Chad

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The Checklist:


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Theme Nights:


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31 Film Subset:


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Chad

Gobear

First-Time Viewing:59
Blu-Ray:8
DVD:40
TV:21
Netflix:16
StageVu:2
YouTube:44
Other:6


Getting to know me..

First Horror Movie..
Fiend Without a Face

Favorite Horror Movie...
Night of the Living Dead (1968)

First Thing That Ever Frightened Me In A Horror Movie...
When I was a wee tot, I had nightmares after watching a monster made of medical waste rip a man's throat out in The Brain That Wouldn't Die, which turned up on late night horror shows in the 1960s and early 70s.

Favorite Type of Horror Movie...
Lovecraftian cosmic evil

Movies that made me love the Horror Genre...
The Vincent Price/Poe pictures directed by Roger Corman

Favorite horror movie score/song...
The soundtrack from Phantom of the Paradise

Last time I saw a horror movie that creeped me out...
The Cabin in the Woods in the Regal Gallery Place multiplex in Washington, D.C. - April 2012

Sep. 30 (dusk)
1. Rosemary's Baby (1968) DVD--Hail Satan! A classic of paranoia. I'm not a huge fan of Mia Farrow, but she is perfect as poor Rosemary Woodhouse, the sweet Catholic girl who has been chosen to bear the child of the Devil. Can't wait to trade in my dingy Paramount DVD for a new Criterion Blu.
2. The Last Wave (1977) DVD--I enjoy movies that explore aspects of the supernatural from other cultures, so Peter Weir's film about the clash of Western and Aboriginal cultures is one of my favorites. Richard Chamberlain plays a Sydney lawyer who becomes entangled in Aboriginal magic and prophecies of rain that will end the world.
3. Kuroneko (1968) Blu-Ray--A mother and daughter are raped and murdered by rogue samurai, and return as vengeful spirits who lure samurai to their deaths. Kaneto Shindo's direction breathes pure creepy evil into this breathtakingly scary movie.

Oct. 1
4. Terror Tract (2000) TV--John Ritter plays a real estate agent showing houses with cursed pasts to a young couple. The highlight is Bryan Cranston fighting an evil monkey.
5. Street Trash (1987). YouTube--Somehow I missed this back in the day; the film makers think the hijinks are hilarious (I don't care how jolly the music is, an obese freak having sex with a female corpse isn't funny, not to mention playing "keepaway" with a severed penis). I just did not get why it has such a cult following. The gore scenes are well done, but the story overall is nonsense, not to mention it's incredibly sexist. The basic plot (such as it is) has to do with a scumbag liquor store owner selling booze that dissolves the bums who guzzle it, but there's also a psycho ex-Vietnam vet terrorizing the other hobos and the cop who wants to take him down, played, oddly enough, by a real-life Vietnam vet and cop.
6. Penumbra (2011) Netflix--I definitely enjoyed this nasty little shocker from Argentina. Lesson of the day: Know who you are renting to, and always have enough minutes on your phone.
7. Blacula (1972) DVD--William Marshall's performance belongs in a better film. He brings a genuine seriousness to his performance as an African prince turned vampire and set loose on early-70s funkified L.A.
8. Dark Fields (2009) Netflix--I really liked this story of human sacrifice across 3 generations of a cursed community that must kill children to bring a rain that heals them from a hideous disease. It helps that it has Dee Wallace, David Carradine, and Richard Lynch.

Oct. 2
9. Night of the Big Heat (1967). YouTube--A fun classic that used to turn up on late night TV when I was a kid. Very similar in plot to Island of Terror, except that instead of bone-sucking monsters, this film has evil aliens intent on incinerating humanity. The big alien reveal, though, makes them look like rolling blancmanges that you would think a person could easily outrun.
10. The Raven (1963). YouTube--Despite the star power here (Price, Lorre, Karloff, and an impossibly young Jack Nicholson half a decade before Easy Rider) The Raven is one of the lesser AIP Poe pictures, mostly because the comedy seems forced. Still, it's a darn good time.
11. The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967). StageVu--To quote Peter Griffin, "It insists upon itself." Polanski tries way too hard and mistakes frenetic action with comic timing. Beautiful cinematography, though, and the Grand Ball scene is a classic.
12. Sometimes Aunt Martha Does Dreadful Things (1971). YouTube--Best described as a mashup of Charlie's Aunt and Psycho. A couple of sorta-gay criminals are lying low in a Florida suburb. They seem to be involved, yet one guy, Stanley, is going out with girls although their touch makes him go crazy, while the other, Paul, who is masquerading as his aunt Martha as a disguise from the law, is psychotically jealous. Because that's how us gay guys roll.
13. Toxic Zombies (1980). YouTube--A bunch of dope growers get sprayed with a pesticide that turns them into zombies, and they prey on unsuspecting hikers. The lead actor and director, Charles McGrann, was killed in the WTC on 9/11.

Oct. 3
14. Shuttle (2008). TV--A quartet of young people board an airport shuttle at LAX and come to regret it. A very well-made film, but difficult to watch because the violence and suffering seemed too real.
15. Mansion of the Doomed (1976). YouTube--Finally, a YouTube movie that is actually fun instead of a grim slog. I had never heard of this flick before, but it has a terrific cast: Richard Basehart, Gloria Grahame, and a young Lance Henriksen as the doctor's first victim. Basehart plays an eye doctor who steals eyes from other people to give his daughter sight.
16. The Dentist (1996). Netflix--Another movie I had never gotten around to watching. To be honest, I found it trite and boring. I was expecting more Grand Guignol.

Oct. 4
16. Dr. Giggles (1992). DVD-- Now this is more like it. Dr. Giggles is much more fun than The Dentist with better deaths and a more "let's have some fun with the premise" mindset.
17. Satan's Triangle (1974). YouTube--I love that this was uploaded to YouTube with the opening intact. That ABC Movie of the Week opening just makes me feel 10 years old all over again. It's interesting how in the 1970s the Bermuda Triangle was a hot topic for paranormal enthusiasts and the subject of a slew of horror and sci-fi flicks, but 40 years later seems to have fallen off the pop culture radar. I remember the end scaring the bejeebers out of me.
18. The Devil's Daughter (1973). YouTube--I don't remember this one, but it's a lot of fun, following the trope of the innocent being mired in a conspiracy that everyone she meets is part of, similar to Rosemary's Baby and The Sentinel.
19. The Cabin in the Woods (2012) Blu-Ray--What a hoot! Whedon and Goddard's take on horror tropes is also a commentary on horror audiences, whose expectations sometimes bind film makers to making formulaic flicks to sell tickets instead of being able to take creative risks.
20. Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil (2010). Netflix--I'm glad I finally got around to watching this. What a hilariously goofy movie! Plus I really like Alan Tudyk in anything.

Oct. 5
21. V/H/S (2012) TV (VOD)--For me, "found footage" films work because they are the modern equivalent of the epistolary novel, telling a coherent story through letters and diaries, transposed now to iPhone videos. But because this is an anthology, there's no chance for any of the stories to build suspense, so we are left with a lot of noise and shocks that don't amount to much.
22. The Worm Eaters (1977). YouTube--The title isn't kidding--worms are eaten, in closeup and color. If you can stomach this very Troma-ish movie, it's about an old codger whose land is stolen by some evil developers, who he feeds worms and turns into worm-men.
23. The Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933). YouTube--Terrific Pre-Code shocker.
24. Wake Wood (2011) Netflix--One of the best horror films I've seen in a long time. Sometimes, dead is better.
25. Count Yorga, Vampire (1970) DVD--Tiny budget, but a lot of energy, and Robert Quarry brings a real gravitas to his role as the infernal Count Yorga.
26. The Dead (2012) Blu-Ray--Good movie! The reviews I read bagged on it because it uses the standard zombie tropes, but that's what I want--no fast zombies, no thinking zombies, just your standard shambling dead. Instead of the usual set pieces set at night in a confined space, this movie takes place in broad daylight in the West African savannah.

Oct. 6
24. Rubber (2010) Netflix--Amusing, but too precious by half and overly fond of its use of literary tropes. I have to admire the way the director makes the audience view Robert the tire as a thinking being.
25. Touch of Death (1988). YouTube--I didn't enjoy this, although the twist on the killer was original.
26. Zombies of Mora Tau (1957). TV--Would have been much more entertaining as an MST3K episode. Bizarrely, it's set in Africa, but not a single actual African in the film.

Oct. 7
27. Prom Night (1981) DVD--Despite its flaws, this is still a slasher classic.
28. Return of the Living Dead (1985) DVD--"Send more paramedics!"
29. I Walked With a Zombie (1943). TV--"Jane Eyre" in the West Indies

Oct. 8
30. Piranha (2010). TV--Inferior to the 1974 original, but still well worth watching.
31. Invitation to Hell (1984). YouTube--A blast from the 80s. Robert Urich plays an aerospace engineer who has to save his family from the clutches of a demonic Susan Lucci.
32. The Haunting (1999). TV--Every bit as awful as I remembered it. How do you screw up a movie with Liam Neeson and Lili Taylor?
33. The Exorcist (1973) DVD--How Father Karras got his groove back.
34. The Shining (1980) Blu-Ray--No beer and no TV make Homer do something something?

Oct. 9
35. Shaun of the Dead (2004) (with cast commentary track) Blu-Ray--How's that for a slice of fried gold?
36. The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (1974). YouTube--An unknown gem. I would have loved to have watched this at the drive-in way back when.
37. More Brains: A Return to the Living Dead (2010). Other--A fascinating retrospective look at the backstage shenanigans behind the making of Return of the Living Dead
38. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) DVD--Despite being nearly a century old, this masterpiece of Weimar-era German Expressionism is still enormously influential in horror, especially zombie films.
39. The Simpsons, "Treehouse of Horror XXII"/ "Treehouse of Horror XXIII"/ The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976) YouTube--A camp classic/ Le Manoir du Diable (1896) YouTube-Cinema from the 19th century!
40. Deadgirl (2008) Netflix--Not really a zombie movie, but more of a morality play about ethics for teenagers, something like Bully or River's Edge. Two teen boys find a woman bound to a table in a disused building, and one decides to use her as a sex toy. Hilarity ensues.

Oct. 10
41. The Host (2006) Netflix--Watching a film set in Seoul makes me a little nostalgic for the place.
42. MST3K: Werewolf (1995). Other--A good Mike episode. "Where O Werewolf?" is a classic skit (and Mike looks adorable in a poodle skirt)
43. Creature From the Haunted Sea (1961). YouTube--Really needs Mike and the bots to make this murky, incoherent mess tolerable.
44. From Hell It Came! (2010). Other--Somehow a killer tree stump lacks a certain dramatic "oomph".
45. The Thing (1982) DVD--One of the few remakes that is better than its original. Kurt Russell + John Carpenter=Awesome
46. Tarantula (1955) YouTube--"Leo G. Carroll was over a barrel when Tarantula took to the hills"
47. Gayracula (1983). Other--Watching old gay porn gets pretty sad when you think about how almost all of the cast died way too young.
48. The Haunting (1963) TV--Not to take anything away from Lili Taylor's performance in the 1999 remake, but Julie Harris really captures Elinor's neediness and desperation. "I was expected!" THIS is how you do a haunted house picture.

Oct. 11
49. Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010). TV-- Tsui Hark, wire-fu, and a spotlight on the Empress Wu, one of the memorable villains of Chinese history. Black magic kills Tang dynasty court officials by causing them to burst into flames. Detective Dee is on the case!
50. Dead of Night (1945). TV--If I had seen this as a child, I would have been more impressed. As it is, I was more interested in how the upper class accents used by the characters in the different stories contrast sharply with the chav talk one hears in British films today. Everyone praises the ventriloquist story, but I thought the bit with the haunted mirror was much scarier.
51. The Norliss Tapes (1973) YouTube--A less successful Dan Curtis TV-movie that was clearly intended to be a series pilot. A missing reporter's tapes reveal a story about a sculptor who has risen from the grave to complete a work that will allow a demon to enter our world.
52. Deep Red (1975) YouTube--Terrific giallo, although Dario Argento cheats the viewer because initially it looks like this will be a supernatural thriller, then it turns into a serial killer story.
53. Mother's Day (2010). TV--Interesting remake. Didn't love it. The only genuine horror element here is that Mommy is a baby thief.

Oct. 12
54. Chopping Mall (1986) DVD--The Daleks would kick the Protector robots' asses. Nice Eating Raoul shout-out in the opening scene.
55. Slaughter High (1984) DVD-- The plot was lifted from Terror Train, and the cast are a pack of Brits trying to sound like Americans, with varying degrees of success. The poor kid who played the killer committed suicide around the time of the movie's release. It's his only screen credit.
56. Class of 1999 (1990) DVD-- I liked this a lot. Not a great film, but killer robots, Malcolm McDowell, and Pam Grier make this a total hoot.
57. The Stepford Wives (1975) YouTube--Ten years ago, I thought this movie was scary but quaint; who knew we'd be forced to agitate for the social equality of women all over again? Thanks a heap, GOP!

Oct. 13
58. Blood of Dracula (1957) YouTube--It's hard to see poor Nancy as the villain here-- her rotten father and his new bride ship her off to boarding school and she gets turned into a vampire by an evil teacher. None of that is her fault, so she really doesn't deserve what happens to her.
59. MST3K: I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957) YouTube--Poor Michael Landon plays a teen with anger issues who is used by Whit Bissell as a subject in a hypnotism experiment that turns him into a werewolf. Oddly, he had hairy palms before the hypnotism. The references in the riffs from Mike and the 'bots are really dated; Richard Jewell jokes?
60. Forget Me Not (2009). Netflix--This is the kind of movie that really needs a noisy audience to watch it with, since it can't really stand on its own. I wanted to yell, "Don't reach for that girl in the pond, she's going to drown you!", "Don't go in there!" and so on.

Oct. 14
61. Interview With the Vampire (1994) DVD--My partner and I quote this film to each other more than any other, particularly when we're enjoying wine; "I want some more!"
62. Tremors (1990) DVD--A monster movie with energy and a real sense of fun. Kevin Bacon really sells it! "Can you fly, you sucker?"
63. Little Shop of Horrors (1986) DVD--One of my favorite musicals, I just wish Frank Oz had done a better job directing the film. At least he kept the original Greek chorus (2 of whom also starred in the TV show "Martin") and the incomparable Ellen Greene as Audrey. Need to get the Blu-Ray with the restored original ending.

Oct. 15
64. Colin (2008) Netflix--I was pleasantly surprised by the strength of the writing and direction of this film, showing the collapse of London in the zombie apocalypse as it follows the peregrinations of one of the undead.
65. Celluloid Bloodbath (2012) Netflix--A fun collection of horror movie trailers and short interviews.
66. Re-Animator (1986) DVD--Jeffery Combs was born to play Herbert West. Absolutely one of the funniest and most repulsive movies ever made.
67. Young Frankenstein (1974) DVD--Peter Boyle does not get enough credit for his versatility as a character actor. His duet with Gene Wilder in "Puttin' On the Ritz" always gets me on the floor.
68. Trilogy of Terror (1975) YouTube--The first 2 segments are OK, but the Zuni doll finish is a horror classic.
69. Curse of the Undead (1959) StageVu--An entertaining vampire western. It's a shame Eric Fleming died so young, he might have had a successful film career.
70. Frankenhooker (1990). Other How can you not love a picture with exploding hookers?

Oct. 16
71. The Frozen Dead (1967). YouTube--Dana Andrews plays a Nazi scientist, 20 years after the end of the war, hiding in London while experimenting on the bodies of frozen German soldiers. Then his niece and her friend show up, and well, things happen. . . Why do severed heads in horror movies develop ESP?
72. The Pit (1981). YouTube--This is the kind of movie that needs a remake instead of classics like Fright Night. It has a good idea, but flawed execution. And who wouldn't want their own pit full of hungry monsters?

Oct. 17
73. The Loreley's Grasp (1976). YouTube--Fun Eurotrash monster movie, basically a pretext for a cheesecake fest.
74. Wishmaster (1997) DVD--Andrew Divoff is terrific as the human face of the djinn. It's always surprising to me that good actors never seem to break out of playing low-budget films.
75. Shivers (1975). YouTube--Not my favorite Cronenberg, but still effective. Parasites invade an apartment building, unleashing the ids of its hosts.
76. The Unknown (1927) TV--Lon Chaney was an amazing actor, and here he indulges in some body horror decades before Cronenberg showed up, plus a young Joan Crawford in her sex kitten phase.
77. Waxwork (1988) DVD--I haven't watched this in years; what a terrific movie! Plus as a tribute the horror genre, it could have knocked off most of the checklist if I had watched it earlier.
78. Noroi-The Curse (2005). YouTube--Slow and plodding. I like the idea of an ancient demon being unleashed by modern negligence, but the film is just too long.

Oct. 18
79. Horror of Dracula (1958) TV--The first and best of the Hammer Dracula series.
80. The Lift (1983). YouTube--I liked the American remake better.

Oct. 19
81. M (1931) DVD--Starting with a child singing a horrible nursery rhyme in game, Fritz Lang's masterpiece M descends into the depths. Absolutely amazing performance from Peter Lorre as the child murderer.
82. Ghostbusters (1984) DVD--"If someone asks you if you are a god, you say YES!" Still funny after all these years.
83. Apollo 18 (2011) TV--The key to "found footage" films is that we are voyeurs to supposed real events caught in the act, but Apollo 18 comes off as sterile, artificial and mind-bendingly stupid.

Oct. 20
84. White Zombie (1932). YouTube--Ordinarily, I love pre-Code horror, but the sound is so muddy it's difficult to understand, and the acting is stuck in that stilted, stagey style one sees in early talkies. However, Lugosi stands out as Murder Legendre the voodoo master.
85. The Lair of the White Worm (1988) DVD--Ken Russell mangles Bram Stoker's novel, but the highlight of the film is Amanda Donohoe's deliciously over-the-top performance.
86. Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) DVD--Not as good as his earlier comedies, but Mel Brooks still can make Bram Stoker's vampire count hilarious. It helps to have seen the Lugosi film because this borrows heavily from it.

Oct. 21
87. The Birds (1963) DVD--Still a classic.
88. The Mist (2007) DVD--For my money, one of the best adaptations of a King book. The end still packs a wallop.
89. Chosen Survivors (1974) DVD--The government kidnaps and drugs a cross-section of Americans and shoves them into a bunker in New Mexico, ostensibly to ensure the survival of the human race after nuclear war. They just didn't expect vampire bats.
90. Land of the Dead (2005) DVD--A lot of people dislike intelligent zombies, but it's been done in other films.

Oct. 22
91. Shocker (1989) TV--Cheesy 80s fun. Mitch Pileggi (Skinner on The X-Files) plays an executed murderer who lives through electricity and is chasing future director of Battleship Peter Berg to wreak his vengeance.
92. The Devil Rides Out (1968). YouTube--Christopher Lee plays the hero for once in this epic tale of black magic and devil worship in 1920s England. What would Jeeves and Wooster think?

Oct. 23
93. Thirst (2009). Netflix--A Korean priest becomes a vampire in this awesomely disturbing flick from the director of Oldboy.
94. The Grudge (2004) Blu-Ray--This was scary back before we were inundated by scary child ghost movies from Japan. Still, Sarah Michelle Gellar got a trip to Tokyo.

Oct. 24
95. The Mummy (1932) DVD--For my money, Boris Karloff's most expressive role.
96. The Mummy's Hand (1940) DVD--The first and the best of the cheesy Universal sequels, this established the mummy mythology of Kharis and tana leaves.
97. The Mummy's Tomb (1942) DVD--Lon Chaney Jr. takes over as Kharis.
98. The Mummy's Ghost (1944) DVD--Kharis turns up in Cajun country as seen by Hollywood because this bears no resemblance to the LA I know.
99. The Mummy's Curse (1944) DVD--Kharis and Anaka rise from the swamp to terrorize Cajuns some more.
100. Cockneys Vs. Zombies (2012). Other--After East London construction workers free the living dead from an excavated tomb, a gang of old age pensioners and young wannabe gangsters have to fight for survival, with less posh accents than Shaun of the Dead. Gory and funny, this really deserves a bigger distribution.
101. The Thompsons (2012). Other--A sequel to The Hamiltons, in which the vampire family finds another group of blood drinkers in rural England.

Oct. 25
102. Severance (2006) Netflix-- A film that is a cross between The Office and Deliverance as employees of the London branch of an American defense contractor head into the forests of Hungary for a weekend retreat, only to find themselves the victims of unknown killers.
103. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter (2012) Blu-Ray--I never learned about this chapter in Honest Abe's life! It would have been more fun for history fans if the details of Lincoln's life had been more accurate so that the vampire mythology would fit in more seamlessly
104. The Skull (1965). YouTube--Peter Cushing plays a collector of occult objects who acquires the skull of the Marquis de Sade. Hilarity ensues.

Oct. 26
105. The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) YouTube--Don Knotts never gets his due as a screen comedian. This movie's a classic.
106. The House That Would Not Die (1970). YouTube--One of the benefits of TV is that it gives a third act to the careers of actors whose Hollywood glamour has faded. Case in point: the awesome Barbara Stanwyck, starring in this haunted house drama when a mere 2 decades before she was making classic films with Burt Lancaster and Gary Cooper.
107. Crowhaven Farm (1970). YouTube--An ABC Movie of the Week that is actually worth watching, about a couple who move into a spooky old New England farmhouse. The wife starts to dream about Puritan witch trials and a creepy young girl with a secret moves in with them.
108. CHUD II: Bud the CHUD (1988) DVD-- Not really related to the first film, since Gerrit Graham is more of a zombie and not a mutated monster, this is played for laughs. Not bad if you're in the mood for downmarket 80s horror-comedy. And how badly had Robert Vaughan's career crashed since The Man from Uncle that he's in this?
109. The Innkeepers (2011) Netflix--Incredibly effective and eerie ghost story.

Oct. 27
110. Psycho (1960) DVD--Hitchcock is still the master of horror and suspense. His adaptation of Robert Bloch's story is still scary as hell, even after all these years.
111. Carrie (1976) DVD--There's no way the new remake can match the terror of the final scene in the original.
112. Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1965) TV--My only problem with this sequel is the weak third act.
113. Dracula Has Risen From the Grave (1968) TV--Much better than the previous film, a highlight of the Hammer Dracula series.

Oct. 28
114. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) YouTube--Naughty or nice? BWAHAHAHA! A disturbed teenager dresses like Santa Claus and slays the naughty. I'm glad I finally saw this because I remember there was a mass of outrage over the film's blend of gore and Christmas. Fun Fact: Leo Geter, who plays one of the victims, lived in my dormitory hall in college.
115. The Omega Man (1971) DVD--Sandy has me feeling apocalyptic.
116. Maximum Overdrive (1986). YouTube--It's easy to criticize Stephen King's only directorial effort, but taken for what it is, it's not that bad.
117. Duel (1971). YouTube--It's a shame this film has remained unknown because it's far superior to the usual run of made-for-TV movies, probably because Steven Spielberg directed it before he found success with Jaws.

Oct. 29
118. An American Werewolf in London (1981) DVD--I'm not a huge John Landis fan , but this is still a classic werewolf film. The trouble with making films contemporary, though, is that they become anchored to the time they were made. AAWiL is forever anchored to 1981, especially with the final credits card offering congrats to the wedding of Diana and Charles.
119. Curse of the Werewolf (1961) DVD--Enjoyable, but a little hard to swallow Oliver Reed as a Spanish werewolf. Grrr, arrghh, olé !
120. Laid To Rest 2 (2011). TV--*I watched this on Fearnet On Demand for the checklist, but it sucked me in. Chromeskull ought to become an iconic Halloween character.

Oct. 30
121. Chillerama (2011). Netflix--How did the producers of the juvenile crapfest rope in a good actor like Ray Wise? The first segment with the giant killer sperm was stupid, but the gay werebear segment was mildly interesting (Brent Corrigan clothed; how novel!), and I kinda liked the zombie story.
122. Faceless (1987). YouTube--Jess Franco rips off Georges Franju. And what the hell is Telly Savalas doing in this?
123. The Devil's Rain (1975). YouTube--So much about this film makes no sense, but if you just suspend your disbelief and go with it, it's a fun ride.
124. The Devil's Carnival (2011). Netflix--From the makers of Repo: The Genetic Opera, a musical morality tale that borrows from Aesop's fables. Loved it.

Oct. 31
125. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982). YouTube--"Happy, happy Halloween, Halloween, Halloween! Happy, happy Halloween, Silver Shamrock!"
126. Bugs Bunny's Howl-o-ween Special (1974). Youtube A relic from the 70s, this is a Halloween special cobbled together Frankenstein-style from clips of Warner Brothers animated shorts. /South Park, "A Nightmare on Facetime" (2012) TV--Randy Marsh goes Shining/ It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!, (1966) TV/ Key & Peele, "Halloween", (2012) TV
127. Hellraiser (1987) DVD--I can't believe Clive Barker's classic turns 25 this year.
128. The Last Man on Earth (1964). TV--The most faithful version of Matheson's novel and one of Price's better performances. It's a shame Will Smith's film couldn't have been this good.
129. Trick 'r Treat (2007). Blu-Ray--Best Halloween movie ever, with an EC Comics gloss!
130. Murder Party (2008). DVD--Absolutely gonzo comedy.
131. The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974). YouTube--An interesting collaboration between the Shaw Brothers and Hammer that takes advantage of the kung-fu fad of the early 70s. Loved it.

Checklist:


31 Film Subset


Theme Nights

Giles

01. Island of Lost Souls 10-1
-----with commentary track ☼

02. Hotel Transylvania (3D) 10-1 ☼

03. Resident Evil: Retribution (3D) 10-2 ☼

04. Re-Animator BD 10-2

05. Underworld: Awakening BD 10-3
----- with commentary track ☼

06a. Ghost Hunters episode: Ghostly Refuge 10-4 ☼

06b. Paranormal Witness episode: "The Abduction"] 10-4 ☼

07. The Nightmare Before Christmas (3D) 10-4
double billed with:
08. Frankenweenie (3D) 10-5 ☼

09. House at the End of the Street 10-5 ☼

10a. The Simpsons: episode: "Treehouse of Horrors XXIII" 10-7 ☼

10b. Bob's Burgers: episode: "Full Bars" 10-7 ☼

10c. Ghost Adventures: episode: "Palmer House Hotel" 10-7 ☼

11. The Exorcist: The Beginning 10-9 ☼

12a. Regular Show: episode: Terror Tales of the Park II 10-15 ☼

12b. South Park: episode: A Nightmare On Face Time 10-25 ☼

12c. Modern Family: episode: Open House of Horrors 10-25 ☼

12d. The Big Bang Theory: episode: The Holographic Excitation 10-25 ☼

13a. Paranormal Witness: episode: The Cabin; The Ghost in the Garden 10-17 ☼

13b. Ghost Adventures: episode: Black Moon Manor 10-17 ☼

14. Little Shop of Horrors / 1986 / 103min 'Director's Cut' ☼ / BD 10-17

15a. Ghost Hunters: episode: Paranormal Politics 10-18 ☼

15b. Ghost Hunters: episode: Curtain Call 10-18 ☼

16a. Paranormal Witness: episode: The Good Skeleton; Hollywood Sign Haunting 10-18 ☼

16b. The Walking Dead: episode: Seeds 10-19 ☼

17a. American Horror Story: Asylum episode: Welcome to Briarcliff 10-20 ☼

17b. The Walking Dead: episode: Sick 10-21 ☼

18. Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist 10-23 ☼

19/20 Horror Express / BD 10-24
-----Feature Film ☼
-----Feature Film with audio track: 1973 Peter Cushing inteview ☼

MAD: episode: FrankenWinnie; ParaMorgan / 10-26 ☼

21a. Up All Night: episode: Ma'am'ed / 10-26 ☼

21b. Parks and Recreation: episode: Halloween Surprise / 10-26 ☼

21c. American Horror Story Asylum: episode: Tricks and Treats / 10-26 ☼

22. The Good Witch's Garden (2009) / 10-26 ☼

23a. Mockingbird Lane / 10-27 ☼

23b. The Mindy Project: episode: Halloween / 10-30 ☼

24c. Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23: episode: Love and Monsters / 10-30 ☼

24. The Good's Witch's Gift (2010) / 10-27 ☼

25. The Good's Witch's Family (2011) / 10-27 ☼

26. The Good's Witch's Charm (2012) / 10-27 ☼

27. The Devil Inside / BD 10-28 ☼

28a. A Haunting: episode: Angels and Demons / 10-28 ☼

28b. Paranormal Witness: episode: The Tenants / 10-28 ☼

29a. The Walking Dead: episode: Walk with Me / 10-28 ☼

29b. Ghost Adventures: episode: Cripple Creek / 10-29 ☼

30a. Ghost Adventures: episode: Sedamsville Rectory / 10-29 ☼

30b. A Haunting: episode: Nightmare in Bridgeport / 10-29 ☼

31a. Ghost Hunters: episode: Fear Factory / 10-29 ☼

31b. Grimm: episode: La Llorona / 10-29 ☼

32. The Office: episode: Here Comes the Treble / 10-30 ☼ WILD CARD #1

33. Ghost Hunters: episode: Tunnels of Terror / 10-31 ☼ WILD CARD #2

34. American Horror Story Asylum: episode: Nor'easter / 10-31 ☼ WILD CARD #3

35. Brain Dead (2007) / 10-31 ☼

36. Orphan / BD 10-31 ☼

37. The Phantom of the Opera (1943) / BD 10-31 ☼


☼ = First Time Viewing/Listen

ororama

1. Films To Keep You Awake: To Let (2006) * 69 min. Apartment-hunting couple looks at one that they should have let pass. Effective Spanish horror movie doesn't break any new ground, but is well made and suspenseful.
2. Films To Keep You Awake: The Baby's Room (2006) * 80 min.
3. Films To Keep You Awake: A Real Friend (2006) * 77 min.
4. The Dentist (1996) * 92 min.
5. [●REC] (2007) * 78 min.
6. [●REC] ² (2009) * 84 min.
7. House of Mystery (1934) * 61 min.
8. Resident Evil (2002) * 100 min.
9. The Dreadful HallowGreen Special (2010) * 29 min./Penny's Holiday Special * 15 min. Segments from Penny Dreadful's Day of the Dead and Thanksgiving specials/Trailer Terrors (2011) * 35 min. Penny Dreadful & Dr. Gangrene introduce favorite movie trailers/PSAs: 5 min. "Go Green with Dr. Gangrene" (Two-Lane Trash Stop (2008) *;Bonehead (2008) *;Trash Day of the Dead (2008) *;Werewolf of Nashville (2009) *;Summer of the Mummy (2009) *;The Frank-Can-Stein Monster (2010) *;Butt-Head (2010) *;Watered Down Wolfman (2010) *);Thumpers (2005) * 8 min.
10. The Soul Guardians (1998) * 98 min.
11. The Dark Power (1985) * 78 min.
12. The Innocents (1961) * 100 min.
13. Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) * 94 min.
14. Them (2006) * 77 min.
15. Survival of the Dead (2009) * 90 min./Sarge (2009) * 4 min.
16. The Uninvited (1944) 98 min.
17. Vampire Circus (1972) * 87 min.
18. This Island Earth (1955) * 87 min.
19. Quarantine (2008) * 89 min.
20. Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2010) * 107 min.
21. Deadgirl (2008) * 102 min.
22. Basket Case (1982) *91 min.
23. Frankenhooker (1990) * 84 min
24. Wake Wood (2011) * 90 min.
25. Ringu (1998) * 96 min.
26. Rasen (1998) * 98 min.
27. The Eye 10 (2005) * 84 min.
28. Next Door (2005) * 76 min.
29. The Record (2000) * 93 min.
30. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) * 110 min.
31. I Sell the Dead (2008) * 85 min.
32. The Uninvited (2008) * 86 min.
33. OneChanbara: The Movie (2009) * 86 min.
34. Ringu 2 (1999) * 95 min.
35. Teen Wolf (1985) * 92 min.
36. Ringu 0: Birthday (2000) * 99 min.
37. Dracula (1958) 81 min.
38. The Brides of Dracula (1960) * 85 min.
39. Warning Shadows (1923) * 85 min.
40. Zombieland (2009) 88 min.


* First time viewing.

STATS

mallratcal

Mallratcal's 4th October Horror Movie Challenge!

List is Final!

Oct 1st
1. Terror in the Aisles *** 1/2 / Blu-Ray / 84 min / 1984
Great movie to start with as I now want to watch all the movies featured in this.

Oct 2nd
2. Chopping Mall *** / DVD / 77 min / 1986
Enjoyable movie with some pretty good special effects. Seems to get better every time I see it.
Best Part: The exploding head was good times to the max.

Oct 3rd
3. Screaming in High Heels *** / New / DVD / 63 min / 2011
Decent doc about the 3 major Scream Queens. When watching it though I wished it was more about the production of some of these movies.
Best Part: Made me nostalgic for the direct to video era. I know it still exists, but it's just not the same.

Oct 4th
4. Master of Horror: The Washingtonians *1/2 / DVD / 57 min / 2007
This was stupid. Really stupid.

Oct 5th
5. Hellraiser ***1/2 / Blu-Ray / 94 min / 1987
A little dull in spots but a good movie. Plus the special effects still hold up quite well.
Best Part: How many shirts Frank ruined.

6. Xtro *1/2 / New / DVD / 81 min / 1983
Dull and the end was a total anticlimax. I had higher expectations for this. Maryam d'Abo looked good naked though.
Best Part: Anal ease. Anal ease everywhere.

Oct 6th
7. Jason X **1/2 / DVD / 91 min / 2002
Some of the jokes and CGI were pretty bad but it was a pretty enjoyable flick.
Best Part:Brodski punching Jason in the head as they fall to Earth. I'd never noticed that before.

Oct 7th
8. Blackenstein ** / New / DVD / 87 min / 1973
Poorly edited and not as funky as I had hoped. When Malcomb switched the two patients DNA shots how come only one of them became a Blackenstein?
Best Part: The monster looked and sounded like he was sleepwalking the whole movie.

9.MST3K: Night of the Blood Beast ***1/2 / New / DVD / 91 min / 1995
It's Thanksgiving tomorrow so I thought it would be a good time to finally watch this.
Best Part: Steve!

Oct 8th
10. Uncle Sam ** / New / Blu-Ray / 89 min / 1996
Everyone in this movie looked the same. It was odd.
Best Part: The stinger after the credits.

Oct 9th
11. The Haunted World of El Superbeasto ** / New / Blu-Ray / 77 min / 2009 / Wildcard
This was a 22 minute show stretched out to 77 minutes. Definitely not as good as I had hoped.
Best Part: The animation. Very Ren and Stimpy.

Oct 10th
12. Survival of the Dead *1/2 / New / Blu-Ray / 90 min / 2009
Uneventful. Romero's movies are steadily going down hill.

Oct 11th
13. It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown ***** / DVD / 25 min / 1966 / Wildcard
An October classic.

Oct 12th
14. Fright Night (1985) ****1/2 / DVD / 106 min / 1985
Great movie. I haven't seen the remake yet but that's next. Lets see how that goes...

15. Fright Night (2011) *** / New / Blu-Ray / 106 min / 2011
Pretty solid movie but no where near the original. The special effects from the 1985 movie also looked way better than the CGI used in this one.
Best Part: Dr. Who. I'm giving it an extra half star for his performance alone.

Oct 13th
16. Final Exam *1/2 / New / DVD / 90 min / 1981
Took forever to get going. But it was neat to see Javier Bardem in his first role (the killer).
Best Part: When Javier popped out of a garbage can to stab a dude, just like Oscar the Grouch.

17. Gutterballs *** / New / DVD / 96 min / 2008
Fun slasher with a not so great ending. The gore effects were pretty good but the rape scene... went a little long...

Oct 14th
18. Dead Alive **** / Blu-Ray / 97 min / 1992
Crazy gore effects.

Oct 15th
19. Demons **1/2 / DVD / 88 min / 1985
I liked the end but the movie felt a little disjointed.

Oct 16th
20. Demons 2 *** / New / DVD / 91 min / 1986
Pretty much the same as the first movie but I preferred this one a little bit more.
Best Part: The flying demon muppet.

Oct 17th
21. Island of Lost Souls **** / New / Blu-Ray / 71 min / 1932
Really liked this one. And Bella Lugosi did a really great Robin Williams impersonation.

Oct 18th
22. Jack-O * / DVD / 88 min / 1995
Watched this one for the catty commentary.
Best Line: Shit pickle.

Oct 19th
23. Masters of Horror: Cigarette Burns ***** / DVD / 58 min / 2005
Still my favorite of the series. Norman Reedus was just phoning it in though.

Oct 20th
24. Devil ** / New / Blu-Ray / 80 min / 2010
Not bad, just forgettable.

Oct 21st
25. Killer Party ** / New / DVD / 91 min / 1986
Like Final Exam it took a while to get going, this was done better as it did not bore you to tears. The trouble was when the killing started it was very rushed. The movie shifted to hardcore comedy when the possession scenes kicked in.
Best Part: The Music. Strange music video at the beginning and the completely emotionless "Best Times" title song = unintentional hilarity.

Oct 22nd
26. Sledgehammer 1/2* / New / DVD / 85 min / 1983
What? I kept asking myself this.

27. The Toolbox Murders **1/2 / New / Blu-Ray / 94 min / 1978
Pretty good, I was expecting it to be way more brutal than what it was though.

Oct 23rd
28. Scary Movie 3 ** / New / Blu-Ray / 85 min / 2003
The most dated of the series that I have seen so far. This also felt really long but it was only 85 minutes and 9 of those were the credits.

29. Scream ****1/2 / DVD / 111 min / 1996
Really good slasher. I'd forgotten how few kills there were in this.

Oct 24th
30. Twins of Evil **1/2 / New / Blu-Ray / 87 min / 1971
Pretty good. We need more Hammer on Blu
Best Part: The uh...twins.

31. MOH: Dream Cruise **1/2 / New / DVD / 120 min / 2007
I'm not sure if when this aired on TV it was 2 hours long but I think the series would have benefited from a longer run time.

32. Killer klowns From Outer Space **1/2 / Blu-Ray / 86 min / 1988
The special effects, directing and acting were all pretty good for such a low budget movie.
Worst Part: This is how Juggalos start.

Oct 25th
33. Predators **1/2 / New / Blu-Ray / 107 min / 2010
Better than I thought it was going to be.

34. Street Trash ** / New / DVD / 101 min / 1987
Torgo's life really took a turn for the worse after he left the Master. Crazy movie but there was just to much going on.

35. Scream 2 ****1/2 / DVD / 120 min / 1997
Every bit as good as the original. The soundtrack was good too, 90's as fuck.

Oct 26th
36. My Soul to Take ** / New / Blu-Ray / 108 min / 2010
This was OK but nothing of note. CGI blood is one of the worst things to happen to horror movies.

37. Dreamworks Spooky Stories **** / New / Blu-Ray / 102 min / VAR
A pretty good compilation of Halloween themed stories.

38. Things 1/2* / New / DVD / 85 min / 1989
The most amateurish movie I have ever seen. Nothing in this movie makes sense but it did make me laugh a lot.

Oct 27th
39. Scream 3 **1/2 / DVD / 106 min / 2000
Huge drop off from the first two movies. The whole thing took such a leap of logic to make this thing plausible.

40. Carnosaur *1/2 / New / DVD / 83 min / 1983
I think the movie could have been better if they didn't spend so much time in the lab. But the movie was severely disjointed and kind of boring. It did have a clever idea though.
Best Part: The guy who didn't know how a 24 hour clock works.

41. The Cabin in the Woods **** / Blu-Ray / 95 min / 2012
One of the best horror movies in a long time.

Oct 28th
42. Slumber Party Massacre ** / DVD / 76 min / 1982
Decent slasher, lots of kills/lots of boobs.

43. Slumber Party Massacre 2 *1/2 / DVD / 76 min / 1987
This was a weird fucking movie.

Oct 29th
44. Slumber Party Massacre 3 ** / DVD / 87 min / 1990
The women in this one were some of the most useless characters I've seen in a horror movie. And for this genre that's saying something.

45. Detention *** / New / Blu-Ray 93 min / 2011
An odd, funny movie. I'll probably see this movie many times.

Oct 30th
46. Scanners *** / New / DVD / 103 min / 1981
First time watching it in full, I had seen bits and pieces before. The acting from Stephen Lack was super wooden, I haven't seen him in anything else so I don't know if that's what they were going for or if he's just a terrible actor.

47. The Rocky Horror Picture Show ***** / Blu-Ray / 100 min / 1975
One of my favorite movies.

Oct 31st
48. Scream 4 ***1/2 / Blu-Ray / 111 min / 2011
A return to form. They really didn't have much for Dewey to do though, he just sort of drove around a lot.

49. Trick 'r Treat *** / Blu-Ray / 82 min / 2008
Really good movie that just has the Halloween Feel.

50. Invader Zim: Halloween Spectacular of Spooky Doom ***** / DVD / 22 min / 2001 / Wildcard
This is a Halloween staple for me now.

51. Dead Space: Downfall **1/2 / Blu-Ray / 74 min / 2008
This was alright but I fell like I will forget all about it in a week. There was animated penis though. Maybe I'll remember that.

52. The Evil Dead ***** / DVD / 85 min / 1982
A Classic. After watching so many bad movies this year it was good to end things on a high note.


Checklist


Stats

Goal: 50
Total: 52
Blu-Ray: 22
DVD: 30
New Movies: 28

2.8 Average Rating
87.5 Min average run time

By Decade:
30's 1
60's 1
70's 4
80's 18
90's 7
00's 13
10's 8

If I had counted TV I would have hit 55, which was my record from last year but I am happy with my score of 52.

Trevor

Trevor's 2012 DVDTalk Horror Challenge List

The List Thread

The Discussion Thread

Bonus 9/30/12 Dusk Criterion Cross-over Time
1 - Fiend Without a Face (1958)
2 - Kuroneko (1968)
3 - Haxan (commentary) (1922)

10/01/12
*4 - Blacula (1972) - cat
*5 - Scream Blacula, Scream (1973)
*6 - Gamera, Super Monster (1980) (Elvira Movie Macabre)

10/02/12
7 - Troll (1986)
*8 - The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)

*9 - The Dentist (1996)
10 - Paranormal Activity (2007)

*11 - The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
*12 - Waxwork (1988)

13 - Slaughter High (1986)
*14 - Count Yorga, Vampire (1970)

*15 - Quando Alice Ruppe lo Specchio (1988)
*16 - The Horror Show (1989)
17 - Shaun of the Dead (2004)
18 - Attack of the Puppet People (1958)
19 - Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)
20 - Earth vs. the Flying Saucers w/ commentary

21 - Return of the Living Dead (1985)
22 - Jenifer (2005) - cat
23 - Urban Legend (1998) - cat
24 - Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
25 - The Incredible Melting Man (1977) - children smoking!

*26 - Mother's Day (2010)
*27 - Zombie Nightmare (1986) (MST3K)
28 - The Cat and the Canary (1927)
*Haunted Spooks (1920) short
29 - Tales of Terror (1962) - cat attacked

*30 - Deadgirl (2008)
31 - Brain Dead (2007)
32 - X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes (1963)
33 - The Ghost Galleon (1974)
34 - The Haunted Castle (1897) [Wildcard #1]

*35 - Creature From the Haunted Sea (1961)
*36 - Yongary, Monster From the Deep (1967)
*37 - Varan the Unbelievable (1962)
38 - Godzilla: Final War
*39 - Creature From the Black Lagoon 3D

40 - Sick Girl (2006)
41 - The Lost Boys (19
42 - Paranormal Activity 3 (20
43 - Dead of Night (1945)

44 - The Mummy (1933)
45 - Night of the Comet (19
*46 - Little Monsters (19
*47 - The Haunting Hour (20
*48 - Class of 1999 (1989)

*49 - Office Killer (
*50 - Forget Me Not (2009)
*Good Luck Charlie
*Jessie

*51 - Ju-On 2
*52 - Buried
*53 - Quarantine 2
54 - The Mummy's Curse (1944)
*55 - Stakeland

56 - The Invisible Man (1933)
*57 - Frankenhooker (1990)
58 - Graveyard Shift (19
59 - Don't Look Now (19

60 - The Thing (1982)
61 - Burnt Offerings (19
*62 - Chillerama (


*63 - The Snowtown Murders
*64 - Noroi: The Curse
65 - New Years Evil
66 - C.H.U.D.

67 - The Wolfman
*68 - Saint Nick
69 - The Devil and Daniel Webster (19

*70 - Return of Count Yorga (19
71 - Troll 2 (19
*72 - Deep Red

73 - White Zombie
74 - MST3K I forget

*75 - Zombie Apocalypse (2010)
76 - House of the Devil (20
Nickelodeon episodes
77 - Tucker and Dale vs Evil (20

78 - The Last Man on Earth (19
*79 - Girl vs Monster (2012)
*80 - Piranha 3DD (2011)

81 - The Omega Man (19
82 - Hour of the Wolf (19
83 - Tale of Two Sisters (19
*84 - Mari-Cookie and the Killer Tarantula in 8 Legs to Love You (1998)
85 - MST3K Horror of Spider Island
Dick Van Dyke Show x3

*86 - I Sell the Dead (20
X-Files Humbug
The Office Halloween
Monk - Mr. Monk Goes Home

*87 - Lake Mungo
88 - The Omen (197
89 - MST3K Bride of the Monster

*90 - The Innkeepers (201
something netflix?

*91 - Fascination
92 - Land of the Dead
*93 - The Burning (19

*94 - Rubber (201
*95 - The Pyx
96 - The House on Haunted Hill (19

*97 - Night of the Werewolf (1980)
*98 - Murder Party (20
Venture Bros. Halloween Special

99 - The Evil Dead (19
100 - Spine-Tingler: The William Castle Story
101 - Halloweentown
The Muppet Show: Vincent Price
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
*102 - Igor (2008)

10/31/12
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, S2E10, "Billy & Mandy's Jacked-Up Halloween
*103 - Galaxy of Terror (19
*104 - Halloweentown II
*105 - Satan's Little Helper
*106 - The Shack (2012) - [Wildcard #2]

Bonus 11/01/12 Comedy Crossover Time
*The Devil and Daniel Mouse
*107 - Fido

Partial Entries expanded
108 - X-Files and Monk episodes

109 - Dick Van Dyke Show and The Office episodes

110 - Disney Channel and Nickelodeon episodes

111 - The Muppet Show, Great Pumpkin, Venture Bros. episodes; and several shorts

Prize Entries 5/5
1 - Participate - done!
2 - Hit 100 Films - done!
3 - Complete the Checklist - done!
4 - Watch All 33 Subset Films - done!
5 - Participate in All 33 Theme Days - done!

Stats:

Total count - 111

FTV - 54
FTV % - 49%

Format breakdown:
BD - 15
DVD - 31
Cable TV - 7
Netflix Streaming - 30
Other Online Streaming - 28

3D - 2
Disc Rentals - 6

First Time Participant? - no, but first one married
Equipment failures? - everything for 24 hours, Sandygeddon
Commentary listens? - 3
total time viewed? - maybe next year
past years? - copy and paste


Checklist Spoilered - completed!
Theme Nights Spoilered 33/33
Subset Films Spoilered 33/33

ABC Checklist

List complete except for possible formatting/ reviews/ misc