First Day of Fall! Horror Habit Updates (2023)

Hello everyone!

Welcome to Autumn! Hell yeah!! I LOVE IT! I am in my ELEMENT!

So I wanted to do a check-in and provide some updates about where Horror Habit is going (or at least plans) after 11 years. 

11 years. Holy shit. 

Okay, any case, here's what's in the works:

The HorrorHabit Roku channel is laid to rest, in it's prior form. While I am tech savvy, in some ways, this is a one woman show and I simply couldn't keep up with the tech updates. Maybe, someday down the road, I can learn how to meet Roku's new developer platform but in the mean time, I know there are a lot of free channels out there that offer the same strange, classic, and unusual films from the vaults of the public domain. Please show them some support, particularly if they are horror hosts. My current list of horror hosts relies on feedback so please let me know if there is someone you think should be added to the list. 

I realize I haven't been making as many non-October posts lately. Folks, that's just me being lazy about it. I am still continuously watching horror films but after spending all day on a computer for my job job, I usually find myself doing other things - like chores, art, cross-stitching, living life - overall just not being in front of a computer. I am working on this balance. Because I am still obsessive about logging my horror movie watching activity, however, you can see what I'm up to (without many reviews) on Letterboxd: HorrorHabitBlog.

Speaking of social media, I'm still on [dry heave] X, formally known as Twitter. Just looking at the icon image for this social media app on my phone makes me unreasonably mad. Folks, I can't stand it. I am barely, barely, barely using it. I actually don't want to use it any more but I'm going to stick around just a bit because I'm morbid and I have the feels I'm watching decay in action. If you follow me on [dry heave] X, just know there will be little to no activity, outside of the October Challenge, moving forward. Twitter: HorrorHabitBlog

You'll still find me on Facebook, however! While one of the original social media platforms, I don't interact much outside of posting reviews, but that is still a solid source for updates, etc. I really appreciate the community developed here and the engagement has been nice. Thank you, those who have connected with me there. Facebook: HorrorHabit

A new platform I've been playing with, over the last year, is TikTok. It's a wild, wild place, folks! I don't have an Instagram (despite friends asking me to create an account) and, since this list is more than enough social medial platforms for me, I don't need another one. I'm already overwhelmed. An Instagram account is not happening in the foreseeable future. That may change ...

But I wanted to address that I accidentally went a bit viral on TikTok (for me) a couple weeks ago. And as I was typing this, a friend walked up to me and said: "I saw your face on the news." The faint that befell me, folks. I wanted to faint as soon as I saw my face underneath the MSN header. I had no idea I made the news (they did not reach out to me), I was also busy trying to keep up with the constant comments, views, and follows on this video. I just ... I just ... this is all new to me. I wasn't even talking about a horror film, I was talking about ghosts!

Long time followers and all my friends and family know I have Ghost Stories. Real life, ghost stories. I even have developed a list of paranormal shows that I've been monitoring. I'm not joking around about my ghost story adventures, folks. I'm not messing around here. So when I shared a personal paranormal experience on TikTok I thought it would get my usual 300 view crew of friends and family hearing about the experience. Nope. It garnered the attention of a lot more people. To my complete shock. Check out what nonsense I'm up to here, TikTok: horrorhabitblog

So while I don't exactly know what my TikTok account will actually be, moving forward, particularly after this viral incident, I have visions to use this platform to talk history, horror movies, ghost stories, etc. *just a few of my favorite things*. This is a work in progress and where I am focusing quite a bit of my energy. I recognize the Blog, itself, needs a bit of a face lift. Revisions abound. I see it. I know it. I can't help but feel  the two may grow together. [slides on the shades] Maybe we can turn it into a fun place for a shared movie night....

Thank you all for following me through all these wild, wild, wild years. Death, cancer, the absurd, the chaos, the fun, the introspection, the amazing amount of films that have helped me understand the world around me, the growth, the company of nestling up on the couch to the glow of a TV. Thank you, all, for being there and sharing this adventure with me. 

I really don't know who my audience is, actually. I don't know who you are or how you found me. I haven't researched demographics, etc. I  just know I appreciate you and thank you for joining me on this journey. 

Strap in, folks. 

Here's to another 11 years! [puts on a helmet, downs a drink]. Let's see what happens. LOVE YOU!

Jolie

Don't Let Her In (2021)

It's not uncommon for me to get sucked down IMDB Trivia rabbit holes. It's a fascinating place. So when I stumbled upon a comment that stated the apartment building in this film is also used as the exterior of Paddy's Pub on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - I HAD to check this out. 

I just had to see this for myself. 

Let's check out: 

Don't Let Her In

Well, well, well - check you out, you fun little Full Moon Features gem!!

This little creeper is solid, succinct, and the spooky effects and make up are NICELY DONE! That really struck me. Well done! Bonus bonus, I really didn't expect to see Paddy's Pub this kick ass apartment so much. The whole place gave off Single White Female meets Rosemary's Baby feels. Loved it. 

Here we have the classic story of a hip, young couple who invites a new roommate to share their sprawling home and art space. Maybe they shouldn't have done that... and that is all you need to know!

Things kick off right away with some cheeky Full Moon Feature goofiness but I like this stuff. It's fun. Makes me laugh and then suddenly and out-of-the-blue I'm all "Dear, god, what?!"

Seriously folks, this is a nice late night feature with friends or, do what I did, and curl up on the couch with a glass of wine, a big blanket, and settle in for a fun night. 

Again, an all-around solid creeper that will likely surprise you. Hell, it's only an hour long, you can squeeze some time in for that. Treat yurself!

I watched this quirky kicker on Tubi. Of you the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find it!

The Runner (2022)

Chaos. Compulsion. Carnal Impulse. 

I really don't know what I just watched but the music was great. Let's take a quick look at:

The Runner

This is possibly a 40 minute music video. Or it could be a sharp art house film that not everyone will understand. Or, still, it could be just a very creative look into madness, monsters, and music. 

Actually, it's all of these things I think.

And I Love it!

Here we have the story of a woman - feral, hungry, and out looking for blood - just wandering around in the woods. She finds herself in a small town that is still stuck somewhere in a fever dream. Watch out for this one, folks. She's messy. 

I really don't have much else to add. You have to walk in blind like I did. In fact, I watched this film twice! First time I was making meatballs and red sauce, trying to get glances from the kitchen. Then I sat down, with my meatballs and red sauce, and watched it watched it. Oddly, this was a VERY fitting meal for this short. 

A lovely exploration into our inner monsters and the ways in which we release them - with music being the back drop for those complicated inner selves. 

Best watched in a weird head space. Pairs - obviously - with meatballs and red sauce.

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this intoxicating drunk dream of a film. 

Cocaine Bear (2023)

Oh I've been excited to see this film! The trailers alone promised a clever gore fest and it did not disappoint! Let's just dive into the delight that is:

Cocaine Bear

So my brother and I love going to the theater to watch films. A particular favorite (although it's not good for business) is when it's just us in the theater! Such as the case with this film - which was a surprise to me because the movie is titled "Cocaine Bear"! Who doesn't want to see this?!?!?

Anyway, so yeah, in these cases we treat the theater like our own lavish entertainment room. Complete with just shouting at each other from across the room. Using the plug-ins to charge our phones, and absolutely MST3K-ing it up! And I got to say, based on personal experience, to truly enjoy this movie you best be in a place where you can be loud, hoot, holler, and cringe all over the place at the kill scenes.

Okay, so this film is a goretastic thrill binge of a feature. It cuts right to the chase with the chaos - and the humor. It's a little ol' story about a bear that stumbles upon a whole lot of cocaine dropped from the sky. Pretty straight forward, pretty much instant insanity. 

The amount of 1980's detail that went into creating this film absolutely slays me, though. It was like my brother and I were back home, single parent household, with Mom in the hot pink windbreaker outfit. 

I actually can't remember if Mom had that specific outfit ... but it was close!

We both laughed out lout at the kids-just-roaming-free wildness of the era. We were them. So much so that Mom put up a bell on the back porch and rang it 1880's farm house style to signal when we could come back inside or it was time to eat. We could hear it from quite a distance away, which were usually were. 

So yeah, again, the details that went into creating the mid-'80s here is STELLAR. We were knocked right back into our childhood and thank goodness it didn't have a bear hopped up on cocaine in it. 

The kills scenes are some of the grossest I've seen in a long time. Long Time! I looked away at some points, cringed every time, and marveled at the creativity. So well done, so .... dare I say ... funny at times? 

There's not much else you need to know, really - I mean, the film is called Cocaine Bear! Hahahahaha!

So yeah, this thrill ride of blood and guts tested all the right limits with exceptional skill, it's a hell of a good time. If you get the chance to see it in the theater then please do!

Best watched with friends and trashy but delicious food and beer, (don't do drugs, kids). 

I watched this film in the theater, drinking beer and shoveling a hot dog in my mouth. Again, if you don't catch this one in the theater, check out the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find exceptional creature feature. 

Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story (2019)

Hey hey hey, welcome to 2023, everyone!

Well, I've been exploring, lightly, horror films for the last several months because I mostly got stuck in comedy and true crime. As you do.

But tonight, as I was experimenting making a fancy pasta dish, I turned on the TV and the nice streaming service recommended this film. I have an excellent view of the TV from my open kitchen, and I know the true history of this story so I was all: Hell Yeah - let's do this (as I was accidently burning things in the kitchen).

Let's check out the Lifetime Movie version of the very real story of: 

Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story

I'm not a good cook, I try, but I'm not good. I am pretty good at history though. So I was oddly excited to see what part and how this story was going to be told. *also note the very nice The Yellow Wallpaper background in this poster. Noted. Noted, whoever made this.

The film kicks off immediately how I didn't want it to - which caused me sad alarm but I stuck with it. By the end I realized this made-for-TV show was playing the narrative backwards from Nellie's original story. And to be fair, I actually respected what was being done (after I wrapped my head around it). It's trying to grab your heart strings first, not your Pinkerton-level knowledge of the background behind the story, as Nellie told it.

I'm not going to give secrets away but you must read this after watching the film. Please, please, please read Nellie's original words after watching. 

The story follows a young woman trapped in a horrible insane asylum in late 1800s New York. Things are not good, not good at all. Worse yet, most women trapped there are just there because they don't speak English, are old, or had a nervous breakdown because being a woman at that time was HORRIBLE and their husbands wanted them out of the way.

There were some ground-breaking changes in mental healthcare that resulted from Nellie's experience, however. And as someone who works in healthcare with a behavioral science degree, to this day, I notice something new is learned everyday. 

Some people are monsters because they want to be and take pleasure in it because that's all they know as a human connection. Some are circumstantial(?) monsters because of ignorance and societal norms. Some are monsters because they are horrified by what we are capable of and do terrible things anyway, out of fear. This movie is about the monsters we have to constantly fight that make a society and haunt our heads. 

In all, this was a truly captivating story when I first read it some 17 years ago. Obviously I haven't forgotten about it. Nellie is an icon in my eyes.

I can't say this is a great film, but it's a neat one. I also really appreciate stumbling upon the controversial historical characters Christina Ricci has been portraying for the last several years. Mad respect. These ladies are complicated. 

Overall, I found this to be quirky (liberties were made of course) but a perfect pick for making a messy kitchen evening - the evening called for a made-for-TV Lifetime movie. Particularly about a bad b*tch in the late 1890s.

Pairs with rotted meat and potatoes and a sack for clothing. 

I watched this film on Hulu, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this fun (? no that's not right) feature.