Every year when we start out our October planning, we have a long list of things we want to do and achieve, sometimes everything falls into place and we get a majority of it done (2014) , other times circumstances dictate otherwise (2015) .
This year was kind of a mixed bag, as we absolutely wanted to get more photo shoots done, but with a busy weekend schedule and traveling, it left us with little time to accomplish them. Luckily the final shoot of October is full of enough Halloween spirit to close out the season in style.
Back in August we attended the Popcorn Frights Film Festival in Miami. The festival opened with a film I knew very little about, but ended up loving. That film as you probably figured out by now was Fear, Inc. As I watched it, I kept saying to myself "People are going to eat this up, especially come October."
I always say my favorite thing about TrueHorror.net is the cool, like minded people we get to meet thanks to the site. Case in point, Michael and Sadie Ballif. Michael is the mind behind Witching Season Films, who specializes in bringing Halloween themed short films to life.
My name is metrofudge and I am 27 years recovered from being the child of a former Jehovah's Witness. There. I said it. That felt good. What didn't feel good was missing out on everything fun that every friend of mine did growing up. Right off the bat you'd probably think Christmas but you'd be wrong.
October has finally returned, and with it a new TrueHorror celebration of all things Halloween. Last year we did quite a few things we enjoyed, however due to some crappy circumstances along with a poorly timed bout with the flu, we did not get to do as much as we would have liked. So this year we are hoping to make up for it a bit by getting a running start. Not only are we excited to celebrate Halloween, this month marks our 4 year anniversary.
This season we have all new photo sets throughout the month, starting today with a creepy fun shoot with our friend Andreina entitled Blood Harvest. which you can see right here. We have others already shot and more planned and we intend to make them all happen. We also have a bunch of articles and reviews on deck that will help get you into the spirit of the season and keep you there all the way through the 31st! Sprinkle in a few interviews and with a little bit of luck, an all new TrueHorror October music mix and we are looking at a full slate of spooky themed fun.
We look forward to sharing it all with you as well as seeing everything you, our friends are doing all across the country and world. So please if you have something cool going on, please tag us or show us, because part of the fun of October is the fact that everyone has their own ways to celebrate and it's a blast to see it all. So stay tuned and lets get October going!
It's finally October, and that means we are getting back to doing what we love most, celebrating Halloween all month long. Our favorite way to do that? Some TrueHorror.net photoshoots! Last year we had a few planned that we were unfortunately unable to get done due to all sorts of circumstances. This year is a different story and we are excited to share the first of many upcoming photo sets.
Anyone who knows this site, knows that we love our synth music. So today we wanted to share a new musical treat with you all. It comes in the form of the track from the artist known as Pilotpriest and it is entitled "Slasher"
While this month has not quite been as productive as we had originally planned and hoped for due to the ever present reality of circumstances beyond our control, we are excited to be able to share with you our October Mix Volume 4. This House of the Devil inspired mix should keep you in the spirit of things all the way through to Halloween and beyond. Very special thanks to Ryan Harris for mixing this years volume and Karla Quintana for her amazing artwork she created specifically to help create our cover!
Today we return with an all new installment of Dissecting Fear, this week's guest is an extremely talented musician, horror lover and Halloween enthusiast. His name is Billy Polard and he records under the name The Ghost In You. I met Billy after he reached out to me a while back during the launch of TrueHorror Music. We have since stayed in touch and I have become a big fan of his music. Not only a musician, Billy also sings and writes all his own songs.
Originally my intent was to post this article up at the midway point of October, but due to a number of reasons, I had to unfortunately postpone it until I had the time to give it the attention it deserves. So my sincere apologies go out to Billy as I know it would have been perfect for him to have this posted during his favorite time of year. Still I feel his music and love of Halloween and horror will help everyone who reads this cope with the dread post Halloween depression syndrome. Earlier this month Billy was kind enough to contribute his song "Ten Thirty One" to our Halloween Compilation EP . The song is a truly beautiful heartfelt ode to Halloween. Being that this article SHOULD have been posted in October, we asked Billy what his favorite Halloween memory was. His answer is in depth and you can tell he has an unbridled passion for the holiday.
"I don't think I can pinpoint any one specific memory as my favorite. The thing that I enjoy most about Halloween really boils down to a feeling it gives me. How that feeling could turn even a boring trip to the drug store with my mom into a fun Halloween adventure. I recall being a kid and the excitement I felt when the sun would start to go down earlier and earlier each day. The leaves would start changing and falling, the weather would start getting cooler. There was this really special spooky feeling that I felt in my bones. I can still remember when I was 5 riding the bus home after school everyday in the fall. I'd get so happy approaching my house, knowing I'd soon be seeing the scarecrow that my dad hung from the tree in our front lawn, slowly swaying in the breeze. It's because of all these little special feelings that I still love Halloween to this day.
That's exactly what my song, "ten thirty one" is about. It's my love letter to Halloween and all the nostalgia and emotions the fall season brings. Inspired by my memories of growing up in my old neighborhood, the leaves changing, carving jack o lanterns, my mom dressing up like a witch, the homemade costumes she made for me and my brothers, watching scary movies, and everything else that comes with the Halloween season. There's even a nod to "John Carpenter's Halloween". One of my favorite movies of all time.
If you feel that same sentimental way about the season that I do, I think you'll enjoy the song. I also made a music video for it. I directed, shot, and edited it last October. I even made the vintage style skeleton mask seen in the video, and the person wearing it is my oldest childhood friend, Brett Schmoltze. The whole thing really was a personal project and I tried my best to capture visually what I saw in my mind when I recorded the song. I hope watching it triggers the same nostalgia and emotions that I felt writing it."
After watching that video it is obvious Billy is not only a talented singer, songwriter and musician, but that his passion for Halloween fuels much of his creative process at times. Billy is also a lover of horror films and remembers many of his early experiences with them. Continue on to read his in depth answers to our Dissecting Fear line of questioning!
AS A CHILD WHAT HORROR FILM OR HORROR CHARACTER SCARED YOU THE MOST AND WHY DO YOU FEEL THEY HAD THIS EFFECT ON YOU?
For me, it was Chucky. I don't think that's an original answer, but that doll literally ruined a few years of my childhood. I could not sleep with the lights off. I made my parents leave the hallway light on and my door cracked open because I really believed Chucky was at the foot of my bed. That movie came out in '88 when I was 4, so this is probably 89 through 92 that my sleep was totally ruined. For a while it was also Michael Myers. When I'd have to go to the bathroom, I'd rn and cover my eyes because if I didn't I'd see that white face in the shadows.
DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF AN INSTANCE OF TWO WHERE THIS FEAR MANIFESTED ITSELF AND HAD AN IMPACT ON YOUR BEHAVIOR?
Aside from truly believing that what my child mind created was real, it only affected me by making me really, really scared. As much as I didn't like being frightened, at the same time it was also a feeling I craved. It was my own choice to be scared for the most part. I begged and begged my parents to rent Child's Play for me. They wouldn't let me rent the actual copy, but surprised me one day with a taped off television version, commercials and all. I assume what they were trying to prevent me from absorbing was the bad language, but curses were the least thing they should have been concerned about. If you take the profanity out of the film, it's still just as frightening! Haha. That taped off TV VHS was my holy grail for a while. I shared it with all my friends. When you are a kid, horror movies are kind of like pornography. They're things you are not "supposed" to be watching and you share them with all of your friends. I must have watched that tape 50 times, until my parents stopped giving a crap and I was allowed to just walk down to the video store on the corner and rent whatever I wanted.
WHAT VHS COVERS OR HORROR MOVIE POSTERS SCARED YOU AS A CHILD AND WHY DO YOU FEEL THE POSTER OR COVER HAD THIS EFFECT ON YOU?
As I mentioned before we had a video store at the end of our block growing up. Like most kids of my generation who love horror, there is a certain nostalgia from the (now extinct) video store horror section. There is the time when you're only able to run by it, trying not to catch a glimpse, then there's the time when you became more intrigued and fascinated by all the box art. I'd stand in the section for what seemed like an hour, just looking. Those are really memorable times for me. I don't think todays generation will ever know that experience. I can't picture them when they're older saying "Hey, remember scrolling through the Netflix queue when were kids? That was awesome!"
The original question though all goes back to Chucky again for me. Seeing that huge (then life sized) doll on the poster for the original Child's Play hanging on the video store wall...I was in horrified love. It's an image that is tattooed on my brain to this day. I was just discussing this very poster last week. I'm refering to the painting of Chucky with his arm outstretched holding the snake voodoo knife. The one that is so beautifully painted it almost looks like a photograph. In fact, for years I thought it was. I am nothing if not a nostalgic grumpy old man, so seeing all the awful, awful photoshopped images that movie studios choose to release our favorite movies in, rather than the original painted covers or posters...honestly infuriates me. I will NEVER understand this choice. I would stare at the VHS covers almost as long as it took to watch the movies themselves.
I do not say this sarcastically at all, but that original Child's Play VHS cover is a beautiful work of art. If that's what art is, something that draws you in that you just can't take your eyes off of, then to me there is no difference between that painting of Chucky and the Mona Lisa. I have been trying to find out who painted that for years with no luck. So if any of your readers have the answer, please let me know. I'd love to read an interview with the artist and to know more about how they were offered the project.
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SCARY? WHEN IT COMES TO MODERN HORROR FILMS? SO MANY PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO SAY A FILM IS NOT SCARY, BUT EACH VIEWER HAS A DIFFERENT DEFINITION OF WHAT SCARY IS TO THEM.
This is a loaded question. It's hard for me to get scared these days, but that does not mean a film isn't effective or good. Take something like Re-Animator. It's not really scary, but it's a great, creepy, fun horror film. It is very rare that a horror movie can scare me. The thoughts or images certain films provoke can be frightening or creepy, but I'm rarely truly scared. It also depends a great deal on viewing conditions. If I recommend a horror film that gave me those feelings to a friend, I always say "Watch it in the dark, if possible with a headset on, and with no distractions. Put down your fucking smartphone for an hour and a half!"
The last modern horror film that honestly scared me was "The Blair Witch Project". Though that is hardly a modern horror film now. I finally sat down to give it my full honest opinion two years ago (after the hype finally cooled down haha). Going back to the perfect horror movie conditions, I watched this alone, in the dark, at 4am with a headset on. It honestly had me on the edge of my seat. I felt lost in the woods with them. I'll have to view it a second time to see if it holds up to my initial opinion. I am really a big fan of a certain atmosphere in movies. Sometimes a movie can not be incredible, but the setting can be just what the doctor ordered. I love woods and leaves and old houses, etc.
WHAT DO YOU NOT CONSIDER SCARY OR NOT LIKE IN YOUR HORROR FILMS?
Little..."creepy"...children. I am so tired of this cliche. It is so overdone and hardly ever scary. But sadly, as with most of the world, we are idiots and apparently eat it up. So they'll keep making that same film over and over again until we stop paying for seats. How many more movies do they have to make where a family movies into a new home and their child suddenly starts acting strange or sees things, or starts drawing morbid images in crayon? and speaking of moving into a new home, I am so tired of every family in a movie being super wealthy. It seems to me that people in Hollywood are so detached from reality. I would find it much easier to absorb myself in the movie's world if the family were living in a small apartment or moderate house. Yes, I understand they try to set a mood, but you don't ALWAYS have to make the parents profession be a writer, actor or work for a popular magazine. Seriously, who are they targeting here other than themselves? I'd sympathize much more with a construction worker or a supermarket cashier.
The second thing I do not consider scary in horror films...internet and cellphones. That can all go to hell. Yes I understand this is the world we live in today, but back to my "old man" comment...I still use a flip phone. I can't stand the use of technology in horror movies, or this tween style generation. I don't find haunted text messages scary, I'm sorry. I would totally be okay with every horror movie taking place only from 2001 or earlier.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR OR HOPE TO GET FROM HORROR FILMS THESE DAYS?
I am not a fan of all the paranormal activity/teen style horror movies of this generation. I am also not really a fan of most supernatural horror films either, unless done right. I mean, is the idea of a walking, talking killer doll realistic? No, but I think it is all in how well a film is made. Direction, special effects, acting etc. Thanks to Tom Holland's direction coupled with Kevin Yagher's amazing effects work, I really believed that Chucky was alive. I feel like crowds today need too much too soon. It is all either terrible cgi, PG-13 jump scares with no real story, or remakes of classic films, but with cgi...and don't get me started on remakes. I don't think you have enough time to hear my opinions on that. Did I mention I am a grumpy old man!?
I honestly don't watch or enjoy many modern horror films at all. There are too many twists that films try to make as well. If it's about a murderer, all I need is a creepy atmosphere and a killer. Take a tip from my favorite horror film of all time, Carpenter's Halloween. I don't need to be shocked at the end. You don't need to try to reinvent the wheel. Like "High Tension" for example. I saw that movie when it came out, and it is one that I own, so I do enjoy it, but I cannot tell you how disappointed I was at the end of the movie. (SPOILER ALERT) when it turns out that it was her the whole time killing everyone, I was deflated. I was so excited while I was first watching it in the theater, thinking to myself "This is awesome. It's just a normal family on a farm and there is a fucking psycho killing them." I did not need a single thing more...and it was all the more frightening and believable for it. That stuff really happens. I didn't need to have split personalities, or some spirit, or to be tricked to have it be effective...it already was. What is more common in the world, random acts of violence or people with multiple personalities?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RECENT HORROR FILM AND WHY?
I honestly could not tell you. Not that I won't watch new movies all (I won't pay to see them in the theater any more though, but when I watch them on Netflix or whatever, they are instantly forgotten. That is not really a good sign if I can't remember them.
LASTLY, DO YOU FEEL THERE IS A CERTAIN WAY OR MINDSET TO HAVE TO WATCH A HORROR FILM AS FAR AS IT BEING EFFECTIVELY FRIGHTENING?
I feel like you either have to go in totally cold, with no or low expectations, and or have the perfect viewing condition...quiet and in the dark. I am a big fan of watching television with a headset on. Not only to block out outside sounds and not disturb people late at night, but it really allows you to get into the movie's world. I have a 55 inch television with a headphone jack. Instead of spending 100 bucks on a wireless headset, I bought a 25 foot cable off of Amazon for 6 bucks and just comfortably watch in bed with my earbuds. I love it.
SHAMELESS PLUGS TIME! FEEL FREE TO LEAVE US WITH SOME INFO ABOUT YOU AND YOUR MUSIC AND ANY FINAL THOUGHTS!
I have been recording as "the ghost in you" for almost 10 years now and have written, recorded and released two full length albums. I am currently working on my third. I record everything myself at home in my bedroom, although my latest song, "fear the fall" was recorded from inside my car. My albums can be found on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Bandcamp (cheapest), or just about anywhere else you can download music from. I was also just released on vinyl for the first time. I recorded a cover of John Lennon's "Oh Yoko" for the double album, "I Saved Latin - A tribute to Wes Anderson". It also features Matt Pond, Juliana Hatfield, Phox, Saint Motel, Sara Lov and many more.
"Ten Thirty One" isn't the only reference to my favorite horror film. I also have a song called, "The Shape" on my second album "Wet Wood". The song isn't about him, but was just my little inside wink to Michael Myers. that song and the rest of my entire catalog can be streamed or downloaded from my official website http://www.theghostinyou.net/ All of my music videos and anything else I create can be found there as well.
You can follow me on instagram at @theghostinyoumusic (this time of year it's mostly Halloween junk)
As many of you know we are avid music lovers here at TrueHorror.net. Last October we released our popular H3: Season of the Synth mix of various Horror themes and music to keep you in the spirit of the season. Earlier this year we teamed up with Canadian artist La Garçonne to launch our new record label imprint TrueHorror Music with her well received debut album As Days Go By.
So here we are in the midst of another October and we have the first of TWO musical offerings to share with you all. While we have another mix in the works for sometime next week we wanted to do something different for you guys to start your weekend with. So we got together with a few friends of ours to put together a compilation of their original music. We did our best to collect songs that have the appropriate vibe of this time of year, whether it is The Ghost In You's tranquil and heartfelt ode to Halloween "Ten Thirty One" or the moody sound of Ryan Harris's "Canadian Pyramids 2". There should be something on here for everyone. We are thankful to be able to include a haunting track from our friends Fleeting Youth Records latest release by a great band Company of Selves entitled "Roman Candles" that we are sure you will all dig and understand why we wanted to include it here. We also know that you have come to expect some synth from our offerings and we made sure to bring that to the table as well with SpaceAceX's pulsating"SpaceHorror" and Ryan Harris second contribution to the project "Zombies Take The Club" while rounding everything out with our very own La Garçonne and her dark, atmospheric song "Vestibule" which we will be releasing the video for very soon. We want to thank all of you who contributed to this project and hope we can work together on something again very soon. Please check out the individual artists pages below for more of their great music. Next week we will also be featuring The Ghost In You as our guest for another entry into our Dissecting Fear series as well.
Do your part to keep Haddonfield safe with our Ordinance 103178 print. This 11 x 17 print from the Haddonfield Sheriff's Department will give you and your home a sense of community pride during the Halloween season as well as help spread the word around town about the dangers of this infamous mask. These will perfectly compliment any Halloween, or Horror fans domain!
Back by popular demand we are excited to offer an all new orange variant of last years sold out print. These orange variants are in limited supply and once they are gone, they will not be reprinted.
It is finally here, the month all of us have been eagerly awaiting. October. While September has seemingly become the official pre-season of the Halloween season, the stakes are raised once October arrives. If you are like us, all your preparation and planning has already taken place, and will continue to do so throughout the first week of our beloved month. We have been slowly preparing the site for this month's festivities. In all honesty we weren't quite sure of everything we were going to be doing or attempting to be doing till yesterday when a moment of clarity hit and everything started to fall into place quite nicely with ideas and discussions with everyone who will be involved.
Last year we had a great deal of fun as it was our one year anniversary. We had a blast shooting our Blood, Babes, & Boogeymen photo series as well as our other photo sets like "Carved" and our Evil Dead and Trick 'r Treat inspired sets. We hosted an online Halloween themed art show that was fun to put together and helped us meet new friends and collaborators. We also our free H3: Season of the Synth music mix and our Ordinance 103178 Myers prints, that we hope helped everyone get into the spirit of the season. This new Halloween season marks our two year anniversary. It has been such an incredibly fun journey, we have had the pleasure of creating with and meeting so many great people, collaborated with awesome talents and get to share it with all of you! This year we have a fun lineup of photoshoots, music, articles, interviews and more to help you get hype for October and stay that way all through the month, capping it off with the big day, Halloween!
Juli welcomes you to October at TrueHorror.net
To start the season and our 2 year anniversary off right, we are proud to present the above photo featuring Juli. It is without a doubt one of our favorite images to date and perfectly captures the spirit of Halloween, the holiday, the classic film, and TrueHorror.net all at once. It is no secret that Halloween is our all time favorite film as we have done Myers and Halloween themed shoots before, We wanted to put a new spin on it with something that felt almost elegant to match the vintage makeover the site has also received this month. We feel it was a no brainer in deciding to choose it to kick things off and be the face of our Halloween campaign for 2015 and are happy to have it be the first image people will see when they hit the site.
Here are some of the things you can look forward to this October on TrueHorror.net!
TRUEHORROR PHOTOSETS:
As always, and as you can see above, our main priority and attraction will always be our photoshoots. This season we have some fun stuff lined up that we hope all falls into place as planned. We look forward to conceptualizing and shooting these to share with you all and hope you enjoy what we come up with this year to help make October that much more fun!
KEEP HADDONFIELD SAFE:
Due to popular demand last years sold out print is back! An all new orange variant of our Ordinance 103178 print has been reprinted in limited supply,and are sure to move fast so grab yours while you can! This print features the banned Myers mask notice directly from the Haddonfield Sheriff's dept.
DISSECTING FEAR:
Our popular interview series will also return this October! We will continue to find out what films horror fans and artists found scary during their childhood and how those fears have changed enterting adulthood. To get caught up on all our previous entries, click here!
A VISIT TO SLEEPY HOLLOW:
An annual destination every season for us, we will take you on a virtual trip to the famous home of the Headless Horseman. Whether familiar or not we feel this will be an insightful look at the real life town known for it's fictional spooky history.
TRUEHORROR.NET'S ESSENTIAL OCTOBER VIEWING:
Everyone has their own list of must watch films during the month of October, and everyone has their own reasons for said list. This is what we will be watching and we tell you exactly why we feel these are the films you too should watch!
HALLOWEEN AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ME:
Much like films, everyone has their reasoning for loving Halloween. It's time to get up close and personal as I delve into my history with the holiday exploring why it has been such a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. I am really excited to share this story with you all as it means a lot to me.
TRUEHORROR MUSIC:
This year we will have three music related offerings for you. We will be debuting the video for "Vestibule" by TrueHorror Music's very own La Garçonne. We will also be following up last years H3 Mix with an all new October Mix for you all to download for free! Lastly we will also be releasing a compilation EP by various artists with tracks that will feel right at home in our favorite month. Keep an eye out for the announcements for all of these releases.
CARVED II
Last year, Carved featuring our good friend Holly, was one of our more popular projects that was meant to be more but due to circumstances beyond our control, we did not have the time to do everything we had planned.This year we are back with Carved II as Holly is eager to reprise her role as...well, Holly. We already have some cool things lined up for this and will keep those under wraps till things progress further. Needless to say, we are excited about it.
So that concludes our first look at what we have planned for October, there will almost certainly be more stuff that pops up that is not listed here as time goes by and we get inspired to do something additional and new. Still we cannot end this without thanking you all for a truly awesome 2 years and hope we deliver everything you have come to expect and then some for the new month. Stay tuned, as we are just getting started!
October brings out the horror fan in all of us, for those that watch it year round, it is just an excuse to watch even more, or makes those viewings more special. For those who get into it simply as part of their seasonal celebration, they may not always know what to watch. Either way, it is always fun to discuss horror films and the reasons why we love them and why we feel you should watch them. Everyone has their opinion on what film constitutes a watch during the Halloween season. However, as far as I am concerned, not all horror films are created equal and certain films play better at certain times of the year. For me, Jason Voorhees during October is a no-no. I feel Friday the 13th films should be watched on Friday the 13th or during the summer, everything has it's place. Many will disagree with me on that, but that is okay. We are selecting movies that fit into October and Halloween for various reasons. Now rather than just give a list of films for you to watch and say "Good luck!" we are going to explain just WHY we feel these films are worthy of your valuable October viewing time. So get ready to take some notes or since it's 2015 just bookmark this list on your phone, tablet or laptop as we bring to you TRUEHORROR.NET'S ESSENTIAL HALLOWEEN VIEWING LIST...2015.
1. TRICK 'R TREAT (2007)
One of the most obvious picks anyone can make, yet there is a reason for that. Trick 'r Treat has become a classic film for horror fans and Halloween lovers alike. The entire film plays out like the best Halloween night anyone could ever hope for. The imagery throughout is absolute Halloween perfection. The film also does a wonderful job of covering the spectrum of ones Halloween life cycle showing how each generation spends All Hallows Eve. Child, Teenager, Young Adult, Middle Aged, and Elderly are all represented here. This is the film that when I watched it I said to myself, I really wish I had made that movie, because for me they nailed every single aspect of what makes the holiday so special. Lastly and perhaps most importantly it introduces us to one of horror and Halloween's newest icons in the pumpkin headed demon, Sam. His popularity grows each year and the demand for his merchandise is always high. There were a few years where I actually was not feeling the Halloween spirit and was in a bit of a doldrums for the month, this is the film that brought back the love I had for the Holiday throught most of my life and I am so thankful for that. I would say it is a great film to watch on Halloween night when all is said and done, but if you need a little help getting in the spirit of things to start the month, Trick 'r Treat will help you get back into it immediately upon viewing. It is the BEST film ABOUT the actual holiday and everything I love about October and Halloween is on full display here.
2. FRIGHT NIGHT (1985)
Vampires and werewolves have long been associated with the holiday, though there are plenty of vampire and werewolf related films that for me, don't feel at home during October. Fright Night is my favorite vampire film and it oozes with a great Halloween atmosphere that hits all the right notes.
It is a perfect late night 80's horror film that tells a "boy who cried vampire" story when Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) moves in next door to Charlie Brewster, a high school kid with a penchant for watching, well...late night horror films. He begins to suspect his new neighbor is something much more than the friendly guy he appears to be. Fright Night has it all, a spooky atmosphere, vampires, fog, vampire babes, werewolves, zombies, a modern day vampire hunter, a great soundtrack all wrapped up in a film that delivers the horror as well as the humor. It is a spooky good time highlighted by some impressive FX work and great performances. This is one of those films that is great for a night watch with a big bowl of popcorn and the lights turned down.
3. NIGHT OF THE CREEPS (1986)
One thing I love to stress about film watching in October is that there needs to be a balance of fun and horror, if all your selections get too serious, you suck all the fun out of the month, if they are all too goofy, well then you lose the fun out of being scared and/or creeped out. Like anything in life, it is all about balance. Night of the Creeps is one of the more fun horror films you can watch this month. It just might be the MOST 80's horror film on this list, it has it's humor, but it also has some great thrills and horror fx as well. So if you want to watch the story of space slugs invading a college campus and subsequently turning it into a zombie crawling warzone, then this is the film for you. I would definitely put this in the watch with a group of friends category and have a blast with it. Top it all off with one of Tom Atkins most iconic performances and you will undoubtedly have a good time with this one! "It's Miller Time!"
4. RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985)
Like Night of the Creeps, this is another that falls into the watch with your friends category, in fact it would make an awesome double feature night with the right crowd. Return of the Living Dead is one of the best zombie movies ever made. Again it is very 80's in the best way possible and it delivers on all 80's fronts blending humor, gore and a famous scene of nudity to boot. While primarily a horror comedy, Return of the Living Dead boasts quite possibly the creepiest zombie ever committed to film in "Tarman". It was one of the scariest and unsettling things I had seen as a kid, and now it's simply awesome. The other zombie effects are equally cool and Return of the Living Dead boasts plenty of zombie mayhem, skeletons crawling out of graves and plenty of cemetery based action to fit right at home in your October viewing. There are "More Braaaaains!" behind this punk rock infused zombie film than at first meets the eye.
5. MONSTER HOUSE (2006)
Hey guess what? Kids love to enjoy Halloween too, and I have no problem saying the movies I have listed above probably aren't great for your little ones to watch just yet. Sure that is all up to the individual parent, but there definitely has to be something more appropriate to watch for them right? Hence, our selection of Monster House, I know this cgi animated film gets a bad rap from some people, but truth be told it is a Halloween film through and through and is ideal for kids as well as adults to watch during the season. The film about three friends and their conflict with the haunted house across the street has a great "Goonies-Amblin-esque" feel to it. It literally opens up with a shot of a bright orange leaf floating through the street giving way to a little girl riding her tricycle through a bed of raked leaves on the sidewalk, the autumn colors are in full effect as is plenty of humor and spooky imagery. The film even takes place on Halloween weekend. Sometimes you just want to watch something light and fun, but still in the spirit, this will fit the bill.
6. FRANKENWEENIE (2012)
In keeping with the theme of our previous selection, Frankenweenie is a perfect addition to your watch list for October. It is a beautifully put together stop motion film and one of Tim Burton's best films since Big Fish and then if you want to go further back, Sleepy Hollow. Corpse Bride could fit in well to watch this month, but Frankenweenie is a superior film in many ways. The story of Victor and loving bond with his dog and best friend Sparky is one that will undoubtedly cause a few to shed some tears, as you truly buy into not only their relationship, but the fact that Sparky is a fully realized character with a personality all his own. By now you know that after an unfortunate accident Sparky is resurrected by Victor (Frankenstein) and all types of hijinks ensue, but what you may not know is that (SPOILERS AHEAD) Frankenweenie turns into a full blown monster movie that homages plenty of classic horror films complete with beautifully animated spooky visuals. It really is a combination of all of Tim Burton's best instincts when it comes to film. The choice to film in black and white was a risky choice for a studio, but the movie would have nowhere near the same atmosphere or impact with out it. This is one film that I find myself wanting to watch the most this year and as of the time of this writing, I will probably throw it on this first weekend of October as my first at home watch of the season. It's truly a work of art that fits in seamlessly among your Halloween activities. Bonus points for anyone that realizes Sparky is modeled closely after another Tim Burton project "The Family Dog"
7. VINCENT (1982)
There is no way we can recommend Frankenweenie and leave out one of Tim Burton's early masterpieces. By now most of you have probably seen or at least heard of "Vincent". The 1982 stop motion short film is a pure work of art, which displays hints of things to come throughout his career including Frankenweenie. Narrated by the one and only Vincent Price, it tells the tale of a creepy boy with an overactive imagination. At only six and a half minutes long, it wont take much time to watch this, but it is best viewed (like any of these films) in the dark. It again like Frankenweenie, captures Burton's best. It is one of those films that I watch and say yes I wish I made this because it is that awesome and in line with my own sensibilities. Stop Motion will forever be my favorite art form and this is one of the reasons for that. Vincent can be found on various Nightmare Before Christmas releases, but you can watch it right here right now!
8. TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE - VARIOUS EPISODES
Any child of the 80's worth a damn knows that eerie intro seen up above all to well. As a kid (and quite honestly to this day) that music made a bunch of streams and trees seem like the scariest thing ever. Many horror fans hold a special place in their heart for this series, some episodes were great, some were absolutely terrible, but such is the power of nostalgia. I personally will always remember watching episodes of this with my dad late at night, with popcorn or whatever snack he might have chosen that day. He also taped a bunch of episodes on VHS for me to watch as well.
Now everyone has their favorite episodes. There is a general consensus on a few, one that is a must watch however is the Tom Savini directed "Halloween Candy" which is the story of an old grumpy curmudgeon who becomes the victim of an overzealous trick or treater. It is this episode that I will always feel is the inspiration for the Sam and Mr. Kreeg segment of Trick 'r Treat. Regardless it is an effectively eerie and fun slice of the 80's tv horror craze.
The other episode which actually terrified me most as a child is "Inside the Closet" the story is pretty straight forward and actually brilliant in the end. Girl rents a room in an old spooky house and something is going on with the tiny closet in her room she cannot open. I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it but it is probably my favorite episode overall. This episode was also directed by Tom Savini with FX by him as well.
Finally the last episode I will bring up is "Trick or Treat" which if I am not mistaken is the first ever episode aired of the show. It follows the story of a mean old man who every Halloween has a strange contest that revolves around towns peoples children entering his house which he has set up as a sort of haunt, and challenges them to last through the scares while trying to find these vouchers for the money the families owe him. By doing so they will alleviate the families debt to the man and he has the best time ever scaring the hell out of the kids. Again without spoiling it, the end is pretty great and appropriately Halloweeny. These three episodes will make for a great hour and a half of frightful viewing, late at night, as it was meant to be with this show. Tales From the Darkside is available on DVD everywhere, but we have included them here for your convenience. It is an awesome trio that will take you back to a different time of television horror.
Trick or Treat :
Inside the Closet:
Halloween Candy:
Can't recommend enough that you give all three a watch!
9. IT FOLLOWS (2014)
One of the most divisive horror films in recent memory, It Follows has seemingly split audiences in down the middle. It has plenty of detractors, and everyone is entitled to their opinions, but for us it is a chilling and atmospheric nightmare captured on film. The film is an exercise in dread and it's believable teen cast go a long way to making you care about their plight. Armed with an incredible musical score, It Follows delivers an off kilter horror experience complete with a very fall like atmosphere that make it a solid choice for your viewing needs this October. Need more convincing? read our full review here !
10. THE FOG (1980)
It's a safe bet that this won't be the last John Carpenter film on this list, The Fog is a perfect watch, for the middle of the month. After all what says Halloween more than fog, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Atkins and a good old fashioned ghost story? The Fog is one of my favorite Carpenter films and we know it will be one of yours as well after you throw this on, during one chilly October night.
11. THE GUEST
As far as I am concerned the Guest is not a horror film it's much more of a thriller/action flick that kind of defies categorizing, still that doesn't mean that it cant be a Halloween film, and what a Halloween film it is. Every scene of October set film is bursting with Halloween imagery, from pumpkins to skeletons and clever nods to the Halloween film series (specifically part 4 and 3). It also features star making turns by Dan Stevens and Maika Monroe. Stevens plays the Menacing David who is equal parts Terminator and Michael Myers. Top it all off with a heavy dose of carpenter-esque synth from Steve Moore and a pulsating Dark Wave soundtrack and you have the perfect flick for a mid October watch when you still want to keep it Halloween but need a break from the ghosts and goblins that populate most of the other horror fair. The Guest wears it's Halloween love on it's sleeve and we love it for that and you will too!
12. Classic Disney "Silly Symphony" Cartoons - "The Skeleton Dance" and "Mickey Mouse in the Haunted House" (1929)
Easily two of the greatest pieces of Halloween animation ever created. The famous Skeleton Dance lives up to it's reputation as one of the coolest things Disney by way of artist/animator Ub Iwerks has ever done for the Halloween faithful. As a big fan of classic Black & White cartoons (Man I miss Late Night Black and White) I always had an affinity for these two shorts. They capture the Halloween mood in all it's glory, watching them in the dark on a cold night, there is just something really comforting about them. These two pieces of animation really are remarkable, especially when considering that they are both from 1929! The animation back then was incredibly fluid due to the techniques used and the backgrounds are all works of art. These are two MUST watches that I can't recommend enough. All the visuals are just iconic Halloween imagery brought to life.You would be remiss if you did not take the time out to appreciate these two spooky masterpieces of a time long gone by.
As a bonus here is an MGM Flip the Frog cartoon "Spooks" from 1931, also animated by Ub Iwerks that is very similar to Mickey in the Haunted House but still just as fun and spooky.
13. TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2
So in my introduction to this article I stated how there are certain films, I just don't consider right for October viewing, I mentioned how I felt Jason and the Friday the 13th Films have no place in October and are much better viewed in the spring or summer, and always more fun ON Friday the 13th. Well I sort of feel that way about Leatherface and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. To me it just feels like a summer horror film and that is always a more appropriate time to watch it. THAT rule goes out the window though when it comes to this amazing film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre part 2. This movie is just too gonzo, creepy, funny, and gory to not be watched this month. As my good buddy Dan would say "It is very macabre!" and that is an understatement. This is my favorite Texas Chainsaw film, from the opening bridge scene that scared the hell out of me as a kid, to the having the best incarnation of Leatherface to his insane chainsaw duel with an equally psychotic Dennis Hopper, this film takes what came before it and expands it into a whole new type of film and mythology, sort of the way Gremlins 2 just went all out berserk after the original Gremlins. There is so much weirdness going on here, I recommend it to everyone I know that will listen. It also introduces audiences to Leatherface's other brother, Choptop, played to disgusting creep perfection by none other than horror legend Bill Moseley. Oh and while we are on the topic of Leatherface, there is only ONE Leatherface and that is Bubba Sawyer, not Jeb, or Thomas Hewitt, no, it's Bubba Sawyer and the Sawyer clan. TCM2 is a horrifically psychedelic, gore fuled trip into madness, if that isn't something to watch near Halloween I don't know what is. Truthfully it deserves it's own article but that will be a story for another day!
This concludes part 1 of our Essenital October Viewing list Hope you all enjoyed reading it and that you get to check out some or all of the titles listed. Stay Tuned for Part 2 next week!
Carved is something I had been working on little by little for about two years with my friend and frequent collaborator Holly. Initially conceived as simply a faux movie one sheet in 2012, it was after some thought and discussion that the decision was made to expand on the concept when I created the mask you see here to wear as a simple Halloween costume last year. The original plan was initially to film a short fake trailer, when I realized that unfortunately I didn't have access to the necessary equipment to do things the right way without half assing anything I scrapped that idea. The next plan was to tell a story sequentially in photos and have them posted on a separate site created especially for the project. Unfortunately due to scheduling circumstances beyond Holly's or myself's control we ran out of time to complete the necessary photography. However, that is not to say we didn't get to create some images that were cool on their own. These images you see here were created as promo images and faux one sheets in the vein of a film marketing/advertising campaign, these were a great deal of fun to work on and conceptualize and I am still totally pleased with the results. So while it is a bummer we weren't able to complete our original goal, We are proud of this set just the same and we hope you still enjoy this look at what we were able to complete. I still feel all are strong, creepy and fun images that serve their purpose of garnering interest in the would be film and honor the spirit of Halloween, and who knows, there is always next year!
