Trick r Treat Stole My Heart

Best Buy, how appropriate your name is for a girl with Trick r Treat in her DVD collection for four dollars now.

 

 As soon as I saw this gem, I knew it had to be mine. After a second of contemplating the happiness I would receive owning this over the four dollars I could have saved for something else, I laughed at my hesitancy and just bought it. I've kind of been on a DVD buying craze (if you call buying Hocus Pocus for ten bucks and then this a craze). I've never actually bought DVDs in my life, so it's a new threshold I'm on, creating a collection of DVDs that aren't just in an old CD case I got in 5th grade burnt from friends.

The first time I actually was able to see Trick r Treat was last year, actually. I'd been wanting to see it since it first came out, being a Halloween movie and all, but I could never find a copy. Ever. I can't tell you how many Family Video searches I went on, and how long I waited for my dad's Netflix to send it to us. Needless to say, I had to wait until I was a sophomore in college where I stumbled upon a copy in one of the dorm's movie rental place thingies. As soon as it started, I was in Halloween Heaven. It's just everything I love, rolled into 82 minutes.

Why do I love this movie so much, you ask? Where do I even begin...

One: It's an anthology that is all connected. I LOVE THAT. I loved watching each story unwind, bleeding over into each other (figuratively and, sometimes, literally). It just creates this nice little intertwined bundle of Halloween night.

Two: The stories are absolutely wonderful. Some lie on the comedy side, some on the pure horror side. Piled together, it's my favorite type of movies in one. 

Three: Anna Paquin is in it. I think she's the cutest little thing ever, and I love most characters she plays. But in Trick r Treat? Her character takes the cake. I won't tell you why, in case you haven't seen it, but it's the greatest thing ever.

Four: The little Halloween spirit-demon-thing Sam is cute. Well, as long as his mask is on. The first time I saw it, he kind of creeped me out, but now I think he's cuuuute. Maybe it's all those crochet dolls of him I've seen. If he showed up to my place in real life, though, (which he wouldn't, because I don't blow out jack-o-lanterns before Halloween's over), I'd probably wet myself.

Five: Like I said in my previous post, it's got the perfect Halloween celebrations I've never got to partake in. If only I lived in that movie....

Six: It teaches you the fundamentals of Halloween and how to respect it in all its spookiness. Okay, maybe not, but it does bring up good points. 

• Don't blow out jack-o-lanterns.
• Don't smash jack-o-lanterns.
• Don't steal kids' candy.
• Don't take all the candy from bowls.
• Don't go ghost hunting around gravesites.
• Don't take down your Halloween decorations before Halloween is over.
• Don't forget to hand out candy.

Most importantly:

• Charlie Brown is an asshole.

Seven: Alright, I'm just going to admit it, I'm a fan of Marilyn Manson. There you go. Well, you can expect my happiness at the point when there was some crazy werewolf transformation and Manson's cover of "Sweet Dreams" accompanied it. Pure Halloween gold.

So, there you have it. Trick r Treat is, unsurprisingly, one of my favorite movies, and probably one of my favorite Halloween films. I mean, it's got all the elements of a great Halloween film! Well, actually if a film just had jack-o-lanterns and kids trick-or-treating, I'd still probably really like it. I'm an easily pleased person.

Sweetest Transvestite in Town

The first time I saw Rocky Horror Picture Show, I was quite confused, for lack of a better word. It was like nothing I had ever seen, and there were so many questions to be asked: "Who were these Transylvanians? Why were they all living in this house? Why did that guy dressed like a girl kill the guy on the bike? WAIT, THEY'RE ALIENS?!". I still really haven't found out the answers to these questions, but now I just look past all the craziness and confusion and instead embrace my inner Frank-N-furter and sing my little heart out every time I watch it.

Well, now this little singalong fan girl is going to attend her first midnight showing of RHPS. Yep, that's right: I'm a fan that's never witnessed the happenings of a midnight showing. I've never thrown toast. I've never held up a newspaper while Janet and Brad sing in the rain. And, the sad thing?
That's all I know that they do at the midnight screenings!

GASP!

 So, here is my attempt at researching, in case you plan on going to your own screening of RHPS, and what to expect (especially for the 'de-virginization', YIKES).

First things first, PROP LIST AND WHEN TO USE WHAT:

rice (or confetti if you want to be on the safe side)- The wedding scene! Once the bride and groom come out of that church, throw that rice (or confetti). When the wedding guests on-screen stop throwing, there's your cue to cut the confetti. Also used when Frank and Rocky go off to the bedroom together


newspaper- So, I've heard that when Janet and Brad get caught in the rain, people tend to throw water (maybe you want to bring some? Maybe not?). Like Janet, I would advise a newspaper to put over your head to keep you nice and dry! As soon as you see rain on the screen, I'd put it up, just to be on the safe side....

water guns- Okay, do NOT quote me on this one, but the list on the Official RHPS Fan Site says that people bring water guns to make their own personal rainstorm (so THAT'S how you bring water...). Wherever you're going, I'd either call the theater to check or just sneak the water in and check to see if anyone else is using it.

flashlights- So, during the line "There's a light" in 'Over at the Frankenstein Place', you light up your flashlight (or handy dandy cell phone screen) and fill the theater with light.

rubber gloves- Doctor Frank-n-furter has gloves on when he's in the laboratory, presenting Rocky. Whenever Frank snaps his gloves, get to snappin' yours!

noisemakers- After Frank's creation speech, the Transylvanians make lotsa noise, mainly with these babies. I'll probably just get a kazoo.

Scotts toiletpaper (or any kind)- I never really understood why toilet paper was thrown until now. When Dr. Scott shows up, Brad yells "Great Scott!". SO, at that point, you throw your Scotts toilet paper. Get it? I had a nice little chuckle at that fact.

toast- Also, not too sure about this being let in the theater (even if it's a classic). When Frank does his toast at dinner, throw your toast! How punny. Be prepared to walk out of that theater with some crumbs in your shirt...

party hat- When Frank puts on a birthday hat before singing 'Happy Birthday' to Rocky, slap one on! Or two or three, your decision.

bell (or keys)- During the song "Planet Janet Schmanet" (a personal favorite of mine!), Frank sings 'Did you hear a bell ring?', ring your bell (bell, bell, ring your bell. Am I the only one that knows that song?).

playing cards that you plan on not getting back- Final song, "I'm Going Home", Franky sings 'Cards for pleasure, cards for pain'. That's your cue to start playing 52 Pick Up minus the picking up.

Supposedly, there are prunes and hot dogs that have been thrown before? I do not advise this. Especially since cold hot dogs are slimey and smell bad.

COSTUMES:
Another big party of the RHPS experience is to go in costume! If you don't know what to go as, I'd suggest a Transylvanian. Pretty much all you need is a black suit jacket, black pants, a bright shirt and a crazy hat and sunglasses. I'm going to dress as Columbia in her jammies (easy and cute!).

DE-VIRGINIZATION: WHAT IS IT?!
Oh jeeze. Well kids, I honestly have this to tell you: pretty much, the 'de-virginization' at a showing is just being put in a really weird and awkward position before the show starts to make the crowd laugh, and then you're done. There's actually some videos of it on youtube, which were interesting and not too bad, but I know some people who'd get embarrassed pretty easily, so it's really all up to you! If you don't want to do it, just simply act cool when they call for all virgins, possibly point to a friend inconspicuously. 

Well, this is what I'll be going through in a couple weeks. I'm really excited, partly terrified, and not at all prepared. I need to get my supplies and costume ready! AND I still have yet to find my Shaun of the Dead costume! Yikes!

If you are going to a RHPS screening this month, let me know how it went and what you thought of it! If you are a veteran at these screenings, let me know some dos and donts of the experience!

*All info found from The Rocky Horror Fan Site!

Halloween In Movies

Anyone else notice that Halloween in movies is just way better than in real life? Fall in general just looks better. The colors are all cool, everyone's dressed up, there are thousands of trick-or-treaters and there's huge costume parties and parades and dances. The cities seem to decorate everything, too. It's like they only celebrate Halloween and just go all out for it. You know what my city does? It gives the kids a curfew that makes filling up on candy nearly impossible. Plus, half the kids just slap on a mask and come to your door, expecting buttloads of Snickers. And you I can probably count on one hand how many houses actually put their heart into decorating their house for Halloween, not just one of those blow-up Snoopies with a pumpkin. If I could give anything, I would want to hop into a Halloween special and live in a orange and black wonderland on a permanent sugar high. Don't know what movies I'm talking about? Feast your eyes and be jealous of the celebrations that your city probably doesn't do.

Hocus Pocus- This costume party is the best costume party I've never been to. The costumes were crazy, the skeleton band was hot, and then there was a spell that made everyone get up and dance (I mean, it was meant to be a curse, but I think dancing until you die would be fun). Hocus Pocus is in Salem, Massachusetts, so that kind of explains all that crazy awesome Halloween party-going, but I'm still super jealous. I mean, why can't I just get into some trouble with three witches and a talking black cat on Halloween? Is that too much to ask?

Trick r Treat- I adore this film. Maybe that's because there's all these Halloween parties and trick-or-treaters that go all out. Oh, and maybe because of that awesome Halloween parade. Yes, you read that right: A HALLOWEEN PARADE. My city doesn't have a Halloween parade. I don't even think that my state has one. Plus, since Halloween's on a weekday, there probably wouldn't even be any festivities. Because my town is a big, conservative bore. Boo!

Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask - Okay, so pretty much every Goosebumps episode could probably work for this, but they always had the perfect fall weather! It always looked so crisp and bright, with the greatest leaf colors and every house decked out with decorations. I watched this episode a couple years ago and was so jealous of the kids getting to trick-or-treat in this awesome pro-Halloween town. It was like a dreamland (all except for that creepy mask).

R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It- Same guy as Goosebumps, but for the newer crowd. Every year I get this movie out and watch it. I don't care if it was made for elementary school kids, I still watched it in high school and got all excited at the festivities in it. I mean, the parents even went to a costume party! ON A SCHOOL NIGHT. I was so jealous. I mean, parents nowadays would just shrug their shoulders, maybe hand out a piece of candy or two, then go to sleep like Halloween was any other boring night. Wrong. It's not, as this movie shows. No ones too old for costume parties.

I wish my town would sit down, watch these films and realize how much awesomeness they're wasting on a beautiful night like Halloween. I mean, throw a damn parade, at least! Even if it's just a bunch of kids in costumes, who cares! At least it's something, jeeze. I think I'm going to go wallow in my sorrows of not having awesome festivities and pine for a talking cat while watching Hocus Pocus.

 

Friday Eye Candy: Music Version

All I can say is seriously TGDIF: Thank Glenn Danzig It's Friday. And you know what that means:

GOOD THINGS FOR YOU TO LOOK UPON.

Eugene Hutz in a bathtub.

Nick Cave, love me.

Keith Buckley, aka The Bearded Babegod.

Dave Vanian. Oh, Dave...

Glenn, the things we could do.

Maybe Friday Eye Candy is kind of cheating, since I don't really have to put any effort into the post, besides looking up beautiful faces. But hey, I'm not complaining. I hope you're having a lovely day, full of pumpkins and horror movies and candy and fun!

A Love Letter to Queen of the Damned

Dear Queen of the Damned,

I love you. A lot. Like, way too much, honestly. Remember my junior and senior year of high school, when I watched you every night during October until Halloween? Yeah, well I do. That's dedication. Serious dedication, if you ask me. Some people may not think you're a very good movie, maybe lacking some substance and kind of boring, but I'm not one of them. I can openly admit you aren't a mind-blowing, world-shifting, life-changing film, but I really dig you.

I won't lie, I never did finish the actual book, which is strictly against my moral code. However, that doesn't really bother me since I kind of got bored with it when I read it, but that's besides the point. The first reason I love you, though? The music. Jesus, when I saw you the first time I was in 6th grade, I think, and didn't think much of it. The second time I saw you, I was in middle school and at that really impressionable age with my 'dark', wanna-be goth phase and you kinda rubbed off on me. The soundtrack is killer still to me, though. I have this soft spot for goth-industrial metal and Korn, so that explains it. The songs are just good to me. They give me this nostalgic high for my adolescence when I thought I was so dark and cool, and I just get all giggly inside.

The second reason? Vampires, duh. Does anyone ever wonder why they have such perfect teeth? Anyway, I've loved vampires since I was super young and watching Gary Oldman in Dracula and The Little Vampire, so you made it in my book asap. Plus, all your vampires are pretty much beautiful. Besides Jesse. I hate Jesse. She's the worst decision for an eternal being ever. I mean, she's annoying as crap, she can't act, and she doesn't listen to anything anyone says.

Third reason: the fashion in this movie. God, what I would give for all those costumes in my closet. I mean, come one, look at it:

Srsly, I loved Akasha.

Dat couch.

Pink hair? Yes, please.

Let's not forget all that violin playing. I love violins. I mean, who doesn't? But vampires who play violins? AND dueling violins between gypsies and vampires? Come on, you just have to have it all, don't you?

Oh, why yes. Yes you do. Because this is probably the main reason I love you, my dear Queen of the Damned. Look at you, Lestat. Just look at you (well, I mean that figuratively, since you're a vampire and all). I really love your face. I know you aren't real, but your face is still really nice.

Be still, my heart.

Even with blood all over your face, you still make that little part of my teen years squeal like a little schoolgirl.

So, for all these reasons and more, I love you, Queen of the Damned. These reasons are why I watch you often to fall asleep to. These reasons are why I never gave my friend her copy of you back (sorry!). These reasons are why I can just watch this movie whenevs, I don't care. Through all your cheesy acting (I'm thinking of you, Jesse) and corny lines, I love you in all your gothy, vampy glory.

Your loyal watcher for all of your vampire eternity,
Shelby.

xoxo

Kids are creepy.

Close your eyes. Imagine you're laying in bed, moonlight spilling through the window and laying perfectly across your blankets, leaving the rest of the room in darkness. You feel a presence suddenly, and open your eyes to see a man in black staring at you. Scary?

Now, imagine you're laying in the same room, but instead when you open your eyes, you see a child with long hair and black eyes, staring deep into your soul. Did you feel that chill?

Every time, no matter what, if a horror movie has a kid in it, living or dead, you're guaranteed nightmares. Why are kids so creepy? Maybe it's because they're supposed to be innocent and pure, but then they turn out to be the reincarnation of Satan. Maybe it's that fact that they're supposed to be young and only think about toys and candy, then they talk to you about death and ghosts. Maybe it's that they're so cute, you'd never expect them to stab you to death. Or maybe it's just because kids are terrifying.

Don't believe me? Here are some kids that will make you wet yourself and cry for your mommy.



She just wants a hug.

Samara Morgan, The Ring - I could barely even look at the screen when I googled this little creepster. The first time I saw this film, I buried my head in my mom's shoulder the entire time. I don't think I've seen the film since, thanks to this little bundle of evil. The long, dark hair and pale skin are just the perfect combination on a little kid for goosebumps. And look at that face, only a mother could love. Well, almost.

Rynn Jacobs, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane - Young Jodie Foster is surprisingly creepy in this film. Rynn Jacobs is one of those examples of little kids that know more than the average adult, which is a trait of the ideal creepy kid. Plus those bodies in the basement don't help.

Damien Thorn, The Omen 1976 - Just look at that little cherubic face, looking down and smiling. If you saw what he was looking at, you wouldn't being thinking "What a cute wittle face!". This little demon spawn (literally, he's the Antichrist) is just pure horror, all wrapped up in an adorable package. I bet Satan's proud.

This kid does not play nice.

 Gage, Pet Sematary - I HATE THIS LITTLE KID. Have you seen this film? I bet you're thinking "What a cute kid."  His evil little laugh while he carries that knife to slice off your ankles is really cute, huh?

Regan, The Exorcist - I can't even justify this queen of the horror children with a picture, she's creeps me out so much. I tried looking up a picture, but I couldn't bring myself to actually put one in the post. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just look up The Exorcist. Get ready to not sleep.

Issac, The Children of the Corn 1984 - Okay, all the kids in this movie were terrifying, but this kid took the cake. The original version of this film isn't as bad as the actual story or the Syfy remake, but it was still pretty spooky. The way Issac looks at you makes you cringe with fear. Also, his voice made me want to choke him the entire film. God, I hated that.

These are just a few of the creepiest kids in movies that just justify never having kids. I mean, seriously, what if your kid ends up being one of these? Whew, that's incentive to just own cats and guinea pigs my whole life.

Wait, are there evil cats, too?

happy haunting xoxo

Movie Madness

Sorry for the little hiatus this week! My goal of posting everyday did not expect for the bad news I received this week, so I will be a little behind on posting this coming week as well, but I will try my best to post fabulous things to make up for it. I need something regular to keep me in check, so I'll try my best, just bare with me.

Update: For my month long horror movie marathon (which I am behind, as well) I watched the films The Loved Ones, Delicatessen, and the classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. I had read about The Loved Ones on another cryptkeeper's blog (I can't remember who it was now! Thank you, anonymous cryptkeeper!). Let me just tell you right now, if you like deranged unrequited love that wields an electric screwdriver, this is right up your alley. Honestly, it was surprisingly disturbing.

This ain't no Pretty in Pink.

If you easily get songs in your head as well, prepare to never be able to get the main song of this movie out of your head. It will consume your entire brain and you won't stop singing it until you get another creepy song stuck in your head (in my case, that awful "I Fink You're Freeky". Don't look it up).

Delicatessen had been a film I'd been wanting to see for ages, so I was so happy to find it in one of my local movie 'stores' on campus. I got to see most of it, and of what I saw I was really pleased as punch. The view of it was so beautiful and different, and the costumes were just wonderful.

It did have its odd parts and pieces, but overall I thought the film was very enjoyable (even with all that death and cannibalism, but we can look past that). My favorite character was Aurore Interligator. She hears voices that drive her to suicide attempts that end up going haywire and saving her. Her whole look and style and characteristics are just so original and classic. Oh Aurore, I love you.

Silly Aurore, you don't wear clothes in the bathtub!

And there's nothing to say about Rocky Horror Picture Show, since I've seen it over thirty times probably, so we'll just skip that part.

COSTUME UPDATE: I've had quite a few changes of heart, when it comes to my costumes (not surprising in the slightest), so my new costume ideas are as follows:

Shaun from Shaun of the Dead

 

Okay, so I love this movie. Seriously, I could watch this movie everyday. Maybe that's because of Simon Pegg or maybe because it's hilarious, but either way it's great. So, thanks to my new found love of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now", my brain thought up dressing as Shaun for Halloween. I mean, yeah I'm not a guy, but I DO NOT CARE ONE BIT. So, you might just see a female Shaun walking around this Halloween, fighting off zombies.

Thor

I don't know what's up with me and dressing as men for Halloween (I was Garth Algar from Wayne's World last year), but I feel like they end up being the greatest costumes. PLUS I love wearing Thor's helmet from Target and I already have a hammer, so it's pretty much in the bag for me.

And then I thought of just dressing as a zombie, because last minute blood and carnage is the most fun thing to do. I went walking through the Halloween store and all these  sailorettes and nuns were grinning at me, and the costume that caught my eye was the bloody pin up. Now that is my kinda costume.

OH! And last weekend my friend and I went out to see Hotel Transylvania. Let me tell you now: It was the cutest film ever! I highly suggest going to see it. The Mummy is the coolest, and the Wolf Man's kids are freakin' adorable. You won't regret it!

I hope you're having a good day and enjoying your October 6th. I am off to go pumpkin patchin', so be prepared for pictures. Woo!

Happy Haunting! xoxo