31 Days of Double Features
(Revisited + Updated)

October 1st

I want to post one of these a day for the rest of the month in the event you'd like 62ish Halloween inspired/themed/seasonal horror-interest film recommendations. In honor of the greatest month of the year, I'd like to kick it off with:


THE BROOD (1979 David Cronenberg)

Seriously, mental institution experiments, faintly reminiscent of those in Robin Cook's Coma, meet disgusting mutant-midget children that kill: what more do you need? One of the grossest endings in a cheesy sci-fi/horror movie of all time paired with a loose script yields big-time 70's Halloween fun.

Cronenberg is a personal favorite. I love this movie. Maybe you missed it, so put it on your Netflix...or is it Qwixter/Quickster? Kwixter?  Actually, go local and rent it from Vulcan Video or I <3 Video. 

Awesome VHS cover.

CARRIE (1976 Brian De Palma)

Classic. Maybe I didn't remember how much of a total jerk-fest a majority of this film was, but the first 5-6 minutes are chock-full of exploitative 70's shower scenes featuring some of your favorite B-movie ladies including P.J. Soles (Halloween, Stripes), Amy Irving (The Fury, and Jessica Rabbit's singing voice), and Nancy Allen (Robocop).  Robocop is one of the best films ever made, but I digress...

The star of the film, Piper Laurie, gives an award-nominated performance and scared the bejesus out of this evil-doer. John Travolta makes a fledgling, lame-o appearance, which is appropriate for truly one of the worst-written, yet acclaimed, horror films of all time.

I guess I should mention that this movie is allegedly about telekinesis? Poor Carrie. See, no one cares.  She doesn't win whatsoever in the end. Total spoiler, and double downer.

Reminds me of that quote in Donnie Darko regarding his take on his friends assessment of Smurfette...." It's so illogical...'':

ACT NOW and you can buy the "widescreen", low quality Carrie at Big Lots for three bucks! Do it, you elitist blu-ray bastards you!

October 2nd

Today is B-tastic.  I should just forgo that statement, for the entire genre speaks that language.

SLEEPAWAY CAMP  & SLEEPAWAY CAMP 2: UNHAPPY CAMPERS
(Robert Hitlzick/Michael Simpson 1983/1988)

Holy shit! Another teen summer camp movie and its sequel! Didn't see that coming!
A poor little girl named Angela is sent to summer camp with her douche-y little cousin where a series of nasty "accidents" befall several of the campers and staff. This movie has a seriously awesome- hideous ending surprise, and I won't give it away for those of you 80's kids that were in a coma...it's hilarious. Everyone, bust out your merkins. 

Its sequel stars none-other than "The Boss's" sister, Pamela Springsteen, as little Angela all growed-up. She was kinda hot, and possibly also totally mistaken for Joyce Heyser, much hotter star of Just One Of The Guys.  Resemblance?   Kinda?


I can't mention too much more, but I'd consider this a "feel-good" slasher movie. Kinda like Dexter, only the kids and counselors at Camp Rolling Hills prooooobably don't deserve to be axed just because they're assholes.

Joyce Heyser

Pamela Springsteen

*Bonus Movie* if you're up later:   
THE BURNING (Tony Maylam 1981)

Tagline: "Gather around the campfire and DIE!"

Trivia: Holly Hunter's first film! Starring Jason Alexander, and written by a famous Weinstein.

  
October 3rd

I went ahead and skipped CHILD'S PLAY this go around because I know you'll probably watch
it on TBS on the next lazy Sunday, but I do need to mention: I love scary dolls!

DOLLS (Stuart Gordon. 1987)

Aside from this being one of the best VHS covers/movie posters in horror of all time, Dolls is about a group of travelers land at a little old man and woman's mansion...of course, where they make (killer) dolls. The guy looks like he came from Santa's workshop...unless of course Santa is about twelve inches tall and likes to kill people. Evil dolls are enjoyable, often pretty humorous. Secret "twist" in the story line in the end is worth the  Be nostalgic and rent it! If you find it for sale, I'll take a copy, thanks :)

MAY (Lucky McKee 2002)

I love the characters in this film. May is a shy waif of a vet-tech who loves to sew and initiate awkward situations and unbearable silence. It's desperately hard for her to make friends outside of her one, true friend...the creepy little doll from her childhood she has sitting in a glass case. Jeremy Sisto and lezbo Anna Farris have great screen presence in this picture as supporting characters.

Trivia:  The lead character "May", played by Angela Bettis, is a Westlake High School alumna (circa

Looks like Scully...isn't Scully.

class of 1990). Type-cast in a 2002 televised remake of Carrie.

***Bonus Viewing: X-Files episode "Chinga" - Written by Stephen King***



A Scully-heavy, off-the-conspiracy-path episode in which townspeople in some northern city have clawed their own eyes out. Scully vacations there, and obviously must get to the bottom of things. Enter, creepy little girl with her goddamned creepy doll. Season 6 I believe....

October 4th

Did you know that Walt Disney Studios released two of the coolest scary movies of all time
that would end up haunting you as an adult? They did, and Bette Davis is in one of them!
Both are must-see's, if you can locate the DVDs.

WATCHER IN THE WOODS  (John Hough 1980)

Bette is scary. Period.

I wore the VHS tape out by the time I entered sixth grade.
An American family moves into an English cottage in the woods, owned and managed by Bette Davis in one of the creepiest roles in her career, which I realize doesn't mean much.
The two daughters are somehow both blessed with psychic ability to sense things, leading them to investigate a paranormal occurrence that happened to Mrs. Aylwood's (Bette's character) daughter several years before...seances...disappearances..I won't say anything else!
A little trivia: One of the daughters is Kyle Richards, the little annoying Lindsey kid in Halloween and Escape to Witch Mountain...who is also currently featured on the ever-hideous reality show The Housewives of Beverly Hills.


SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (Jack Clayton 1983)

He has voodoo doll hands!

Maybe Jonathan Pryce's best character ever as mystical circus ringleader, if you will. This cast is loaded with Jason Robards, Diane Ladd, Royal Dano, and Pam Grier.

Two boys in a little American town are mesmerized by Mr. Dark's backwards-spinning carousel and sideshow wonders..that alter one's life forever. I love theme parks and thrill rides, but I'm sorry, but if I ever saw a 50 mph backwards spinning carousel with lightening shooting out of it, I'd get the fuck out.

Script and Book written by Ray Bradbury.


An interesting feature about these two films, being that they are both made by Disney, is that there is no gore, serious violence, or language, so hypothetically you can watch this with a 1-year- old and try to act protective or manly.when you're secretly trembling.

 October 5th

John Landis Fest!

TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE (John Landis/Joe Dante/S. Speilberg 1983)

This film is like a 'greatest hits' of the TV show, however its most spooky feature regards the tragic fate of one of its stars, Vic Morrow, who was killed on the set during a major scene.
This scene has been cut in most versions of the film. This of course is the fantastic vignette on the importance of how wearing the shoe on the other foot of racism - is truly horrific...and potentially fatal...as it was for Vic Morrow's character in the film.  This is not to say that Vic Morrow, the actor, deserved to die at all. A helicopter crashing and killing innocent people during a filming is terrible American cinema tragedy, and is certainly one that John Landis will never get to live down for the rest of his life.  Rest in piece Vic.

Morrow's character displaced in Nazi era

"Wanna see something really scary?''

Stars: Dan Ackroyd, Albert Brooks, Scatman Crothers, Nancy Cartwright, Kathleen Quinlan, John Lithgow and lots of others. Re-released on DVD in 2008.
More Trivia: Vic Morrow is Jennifer Jason Leigh's father.

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON
(1981 John Landis)

This movie is funny. Griffin Dunne could stand to be in a picture a year. I really miss seeing him in great films, but  I'll have to settle with watching his dad on TRU TV.

The makeup/effects in this picture are incredible (Rick Baker) and honestly put David Naughton on the map...for three seconds! Kidding. He has a huge resume, but you wouldn't notice.

The men start off on a walkabout in England where there lies much lore about a werewolf in the moors.  One of them becomes a bite victim, and the rest is up to you to see.
One of the best scenes in a movie - period - of all time - resides in this film in where the werewolf storms downtown London and tears through a shitload of Brits. Total shock-fest.


**Bonus Movie: MAKING MICHAEL JACKSON'S THRILLER
I don't need to review this.  It is Thriller.

Good luck getting your hands on a copy of this extremely rare VHS, which happens to be the #1 sold VHS tape of all time.  Not available on DVD.  This is one for the Drafthouse to bring to us! (Please)!?

October 6th

FRAILTY (Bill Paxton 2002)

I just re-watched this film, well-directed by Bill Paxton: one of the greatest Texans in Hollywood. Actually this film is full-o-Texans. Powers Boothe makes me cringe but I love the shit out of him. Matthew "Bongos" McConaughey stars in this eerie suspense about a father who forces his children down a path of spiritual vengeance after he is visited by an 'angel' in the night. This angel delivers to him, in his sleep of course, a 'list of demons' which he and his family must destroy, for the end is nigh.

Loved the screenplay, only the second time around. A lot of the dialogue is redundant and almost campy, but the overall feeling is frustrating and emotionally stressful. The end delivers a gentle twist that ties up the drama nicely.

You will love or hate Frailty.  But October is for mysticism, creepy children, and monsters. October is beautiful, October is cheesy, and October is made for movies!

X-FILES:  SEASON 2: "Die Hand Die Verletzt" (Kim Manners 1995)

Susan Blommaert as Ms. Paddock

Remember the episode now?  Episode 14 includes a twisty-plot-within-plot about a creepy, small town PTA and science teacher who cross spiritual paths at the expense of the poor, helpless students.  Mass hysteria? Satanic Ritual? Yep.  ''Die hand die verletzt'' means, in German, ''the hand that injures.''  This is in my top 10 scariest X-Files episodes, and deals with the subject of demonology and satanic ritual.