Mad Monster Party? (1967)

October Challenge Day 21

This one has lurked around in the background for me, for years, but for some reason never had an interest to check it out, until now. Let's talk about:

Mad Monster Party?

Before I possibly waste your time, just know - right off the bat - I didn't care for it. In fact, a comical, stop animation frown appears on my face when I think of it.

It's not because it's bad in anyway, it's cheery, goofy, clever, fun - it just scratched something bad, in my brain. 

I was trying to watch it but I kept having nostalgic feelings of watching Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer. 

There was no computing this was a "Halloween" animation. It was like a mental and optical illusion I could not shake and it was weirding me out.

I swear I could also smell whiskey, gin, and cigarette smoke coming off the images, as if the production teams and artists were haunting the damned thing. Watching it felt like I was sitting on a mid-century scratchy couch, surrounded by generational trauma.

The story follows a mad scientist as he is preparing to pass on his wildly dangerous ideas to the best person for the job, when along comes his derpy nephew and a small load of classic monsters.

It turns into quite a party. 

There was chuckling, nods to the cheeky wit, and an appreciation that this is a beloved classic for many. 

It's just not mine (but I'm glad I finally saw it!).

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's sidebar to see where else you can find this curious creature. 

Forbidden Fruits (2026)

October Challenge Day 20

Today my 47 year old ass wandered to the downtown shopping area and into a Sephora for the first time in two years - looking for facial serums. I was entirely out of my element and broke out in a cold sweat over all the options.

The last facial serum I bought was from a Grocery Outlet, 7 years ago. I bought three bottles. They lasted a while.

Thankfully, I was kindly assisted and they clocked me, rightly, as someone not interested in products over $70. 

Thank you.

So when I was scrolling through films to watch this evening, I felt it was only appropriate to catch: 

Forbidden Fruits

First and foremost, I'm seeing a lot of people's disappointment with this film because they were expecting a Craft + Heathers sort of experience. There is a Craft + Heathers experience here, but please don't *expect* it to show itself. You have to find it. Also, this film is its own experience, and with, dare I say, an Empire Records spirit haunting the place.

This is the story of "mean" girls, working in a mall boutique, sharing the common bond of fruit as their first names, retail, and being: WITCHES, bitches!

This is Girlhood.

This film is fluffy, pretty, soft, rude, shiney, odd, blunt, possibly drunk or high, and maybe needs some time to ferment for the fruit to really resonate with audiences.

There is an edit to the Ying Yang Twins' "Wait (The Whisper Song)" that had me rolling, laughing, on the ground. Also, I'm on the side of TikTok where this sound is used in wildly humorous situations so maybe my rolling on the ground is a me thing. 

I caught some reviews saying this was the Craft for the #hashtag and emoji girls. It tracks, fam, it tracks. 

Best watched with your dead dad club besties. Pairs with iced coffees and food maybe an influencer would promote for 300,000 likes.

Love it for what it is, not for what you think it should be. 

I hope someday to check out Lily Houghton's stage play this was based on: "Of the woman came the beginning of sin and through her we all die".

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this comically bloody and judgemental film. 

PS: Speaking as a near 50 year old: Moisturize, Moisturize, Sunscreen, Never Forget the Murderous Girl Spirit in You, Repeat.

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)

October Challenge Day 19

I Became A Great Aunt Today!!!

To celebrate, I decided to re-watch the *perfect*:

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark

It's been years since I've seen this and it's still: Fantastic! Elvira had such a great impact on me, growing up - inspiring creativity, wit, style, and confidence. I hope I can do the same for the newest addition to the family, now that I've been upgraded (so far so good with the nieces and nephews!).  

Here we follow Elvira to Massachusetts, where she is to hear the reading of her Great Aunt's will.

She encouters a whole cast of characters she needs to battle, mentally and emotionally (with a casual witch burning problem), while learning to live with the dream her Great Aunt knew was meant for her, and doing it all very comedically. 

This is a fun, sassy, and whip-smart ride through morals, mediocrity, misadventures, and lessons learned. Slap-stick humor with a feel-good story, this is a great any day watch - alone or with friends or family. 

Pairs with recipes you're familiar with. As someone who also struggles in the kitchen with cooking experiments, may I recommend take-out.

I am now off to commission a creepy painting of me, to be hung in the family estate, decades from now. Naturally it will come with legends and my eyes will follow people around the room.  I just hope I have enough spooky, weird and whimsy stuff to pass down! Like an awesome spell book!

I watched this film on Roku's Howdy channel, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's sidebar to see where else you can find this feel-good silly adventure.

Fade to Black (1980)

October Challenge Day 18 

5 minutes into this film and I knew I was instantly in love. Calling all cinephiles! This is a film for us - let's talk about:

Fade to Black

Simply put, this is a beautiful and (somewhat?) heartbreaking film about a very pathetic and pitiful man. 

It's clear right away that this young man hung his attachment to the world via movies, and his home life was dysfunctional AF.

Apparently his "mom" was his aunt (watch the movie for more details....) and they fought constantly. Both are clearly unhinged but he's doing his best to make it through. She is in a wheelchair and there are stairs in the house - we all know where this is going...

*This is a bad man and I do not excuse the character's behavior - but like the Joker there is a lot of "I get it" happening in this film*

Our young man is trying to connect with people - best as he can - and he sees a young woman who reminds him (overwhelmingly) as Marilyn Monroe. Infatuation sits in and now we're all in trouble. 

The planned date they made does not go as planned and he turns into a monster as a means to release this heartbreak. By monster, I mean also the monsters of cinema.

This film felt like a love story to cinema. Also as a "Dear John" letter to the recognition of when the movies are not going to save you from feelings you're trying to hide from.

This is a mature and honest look at film and the attachments these moving pictures can bring. I dare say, this is an artist's look at film - but at its core, this is a story about heartbreak. 

I loved everything about this movie! Not surprised I found it hiding in the quiet [digital] shelves of a library system. 

This is best paired with a doctor recommended diet and perhaps one other person (best alone). 

I watched this film on Hoopla (Support Your Local Libraries!) or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this hand-written advertisement for connection with others.

Cape Fear (1962)

October Challenge Day 17

I've been afraid - nay, terrified - of Robert Mitchum since I watched The Night of the Hunter. So I thought I would give this classic a go. Let's talk about (the original):

Cape Fear

This is a chiller, for sure! A man recently released from prison hunts down the witness who essentialy put him in prision and proceeds to torment his family. I say hunt, because that is what he is, a hunter, but he's also a stalker and psychopath. None of this is good for the good lawyers/witness.

When we are first introduced to the witness's family, his daughter gave me a jump scare. To my absolute astonishment, I legit could not tell if this kid was 13 or 33. I'm so, so, so sorry to the actress, Lori Martin, but the face straight-up frightened me. My brain short circuted and it never recovered. GADDAM

Back to the movie!

The family, aware of this unhinged ex-convict, try to hide out on a houseboat and that's when the shit really hits the fan. 

This is a fine film - a very solid thriller, but I felt it lacked something and I have no idea what it is. There is one scene, however, where our psychopath looks at a woman laying in a hotel bed and it is SO SCARY. His look, his face, is the thing of nightmares - particularly if you've experienced seeing that same look from a man and you know he's going to hurt you, badly. 

You know what he's going to do. You know she might not make it out of that hotel room alive. You know something very very very horrible is about to happen and there isn't a thing you can do about it. 

GAH. That scene alone is so awful, so, prepare youself. 

This movie actually makes me want to watch the 1991 remake, Cape Fear. As well as the recently released TV Series, Cape Fear! So stay turned for updates about those. 

Best watched late at night, alone, particularly when you are feeling especially safe. Pairs with something made from a 1950s cookbook. 

I watched this film on Amazon Prime, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's sidebar to see where else you can find this solid classic that is deserving of all its remakes.