) Do I even need to say anything? Okay, I will. Angel and Spike. And Sarah Michelle Gellar for the dudes, I guess? She's hot, right? Frankly, I'm not certain on the matter. ~MR |
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| ANGEL (1999-2004) A spin-off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel stole the hearts of women everywhere by being a vampire who is cursed with a soul. ~CH |
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| BEING HUMAN (UK) (2008-present) A ghost, a vampire, and a werewolf walk into a bar... No, no, just kidding. But what do we get by putting three supernatural beings together in one house? Conflict, confusion, and a whole lot of craziness. Spawned an American remake of the show that is also still running strong. ~CH |
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| DARK SHADOWS (1966-1971) Hard to believe, but this show was actually a daytime serial. In other words: a soap opera. I remember my grandmother watching these stories of one Barbabas Collins, a vampire who comes home to Collinwood to claim his ancestral home. A vampire on daytime tv? Seems rather ironic, doesn't it? ~CH |
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| FEAR ITSELF (2008) The creators of the Masters of Horror got it right the second time! I wrote a little article on it that you can check out right HERE ~MR |
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| DEXTER (2006-present) The award-winning Michael C. Hall starts as the title character, a blood-spatter expert who works for the Miami PD and is a serial killer in his spare time. This one put Showtime back on the map. ~CH |
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| FRIDAY THE 13TH THE SERIES (1987-1990) An American-Canadian production, this series capitalized on the F13 name to suck in viewers. It focuses on cursed antiques that all have a horrific story behind them. It had nothing to do with the film franchise except in name only. ~CH |
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| FRINGE (2008-present) With a major emphasis on "fringe science", this show has a similar feel to it as The X-Files, but the science often overtakes the horror here when they start digressing into parallel universes. But the cast is awesome and it does have some intriguing mysteries. ~CH |
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| GOOSEBUMPS (1995-1998) Everyone knows that I am a babe in the woods (as Christine so fondly calls me) and this is a show from my generation, but I will always remain a devout Goosebumps fan. That shit was scary! ~MR |
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| KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER (1974-1975) Darren McGavin stars as Carl Kolchak, a reporter who finds himself embroiled in mysteries and crimes that all have a supernatural elements. Think of it as The X-Files, version one. ~CH |
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| MASTERS OF HORROR (2005-2007) Some of the biggest name in horror took turns directing these stand-alone episodes that play like a mini-movie. Argento, Carpenter, McKee, Hooper, Gordon...all took turns trying to scare us silly. While a few fell flat, many were actually quite good. ~CH |
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| NIGHT GALLERY (1970-1973) Rod Serling of Twiight Zone fame was the host of this spooky series and also wrote many of the stories, which were often based on stories written by the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Fritz Leiber. ~CH |
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| THE OUTER LIMITS (1963-1965) More or less a copy of the Twilight Zone with more of a sci-fi feeling, it wasn't as long-lived as TZ either. But it still had some very effective episodes. "There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to ajust the picture. We are controlling transmission...." ~CH |
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| SUPERNATURAL (2005-present) Oh those crazy Winchester brothers! Always getting into trouble with the supernatural. The two hunters travel around putting an end to things like demons and ghosts, and look mighty fine while doing so. ~CH |
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| TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE (1983-1988) One of my favorite anthology series, it was created by George Romero and mixed elements of horror, sci-fi and fantasy into little vignettes each week - some of which were unwavering in their horror. Great stuff, with a really creepy opening. ~CH |
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| TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1989-1996) This anthology is hosted by the one and only Crypt Keeper, and it is very dear to my heart. My fondest memory of this show is watching it with my cousin in the lounge of the funeral home when we were young. ~MR |
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| TRUE BLOOD (2008-present) A campy slice of horror TV based on the books by Charlaine Harris, True Blood tells the story of Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress who falls in love with a vampire....then another vampire...etc. Generally is the highlight of my hot summer Sunday nights. ~CH |
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| THE TWILIGHT ZONE I'm not sure what really needs to be said about TZ - it's a history-changing show that is intelligent as well as being unnerving on a regular basis. I mean, who who doesn't remember Burgess Meredith breaking his only pair of glasses after a nuclear holocaust that left him with nothing but the time to read that he so desired...Kismet, I tell you. By the way, here are my favorite thirty episodes. ~CH |
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| TWIN PEAKS (1990-1991) The mood and madness of this David Lynch series was way too much for prime-time. The bizarre tale of the unsolved murder of a high school homecoming queen takes so many quirky twists and turns it was impossible not to become completely engrossed in the mystery. One of my favorites, so much so that I wrote this. ~CH |
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| THE X-FILES (1993-2002) Probably my favorite show of all-time, though I did enjoy the stand-alone episodes more than the show's mythology episodes. What started out as a scary little show on Friday nights turned into a television sensation, and made Mulder and Scully a household name. And here are my favorite stand-alone episodes.~CH |
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| AMERICAN HORROR STORY (2011-present) I am obsessed with this show. It's sexy, well-scripted, and scary! I also like that they are making each season completely independent story lines. ~MR |
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OCTOBER 26: TWENTY-SIX CRAZY PHOBIAS
SO, TELL ME....WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF??
KEY: 1) Amusement 2) Poltergeist 3) Halloween (1978) 4) Dressed to Kill 5) Pet Sematary 6) Hobo with a Shotgun 7) True Blood (tv) 8) The Serpent & the Rainbow 9) Cemetery Man 10) Magic 11) The Blair Witch Project 12) Marathon Man 13) Friday the 13th 14) Insidious 15) Daybreakers 16) The Woman in Black (2012) 17) Ghost Story 18) Trick 'r Treat 19) Carrie 20) The Wolfman 21) Alien 22) The Craft 23) Jaws 24) The Strangers 25) The Silence of the Lambs 26) Squirm![]()
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| 1) Coulrophobia - Fear of clowns |
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| 2) Eisoptrophobia - Fear of your own reflection |
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| 3) Parthenophobia - Fear of virgins or young girls |
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| 4) Cyprinophobia - Fear of prostitutes or veneral disease |
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| 5) Elurophobia - Fear of cats |
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| 6) Hobophobia - Fear of bums or beggars |
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| 7) Ithyphallophobia – Fear of Erections |
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| 8) Taphophobia – Fear of being Buried Alive |
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| 9) Coimetrophobia - Fear of cemeteries |
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| 10) Automatonophobia - Fear of ventriloquist’s dummies, animatronic creatures, or wax statues |
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| 11) Nyctophobia- Fear of the dark or night |
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| 12) Odontophobia - Fear of dental surgery |
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| 13) Paraskavedekatriaphobia – Fear of Friday the 13th |
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| 14) Demonophobia (or Daemonophobia) - Fear of demons |
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| 15) Eosophobia - Fear of dawn or daylight |
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| 16) Pediophobia - Fear of dolls |
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| 17) Spectrophobia - Fear of ghosts or specters |
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| 18) Samhainophobia - Fear of Halloween |
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| 19) Menophobia - Fear of menstruation |
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| 20) Selenophobia - Fear of the moon |
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| 21) Spacephobia - Fear of outer space |
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| 22) Teleophobia - Fear of religious ceremonies |
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| 23) Selachophobia - Fear of sharks |
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| 24) Xenophobia - Fear of strangers or foreigners |
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| 25) Dishabillophobia - Fear of undressing in front of someone |
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| 26) Scoleciphobia - Fear of worms |
KEY: 1) Amusement 2) Poltergeist 3) Halloween (1978) 4) Dressed to Kill 5) Pet Sematary 6) Hobo with a Shotgun 7) True Blood (tv) 8) The Serpent & the Rainbow 9) Cemetery Man 10) Magic 11) The Blair Witch Project 12) Marathon Man 13) Friday the 13th 14) Insidious 15) Daybreakers 16) The Woman in Black (2012) 17) Ghost Story 18) Trick 'r Treat 19) Carrie 20) The Wolfman 21) Alien 22) The Craft 23) Jaws 24) The Strangers 25) The Silence of the Lambs 26) Squirm
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OCTOBER 27: TWENTY-SEVEN BEAUTIFUL BATS
Bats are misunderstood creatures. Facts: They are the only mammal that can fly. They are found all over the world. They rarely carry or transmit rabies. They won't intentionally try to fly into your hair. They have excellent eyesight, contrary to popular belief. They are obsessively clean and groom themselves constantly. And a single little brown bat can eat over a thousand mosquitoes in one hour.
In addition, there are over 1200 species of bats in the world. Many are endangered. You can help.
Bat houses are a great addition to your yard/property. Thousands of insect pests will be eliminated if you add a bat house to your garden. Do check into it.
Meanwhile, enjoy the diversity that the bat world has to offer. And don't be afraid! They won't hurt you!
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| LITTLE YELLOW BAT Found only in Mexico, these bats can be found hanging out in cacti and are active just after sunrise and into the early afternoon. |
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| GREY-HEADED FLYING FOX Extra-large bats are also known as flying foxes or megabats. These guys are native to Australia and their roosts are called colonies or camps. |
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| GRIFFIN'S LEAF-NOSED BAT This Vietnam native is sadly considered "world's ugliest bat". They were just discovered in Vietnam in 2008. Where were they hiding?? |
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| LITTLE BROWN BAT Little Brown Bats sleep upwards of 19 hours a day and are most active at dusk for about 3-4 hours. |
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| BIG BROWN BAT Female brown bats will form a "nursery colony" in which to raise their young. It can hold up to 300 bats. |
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| COMMON TUBE-NOSED BAT These bats mimic dead leaves on trees when they are roosting and have long, unusual tubular nostrils, hence the name. |
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| FORMOSAN TAILLESS LEAF-NOSED BAT This strange-looking character was thought to be extinct until they were discovered alive and well in Taiwan. |
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| JAMAICAN FRUIT BATS This rather unattractive bat has a large horn on his nose as well as a snout covered with warts. Lovely. |
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| FRINGE-LIPPED BAT Also known for their horned noses covered with warts, these lovelies have but one offspring at a time which stay with the parents for an extended period of time. |
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| WHISKERED BAT Whiskered bats can live up to 19 years and are found mostly in the United Kingdom. In Britain, bats are a protected species. |
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| GOLDEN-CROWNED FRUIT BAT One of the largest bats in the world, this flying fox faces extinction due to poachers. They can travel up to 25 miles in one night in search for their favorite food: figs. |
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| GRAY LONG-EARED BAT These guys are very rare due to poisoning from insecticides that are applied to timbers where bats roost. Spraying is now illegal but the effects can last and cause damage to bats for up to 20 years. |
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| HOARY BAT No bigger than a mouse, they have heavy brown fur tipped with white,giving it a frosted look. They commonly have twins for offspring. |
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| HORSESHOE BAT One of Britain's most endangered bats, they give birth upside down, hanging by their feet. They can live up to 30 years. |
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| LESSER BAMBOO BAT The Lesser Bamboo bat is considered the world's smallest bat. A group or colony of these bats are called a "cloud". |
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| MEXICAN FREE-TAILED BAT This species can fly at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. It is the official state bat (who knew?) of both Oklahoma and Texas. The Bracken Cave in San Antonio is a famous bat-watching location, where nearly 20 million bats call home. |
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| PALLID BAT Pallid bats are immune to the stings of the scorpions that are part of their diet. They have larger eyes than most bats and are skilled and climbing and crawling. |
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| MEXICAN FUNNEL-EARED BAT Eating a diet of insects only, this bat breeds only once a year and the male has nothing to do with the raising of the young. Even bats can be dead-beat dads! |
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| STRAW-COLORED FRUIT BAT An extremely social bat, they live in colonies of up to a million or more. Generally they roost in tall trees but have been known to inhabit caves. |
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| SUCKER-FOOTED BAT From Madagascar, the Sucker-footed bat was just recently discovered in 2006. He gets his name for the little suction cup-like feet that he uses to grab hold of things. |
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| TOWNSEND'S BIG-EARED BAT When roosting, these bats curl their ears up like ram's horns. I need to get me a few of these guys for my backyard - their favorite meals are moths, beetles, flies, and wasps. |
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| YELLOW-WINGED BAT Yellow-winged bats are monogamous and always roost together at night. How terribly romantic! |
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| ALCATHOE'S BAT A native of Europe, the Alcathoe's bat is no bigger than a thumbprint. One could be hiding right under your thumb and you wouldn't know it! |
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| COMMON VAMPIRE BAT Contrary to popular belief, vampire bats do not kill their prey and are actually quite misunderstood. For instance, vampire bats will adopt and care for orphaned bats. See? Not the blood-sucking fiends you thought... |
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| BECHSTEIN BAT The rare Bechstein bat has been known to live over twenty years. One of their favorite delicacies is spiders! Score! |
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| YODA BAT Discovered in Papua New Guinea, the Yoda bat gets his name honestly. Unattractive fellow, he is quite. |
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| GIANT VAMPIRE BATS Vampire bat saliva is being used as an anticoagulant to treat human heart patients and stroke victims. These beauties have impressive wingspans of nearly six feet!! www.batcon.org |
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OCTOBER 28: TWENTY-EIGHT COMICAL COSTUMED CATS
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| I actually had an elderly neighbor that looked like this. |
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| "I ain't got no spit..." |
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| Jasper was mesmerized by the antennas. |
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| The hat caused an abrupt shift in Sylvester's digestive mood... |
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| 'I may be dressed like Pocahontas but I can still do the cha-cha!" |
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| That lobster bisque just isn't gonna taste the same. |
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| "I thought Paddington was an effin' BEAR?" |
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| Things that make ya go ARRRRGGGHH! |
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| Janice put on her best outfit, hoping Steadman would come over after church to sip lemonade on the porch. |
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| Scarlet was appalled to learn that someone stole her picnic basket! |
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| 'They didn't name me Cleo for nothing...' |
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| Reginald could not be deterred from watching the game by a silly bat on a stick. |
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| Maude hoped that Stanley would still recognize her at the Masquerade Ball. |
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| "Follow me, young Otis...I will show you true bravery while you strum your guitar slowly." |
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| Mavis wasn't sure what drew her eyes to the eye of newt, but she couldn't stop staring... |
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| The alien thought his witch costume would disguise him so he could sneak into the party undetected. |
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| Clancy was days away from taking his act on the road. |
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| They told Winnie to let her hair down, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. |
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| "I will NOT look at the camera!" |
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| "What do you mean Muffin got the part!? I was purrfect!' |
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| At first glance, I didn't even notice the cat. |
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| Waiter..there's too much pepper in my paprikash! |
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| Say anything....but don't call him Catman. |
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| Esmeralda wasn't sure the dress went with her yoga mat. |
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| Eugenia knew she'd win the costume contest....her crown was to die for! |
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| Harold and Eunice were well-dressed for the Sunday picnic... |
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| You can never be too ready for the holidays...they're just around the corner you know! |
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| "Hate is not a strong enough word..." |
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OCTOBER 29: TWENTY-NINE LAMENTABLE VICTIMS
Death is a given in horror films. But sometimes we're so taken aback by a death, or have immediately connected with a character only to watch them expire in front of our eyes. Or maybe they are just a little extra good-looking and we wish the best for them and they are cruelly snuffed out well before their time. Well here is a list of some of our picks for victims that didn't deserve their nasty end. We remember and lament you.  |
| Glen Lantz (A Nightmare on Elm Street) Ahh, Johnny. This is the saddest death in horror for me. First of all, young Glenn chooses Nancy for a girlfriend. I don't get that one. Then he goes along with all her silly plans. What does that get him? Dead. Eaten alive by a Serta. Boo. |
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| Alice Palmer (Lake Mungo) Most of the movie we are waiting to see what happened to Alice. Is she dead? Is she missing? What happened to Alice? And while we might have thought she was probably dead throughout most of the movie, we're never really sure - even when her water-logged corpse is pulled from the lake. Is that really Alice? That was the best thing about Lake Mungo's excellence: Is she alive, dead, or otherwise? |
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| Billy Harley (Pumpkinhead) Let's talk unfair. Poor Billy Harley. He was devoted to his dad Ed and was just going about his business with his dog when that group of idiotic twits had to show up with their dirt bikes and things go sour. First they make fun of him, then the lead asshole had to run him over with the dirt bike. They deserved everything they got, those rat bastards. |
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| Crazy Ralph (Friday the 13th, Part 2) Who's doomed now? Ol' Ralphie should have minded his own business. Because what do you get when you go poking around where you don't belong? You get a chain around your neck. I mean, here's a dude that could have avoided death by just staying the hell away from Crystal Lake and not interfering with the lives of the campers that Jason was pissed at in the first place. The old coot had really no clue. |
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| Ben (Night of the Living Dead) This is probably the most distressing death on this list. After everything he'd been through, he holes up in the basement, last man standing, and waits it out. In the morning, when most horror films are wrapping things up with their final girl/guy - having them move on from the tremendous horror they've been through..and what do we get? Ben steps outside to see if the nightmare is over and BAM. Shot in the head. Dead. |
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| Brett (Alien) - You just had to go looking for the Jonesey, didn't you? Only thing is, the cat was smarter than you and knew when to hide. What did you actually find? All Hail The Queen. |
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| Michael (Dawn of the Dead, 2004) This one was tough to take. After all the decision-making and good calls that nice-guy Michael made, to be snuffed out in the final reel is just unforgivable. But then again, it's not like the rest of the survivors got very far afterward. Maybe death by his own hand was preferable. |
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| Martha Spruce (Creepshow 2) I could just as easily have put Ray Spruce here, as I was fairly devastated when that asshole shot them dead in the "Old Chief Woodenhead" segment. That poor elderly couple had no chance when that trifecta of lowlifes entered their store demanding the Indian tribe's jewelry. At first I thought they'd be okay, but then Sam kills them outright and makes off with the goods. Thankfully the ol' Chief avenges their wrongful deaths. But wow, it really bothered me. Maybe because they reminded me of my grandparents. |
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| Joseph (Children of the Corn) - Poor Joseph - he was running away to get the hell out of that freak show that Issac was conducting, but instead he got massacred in the cornfield (by Malachai, no doubt) and he wandered out into the road and got run over by a car. Splat. |
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| Beth (The Descent) After Juno left her for dead after accidentally sticking a pick axe through her neck, poor Beth had to beg her BFF Sarah to put her out of her misery - after making sure Sarah knew what a backstabber Juno was by cheating with Sarah's hubby. In the end, Sarah did comply, bashing in Beth's head to save her from a fate worse than death - being eaten alive by crawlers. |
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| Dick Hallorann (The Shining) This ice cream-lovin', naked art-appreciating, psychically gifted cook was only trying to warn young Danny and his terrified mother against the quickly deteriorating mental status of one Jack Torrence when he took one right to the chest. An axe, that is. A simple, dramatic death. |
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| Mark (Friday the 13th, part 2) When it comes to playing favorites, there's no such thing for Jason Voorhees. He doesn't care if you're handicapped. You're just as likely to die as the captain of the football team or that chick who has slept with the entire team. Too bad for Mark, though. He was just about to get laid when his number came up and his wheelchair went down. |
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| Jack Goodman (An American Werewolf in London) Even though Jack was savagely attacked and killed by a nasty werewolf, he didn't really go away, did he? Plagued with sightings of Jack's mangled corpse, David is forced to realize that he has become one of the very creatures that killed his friend on the moors. But Jack was wonderful comic relief in this film, so it's almost like he didn't die... |
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| Doug (The Grudge) Yes, I have a soft spot in my horror heart for fine looking gentlemen, and I hate it when they are used as fodder for killers. Even long-haired creepy ghost girls. Boo. In all honesty, Doug was one stellar boyfriend to Sarah Michelle Gellar's Karen. He was devoted and had nothing but her best interests as heart the entire film. Most boyfriends are low-lifes who are too busy trying to get under a cheerleaders skirt than actually paying attention to the needs of their significant others. So what does the good guy get? Snuffed out by Kayako. |
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| Thomas (Let me in) While I prefer the Swedish predecessor, this film has incredible casting and I really fought off tears at the death of Thomas. Abby's father figure who was most obviously with her for fifty years or so, he finally deduced that Abby was schooling a younger substitute into his place, he was emotionally devastated. Richard Jenkins (whom I adore in anything) brought heart and believability to this version of the beautiful vampire love story, and it hurt when he sacrificed himself so Abby will not be discovered as the monster she is. |
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| Lucy (Bram Stoker's Dracula) Even though we knew it was coming eventually, I was sad to see Lucy go, as Frost was excellent in the role of Mina's best friend who has a penchant for having wild sex with wild beasts in a driving storm. She was exactly the kind of girl that the Count sets his eyes on. |
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| Eric (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning) Here's all I'm gonna say: People as beautiful as Matt Bomer should not die in horror movies. The same could be said for Johnny Depp in NOES. It just isn't right. Especially in this case, in which Eric was suffocated with plastic to the point of death, then killed with a chainsaw, dismembered and lastly, has his face sliced off for Leatherface's own personal use. Really an over-the-top death, if I'm keeping it real, here. |
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| Mabel (My Bloody Valentine) - Aww, why'd ya have to go and off the old lady? What did she ever do to you, Harry Warden? So she's a romantic - it's a rare thing these days. But you just couldn't keep your pick axe to yourself, you wretched old miner. And then you stuff her in a clothes dryer? Cruel, dude. Just cruel. |
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| Sarah (Inside) We had to wait till the last moments of the film, but in truth I didn't think it was really going to happen. Sarah dies an unforgivably painful death when La Femme performs a crude C-section, causing Sarah to bleed out like a stuffed pig. It's horrific, disturbing, and again - I just didn't think she'd die. It was an extremely meaningful death. By that I mean it affected me like most horror films never manage to do. Everything Sarah went through, all that she did to rectify her situation and try to escape with her life was for naught. In the end, she had everything taken from her. Including her life. |
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| Alice (Friday the 13th, Part 2) The Friday series, despite its sometime absurduty, does manage to make you feel sympathy for its characters in some instances. This is one of them. Alice, the final girl and semi-quasy heroine of part 1, gets an ice pick through the temple from our first run-in with Jason Voorhees. A mother's death is hard on a child. Some more than others. Hence, Alice had to pay for offing Pamela. |
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| Jud Crandall (Pet Sematary) You know, Jud was really asking for it by introducing Louis to the power of the Micmac indians' burial ground. Things never EVER end well when you start messing around with indian burial grounds. Little Gage just wanted to play a game. Too bad it was with a scalpel. |
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| Edward "Evil" Thompson (Fright Night) Marie has some kind of affinity for Evil Ed, and though I was secretly happy when he kicked it and stopped laughing that hideous cackle, we're including him here because I feel a lot of people stand on Marie's side and like the little twirp. Although...it can be said that Evil didn't really die, right? It never does. |
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| Ismael Cruz (Halloween, 2007) Where was Machete when you need him? Seriously, it was a real punch in the gut when Michael killed the only person that had truly cared for him inside the hospital. Just when you think Michael has developed some kind of depth of feeling, he slaughters someone like Ismael and you realize - Michael will never, EVER have a conscious. |
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| Amy (The Walking Dead, TV) The Walking Dead is a phenomenon, no doubt. It's bringing in audiences by the millions. And it's for things like this - the death of someone important or beloved on the show. Amy was Andrea's younger sister, and when the camp was surprised with a walker ambush, Amy was bitten and killed. But even worse was when Andrea had to take her out yet again when she came back as a walker. Nasty. |
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| Guy (Wind Chill) All that time, in the car....we were rooting for you, dude. Why didn't you tell Girl that you were having bloody urine? Not that she could have really done anything more, but maybe she'd have shimmied up that telephone pole a little sooner. Alas, doomed to wander that desolate winter road for all eternity. And the poor dude never had a name. Just Guy. |
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| Annie (The Birds) Annie Hayworth (Suzanne Pleshette). (THE BIRDS) - Not only did she lose her leading man to Melanie (do you think Tippi Hendren's character was named Melanie due to her daughter?), but she got stuck teaching a school full of kids who can't sing and then gets killed by a bunch of birds who are quite possibly a sign of the apocalypse. What next?? |
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| Dan Walker (Frozen) Killing off Kevin Zegers was probably inevitable. There were only three characters in the film, so a few of them were bound to go. But Dan didn't die by freezing to death, he jumps out of the ski lift to try to save the day and instead he endures a compound fracture and then gets eaten alive by wolves. Gah! |
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| Mathias (The Ruins) Yeah, the dude that got his legs cut off. Then died anyway. I really couldn't relate to any of the characters in this film except Mathias. He was the only one I actually gave two shits about. The girls ( in particular Jena Malone's awful character) were obnoxious, the guys forgettable. But poor Mathias just wanted to find his lost brother. Plus, Anderson is British, and I hate when they kill off the English. |
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| Marion Crane (Psycho) It's pretty hard for me to leave her off this list, even though I tend to find something from Psycho for so many of my lists! What can I say, I love the film. But with Marion, not only was it a total surprise, but it was really hard not to feel bad for her. Everyone has done stupid things in their lifetime, but when she stole that money and ran, it set off a chain of events that ended with her in the shower, screaming. |
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OCTOBER 30: THIRTY VINTAGE COSTUMES THAT MAKE US SMILE
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OCTOBER 31: THIRTY-ONE SPOOKY PLACES
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| "Why is our fancy to be appalled by terrific perspectives of a hell beyond the grave?" ~Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley |
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| 'Give them pleasure - the same pleasure they have when they wake up from a nightmare." ~Alfred Hitchcock |
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| "I think you have to know who you are. Get to know the monster that lives in your soul, dive deep into your soul and explore it." ~Tori Amos |
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| "O Death, rock me asleep, bring me to quiet rest, let pass my weary guiltless ghost out of my careful breast." ~Anne Boleyn |
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| "Fear and I were old buddies, despite my best efforts to the contrary." ~ Peter Straub |
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| "To him who is in fear everything rustles." ~Sophocles |
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| "This is the very worst wickedness, that we refuse to acknowledge the passionate evil that is in us. This makes us secret and rotten." ~David Herbert Lawrence |
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| "We shall see that at which dogs howl in the dark, and that at which cats prick up their ears after midnight." ~H.P. Lovecraft |
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| "The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you free. " ~Buddha |
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| "What scares me is what scares you. We're all afraid of the same things. That's why horror is such a powerful genre. All you have to do is ask yourself what frightens you and you'll know what frightens me." ~John Carpenter |
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| "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." ~Friedrich Nietzsche |
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| "We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones." ~Stephen King |
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| "I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any." ~Lao Tzu |
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| "Fear makes us feel our humanity." ~Benjamin Disraeli |
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| "Laughter kills fear, and without fear there can be no faith. For without fear of the devil there is no need for God." ~Sean Connery |
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| "I really believe that all of us have a lot of darkness in our souls. Anger, rage, fear, sadness. I don't think that's only reserved for people who have horrible upbringings. I think it really exists and is part of the human condition. I think in the course of your life you figure out ways to deal with that." ~Kevin Bacon |
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| "Whether you like it or not, you're forced to come to the realization that death is out there. But I don't fear death, I'm a fatalist. I believe when it's your time, that's it. It's the hand you're dealt." ~Clint Eastwood |
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| "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." ~Mark Twain |
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| "The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead." ~Albert Einstein |
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| "Fear doesn't exist anywhere except in the mind." ~Dale Carnegie |
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| "Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free." ~Jim Morrison |
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| "Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them." ~ George Eliot |
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| "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes..." ~Shakespeare (Macbeth) |
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| 'There is no greater hell than to be a prisoner of fear." ~Ben Johnson |
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| "Where there is no imagination there is no horror." ~Arthur Conan Doyle |
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| "Evil is unspectacular and always human, and shares our bed and eats at our own table." ~W. H. Auden |
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| "Fear has many eyes and can see things underground ." ~Miguel de Cervantes |
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| "As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it. " ~Chanakya |
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| "Fear is static that prevents me from hearing myself." ~Samuel Butler |
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| "Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places." ~H.P. Lovecraft |
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| "Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. " ~Edgar Allan Poe |
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
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Tell Tale (2009): Hideous Hearts Need Not Apply
Having just finished watching Tell Tale, I can assure you: this is not a "version" of the Poe tale. They have used a few elements of the story within the film (in particular the character being able to hear heartbeats, albeit it is his own heart), and one character even says aloud the famous line: "...it is the beating of his hideous heart!" But other than that, this film is unrelated. That being said, it really wasn't a bad movie. It had its moments. Apparently the film couldn't find studio funding so went straight to DVD. I'd never heard of it until now.
Terry Bernard (Josh Lucas) is the lucky recipient of a new heart. His transplant came on the heels of another man's murder, however, and just after surgery Terry has some strange experiences in which he can "see" his donor's last moments, including the faces of a few unknown assailants. As if Terry doesn't have enough to worry about, his young daughter Angela has Scleroderma (a chronic systemic autoimmune disease in which the connective tissues and internal organs harden to the consistency of bone) and apparently her mother couldn't handle that and up and left them. Bitch.
Thankfully she has a wonderful doctor (Lena Headey of '300' fame) who not only gives her superior care, but has taken an interest in Dad as well. How convenient.
His digging lands him in deep trouble when his donor's killers finally get wise to his actions, though they have no way of knowing the real reason Terry is so curious as to his donor's last moments. They start putting pieces together, but so does Terry - leading him to actually commit acts of murder on his donor's behalf. Obviously that's where the film takes a bit of a dark turn.
It was almost like he became his donor for those moments - and in fact Terry's own doctor said that he had "adopted" his donor's blood-type after the transplant. Meaning that his blood type had switched to the type his donor had. I've never heard of this, so doubt that it can happen- even though Terry's doctor did mention that that occurrence was exceedingly rare but can happen. Hmm......
There is a bit of a surprising twist in the very last moments of the film that I wasn't expecting. It added a little more to the ending for me and kind of put things in perspective. All in all, I wouldn't give this an Oscar or anything, but it held my attention for an hour and a half, and you could do a lot worse.
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