For this installment of M&M Media, I looked for stuff that seems particularly appropriate to this very special week. At Netflix, I’m concentrating on the best scary films that are currently available on streaming. Many of them are classics, others are more recent entries into the macabre & mysterious genre. (Click on the linked title to add the film to your Netflix streaming queue or to watch straight from your desktop.) When it comes to television, I’m highlighting nostalgic programming. See the TV listing info provided and set your DVR appropriately.
Note: there’s a big difference between the R rating of today (which usually indicates a lot of blood and gore) and the R rating of classic horror (which usually indicates adult themes.) There’s something telling about that, isn’t there?
Not remotely horror, rather noir suspense / mystery. If you haven’t seen it, and it you want something involving but not scary, per se, give Laura a go. On IMDb here.
This is one I have not actually seen. After watching the trailer, I’m not really inclined to change that. All I can say is WOW. Interestingly, Netflix says it’s R, while IMDb days it’s PG. On IMDb here.
I’m sharing a short clip here, because the actual trailer really spoils the movie. This movie is somewhere between horror and drama. I loved it, but it is sad. On IMDb here.
Pretty sure everyone has already seen this on, but sometimes it’s fun to let a classic play while one’s attention is on other things, like carving pumpkins, or putting final touches on costumes or decorations. On IMDb here.
I’ve raved about this movie before. If you haven’t seen it yet, it really is great fun (and well written) and quite spooky to boot. (A bit of gore but that’s not the point.) It’s more understated than the the trailer suggests. On IMDb here.
Not the easiest or most straightforward film, but lovely in its own way. This is a real drama wrapped in a real vampire story. It’s a bit annoying in some parts, but overall, I think it’s worth the time it takes to watch it. On IMDb here.
A darkly beautiful, slow burner. Yes, it is about what you think it is, so no surprise there, but the performances and the atmosphere are memorable. On IMDb here.
A fairly faithful retelling of the Poe tale, The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether (You can read the short story at this link.) Lovely to look at. Kate Beckinsale, Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine. This is a great movie for anyone who doesn’t want grue & violence but does want something macabre & mysterious. Again, I’m sharing a clip rather than the trailer which gives away the plot. (What’s up with that anyway?) On IMDb here.
I’ve recommended this before. A brave, absolutely stunning performance here by Jill Larson, who plays the title character. The first 2/3 of the movie is the best … really, really creepy. On IMDb here.
A surreal, beautiful film. A bit of a challenge, and (as is so often the case) it devolves toward the end. There’s some sharp, witty moments in the writing … especially about writing. Quirky. I love it for the look and feel more than the story. On IMDb here.
~ON TV~
MeTV HALLOWEEN EPISODES
(Check you cable/satellite provider directory, or go here to search for it. You probably have this channel which features retro TV shows. I’ve shared the original air date, but most of us saw these in syndication.)
Svengoolie presents “Frankenstein”
James Whale’s 1931 horror masterpiece for Universal Pictures returns in a gorgeous new print. See Boris Karloff’s monster in crisp detail. What better flick to put on for Halloween night?
See it on MeTV on October 31 at 10PM | 9C
*
THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW “THE HAUNTED HOUSE”
Original air date: October 7, 1963
Beware that old Rimshaw house! Opie and his pal hit a ball into the decrepit manor. They hear eerie noises inside. Andy sends Barney and Gomer to investigate, and those two get spooked as well. We won’t give away the ending, but anyone who’s watched Scooby Doo can surmise it’s not supernatural.
See it on MeTV on October 30 at 9PM | 8C.
*
THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES “TRICK OR TREAT”
Original air date: October 31, 1963
This early episode, the sixth overall, has a premise that seems unlikely to modern ears: The Clampetts have never heard of Halloween. The new Beverly Hills residents make the rounds to meet neighbors and are delighted to earn candy along the way.
See it on MeTV on October 30 at 8AM | 9C.
*
CHIPS “TRICK OR TRICK”
Original air date: October 21, 1978
Thirteen black cats jump from a van in front of Ponch, kicking off an array of lighthearted Halloween capers. The saddlebags are filled with candy and costumed kids — sporting some great boxed Ben Cooper costumes of the era — are about. It all makes for one of the most enjoyable CHiPs outings.
See it on MeTV on October 30 at 6PM | 5C.
*
HAPPY DAYS “HAUNTED”
Original air date: October 29, 1974
The gang sports some great costumes here. Richie wears a classic skeleton suit, like the punks in The Karate Kid. Ralph is Alfred Hitchcock. Potsie is a superhero. Fonzie is, well, the Fonz with a mask. At one point, Joanie tells Richie that it looks as if, “Bela Lugosi sucked all the blood out of you!” Learn how Fonzie bobs for apples.
See it on MeTV on October 30 at 9PM | 8C.
*
LAVERNE & SHIRLEY “HAUNTED HOUSE”
Original air date: March 22, 1977
Laverne and Shirley and Lenny and Squiggy head to a supposedly haunted Ramsdale Manor for a couch. Shirley warns, “Beware the legend of the Ramsdale Hairy Thing!”
See it on MeTV on October 30 at 9:30PM | 8:30C
*
M*A*S*H “TRICK OR TREATMENT”
Original air date: November 1, 1982
Just as Cheers was starting, George Wendt appeared as a guest on this late M*A*S*H— as a Private with a pool ball stuck in his mouth. Again, there are some fantastic costumes here, perfect for a deep reference for your next Halloween party. Hawkeye is Superman, BJ is a clown, Hot Lips is a geisha, and Potter is a cowboy. A psychologist would have a field day with those decisions.
See it on MeTV on October 30 at 7:30PM | 6:30 C
*
PERRY MASON “THE CASE OF THE DODGING DOMINO”
Original air date: November 1, 1962
The wonderful Ellen Burstyn is in the horror hall of fame for her role in The Exorcist, a genuinely disturbing film. A young Burstyn plays a part in this Halloween mystery, too. Saying any more might give away whodunnit!
See it on MeTV on October 28 at 9AM | 8C.
*
MY THREE SONS “MONSTERS AND JUNK LIKE THAT”
In “Monsters and Junk Like That,” father Steve is stuck wearing a costume of a Tin Man.
See it on October 30 at 6AM | 5C.
*
Elsewhere on the airwaves:
On History
The Real Story of Halloween
“A look at how our modern-day Halloween traditions have ancient roots.”
See it on Oct. 27 at 4PM | 3C OR Oct. 31 at 6PM | 5C
*
On PBS
American Experience: “War of the Worlds”
“Recalling the 1938 radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds” by Orson Welles and his “Mercury Theater on the Air” crew, which occurred on Mischief Night. Some listeners believed the program’s account of a Martian invasion to be true and panicked due to the format, which featured “reporters” breaking into “regular programming” with realistic accounts of an in-progress attack. Included: remarks from film historian Peter Bogdanovich; and Welles’ daughter, Chris Welles Feder.”
See it on Oct. 27 at 8PM | 7C
Secrets of the Dead: “Vampire Legend”
“This episode follows a group of scientists as they uncover ‘deviant’ burials dating back to medieval England, pointing to a belief that the dead could rise from their graves. Predating Eastern European legend, these discoveries force a reexamination of modern vampire lore. The show features an interview with a modern-day vampire slayer, who, for the first time publicly, gives his account of the vampire-slaying ritual.”
See it on Oct. 27 at 9PM | 8C
*
On ABC
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
“An hour-long special that includes the original Peanuts classic and the bonus cartoon “You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown.”
The color of the title is keyed as follows:
Black = Have not yet experienced. I’m interested … or I think you’ll be interested. Red = Have experienced. Not recommended. Worse than the reviews or buzz indicated. Orange = Have experienced. Recommended, with reservations or cautions. Green = Have experienced. Recommended. A good movie that lives up to its reputation.
Another week has flown by. I hope you all are having a great season so far.
I’m still not at 100%, but today I’m heading out for a whole day with a friend. Our plan is to go hunting at the Goodwill, then drink too much coffee and talk our heads off on a patio somewhere, (if the sun will come out!) then, after dark, venture into the Alchemist bar.
A shot from the day Ogre & I discovered it.
Here at the blog, great photos are still coming into The 2015 Halloween Photo Hunt. Time is running out for participating in this year’s hunt. It’s a perfect weekend to print off a list and go out taking pictures for an artist date (solo) or a game (with friends.) Now’s the time to catch all the fall colors and decorations, while they are in full-bloom (so to speak.) I’d love to display your results.
I’m almost done … except for those bleeping black areas. To complete it, I’ll need a bright, sunny day. Because I’m old. (Black on black is a challenge for 40-something eyes.) Meanwhile, I’m designing my next project … which I think will be a sampler. Gotta tell you, I’m a bit shocked I’ve actually made so much progress in about five weeks.
Another week has flown by. What have you been doing to celebrate the season?
Me? I’ve been having a bad spell. It seems inevitable that I will go down for the count at some point every October, and this has been that week. I’ve been sleeping a lot more than usual. I’ve been watching movies and catching up on TV shows. I’ve been cross stitching … kind of obsessively.
My son turned 20 this week(!) so we had some guests over and ate more pineapple upside down cake than is reasonable. We also managed an outing to the pumpkin farm / petting zoo that we have visited so often in the last decade or so. (When we were home schooling, we used to take his lessons there so he could spend the day working near the goats and chickens, usually with a cat in his lap.) This week, we were very aware that it was probably our last trip to the farm.
Gabriel’s story
2007
Yeah. I’ve got some melancholy going on.
Here at the blog, great photos are still coming into The 2015 Halloween Photo Hunt. (I’m going to have to take a day when I feel more up to it to go out and get a bunch of pics for my own album.)
Renae Rude - The Paranormalist 