Tuesday, October 31, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, The Houses October Built, In Short

October is coming to a close. The Halloween season is now at it's grand horizon. And tonight will be the last night for most all haunted houses to be visited.

It is always a sad sight in the days after Halloween to see the festivities out by the curb. It's almost as painful as the mid-October shift in stores to Christmas.

But this day is here, and we are can live it. Enjoy it. Be terrified by what we like, be it house, or kid at the door, or movie we enjoy.

So let's head into...


The Houses October Built.

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Tales of Halloween (2016), In Short

Halloween is finally here! Let's party.


But maybe it's not time for that, or maybe you just need your horror fix to continue. So what will we watch. Something about Halloween, obviously. But what to pick?

So hard to choose. So let's go buffet on this. Let's go anthology film. So...



Tales of Halloween.

Monday, October 30, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Hellraiser (1987)

There are many gory horror movies and movie series out there. Some go for the ridiculous. Some go for the ongoing dread. Some are just about throwing some blood around.

And then you have films that take you to another world. Where gore is the beginning of an exploration. Where it acts as a portal for beings outside our understanding.

All you need to do to meet them is...solve the puzzle.


It's time to solve accept the challenge, welcome the suffering, and see if we can come out sane on the other side of...


Hellraiser.

Sunday, October 29, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Dracula: In The Company Of Monsters - An Introduction

It's a cold and rainy day, and sometimes you need more than a good film or show to bolster your Halloween and macabre sensibility. Sometimes, you just want a good read. A tome not so much of forgotten lore, but of enjoyable horror.

And if you need an interesting read, as you enter this new week, try one of the many tales of Dracula tales made into a comic. A mix of dark words, dark deeds, and striking imagery.


Dracula: In The Company Of Monsters.

Published by BOOM! Studios in 2011, this tale takes us into a strange twist in the unlife of Dracula. is he the most evil force to face? This story challenges that idea.

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Star Trek - "Catspaw", In Short

As the last weekend of Halloween comes to an end, we need something comfy. Particularly if where you are is cold right now, we need a mug of something and some good old fun to snuggle up with under a blanket.

So let's set a course, and go to warp. It's time for some Star Trek.


And let's take a look at the Star Trek franchise's only holiday episode. And it's a Halloween one.


Star Trek - "Catspaw"

Saturday, October 28, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Re-Animator (1985), In Short

Sadly, we are heading into the final weekend of our Halloween fun. So it's time to get in what gore and horror we can, hmm?

So let's return yet again to the 80's with a gory comedic classic. One of the Brian Yunza and Stuart Gordon twisted jaunts. A bit of the old Jeffrey Combs that make carnivorous entrails smile.


Re-Animator.

Friday, October 27, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Ghostwatch (1992)

Back before the now that doesn't seem real...

A world of fake news, and utterly ridiculous presidents...

We had, in some ways, a simpler time...

A time when we assumed the news and networks wouldn't screw with us...

That seeing was believing...

Perhaps this was naive...


But it was.


Today, we have Reality TV. Today, we have Reality TV presidents. The circle is complete. But let's go back to a Halloween when the veil between the naivety of the past and the madness of the future was breached for just one night...


Ghostwatch.

Oh, yes. Ghostwatch. The show they only showed once on the BBC. The show that brought in 10's of thousands of angry calls in the hour after it aired. The show that cruelly robbed a nation of their innate faith in...Ah, well. Let's take a look at this.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Ash Vs Evil Dead Season 1

One way to enjoy your Halloween is to have traditions. Sometimes it's a place, or a food. Sometimes it's one or more movies. A good horror series also makes for a nice tradition, particularly if it's one you can binge on windy nights.

And among the recent new series that could prove worthwhile to you is...

Ash Vs Evil Dead.


The series is a continuation of sorts to the Evil Dead movie series. Hey, they never properly sync up as it is, so more or less. We return to the life and times of Ashley Williams. Stock clerk subpar, demon destroyer extraordinaire.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Agatha Christie's Poirot - Hallowe'en Party, Mystery By Night

Halloween is ever a time of spooks and goblins. Even the pranksters and the tricksters love to come out to play. But sometimes, the murderers also get out. And we cannot have that, can we?

At times like that you want the sharpest minds and eyes at work. Through the falling leaves, the rapid dusk, and along the forgotten paths, the sleuths will make things right.

So today let's enjoy the efforts of one such sleuth. Hercule Poirot. Drawn out in the wake of a Halloween tragedy in...


Agatha Christie's "Hallowe'en Party".

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Vampire (1979), In Short

It's time to delve back into TV movies for some more early 80's horror. And what better to mess with than more vampires.

And, hey, this time it is perfectly named movie, with no confusion whatsoever.

Vampire.


But not to worry, when it was first shown in October of 1979 (Hey, what a great time for a movie like this!) it had an ad and opening that helped make it look like a torrid romance...Oh, ad people.



Monday, October 23, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Stan Against Evil Season 1 *UPDATED*

UPDATE: I forgot to mention in this review that IFC will be having a marathon of Stan Against Evil Season 1 this Halloween, October 31, 2017, as a run up to the new season.

I am one for enjoyable horror comedy. It is a subset that some seem to forget, and some seem to look down on it. But for the rest of us, it is a chance to laugh and be startled.

An enjoyable new series started last year on Halloween.


Stan Against Evil.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem

Sitting down for some early morning nourishment. Have to head out on a trip. Perfect time for some Halloween Captain Crunch. I need to fill up on my...green.


Yeah, I know Scotty...


...but it's my cereal.

Anyway, with this I need something else curious. A more recent superhero take. A chance to ride with Batman...and his robowolf...


Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Phineas and Ferb - "Night of the Living Pharmacist"

On the one hand, I think we all need some more toons. But on the other hand, have we had enough zombies? I don't know. This Halloween needs some more more cartoons, but how can I work zombies in? In a fun way.

Phineas and Ferb.


"Night of the Living Pharmacists"


Friday, October 20, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Community - "Epidemiology"

Halloween special episodes of TV shows have come and gone in waves over the years. And in this Binge Age it's strange to have any holiday themes when the show will likely come out at a different time in the year. But, once, Fall was a big time for TV entertainment. And some producers were determined to have their big October episode.

Not every special has been as memorable as one would like today, with our long pop culture memories. But some specials do stand out. Community, in it's run on NBC, liked to play with it's sitcom and TV world rules. The paintball episodes liked to push their world to breaking points. But Halloween was always interesting. In particular their second season Halloween episode is quite memorable to this day.


The show follows a collection of people looking for second chances in their lives, so find themselves at the small and unimpressive Greendale Community College. Jeff the conman/lawyer, is looking for the easy way out. Britta is a self-styled rebel out to help, but struggling with herself. Shirley is a single mom that dreams of opening her own business as to restore normalcy to her life. Annie is a smart kid that struggled with an addiction that derailed her parent's plans, but freed her to find her own way. Abed is a somewhat disconnected young man who likes to see the world through the lens of TV and movies. Troy lost out on a football scholarship when he got hurt senior year, but it's meant he's been able to reexamine his life and find his other passions. And, then, we have Pierce who is a rich older man who enjoys being among the young people and college life. He also likes to push and provoke people to justify his negative opinions, like too many people on Twitter.


So let's all head to class and crack the books on...

Epidemiology.


Thursday, October 19, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, The Comedy of Terrors (1963)

Black comedy is always a pleasure, the macabre can do more than just make you scream. It offers many access to different emotions and different perspectives.

The 60's offered a number of black comedies from production companies like American International Pictures. So let's return to a follow up to The Raven. An opportunity to unite Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and Basil Rathbone on screen.


The Comedy of Terrors.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), In Short

It's Halloween, we are looking at Dracula. Do we need to say much else? Well, yes.

The stories of vampires, and the story of Dracula, prove to have many branches. We see vampires in general, and Dracula himself, in many ways. For Dracula we have the debonair count that so many think of. And then there's that creepy figure, the man who does not seem entirely human.

Nosferatu, a take on Dracula where his less than human characteristics of the books remain and are enhanced. This take started in the famous silent film of the 20's. Then it returned in a major way again in 1979 with...


Nosferatu the Vampyre.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Ghosted - Episode 2 Bee-Mo

I have already covered the pilot of the new series Ghosted. So how can I resist coming back to look at the second episode of the series? Particularly when it's a Halloween episode?


So once more into the world of Ghosted.


Monday, October 16, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Desire, The Vampire (1982), In Short


I always enjoy a new discovery in the world of horror films. And among 70's and 80's TV movies one can find a number of small scale and interesting stories. We've already taken a look at a favorite of mine, The Midnight Hour. Now let's look at one I missed back in 1982

Desire, The Vampire.


Sunday, October 15, 2017

Subspace Reviews: Star Trek: Discovery - Ep 3 "Context is for Kings"

Coming out of Star Trek: Discovery's opening 2-parter we now get into the show's primary storyline. The adventures on the USS Discovery!


NCC-1031. Hey! 10/31? How apt for this month.


Let's see how this story opens.

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Justice League Action - "Trick or Treat"


Another morning, another bowl of Count Chocula, and another chance to delve into superheroes and horror.


This time we can delve into a more recent DC series that would fit nicely into the old Saturday Morning format. Justice League Action.



And the shows has a Halloween episode!


"Trick or Treat"

Saturday, October 14, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Phineas and Ferb - "Druselsteinoween" - It's a thing!

Another weekend, and another chance for some cartoon fun. So let's head back to see how Phineas and Ferb are handle one year's Halloween fun, or rather some Drusselsteinian Halloween fun.



"Druselsteinoween"


And I know what your thinking. "But everyone knows Drusselstein is spelled with 2 S's not 1. What the hell?" I know, man. It's bugged me for years to.

Friday, October 13, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Friday the 13th, In Short

It being Friday the 13th, it would be hard to not include some Friday the 13th into any marathon. And it is tempting to turn to Jason Goes to Hell, as it stars John LeMay, who also starred in Friday the 13th the Series.

But it's hard not to go back to the classics first. And everyone owes it to themselves to start at the start. So it's back to 1980 and...


Friday the 13th.

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Friday the 13th the Series - "Bedazzled" - Friday the 13th on Friday the 13th - Episode 14 - ...The Next Generation?


It seems we've reached another Friday the 13th. And it's in October! What?!

So we have to return to a forgotten tradition on this site. A return to Friday the 13th the Series. More fun with Jack, Micki, and Ryan, as they chase down cursed antiques before the bodies begin to pile up.


Last time we were facing a time traveling vampire. Now we have a seedy seaman, and his evil lamp.

"Beware my might. My cursed lantern's light."

Thursday, October 12, 2017

The Horror Of...The Witching Season - Killer on the Loose

The modern age offers us many paths to horror. Some it may be better to leave untrodden. But online the web of paths can be confusing. But also sometimes rewarding.


In 2014 Michael Balif started a production company. The Witching Season. The intent was to use it to create a horror anthology consisting of short films. The result has so far been 5 such films. Scary tales to light our way through a dark marathon night.



This trailer, while revealing nothing about the shorts, is such a great snapshot of how most of us like to imagine Halloween. The pumpkins. The mist. The leaves. The pagentry of Halloween. And the music evokes such a great John Carpenter vibe.


And being at most 15 minutes long, you have few excuses to not plunge in for the grim and gorey goodness being put out for you. Feast on the dread.

The Witching Seasons productions can be enjoyed though their website or their Youtube channel.

Here's the movie playlist and commentary playlist.


The first of their films is Killer on the Loose.



Wednesday, October 11, 2017

The Horror Off...Halloween Night, Pumpkinhead, In Short

Horror arises from many places. Horror entwines itself amongst our various fears. Horror comes from the living and dead. So call out with me my friends.

Come! Come! Rise again! Seek you vengeance, our Pumpkinhead!


Tuesday, October 10, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Tales from the Darkside - "Trick or Treat"

Halloween has had many classic periods. We each have our preferences. 1820's. 1640's. 1930's. But among the periods that mean a lot to me is the 80's. Good horror themed videos. Good horror movies. And a selection of good horror anthology TV shows.

One of the classics of that period was Tales from the Darkside.



The shows opening and closing are iconic (Composed and written by Donald Rubinstein and Erica Lindsay.).This music helps set up a frightfully wonderful mood of foreboding and dread. It demands you start thinking on the looming nightfall, or just how far away daylight really is. It's exactly the thing, anytime of the day, to set the mood for horror.

The show is an anthology series in the vein of Twilight Zone and the Outer Limits, though it focused far more on monsters, magic, with the occasional alien or techno terror stories. It ran for 4 seasons in the mid 80's.

It was created by George Romero and others to showcase these creepy stories. Among the stories used are Stephen King's and other luminaries of horror and science fiction.


The first story they chose to do was a Halloween tale, which is all so nice for us. And I was pleased to see it actually premiered just days before Halloween in 1983. Now that is how you open a horror series.

So let's see what treat the 80's has saved up for us.


Monday, October 09, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Ghosted - Pilot

You can only hope that networks will try to bring in some new shows that will fit in nicely during the Halloween season. They are not often obliging. Then again, I am all for a more year round Halloween vision.


And like an extra fun size chocolate at the bottom of your bag, FOX has an interesting little show for us to try out this October. And the name is wickedly fitting.

Ghosted.



Sunday, October 08, 2017

Subspace Reviews: Star Trek: Discovery Episodes 1 and 2

Once more we find ourselves on the precipice of the final frontier. Ready to join a new crew of Starfleet officers as they plunge into the unknown. But instead of a series at the edges of Star Trek history, we find ourselves at a midpoint of sorts. Between Enterprise and the original Star Trek.

What ever shall we do?


The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Legion of Super Heroes - Fear Factory


You wake up on a weekend morning...or noonish, you need some Count Chocula and other vital nourishment, but then what do you watch to start up the day's Horror Marathon? You could go off the deep end with The Re-Animator or Hellraiser. But what about that ancient and forgotten ritual of the morning toons?

How about some superheroic fun and fright? And what fun it would be to find it in a future time, when you could rely on a legion of friends to back you up. It's time to take flight.



Legion of Super Heroes - "Fear Factory"



Saturday, October 07, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, Phineas and Ferb - Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror

Halloween is a time for kids of all ages. But some of the kids are actually kids. And some of us have a common mentality to kids. So it's time again to delve into the more juvenile fun and wit that should make any of us laugh like jack o'lantern...Well, smile at least.

So let's hearken back a few years to Phineas and Ferb, and their first Halloween Special from 2013.

Still, for those new to the show, a reminder of what it's about. This is a Disney series that ran from 2007 to 2015. It is the brain child of Dan Povenmire and Jeff Marsh. The show is an animated series  about young kids, a platypus, and a mad scientist that uses humor and song to great effect.

The titular characters are Phineas and Ferb, stepbrothers looking to make the most of their summer vacation. So each day has an insane project to accomplish. Build a time machine. Invent the ultimate roller coaster. Build the largest tower ever. And they tend to be quite successful.


Along the way they have to deal with their sister Candace, who disapproves of the dangerous things they get up to. She continuously tries to call them out to their mom, but is never successful.


Perry the Platypus is the pet of the boys. But he is also a secret agent for OWCA (Organization Without a Cool Acronym). It's there job to keep tabs on and take out mad scientist bent on world domination.


Which leads us to Dr. Doofenshmirtz. He's a mad scientist bent on Tri-State domination. He is driven by jealousy of his brother, who is the successful local mayor, and his own self-loathing. He daily has a new plot that Perry needs to foil.


While the show primarily a summer based series (It broke convention after a time.), they managed to get to Halloween type fun (Halloween will not be stopped!).

So we all get Phineas and Ferb - "Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror".




Friday, October 06, 2017

The Horror Of...Halloween Night, The Old Dark House (1932)

While their is a set of classic horror films people know, many others from the period fall in the cracks. Some found no audience, some were lost, and some just get missed. So let's look at a strangely missed work.

After the fun of The Ghoul let's step back a year to another under appreciated classic from Boris Karloff's filmography. A dark manor house on a dark night filled by a raging storm. A house full of history, secrets, and misery. Then, as the roads are washed away, a collection of young and clueless travelers arrive, seeking shelter from nature's wrath. What ever will they find in the depths of...

The Old Dark House.


One of the next films James Whale worked on, following Frankenstein, was The Old Dark House. It also allowed him work with Boris Karloff again, in the colorful and silent role of Morgan the butler. Morgan is also a drunken and angry man who is held in place by the lady of the house. This also was the first film where Whale and Karloff worked with Ernest Thesiger, who plays Horace Femm. He is a member of the family that own the house, but is cowed by his sister and terrified of the house and it's secrets.

This is also Charles Laughton's first film in the United States. He plays voracious businessman Sir William Porterhouse. The character carries a grudge against wealthy elite snobs that he thinks look down on people like him.


Beyond these 3 men, this is also another production of Carl Laemmle Jr, and from Universal Studios. It has a clear pedigree as a part of the whole of Universal Horror. But it lacks any of the classic monsters, like the film Black Cat, so it ends up excluded.

The story this film is based off is a 1920's book. There the focus is more on the post-WWI period and the impact on the war on the characters. Some of this can be seen in the film. Like with the character of Penderel. He is a friend and hanger on of a married couple. He is casual and jovial, but always is an outsider and disenchanted with the modern world. He's a little lost since the war.

Universal eventually let their rights to the book lapse, and another studio began working another film. At the time in the 1960's, Universal seemed uninterested in this film, and it was at risk of being lost due to neglect. But an enthusiast searched Universal and found the negatives. He then helped get them restored, to ensure the film would be available for decades to come.

And here we are.