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.