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Movies

15 Second Horror Films

15 Second Horror Films

The inaugural year of the 15 Second Horror Challenge saw 200 entries from 145 directors from around the globe. The result was a fascinating bunch of horror micro-shorts designed to startle and creep the viewer out. Started by Andrew J.D. Robinson, the only rule for this competition was that the films had to be no longer than fifteen seconds.

Guest judges included Lloyd Kaufman, Nicholas Vince, Barbie Wilde, Kevin Martin, Jessica Cameron, Jennilee Murray, Jill Sixx, Uwe Boll, Lee Demarbre, Darious J. Britt, Feel The Fear Entertainment, Cellar Door Film Festival, Here Lies, House of Targ, and Audrey’s Costume Castle.

It is extremely difficult to tell a cohesive story in such a short amount of time. Of course, the staff at TheHorrorofBeingEmily.com were up to the challenge. We created two fun shorts for the competition. Ultimately,  Moriah Burton (our lovely animator and friend) was named as one of the Top Three Female directors for her work on these shorts.

Want to see all the films? Check out Workobey Film’s official 2015 15 Second Horror Film Challange playlist.

If you think that you can do better, submissions will be accepted for the 2016 challenge starting on April 1st, 2016. You can follow the festival through Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all the latest news.

Halloween Cards

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

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Categories
Music

Spooky – Classics IV

Spooky – Classics IV

Spooky by Classics IV is the perfect song for a lover of all things horror. Its jazzy tune has a timeless feel, keeping it relevant and well-known for over 50 years now.

With lyrics like, “Just like a ghost, you’ve been haunting my dreams, so I’ll propose on Halloween”, it is a wonderful theme song for this mistress of macabre.

Halloween Cards

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Home Decor Lifestyle

Halloween Shopping 2015 – Round 2

Halloween Shopping 2015 – Round 2

2015 has been a solid year for Halloween merchandise. Retailers have begun to put out a wide array of creepy fare – and made of the offerings are sturdy and solid. Here are some more highlights of the shopping season:

This 75″ tall animated prop consists of three cackling witches who come to life and stir a big black cauldron. While the cloth is a little bit cheap, the animatronics are well done and the sound works well with the pieces. The cauldron has room for a fog machine (purchased separately) for a spooky effect.  With a little DIY improvement with some fabric, these witches can be an amazing addition to any yard display (but be sure to be mindful of rain, as this can damage any animatronic props).

Target has an impressive selection of sturdy tombstones this year. They are made of a heavy plaster, which should keep them from blowing away in the wind (a problem I often have with my own yard display). The price per item is a little steep, but these products appear to be built to last. My favorite is the “Lost at Sea” tombstone – which is topped by a menacing looking octopus.


I have seen a lot of props, so I like it when there is something a little bit out there and different. Skeleton cats & dogs have been the rage for the past couple years, but Kmart has this fun little 5.5 inch fish. I also have to give it a few bonus points for the clever product description that begins with “Who forgot to feed the fish?”.

There is still time to find all sorts of fun decor for Halloween 2015. Feel free to let me know your favorite finds via the comment section or by tweeting to @EmilyIsHorror !

Halloween Cards

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Entertainment Movies

Around the Cinema: Wolverine

Around the Cinema: Wolverine

Brea-edwards_cinema_night

The Horror of Being Emily’s Mistress of Macabre is returns on another episode of Around the Cinema.

This episode focuses on Hugh Jackman’s recent announcement that he will be done portraying the X-Men character, Wolverine, after his next film. Jackman has gone on record saying that Tom Hardy would be his top choice for a replacement, but the Around the Cinema panel members have their own ideas for the best replacement.

Halloween Cards

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Entertainment Movies

Around the Cinema: Moose Jaws

Around the Cinema: Moose Jaws

Brea-edwards_cinema_night

The Horror of Being Emily’s Mistress of Macabre once again appears as the resident horror expert on Around the Cinema.

Here the discussion is about Kevin Smith’s upcoming film, Moose Jaws. News leaked that in this film Smith would be killing off one of his most iconic characters, “Silent Bob”.  The Around the Cinema panel shares their thoughts and theories regarding the shocking news.

Halloween Cards

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Entertainment Movies

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.

Halloween Cards

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
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!

Halloween Cards

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
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!

Halloween Cards

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
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.

Halloween Cards

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
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!

Halloween Cards

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »