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Around the Cinema: Wes Craven

Around the Cinema: Wes Craven

Brea-edwards_cinema_night

The Horror of Being Emily’s Mistress of Macabre is now the resident horror expert on Around the Cinema. Check out episode #5 where Emily and the Around the Cinema panel discuss the works of the late Wes Craven.

Screamfest Presents “Darkman”

Screamfest presents “Darkman”. Join Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, for a special screening of Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990).  Dive into

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Games Video Games

Spooky’s House of 1000 Jump Scares

Spooky’s House of 1000 Jump Scares

Spooky’s House of 1000 Jump Scares is an indie game developed by Lag Studios that can be found on Steam. It is a free to play game but does have DLC for $9.99. The official synopsis is:

“Can you survive 1000 rooms of cute terror? Or will you break once the cuteness starts to fade off and you’re running for your life from the unspeakable hideous beings that shake and writhe in bowels of this house? They wait for you, they wait and hunger for meeting you.”

This is Spooky

The game starts out innocently enough – the rooms take anywhere between 5 to 20 seconds to get through and the graphics maintain a cutesy feel; like this little guy:

Hi Little Tree Stump!

The beginning of the game is mostly just cheap jump scares, with the “Specimen 1” monsters (see the above tree stump). These wooden boards randomly pop out every once in a while accompanied by a loud terrifying sound.

But with every 100 rooms, new levels of terror begin. Monsters of increasing strength begin to pursue you and some of the rooms have small puzzles to solve. The player quickly realizes that getting through 1000 rooms will not be as easy as it first seemed. The rooms become more detailed and more sinister, and in addition to new monsters, even the cutesy cardboard-like cutouts degrade into nightmare-fuel.

I Will Never Sleep Again

Gameplay is first-person style. Movement can at times be a little clunky, especially when you are trying to navigate twists and turns in the pathway while being pursued by a terrifying creature. It is not too complex to figure out how to play the game. Of course, there are still challenges as you encounter new creatures – occasionally leading to terrifying death scenes like this:

Wait for it... Wait for it...

Sound is an important part of the game. Aside from being used to startle the player with the “Specimen 1” monsters, it is key in figuring out if a monster is pursuing you. Sure, you can look behind you, but I’d rather not see this:

 The most clever aspect of the game is how the creators weave in references to other iconic horror games. While delving deeper into the house, you go through areas themed like “Silent Hill”, “Amnesia”, “Alice”, and even more. There are also references to non-horror video games, with mini arcade games randomly appearing in certain rooms. These allow the player to take a break from the tension while playing macabre versions of racing games, PacMan, and fighting games. Trying to figure out the references added another layer of fun to the game.

The only area where the game lacks is story – not that we need much to enjoy the gameplay. There is clearly an attempt at some sort of backstory. Throughout the rooms, a scattering of notes can be found, telling the story of another individual who was once trapped in the house. There are also large computers which give an overview of the various “specimens” (monsters), and references that Spooky may be in charge of some scientific research facility. These aspects, however are never fully explained.

Ultimately, the game was terrifying, spooky, and – not so surprisingly – chalk-full of jump scares. Play with the lights out and the sound up!

Screamfest Presents “Darkman”

Screamfest presents “Darkman”. Join Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, for a special screening of Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990).  Dive into

Read More »

2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions

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Categories
Film Friday Movies

“One Minute Time Machine” Short Film

“One Minute Time Machine” Short Film

The tagline of this blog is “My Life of Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy”, but so far I have done very little to address the sci-fi genre. That ends today with this little macabre sci-fi short film.

One Minute Time Machine (directed by Devon Avery) tells the story of James and his marvelous “One Minute Time Machine” which allows him to travel back one minute in time to correct his mistakes while seducing the beautiful Regina. Unfortunately, through his efforts he learns that the machine doesn’t work exactly as he thought, and he must face the unexpected consequences of his actions.

The film won a slew of awards including: Best Screenplay and Best Comedy at the Love Your Shorts Florida Film Festival, Best Editing and Best Short at Other Worlds Austin Film Festival, and the Audience Choice award at the DC Shorts Short Film Festival.

Enjoy!

Screamfest Presents “Darkman”

Screamfest presents “Darkman”. Join Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, for a special screening of Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990).  Dive into

Read More »

2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions

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Categories
Events Movies News

The Nightmare Before Christmas 4D Screening at the El Capitan Theatre 2015

The Nightmare Before Christmas 4D Screening at the El Capitan Theatre 2015

The Nightmare Before Christmas has enchanted viewers since its release in 1993. This monster-filled tale of finding one’s self, breaking from routine, and overcoming boredom is now a staple of movie-fare in the Halloween to Christmas seasons.

For the younger generations who have not yet seen this beautiful stop-motion work of art, the story is very simple: Jack, the King of Halloween Town, grows tired of doing the same thing every year. One day, he discovers the glorious Christmas Town and decides that he will take over Santa’s reign for a year – but he and the residents of Halloween Town can’t seem to get it exactly right, and the results are monstrous.

The El Capitan Theatre will be hosting a series of special “4D” screenings of The Nightmare Before Christmas from October 22 – November 1st. The film has added 3D effects and there will be interactive sensory effects (including lights, scents, wind, snow and fog).

Although I have always preferred this film closer to Christmastime, it is a wonderful event to attend, especially if you are bringing children who have not yet seen the film. On the big screen, it is easier to marvel at all the small details of Henry Selick & Tim Burton’s stop-motion world. While the 3D effects are hard to notice and not as pronounced as they are on films that were made to be 3D, the sensory effects are fun and add a bit of magic to the experience. All-in-all, it is worth going to see at least once in this format.

Tickets are available at the El Capitan’s website.

Screamfest Presents “Darkman”

Screamfest presents “Darkman”. Join Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, for a special screening of Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990).  Dive into

Read More »

2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions

Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions   The Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon is open for submissions! Now in its eleventh year, the 61-day multimedia celebration spotlighting haunted

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Categories
Film Friday Movies

“Downstairs” Short Film

“Downstairs” Short Film

Downstairs, (directed by Lee Boxleitner), was an official selection at Screamfest 2014. The short film follows a foolhardy night security guard who ignores the warnings and ventures alone into the basement of the building. His curiosity brings on the night from Hell as he investigates what goes on Downstairs.

Sam Boxleitner (Lee’s brother) delivers an endearing performance as security guard Flip Schubbers, adding a touch of comic relief to an otherwise scary film.

Enjoy!

Screamfest Presents “Darkman”

Screamfest presents “Darkman”. Join Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, for a special screening of Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990).  Dive into

Read More »

2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions

Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions   The Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon is open for submissions! Now in its eleventh year, the 61-day multimedia celebration spotlighting haunted

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Categories
Movies

Why “Goodnight Mommy” Did Not Work for Me

Why “Goodnight Mommy” Did Not Work for Me

Goodnight Mommy directed by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz is an Oscar-nominated Austrian horror film. After undergoing facial surgery, a mother (Susanne Wuest), returns home to her two sons (Lukas Schwarz and Elias Schwarz), her face completely covered in bandages. The twins soon begin to notice that nothing is like it was before, and begin to doubt that the woman is their real mother.

Below is my take on the film and contains major plot spoilers. Read at your own risk!

More than anything, I wanted to love this film. The long takes and slow exposition were perfect for establishing a tense mood, the costume/makeup design for the mother was unnerving, and Wuest’s performance was spot on. The dream sequences were surreal and terrifying and every detail of the house was interesting and slightly off – especially the large blurry photos. Additionally, the ending shot of the mother and her children staring into the camera for an uncomfortably long time will haunt me and inspire me for years to come.

So where did the film fail? It was a film that needed the plot twist to elicit certain feelings in the audience, but instead of using its twist to its advantage, the twist was clearly foreseeable and the film did nothing to play with audience perception. Perhaps the twist of Lukas’ death is something less foreseen by Austrian audiences, but for American horror fans, we have seen the twist many times before. Within five minutes of the opening scene, my movie companions (who are far less into horror than I) leaned over and whispered, “Lukas is dead”. Thus the magic that could have been present in the movie disappeared.

Now, not all films (this one included) need to have a monster or a fantastic element, but for this film to work and truly get under your skin, it needed to have uncertainty. While some moments do get close – such as the mother inspecting herself in front of the mirror, almost as though she is seeing herself for the first time – these moments are few and far between. We as the viewer never doubt that she is in fact the twins’ mother.

My favorite moment of the film.

There is a lack of perspective and we are unable to ever see things from the point of view of Elias or Lukas. The audience has never seen how the mother treated the boys previously, there is never a moment of serious weirdness from the mother, and we have no context of her behavior towards other people (other than a one-sided phone call that only has her repeating what she earlier said to Elias about “not playing along anymore”). She even begins the film with playing a sweet guessing game with her son(s). This act of kindness immediately undermines the idea that she has been replaced by some horrible new person.

Additionally, the boys’ strange behavior is far more disturbing than anything the mother is implied to have done. Sure, she may have killed the cat (from the boys’ perspectives) but it is far weirder to then take the cat and display it in formaldehyde. It is hard to root for characters that are unrelatable.

The revelations of the photo of the mother and a similarly-dressed woman, and the video of their mother with brown eyes (when the twins corner their “mother”, her eyes are clearly blue), come far too late in the story and are given too little time for consideration or wonder. Within a couple minutes of discovery they are given answers – contact lenses and a friend – with no further discussion in the scope of the film.

This all comes to a head during the torture sequence. There is a difference between effective gore and the overuse of gore just for gore’s sake, a.k.a. “torture porn”. Unfortunately, in this case, since we knew from the beginning that the boy was mentally disturbed and the mother was just a poor woman at her wit’s end, the film turns from a constructive gore to torture porn; we are just seeing a poor woman mutilated and murdered.

Now, if the film had done a better job of creating uncertainty, something changes in the perception of the torture. It is just like the way that no one feels bad when zombies are hacked to pieces or the alien is ejected out into space and killed. There is a much greater horror impact if the audience was almost rooting for the kids in the sequence; if we as the viewer felt like the monster was getting her (gross) just desserts. Then comes the revelation: the fact that all our glee was unfounded – there was no monster, just a poor mother who loved her surviving son. The film was so well-suited for that punch in the gut, its lack was sorely noticeable.

Ultimately, it is a film worth seeing once, but it was not worth the price of a night out and popcorn. Its value lies in the inspiration of what could have been and the directors’ masterful creation of atmosphere. Perhaps an M. Night Shyamalan American remake would bring out the best of this concept.

Screamfest Presents “Darkman”

Screamfest presents “Darkman”. Join Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, for a special screening of Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990).  Dive into

Read More »

2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions

Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions   The Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon is open for submissions! Now in its eleventh year, the 61-day multimedia celebration spotlighting haunted

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Categories
Home Decor Lifestyle

Cheltenham Road Drink Coasters

Cheltenham Road Drink Coasters

Cheltonham Road Coaster Set

Finding items for a vintage Halloween themed kitchen can be hard at times. Paper and cheap plastic plates can be found everywhere, but hardy items that can hold up to everyday use are less common. Plus, as someone who does not want every item I own to have a skull on it, there is an additional level of complication.

Over a year ago, I saw Cheltenham Road at ScareLA and fell in love with their delightfully spooky images. At the time their display consisted of candle holders and nice sets of drink coasters. I purchased a candle holder for my best friend (who says it is a fixture of her Halloween-themed living room) and I bought myself four coasters.

Instead of purchasing a full set, I was able to hand-pick four images from different collections. I took two coasters from the Vintage Halloween set – which depicted vintage Halloween toys and games. The full set contains six coasters and is $24 on the Cheltenham Road Etsy Shop.

And I took two images from theHalloween Coaster Set – which contained made-up Horror businesses from famous legends and lore. The full set contains four coasters and is $20 on Etsy.

After over a year of use, these coasters are still just as vivid and nice as the day I bought them. The coating keeps the images in good condition under normal wear-and-tear and the painted sides have not chipped or faded yet.

These sturdy coasters have a non-slip cork base and are handmade in the USA.

Although I love Cheltenham Road for their Halloween items, they do have a wide-variety of images from comic book-themed to travel-themed. You can find their items on their Etsy Store or in a variety of retail locations in California, Ohio, and Illinois.

These coasters are a perfect fit in my home.

Screamfest Presents “Darkman”

Screamfest presents “Darkman”. Join Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, for a special screening of Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990).  Dive into

Read More »

2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions

Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions   The Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon is open for submissions! Now in its eleventh year, the 61-day multimedia celebration spotlighting haunted

Read More »

2024 Halloween Shopping

Happy Halloween shopping 2024! For over two decades now, the Halloween shopping season has been my main time for household and clothing purchases. Each year, I love to shop around

Read More »
Categories
Events Movies News

The Black Cauldron Screening at the El Capitan Theatre

The Black Cauldron Screening at the El Capitan Theatre

Of all Disney animated features, there is none more obscure than The Black Cauldron. Released in 1985, this film tells the story of a young man named Taran who must protect Hen Wen, a magical pig, who knows the location of the mystical black cauldron. Taran and Hen Wen must find this dark magic cauldron before The Evil Horned King, a diabolical tyrant, seizes it to wield its ultimate power. The story is loosely based on Lloyd Alexander’s The Chonicles of Prydain (a great series to read for those who love the fantasy genre).

Very Bleak

The official synopsis is: “Whoever releases the mysterious Black Cauldron’s power will be invincible! The fearsome Horned King will do anything to possess it, but he is challenged by the most unlikely adversary – a young assistant pig keeper named Taran, who dreams of doing heroic deeds. With a motley team of the brave Princess Eilonwy, a minstrel named Fflewddur Fflam and Hen Wen, a remarkable pig who can predict the future, Taran embarks on a  quest to stop the Black Cauldron’s evil once and for all. Will he have the courage to succeed? “

Evil undead skeletons. A far cry from Bambi.

The darkest of the Disney animated films, The Black Cauldron was released with a PG rating (after being edited twice to avoid a PG-13 rating). Ultimately, its harshness and scariness caused Disney to pretty much bury it until recent years – much to the dismay of fantasy nerds – or rather – fans.

Disney has still not yet fully embraced the film, but a great step forward is the special Halloween screenings that will take place at the El Capitan Theatre on October 15th – 18th, 2015.

Tickets range from $12-$14 for adults, $11 for children, and $11 for seniors. VIP tickets (which include assigned seating, popcorn, a drink, and a souvenir popcorn bucket) are $23 each. Additionally, just like the previous week’s run of Hocus Pocus, on the film’s opening night (October 15th) at 7:00 p.m., there will be an exclusive “Spooktacular Soiree” – which includes an El Capitan Theatre tour, beer, wine, and soft drinks, treats, a private exhibit viewing, and a souvenir photograph.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official El Capitan Theatre website. I hope to see you at the theater!

Screamfest Presents “Darkman”

Screamfest presents “Darkman”. Join Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, for a special screening of Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990).  Dive into

Read More »

2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions

Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions   The Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon is open for submissions! Now in its eleventh year, the 61-day multimedia celebration spotlighting haunted

Read More »

2024 Halloween Shopping

Happy Halloween shopping 2024! For over two decades now, the Halloween shopping season has been my main time for household and clothing purchases. Each year, I love to shop around

Read More »
Categories
Home Decor Lifestyle

Halloween Shopping 2015 – Round 1

Halloween Shopping 2015 – Round 1

Now that Labor Day has passed stores are beginning to display their Halloween wares in full force. Below are some early highlights of this Halloween shopping season:

These vintage-style lanterns are 7″ Wide, 3″ Deep, and 12.5″ High. They are made of a light-weight tin with vivid accent colors. Use them with LED candles or tea lights to add vintage Halloween flare to your decor.

Although pricey, this bright tablecloth with vintage-Halloween-inspired images would fit perfectly in any spooky kitchen. It is a linen/cotton blend 70″ wide by 108″ long.

Joann Fabrics is the mecca for all things crafty. This Halloween season they are stocking a mix of some old favorites and a bunch of new prints. From Bats to Cats to Pumpkins, there are a variety of choices to make the perfect Halloween quilt or craft.

These 10-ct string lights appear to be covered in a monstrous green slime – a unique little touch that sets them apart form regular string lights. The bulbs are a little large, but they certainly make a scary statement.

Fall is the perfect time for soups. This burnt orange pumpkin cocotte is a wonderful addition to an autumnal table and can be functional in the kitchen year-round. Though expensive, it is build to last; it is dishwasher safe, oven safe to 500 degrees, and has a lifetime warranty.

These are just some of the early highlights of this shopping season. Keep an eye out for all the new and exciting Halloween fare stocking the shelves of your favorite stores!

Screamfest Presents “Darkman”

Screamfest presents “Darkman”. Join Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, for a special screening of Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990).  Dive into

Read More »

2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions

Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions   The Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon is open for submissions! Now in its eleventh year, the 61-day multimedia celebration spotlighting haunted

Read More »

2024 Halloween Shopping

Happy Halloween shopping 2024! For over two decades now, the Halloween shopping season has been my main time for household and clothing purchases. Each year, I love to shop around

Read More »
Categories
Movies

“The Visit” Review

“The Visit” Review

The Visit directed by M. Night Shyamalan’s was released on September 11th, 2015. This found footage horror film concerns two children who visit their grandparents for the first time.  While their mother goes on a cruise, Becca and Tyler spend a week with their grandparents. Things start out wonderfully, but it soon becomes apparent that something is terribly wrong.

After a string of disappointing films, this newest Shyamalan movie was a pleasant surprise. The film has a well-balanced mix of horror elements and humor, with a relatable cast that keeps the story believable and engaging.

Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould play Becca and Tyler (respectively). Children actors can make or break a film – but they certainly make this one. The found-footage style gives them plenty of moments to fool around and act like normal kids, leading to many of the lighter moments in the film. Their brother-sister dynamic mirrors many of the real-life families that I have seen. They remained consistent and believable even as their situation becomes more and more bizarre. As a viewer you root for them and hope that they come to no harm.

Becca is a budding young filmmaker, which allows Shyamalan to include many jokes filmmakers can truly appreciate – like everyone and their brother saying that they used to be an actor. These moments of humor ease the tension and only help to emphasize when the plot turns dark – though I would characterize the film as more comic than horror.

Deanna Dunagan and Peter McRobbie shine as the progressively scarier grandparents. Through the course of the filmic week we see them degrade from a picturesque couple to something far more sinister. Dunagan truly shines in her interview scenes, switching from sweet Grandma to hysterical at the drop of a hat.

This film marks a comeback for Shyamalan. None of the film feels like it has been forced for the sake of a twist and there are many memorable moments – from the comedy of Tyler’s rapper alter ego to genuinely tense scenes like a game of hide and seek below the house. The film feels like it could fit in with the “Family Horror” of the 1980’s. It certainly has its dark moments, but with strong child protagonists and a lack of gruesome gore, this film would serve as a nice gateway for the young adult sect to experience the horror genre (for those children whose parents are not horror addicts and let them watch Chopper Chicks in Zombietown at four-years-old). There is some nudity of the elderly grandparents, but it is all handled in a tasteful manner.

I hope that this film fares well at the box office. It has a unique premise and is not reliant on gore or visual effects. With all the generic “Sinister”s and “Insidious”es, horror fans need to support different films (even though Blum still produced this one). The only way to get more creative films is to vote with your movie-going dollar. It is certainly worth a watch and will have a place on my movie shelf once it is released on DVD.

Screamfest Presents “Darkman”

Screamfest presents “Darkman”. Join Screamfest Horror Film Festival at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, for a special screening of Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990).  Dive into

Read More »

2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions

Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon Open for Submissions   The Haunted Attraction Network’s 2025 Hauntathon is open for submissions! Now in its eleventh year, the 61-day multimedia celebration spotlighting haunted

Read More »

2024 Halloween Shopping

Happy Halloween shopping 2024! For over two decades now, the Halloween shopping season has been my main time for household and clothing purchases. Each year, I love to shop around

Read More »