Scarecrow's Blog From the Darkside

 I just watched the opening of Halloween (1978) on Shudder and have the ending on AMC in the background. I wrapped up my reviews for the day, and as October 31st draws to a close, I say adios to what was a really great month that was much needed considering how terrible 2020 has been. As the country is divided, candidates so embarrassing the election is dreaded because they are the best I guess we could come up with (that in and of itself is tragic), and Covid just continues on without an end in sight, I just needed October to help with my own sanity. Michael Myers, Laurie Strode, and Dr. Loomis have occupied a ton of real estate for the last few months. With the 30 second teaser trailer released by Blumhouse being analyzed with a fine tooth comb, and a year to wait for "Halloween Kills", I can safely say I'm happy to have a break from the franchise and its long watched/discussed characters.

 Burt Gummer (Michael Gross, at 73 and just as grizzled and cranky, fired up and ready to go into action as he did back in 1990) in one last go, as this seventh film in the Tremors franchise reaches the 30th anniversary of the first film. This film is set on tropical islands, this go-around, where Bio-tech scientist, Bill (Richard Brake) has an island called Dark Island specifically for hunting. Bill is responsible for four genetically mutated graboids, and the queen (another big one spawned shriekers that burst from it), a massive-sized creature that grabbed an 11,000 pound elephant, is able to not only travel underground but underwater. That's the one Burt knows will be his greatest adversary yet. Look, you've seen one Tremors sequel, you've seen them all. The film does give you graboids with sensor sight right out of "Predator" complete with references from Jon Heder of "Napoleon Dynamite" fame, in the film as a project organizer, with Caroline Langri...

 I remember taking my kids and mother to the opening weekend of Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018) and we were forced to sit right on the front seats. Our necks were sore from bending our heads back. Unbelievably now, it's hard to fathom how "Goosebumps 2" could fill theatre seats, but the first film did have enough good will, I reckon. The sequel really gives Slappy, the ventriloquist dummy RL Stine dedicated a book to and causes nothing but mischief and mayhem in the first film, even more screen time. I know from my own family's reaction to Slappy, he was very popular in our household. My family has seen both films in the theater..."Goosebumps 2" wasn't as substantial after the initial viewing in the theater. In fact, I hadn't given it a second thought after seeing the film. It was on FX, and I figured my son would want to watch it with me. My daughter changed her mind on "Hubie Halloween" (2020), so I asked my son if he wanted to wat...

 So my daughter was wanting us to watch the critically maligned "Hubie Halloween" later, but before that my son and I sat down for an early evening of the "Headless Horseman" segment of the Disney Blu of The Adventures of Ichabod Crane and Mr. Toad (1945), a marvelous classic about the point-nosed, bird-like Ichabod, who vied for the hand of the classic Walt Disney blond all the guys go googly-eyed for, Katrina (with a wealthy farmer father), encountering the Headless Horsemen when riding his horse for home at the Witching Hour. If Ichabod could just make it past the bridge, the Headless Horseman ghost's power supposedly would cease...and yet, what happened to ole Ichabod Crane? Nowhere to be found, nor his horse, Ichabod was gone. Did the Headless Horseman nab him? And what about the horse? I liked how Bing Crosby narrated the special with that ever-recognizable voice, with those clever and witty tones that complement Ichabod's behavior, presentation, and ...

This was before "Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman". Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999) does give plenty of the Frankenstein Monster, skin green with the neckbolts, slight forehead "lightning" gash and grunting speak. Victor Frankenstein returns to his castle (set up within a theme park) to bring his monster, nicknamed Frankie, back to life after an absence due to a mob that prevented him from continuing his work years before (the opening is a flashback in B&W). Meanwhile, the chipmunks have a Halloween themed performance show in the park, eventually encountering both Victor and Frankie. Eventually Frankie and Theodore bond, as Theodore is kind to the monster and that kindness is returned. So we see Frankie eventually turn on Victor, with Theodore convincing Simon and Alvin that the monster is alright. Of course, those attending the theme park will need to realize that Frankie isn't to be feared because of how he looks. Victor tries to ...

  Okay, today is more of a family friendly Halloween. I don't think I'm watching anything today (except perhaps some of "Halloween" (1978) on Shudder) that isn't with family. I didn't even know this animated film (cartoon with musical numbers here and there; I think I counted three) existed but Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000) and "Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein" (1999) were available on Starz / Encore Family, so I recorded them to watch with my son. "...Meet the Wolfman" is fun enough. Dave and the Chipmunks live next door to Lawrence Talbot, a new arrival. Alvin has been having nightmares about the Universal Monsters pursuing him, so he can't sleep well. Eventually Dave realizes all the dolls and posters must go and Alvin will need to swear off monsters cold turkey. Unfortunately, Theodore is bitten by Talbot when he was in werewolf form and eventually becomes a "werewolf puppy" during full moons m...

 With Halloween looming, I have to say the month has been a lot of fun. But I admit, after letting "Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers - The Theatrical Cut" (1995) going in the background while fighting back sleep after working overtime today, I hearken back to September 30th. So much energy and enthusiasm, and November in one of the worst election years in my country's history looms like a gargoyle at the top of Notre Dame ready to break from its perch and strike us down with great ferocity. Still, despite all that, all in all, October has been quite a pleasant diversion. I'm glad I watched horror classics all year, but I admit that I want to separate myself for a few months from any conversation about Michael Myers or the Halloween films/franchise. I need a break.

  The soap opera really continues to eek out of every pore of the second season of Scream. Eli has a restraining order against him by a girl in Atlanta, told to Emma by Sheriff Acosta when she comes forth to tell the sheriff about her and Eli hanging out at the burned-down house (which had the hotel clerk and Seth Branson's bodies). This might be a favorite episode for fans of carnivals as a majority of "Village of the Damned" takes place at Lakewood Fairgrounds and their annual Lady of the Lake pageant. While Emma encounters Ghostface in a Funhouse (the best sequence in the episode, of course), revealed to be Kieran with tape over his mouth and around his hand (knife inside the taped fist) after the sheriff and his cops draw guns on them (Emma pulls the gun from a downed deputy's holster in the funhouse). Besides that bit of drama, there is Kieran punching Eli in the face multiple times after Eli tells Emma about Kieran's troubles with his parents' death (Eli...

Every October I typically watch at least one bad SYFY horror flick centered around Halloween or is shown specifically in the month. This film starring Bailee Madison ("Are You Afraid of the Dark" (2010)) is about a curse that pursues and kills kids the night before Halloween unless they can cause someone (on purpose) to die. Madison is the lead of a small group betrayed by friend, Kyle (Jahmil French), who wants out of the curse and sets them up by causing a knife in a pumpkin to shock Beth (Natalie Ganzhorn)...too bad for Kyle, Beth goes into a coma and is left by her friends at a hospital. Because they were able to avoid the curse when Halloween hits, they're granted a year's reprieve. However, Hallow's Eve hits and the curse returns to pursue the group again. Eventually some among the group betrays each other out of an "act of preservation". The approach is quite serious, although a creature shaped out of flies is Digital effects camp. I couldn't ...

 In all seriousness, though, John Carpenter really did make sure to fucking kill Michael in Halloween II (1981) and yet even with "Halloween 4" (1988) or "Halloween H20" (1998), they really had to stretch logic to the max to bring him back. I can only imagine Carpenter, after the film really shows the burning mask of Michael to close the film to assure us he was toast, had to have been rolling his eyes at any return of The Shape. The Shape was burning. Nonetheless we can't help but want The Shape to just keep coming back. My daughter come into the room and wanted to talk slashers with me after some early going in "Halloween II" where Michael is moving throughout neighborhoods in Cali---Haddonfield, and I realized that my interest in this particular viewing was Dr. Loomis. I think because of the 2018 film seemed to hint at Loomis and bring him up some, he really wasn't such a strong presence. While in "Halloween 5" (1989) this year I was m...

Loomis' iconic description of Michael, his patient, to Brackett in "Halloween" (1978) is obviously the most notably quoted but besides "I SHOT HIM SIX TIMES!!!" by Loomis in the sequel, I think he has another "mythos building" that rarely gets discussed much. I got around to watching my beautiful Blu Ray version tonight finally and I quite appreciate just a great dialogue piece when Deputy Hunt (taking over for the grieving Sheriff Brackett once he found out about his daughter's death) and Dr. Loomis in Halloween II (1981) when they reach the Myers house as locals were throwing rocks and debris into it out of rage (the wake for which Loomis describes the angered "tribe"):  "Haddonfield was a pretty quiet town before tonight." - Hunt "There was a force inside him biding its time. The staff grew accustomed to his immobility and silence. In many ways he was the ideal patient. He didn't talk. He didn't cry. He didn'...

 Piggybacking off of my review from last year:  Hell Fest * I watched this the first time on one of the Showtime channels, but I was watching a podcast on YouTube mentioning that the Blu Ray for Hell Fest (2018) only cost $5.00. I thought that was more than reasonable since this would probably be a Halloween season favorite I planned to eventually add to my library anyway. As cheap as the Blu was, I thought it was a steal considering how incredible it pops off the screen. I have yet to truly experience this film's amusement park aesthetic in all its eyepopping glory yet due to not purchasing an effective enough television. I hope to eventually because "Hell Fest" deserves to be seen in the proper format. I know that many complained about how Amy Forsyth, the lead star of "Hell Fest", was totally dissed when trailers/marketing for "We Summon the Darkness" (2019) were released to the public. I can see why those who loved her in "Hell Fest" woul...

  Most of us are as confused as much as they are. Companion piece to  Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 I looked back at my review for Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000), and I don't remember devoting such extensive word vomit to the film. Nonetheless, I was mulling over when to watch this. Initially, I was planning to watch it back early October, as I watched "The Blair Witch Project" (1999) on October 1st. But that was right before a weekend at the cabins on a little trip into the woods for some rest and relaxation. I still have the same problems with the film as I have in the past. All the inserts (which do look like studio interference) and "what is real?" theme has actually led to a cult following for the film. I do think perhaps this sequel, despite being pooh-poohed on by the likes of me back upon its release--yes, we were expecting something akin to "The Blair Witch Project"--will continue to get a little love.  Because "The Blair Witch Pr...

 I wrote about this wonderful haunted house film back in 2012 to little fanfare:  2012 review This is absolutely my jam. It is everything I look for in a restless spirit film. I think this could be compared side by side with the great  onryō   period during the Japanese "spirit reaching from beyond the grave" surge in significance in the late 90's and early 2000's. And it is in that really cool era between 1973 - 1984 where so many important acting and filmmaking talents were delivering such great content. Yes, I think the pacing of The Changeling ( 1980) will turn off some viewers because of how films are made now. It is about presentation, development of story, the pain of loss, the pursuit of the truth no longer left locked behind a door, under dust and cobwebs, buried at the bottom of a well where Sacred Heart used to be (now a house on top of it). No matter if you are a senator, protected by power and wealth, an orphan given a prestigious name, substituting for ...

  The series, admittedly, is losing me with each passing episode. But I'm just not the demo for it. My daughter loves the series, but she can't stand not knowing the mysteries and revealed to me that Kieran is Ghostface so I have pretty much quit caring. So auto pilot sucks when watching a series, especially a slasher series. I remember digging Harper's Island, perhaps even reviewing some episodes for the blog--not sure why I stopped but I digress...--and the first season of Scream wasn't too particularly bad, although, again, I'm not the demo for "Scream the Series". I have reviewed the first and third seasons so knocking out the second season felt like completing the cycle. For these two episodes, some scenes worth mentioning and plot points: Audrey chloroforms Noah, ties him to an old roller coaster seat, receiving the goods about what he has learned about her entrapment by the killer. Seth Branson is left handcuffed to a bed by Brooke who lures him to ...

 The twist at the end, while I get that it was meant to comment as a message against using violence, vengeance, and vigilantism as revenge for another crime (the death of a child, and parents so overcome with grief that they just want the man who killed him to suffer as they have), I have to imagine many viewers probably felt rather ill at ease spending 90 minutes watching The Tortured (2010), knowing Moseley wasn't being punished but an innocent man instead was (Lippincott). And the torture by Jesse Metcalfe and Erika Christensen is intense and vicious. One scene shows them fuck after burning the guy on their table (even a cigarette on the nipple, pressed down). Torture like crushing his foot in a vice, stabbing his eardrum with a hypodermic, snapping off a toe (complete with a crunch), even cutting him with a scalpel (Metcalfe) and removing organs from his stomach; it can really test your resolve. As the victim cries out in agony, begging it to stop, all of this unpleasantness fo...

  I have never seen Kelly Wenham before. I'm just not familiar with her. I am now. Wow, she is a dynamo. Fierce and seductive, Wenham is THE reason I think to see Double Date (2017), about sister serial killers (well, her other sister, the less eyepopping but nonetheless appealing Georgia Groome, who is actually a sweetheart, seemingly pulled into the whole grisly affair undertaken by Wenham) targeting pickup guys for a specific ritual to bring their dead father back from the dead. Star Danny Morgan (or as he is often referred to by the film, "a ginger virgin"), who also wrote the screenplay for the film, is Jim, an awkward 29 year old virgin, about to experience his 30th birthday without ever having sex. His well-meaning buddy, Alex (Michael Socha), is a bit of a loud, on-the-nose, extreme confidence man, looking to get Jim laid. Wenham's Kitty actually trains to attack and destroy men, sweating it out, her teeth clinched, a ton of rage laid into every kick and punc...