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Hocus Pocus Screening at the El Capitan Theatre 2017

Hocus Pocus Screening at the El Capitan Theatre 2017

Hocus Pocus is a quintessential Halloween film for anyone who grew up in the 1990’s and has since become a sort of cult classic during the Halloween season. The film stars  Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson Sisters and showcases character actor Doug Jones as zombie Billy Butcherson. The plot is simple: after moving to Salem, a teenage boy accidentally raises three witches – The Sanderson Sisters – from the dead. He teams up with his sister, his crush, a talking cat, and a zombie to save all the town’s children from the Sanderson Sisters’ wrath. Can they survive this Halloween night?

This October, Disney’s El Capitan Theater in Hollywood will screen this film as part of their Halloween film line-up. Screenings will take place October 6 – 15th, 2017. This is an amazing film that is fun to watch on the big screen with a large audience. No doubt, Disney will put on a great pre-show. I highly recommend it as a fun experience that is well worth the ticket price. Standard tickets are $14 per adult and $11 per child/senior. VIP tickets are $23 per person and include popcorn in an El Capitan Theater souvenir tub and a 20-ounce drink. The movie itself is 105 minutes and there is usually about 20 minutes of pre-show fun prior to the screenings. Don’t forget to also listen to the Wurlitzer organ music before the show as well. I usually plan out a few hours for my whole experience.

Disney is also offering a “Spooktacular” Backstage Tour package with film viewings. The website promises that the tour will share the history of the “ghouls and haunts” of the historic building. It will take attendees into areas of the theater rarely open to the public. The theater requires advanced reservations for these tours. Contact the theater for pricing.

Seats are limited and all showtimes are subject to change without notice. For more information and to buy tickets, check out the El Capitan’s official website.

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Film Friday Movies

“Killer Kart” Short Film

“Killer Kart” Short Film

My  favorite horror films take something mundane and turn it into something extraordinary – they find the horror in the things we interact with or experience every day. One of the most creative films I have seen in this regard is “Killer Kart“, a short film by James Feeney.

The plot is pretty standard: Cass (actress Christine Alicia Rodriguez), a grocery store manager helps her staff close up for the evening only to find that it is anything but business as usual for the night. The remaining staff find that a monster lurks the aisles, ready to devour all who cross its path. What sets this horror-comedy apart is that the titular monster is in fact a sentient grocery kart. The audience can never be quite sure whether it should laugh or scream as the kart continues its rampage of carnage.

“Killer Kart” was created as a student film for The Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts in 2012, but still holds up as a fun watch. Its practical effects add to the horror and humor – using real creativity in the creature design and the kills. It played at numerous film festivals around the United States, including Screamfest Horror Film Festival (what I believe to be the pinnacle of horror festivals in the U.S.). It is still one of my favorites of the Screamfest short films and I am very excited to be able to share it with the readers of this blog.

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Film Friday Movies

“Who’s Hungry” Short Film

“Who’s Hungry” Short Film

Horror animations can sometimes be even creepier than their live-action counterparts. One such film that sends shivers down my spine is “Who’s Hungry”, a black and white 2D animation from animator David Ochs.

Ochs made this five minute animation while at his freshman year of college at California Institute for the Arts. It received the “Peer’s Pick Award” in 2009, meaning that the CalArts Student body selected it as the best student film of that year.  Ochs would go on to work with Pixar and Cartoon Network Studios after graduation – far less horrific pieces to be sure.

“Who’s Hungry” is a modern spin on the Brothers Grimm’s “Hansel and Gretel”. Lured by the promise of sweets, two siblings find themselves captured by a horrific being and must escape before they become the monster’s next meal.

Even without dialogue, the film does a wonderful job of conveying the tension and stakes for the characters, and “Turkey in the Straw” has never sounded more macabre as the anthem of the evil ice cream truck man. The distinctive drawing style depicts a nightmarish setting. Can the two children find a way out in time?

Enjoy!

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Events News

Son of Monsterpalooza 2017

Son of Monsterpalooza 2017

The Original “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” The Voice of The CryptkeeperHorror Actor Extraordinaire
Actor, “The Thing” Actress, “Species I-III”

Here are the hours for the 2017 event:

Friday, September 15th: 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 16th: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 17th: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Pre-sale tickets are $25 each ($30 Cash-only for Saturday tickets at the door). Full weekend passes are $60 each. Children ten and under are free.

Son of Monsterpalooza is going to be a fun event and a great place to stop by for your Halloween 2017 preparations. See you there!

Son of Monsterpalooza returns Spetember 15th – 17th, 2017 at the Marriott Burbank Hotel and Convention Center.

Son of Monsterpalooza is the offshoot of the yearly Monsterpalooza event (currently at the Pasadena Convention Center each March). The Monsterpalooza events focus on monster creation – from sculpting, creature effects, and makeup. Guests can look forward to makeup demos,  a museum of art/sculptures, and panels with their favorite artists/filmmakers. Their show floor showcases some of the best artist talent in the Southern California area – including: Todd Robey, Abbybelle, Toxic Toons, Dan Litzinger Fine Art, Fiendish Thingies, E.I. Makeup School, and so many more. They also include a decent lineup of celebrity guests – perfect for autograph collectors. Celebrity talent for this fall event includes:

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Attractions Destinations Events News

Haunted Harbor 2016

Haunted Harbor 2016

This weekend – Saturday, October 15th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Tonwanda gets the Halloween treat it deserves – Haunted Harbor! Haunted harbor has been a family-friendly staple of the city of Tonawanda for a number of years now. It is wonderful to hear of so many families asking about when the event will be held each year and looking forward to supporting the haunt.

The Event

This non-profit event is oversaw by a fantastic group of volunteers including the brother-sister team of Jeffrey and Sarah Lavin.

Why yes, my best friend is this cool.

They work year-round on thinking up the unique themes, creating props, and marketing the event. It is truly a labor of love. This past September the group raised money at the local Fall Fest to purchase new props and supplies to entertain the masses that will flock to the harbor on Saturday.

So many cute handmade crafts!

The event includes a frighteningly fun walk-through haunted house, trick-or-treating, and spooky decor in the area, on cars, and in the boats on the canal. For an event that is set up all in one day, it is truly a spectacular sight. Check out a video of last year’s event:

Why You Should Go (Besides the Fact that it is Awesome)

Local events like Haunted Harbor are extremely important parts of communities. Not only do these fun-filled gatherings bring people together for a shared experience, they allow people to be themselves by dressing in their favorite Halloween costumes, and spark new friendships as people learn that they have a mutual interest. Halloween is not a holiday we celebrate alone – it is a time for us to go out into our communities, share our treats (or tricks), and for one night get to know each other.

The crowds gather for the 2012 Haunted Harbor.

The Haunted Harbor staff should be very proud of their creations year after year for the great City of Tonawanda (and also the not-as-great-but-still-okay City of North Tonawnada). The event strengthens the community and showcases the talents of a caring and hard-working group of volunteers.

We out here in SoCal wish you the best this season and hope that your event finally has a non-rainy year!

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News

Horrible Imaginings Film Festival Podcast Episode 159

Horrible Imaginings Film Festival Podcast Episode 159

The Horrible Imaginings Film Festival is a non-profit organization in San Diego that showcases macabre and horrific films each September since 2010. Run by the amazingly nice Miguel Rodriguez, this festival features a wide array of horror shorts and features from all over the world. The 2016 event occurred on September 7th – 11th at the San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts.

My favorite aspect of the festival is the wide variety of types of horror films selected. Miguel spends countless hours curating an intriguing line-up that has something for all types of horror lovers. My favorite blocks are usually the animated shorts block and the supernatural block. There are often other unusual themes, such as “Child’s Nightmares”, and the festival includes a special block of LGBT films (which included such gems as 2015’s Sanguine Craving). Miguel also promotes local talent, giving the spotlight to San Diego/SoCal filmmakers whose films are showing at the event.

This past August, Miguel curated a short film block for ScareLA. The block included films from a variety of HIFF’s 2015 screening blocks. Audiences had a second chance to view: ChompCogasGhost TrainHowl of a Good TimeLunch HourMr. DentonNo Turning BackReborn (or The Young Woman and the Snail)Sanguine Craving, and We All Go The Same – my personal favorites from the HIFF 2015 lineup.  It was a pleasure to work with HIFF and help promote not only the fest but all the amazing filmmakers participating as well.

While prepping for the event, Miguel took the time to have me on his podcast to discuss short films, ScareLA, and my background in the horror genre. We covered a lot of ground in the 45 minute episode and I managed not to make too much of a fool of myself.

You can listen to the podcast in its entirety here.

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Film Friday Movies

“Sloven” Short Film

“Sloven” Short Film

Sloven is a short horror film directed by Marc Cartwright and starring Baker Chase Powell that was included in the 2016 ScareLA Screening Room line-up in the “Halloween Tricks” short film.

Living with roommates can be tough – they can touch your things, mess up the apartment, and generally make your life a living nightmare. The protagonist of this short comes home one Halloween night to find that his roommate has left the apartment particularly messy – or could something more sinister be afoot?

This short film is concise and wonderfully twists a common plight into something fantastic. I particularly love the Halloween costume mask used – it is certainly a memorable and creepy piece. After watching the film, my roommates and I agreed to never leave costumes strewn about the apartment.

Happy viewing!

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Music

“The Ballad of Mona Lisa” by Panic! At the Disco

“The Ballad of Mona Lisa” by Panic! At the Disco

Panic! At the Disco is not necessarily a band that tops most people’s lists for horror-related music, but they do have more than one connection. Aside from their contribution to the soundtrack of the horror film Jennifer’s Body  (“New Perspective”), this band has infused a horror-steampunk vibe into their music video for “The Ballad of Mona Lisa”.

The band has quite the assortment of interesting music videos, usually featuring lead singer Brendon Urie in a variety of weird roles. “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” was released on February 1st, 2011 as the first single from their 2011 album Vices and Virtues, and the music video (directed by Shane Drake) was released a week later on February 8th.

TheBalladofMonaLisa_1

The story line of the music video concerns a Victorian era funeral with steampunk costumes and decor. A “grieving” widow and an ensemble of steampunk mourners are saying goodbye to their beloved friend for the final time. A ghostly man (the deceased) walks through the crowd during the gathering, but is unable to communicate with the living. The widow and the guests prepare the body for the final viewing and wake. Onscreen graphics outline the steps:

Rule #1: Open a Window

Rule #2: Close the Window 2 Hours Later

Rule #3: Stop All Clocks and Cover All Mirrors

Rule #4: Bathe the Body

Rule #5: Lay the Body in White

Rule #6: Allow the People to Wail and Lament

TheBalladofMonaLisa_2

But not all is as it seems to the guests at this gathering. Once the wake is well underway, the restless spirit guides a young girl (the only one who can see him) to a note in the deceased’s pocket, naming his killer – the lovely widow. Quite distraught, the crowd turns on the murderer and the dead has his justice.

This may be a stretch to tie to horror, but I still love the macabre theme of the music video. I hope you enjoy it as well!

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Simulated Dead People Webseries

Simulated Dead People Webseries

What if a new technology could let you speak to the dead? Well, at least a computer simulation of the dead person. What would that mean, not only for the living but for the consciousness of the simulated deceased?  Simulated Dead People is a web series that appeared in January 2016 to explore this fascinating sci-fi topic. The series is directed by Adam Butcher.

SSimulatedDeadPeople_Poster

As of the date of this post, four episodes have been uploaded. Each is a vignette of different dead people and their respective visitors: a dead son and his aging parents, a father and his grieving daughter, a rockstar and the reporter investigating his suicide, and two lovers now forever apart. The episodes are mostly stand-alone pieces, but there has been a reference or two between episodes (for example, the reporter in episode #3 mentions a friend who couldn’t stop visiting her dad after his death – most likely a reference to the daughter in episode #2). Only time will tell if the series will continue in this manner, or if the stories will begin to interweave.

SimulatedDeadPeople_ScreenShot

The set design is minimalist – all the action takes place in a white room at a table with a clear line separating the living from the dead. The costume design is also simple but poignant – the dead all wear the same gray sweatsuit while the living pop in brighter colors against the all white background (adding to the theme that they do not quite fit in the simulated world).

SimulatedDeadPeople_ScreenShot_2

I have yet to figure out exactly where this series fits on the spectrum of sci-fi/horror/drama. Each episode is clearly character-driven, focusing on the drama between the living and the dead, and the various stresses that the simulation places on both parties. This drama seems to be overshadowing the sci-fi aspect of the premise, but there is also a background feeling of dread, as if something unseen will soon come to the surface. Perhaps the sense of unease and creepiness stems from trying to look at the world from the perspective of the deceased. They are forever trapped in the simulation as those around them age and change. They cannot eat, they cannot grow older, and they can never leave. This series has a lot of potential to explore the horrific possibilities of the world.

You can view the series on the Simulated Dead People Youtube Channel.

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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

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Take part in a spirited séance aboard the historic – and haunted – Queen Mary with 57 Ghosts. From Master Magician and Apparitionist Aiden Sinclair, this 90-minute immersive experience takes

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Ghostbusters at the Nuart

Ghostbusters at the Nuart

Ghostbusters was released in 1984 and was the top-grossing comedy film until 1990 (when Home Alone surpassed their record). To this day, it is still one of the most-loved horror-comedies across generations, having spawned a sequel, animated series, video game, and a much anticipated female cast remake (coming to theaters in the summer of 2016).

Ghostbusters

Written by Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis, the film follows a quirky bunch of oddball scientists turned ghost hunters, who find a way to capture and rid New York City of a variety of ghosts, spirits, poltergeists, and marshmallow men. Not much more explanation is needed, as this film is still a pop culture phenomena – just ask anyone “Who you gonna call?” and they will scream “Ghostbusters!” out of pure reflex instinct.

This Friday, February 19th, 2016, the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles is having a midnight screening of the spectacular film. This is your chance to see this gem on the big screen! This is particularly exciting for those of us who were not born during (or not old enough to remember) the original release. Tickets are reasonably priced at $11.00 per adult and $9.00 per child or senior. Get your tickets directly from Nuart here. The Nuart Theatre is located at: 11272 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Los Angeles, CA, 90025. Be sure to get your tickets early, as this is likely to be a popular screening. I hope to see you there.

Bring your proton packs, don’t cross the streams, and remember – when someone asks you if you’re a god, you say “YES”!

The Nuart Theatre regularly shows a variety of fun and interesting films not often screened in regular theaters around the country. For more information on upcoming screenings and events, check out their website.

You didn’t actually think that this post would end without including the theme song from Ray Parker Jr., did you?

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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

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Take part in a spirited séance aboard the historic – and haunted – Queen Mary with 57 Ghosts. From Master Magician and Apparitionist Aiden Sinclair, this 90-minute immersive experience takes

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