Happy Halloween

I Hope Everyone Has A Safe And Fun Halloween Night!

Halloween Flash

Happy Meal Horror

A ghost plunked gobs of worms into the All Soul's decay stew. The witch stirred her delicacy. It simmered, deadly toxins wafted through the dreary unforsaken mansion. The lid clanked. "I must slay a man tonight," she cackled. "Conjured from alleyways, an insalubrious alcoholic."

Daemons reassured her, "We'll add toadstools in one hour." She nodded, whisked her broom to the docks plucking a ripe sailor. She returned. Goblins contributed nightshade salad to the impending feast.

Brandishing razor sharp fingernails, the witch slashed her victim's neck. "Bloody rum toddies for all." Midnight chimed. Vampires raised goblets. "To death."

Happy Halloween!

Favorite Fictional Character --- Frederick Loren

This will be my last Halloween Favorite Fictional Character post for they year, and I think it would be a sacrilege to not have a Vincent Price character at some point.  The problem is he had so many awesome roles that deserve the attention.  Last year I posted about Dr. Phibes, a character he played in two movies.  This year I wanted to go with a more human, relatively speaking, villain.  One of my all time favorite movies is the 1959 version of The House on Haunted Hill.  Vincent Price plays the main villain of the piece, Frederick Loren.

Frederick Loren is an eccentric businessman, with a mean streak a mile wide.  He probably killed his first 3 wives and it looks like he's on his way of getting rid of his fourth.  He has rented a old haunted house, with a very violent past,  to throw her a birthday party, but he didn't invite any of her friends.  Instead he invited 5 complete strangers and offered them $10,000 to spend the night.  The only hitch is that the electricity will be turned off and all the doors and windows will be locked after midnight.  Anyone who is still alive will get the money.  Of course, the demented man had a reason for inviting each of the people he did.  He plays a sick game in the movie, one that he makes sure to win.

What I loved about the character is the sheer genius of the man.  For those of you who have not seen the movie, I don't want to ruin it for you, but I have to tell one key point of the plot in order to gush about the character.  He is able to take a situation, where he was the intended target and turn it around.  Instead of being the victim (which he deserved to be) he got the people who were trying to get him.  And he did it in such a way, that they had no clue.  The were in the middle of celebrating when the tables get turned, loved it.

There are times when I want the bad guy to win, this movie is one of those cases.  Though I must say, there is more than one evil person involved.  I think Vincent Price, as usual, brought such a quiet menace to the role that as a viewer I loved to hate him.  I relished every minute he was on screen.  If you haven't seen this movie and his performance as Frederick Loren I would highly encourage you to do so.  Skip the remake.

I managed to find the full movie on youtube if anyone is interested.

The 3rd Annual Top 10 Sexy Vampire List

I've done this last for the last two years, so how could I pass it up this year.  It seems there is a never ending supply of eye candy when it comes to vampires.  Be they men or women, some gorgeous actors have taken on a role involving fangs and blood.  If you are even a bit curious to see who made the list in 2009 and 2010, please be my guest and go gaze on some undead beauty.  As far as this year, let me introduce you to ten of the hottest vampires around.  But be careful, you may find yourself offering your neck or other place for them to sink their teeth.

THE MEN

Mick St. John, as played by Alex O'Loughlin in the TV show Moonlight.  I'm a sucker for a sexy private eye, there is just something so intriguing about the job.  If you need a private dick to help you out, I'm sure Mick would be glad to lend a hand.

Dracula, as played by Dominic Purcell in the movie Blade: Trinity.  Dracula is a character that should ooze sex appeal, this version does that in spades.  All the other vamps want his blood so they can walk in daylight, here's hoping that if they all look like this, that they succeed.

Aaron Gray, as played by Adrian Paul in the movie The Breed.  Aaron is trying his hardest to stop a war between vampires and humans.  He's in league with a hunky human cop, trying to figure out why a vampire killed a human and if that has anything to do with a virus that can wipe out all the vampires.  It would be a shame for a vampire that looks like this to die any kind of death.

Cash, as played by Channon Roe in the TV show Kindred: The Embraced.  Cash is the Toreador Primogen of Los Angeles and this guys likes it rough.  He wears leather, rides a motorcycle, and is very in touch with his primal side. 

Marius de Romanus, as played by Vincent Perez in the movie Queen of the Damned.  For a man who is over 2000 years old, Marius is looking better than ever.  He is the kind of man that can sweep you off your feet, enchant you with his art, and make you forget the rest of the world even exists.

THE WOMEN

The Countess, as played by Lauren Hutton in the movie Once Bitten.  Being 400 years old is starting to wear on The Countess a bit.  She needs to find a virgin to feed off of in order to stay looking this good.  So if any of your are in the L.A. area, I would advice you to make sure you don't remain a virgin much longer.

Elisabeth Nodosheen, as played by Ingrid Pitt in the movie Countess Dracula.  The bloodthirsty countess has no problem bathing in a tub of virgin blood.  I could show you the picture of her doing just that, but I would have to place a warning on the blog.

Katrina, as played by Grace Jones in the movie Vamp.  The owner of a strip club, Katrina rules her little kingdom with a iron hammer.  She's a tough, dominating woman who doesn't take kindly to being told no.  Her raw sexuality puts her into a class all her own.

Cym, as played by Phina Oruche in the movie The Forsaken.  Cym follows Kit wherever he goes.  She is his lover and his strongman and will do anything for him.  She's tough, sexy, and just a little scary.  If you happen to run into her, run the other way.

Nyssa, as played by Leonor Varela in the movie Blade: II.  Nyssa is a take no prisoners kind of gal.  She's handy in a fight and know her way into a man's heart.  She is destined to rule the vampiric world someday, now she just needs the right man by her side.

10 Giant Monsters Whose Feet You Should Avoid

I had a lot of fun with these lists in 2009, but for whatever reason, I only did one last year.   I've been watching a lot of monster movies for another project and for whatever reason, quite a few of them had some really LARGE monsters in them.  Most of them I had met before, for a few this was the first time they sent me running.  I thought I would share some of these monsters of ginormous size, mainly so you know to run the other way if they ever visit your town.

The Kraken, from the 1981 version of Clash of Titans, will never bother any of you who happen to be landlocked.  It's those of you who live on the coastlines that need to worry about this one.  Then again, he only devours virgins, so at least you now how to prevent him feasting on you.

The giant mutated ants from the 1954 classic Them! aren't going to raid your picnic for your packed lunch.  They have something a little bit larger in mind for their midday snack.  Don't know if they make Raid cans big enough for these guys.

Sadly, if Cthulhu show up, there isn't a damn thing you can do to save yourself.  This alien dark god who has been lying dormant in the Pacific Ocean is going to wake up one of these days.  Hopefully it's well after I'm already gone.

The "impossibly tall creature" from the 2007 movie, The Mist, is just one of many creatures that came from another dimension because the military was playing around with things they shouldn't have been.  It's not only  the biggest, it's also the ugliest.  A hard feat to achieve given the circumstances.

Poor Nancy Archer, the star of the 1958 classic, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.  She has everything a girl could want, well maybe she doesn't.  What this wealthy heiress has, is philandering husband, who would like nothing better than Nancy out of the way.  When she encounters an alien in the desert and is transformed into the 50 Foot Woman, her husband and his mistress better watch out.  If she shows up, let her know where Harry is hiding, and tell her to stay away from power lines.

You can take all your stupid remakes and give me the original King Kong any day.  This 1933 classic is still the only one I will watch.  I know I'm supposed to feel sorry for him, and I do.  But if it comes down to him trampling your city or him taking a rather large concrete dive, if you are smart, you will go with option 2.

The only air powered force of destruction to make this list is Rodan, the aerial frienemy of Godzilla, who will make an appearance later on.  This flying terror made his debut in 1956, starring in his own movie, aptly titled Rodan.  He has been on the side of good and chaos in the past.  But either way, if you see him flying above your neighborhood, just remember one thing.  No matter where he goes, cities get destroyed.

I know Cloverfield is one of those movies you either love or hate, I love.  Either way, the idea of an adolescent monster rising from the oceans and wreaking havoc in New York City is just awesome.  He has no agenda, no goals in life.  He's a scared, hurt kid who doesn't understand what's going on.  The fact he takes out most of city, bites the head off The Statue of Liberty, and kills hundreds of people is just a bonus.

Godzilla, the biggest example of a monster who can't make up his mind.  Sometimes he's good, fighting other monsters.  Sometimes he's bad, leveling cities with his feet, tail and fire breath.  Either way he's a lot of fun to watch, though I don't think I'll be moving to Japan anytime soon.

The hilarious hit of 1984, The Ghostbusters, brought the wonderfully cute Say Puff Marshmallow Man.  The fact he could crush you beneath his gooey foot and may end up putting you on a stick over the campfire, made him even cuter.  If you run into him and don't have a rather large bonfire going, run the other way. 

Little Goblins Ten by Pamela Jane (Giveaway Included!)

Over in the forest 

Where the trees hide the sun

Lived a big mommy monster

And her little monster one.

"Scare!" said the mommy;

"I scare," said the one.

So he scared and he scampered

Where the trees hide the sun.

From monsters to ghosties to goblins, everyone's favorite beasties haunt and howl and rattle their way through their forest home in this silly, spooky twist on the beloved nursery rhyme "Over in the Meadow."

In the past I've been a little hesitant to review picture books, not because we don't love them in this house, but because I've never really know what I would say about a book composed of page sized pictures and very little text.  I will actually say I was intimidated by it.  Even when I agreed to review Little Goblins Ten by Pamela Jane, I was still a little nervous.  I just couldn't let those nerves get the best of me, I had to read this book, even if it meant faces down my fears.

By now you may be asking yourself, what the heck is this guy talking about.  Why would anyone be afraid of picture books and if they were that big of a baby, what would possess them to agree to review one.  I'm not really sure I can answer that first part, well I could, but I would sound like an idiot.  The second part is way easier.  I'm a sucker for all things that smell of Halloween, and since this book full of monster and ghouls was going to be read/reviewed in October, how could I pass it up.

Little Goblins Ten is an adorable addition to any family's Halloween library.  Dragons, werewolves, bats, and skeletons are just of the other little denizens of the forest who are getting ready for trick-or-treating.  From the one little monster, to the three little zombies they are practicing their best tricks to earn the best treats.  Aidan, who at 8 years old, loved the various monsters, even though he's starting to think he's too old for these kind of books.  Despite his fast track to maturity, he really loved the illustrations, by Jane Manning, and the simply rhyming pattern.  I've heard him, when he doesn't know I'm listening, reading the book out loud just to hear the words.  I think this will be a book to keep around the house for many years to come.

Because I loved this one so much, I'm now convinced I need to read her last book, A Vampire Is Coming To Dinner!  I recently read a read a little blurb about it:

Read along as the narrator of this story comes up with some practical rules for dealing with a vampire.  But rules are meant to be broken, aren't they?  From feeding the vampire garlic to filling the house with mirrors, the narrator is doing just that!  With ten full-page gatefolds and a pop at the end of the book, kids will love seeing which rules are being followed and which aren't!  If you're expecting a vampire (invited or not) this is your chance to get ready for a night of pranks and surprises.  It is best to be prepared.  "...a ghoulishly good time." - Publisher's Weekly

I would like to thank Trish of TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to read/review this wonderful book.  Please visit the tour page for other reviews.

Now for the important part, the giveaway!  All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me what your favorite book, movie, or TV Show that is dragged out every year for Halloween.  Leave your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.  Sadly, the giveaway is US only.

The giveaway will end on 10/27/11 at 11:59 pm.  I will then email the winner, who will then have 48 hours to get back to me or a new winner will be chosen.

Favorite Fictional Character --- Eleanor Lance

I'm a sucker for a good ghost story, it's even better when it's on film.  I can sit on the couch, turn off all the lights, maybe eat a bit of popcorn, and get lost in the fear that, hopefully, oozes off the screen.  So for the rest of the month I will be highlighting some of my characters that have graced some of  the best ghost stories of all time.  This will I will be introducing Eleanor Lance, playing by the wonderful Julie Harris, in the 1963 version of The Haunting.

Eleanor Lance, "Nell" to some, has not had the easiest life.  As her sister left the home to start her own family, Nell was left behind to care for the tyrannical, ailing mother.  Needless to say it was the ideal situation for a young woman.  As a result she has turned into a rather mousy woman who is unsure of her place in the world.  Other than some psychic phenomenon early in life, nothing exciting has ever happened to bring Nell out of her funk.  When her mother finally dies, Nell is forced to move in with her sister's family.  She rents out the living room couch and shares half the car.  Nell was afraid that her life would remain the same for the rest of her life, it may have been better if it had.

When Nell receives her letter from Dr. Markway, she feels as if that "thing" she has been waiting for has finally arrived.  When her sister won't let her take the car, Nell steals it and goes anyway.  The entire time she is driving to Hill House, Nell is psyching herself up about the life she is about to lead, she imagines her life once she leaves the house, how this is the turning point in her life.

Once at the home, surrounded by those who will be joining her in the house.  Nell seems to split between two people.  One is confident in her role in the house, the fact that she belongs there doesn't seem to leave her mind.  The other is still that scared timid Nell who was dominated by her mother.  It's fascinating to watch that struggle happening inside of Nell's mind as the house seems to take a life of it's own and the strange events start to happen. 

Some may decided Nell is schizophrenic or, at best, slightly disturbed.  It would be fairly easy to just throw that out there and let that color the her as a character.  I think there was more to it though, I think that enough of her was fully aware of what was happening around her and what was going to happen to her.  I think, that despite the fears such a fate would create, it was the first time she felt she truly belonged to something.  By the end, you know she is scared to death but determined to see the thing through till the end.

I would love to say that she had her happy ending, but if you have ever red the book, seen this movie, or even it's horrible remake, you know she doesn't have that.  What I do think, after many viewing and many readings, is she has the end that she wanted.  She can finally say she's at peace and in the only home her heart ever desired.

She is a wonderfully complex and emotional character that just allows the viewer/reader to be drawn into her life.  There are differences between the movie and the book it was based off of, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, but both versions offer up such a gloriously rendered, three dimensional character that it's hard to notice those differences.  Both are great, both should be devoured by those who are not familiar with them.

Here is the trailer to the 1963 version of the movie.  One of these days I will do full reviews of both this movie and the book, but this trailer will have to do for now.

Favorite Fictional Character --- Michael Meyers (Repost)

I apologize for resposting a Halloween FFC from two years ago, but life has been a little chaotic lately.  Work has been crazy this week, we have the VP in town and we are doing inventory.  On top of that, I haven't been feeling well the last few days and I'm not getting much sleep.  That's part of the reason you aren't seeing a lot of new posts the last week.  I have a few books finished to review, I just need to find the time and energy to do them.  Hopefully next week will be better and you will start to see more reviews going up soon.  In the meantime, please enjoy an introduction to Michael Meyers, the coolest killing machine to ever be created.

I will pass on Jason and Freddy. Laugh at Chucky and Pinhead. Oh, but Michael Meyers is another story. Now I know this isn't the best picture of my silent, slasher hero but it will have to do for this post.

Of all the great unstoppable killers in the history of cinema there is no other that even holds a candle to him. The star of 9 films (2 of them really bad Rob Zombie movies) and a body count any psychopath can be proud of he is a star of the silver screen.

The first time I saw the original Halloween movie it scared the crap out of me. I was 13 years old and really didn't want to watch it at the time. Not because I would be scared, quite the opposite actually. I didn't think it would scare me at all. I remembered watching the firstFriday the 13th movie and the first Nightmare on Elm Street movie and neither one scared me one bit. To me it was a human killing other humans, nothing all that scary. My mom made me watch it though and it terrified the hell out of me. There was something so creepy about Michael.

Jason Voorhees was just as silent as Michael but he wasn't as scary. Michael has a presence about him that is amazing. Whether it's the way he cocks his head or the way he walks he is a killing machine that oozes terror.  I never get tired of sitting on the couch, all the lights off, the jack-o-lantern glowing in from outside, and watching Michael as he does his thing.

Happy Halloween

Have A Fun And Safe Halloween, Filled With Lots of Spooky Tricks And Sweet Treats

Halloween Movies Galore!

One of my favorite things about Halloween is all the scary movies I get to watch.  I love to curl up in bed or on the couch, turn off all the lights, and get lost in a world that terrifies and entertains at the same time.  Now to be honest, I don't like most horror movies that come out anymore.  I think they go for gore instead of chills and they bore me.  I've actually been watching a lot of the old Hammer movies on TCM along with some of of Epix on Demand and my own DVDS.

I've been watching so many movies though that I'm not going to have time to do individual reviews.  So instead, I'm just going to show you I have watched to date.  Now I'm sure I'lll end up watching even more movies, all the "Halloween" movies come to mind, but these are what I have watched so far.

Plus we have watched some more family friendly movies that both Aidan and I like to watch every year.