Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

October Challenge Day 29

I somehow managed to watch Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 first, years ago. I think it was at about that time I was a law firm's Santa one year - my friend who worked there talked me into it somehow. When I walked out to great the holiday party, ho ho ho-ing, a kid shouted "That's a girl!". Hahahaha. Ah. Hilarious, times. 

Let's start over because these instances are not all the same (even though Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 is made up of 40 mins of Part 1) as:

Silent Night, Deadly Night

Yeah, I see the camp and tits, but it's so much more! This is actually ... heartfelt? 

Here we have the tragic story of a young boy who witnesses his parents being murdered by a psychopath dressed as Santa Claus. As an orphan he's tortured in a Catholic school for kids and and received little to no support to help him with his grief and trauma - in fact, creating more grief and trauma. The kid, in short, grows up fucked in the head.

Years later he's working in a toy store and the holidays come around, and with it, a Santa....

So I watched this, as the end of October is swiftly upon us, while planning my holiday crafts for the year. I have some good ideas but so does this Santa!

PUNISH

Officially insane, our young man/psychopathic Santa is on a killing rampage and everyone in his path (particularly if you've been "bad") is in grave danger. 

Is this a story about generational trauma? Cyclical trauma? Untreated trauma? Probably all of it. This is a holiday story about: trauma.

The kills scenes are wildly clever and excellent, the story is well told, the characters engaging, and the overall experience is pretty messed up! Perfect for the holiday season drama! So as we move out of Spooky Season into Spooky Season 2.0 might I recommend cozying up to this egads of a film.

Pairs with a cold, dark, night or a snow day afternoon. Watch with a shared trauma buddy or your counselor. 

NAUGHTY

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 catch this classic slasher hiding in the dark.

Hotel (2004)

October Challenge Day 28

Despite its unfortunate unoriginal name, this one is original. Let's talk about the Austrian chiller:

Hotel

We Have:

Menacing drapes!

Squeaky wood floors!

An uncomfortably small indoor pool!

A witch?! A ghost?! A possession?! Who KNOWS

This is the story of a young woman who is hired to live and work at a remote hotel in the depths of the Austrian woods. 

AUSTRIAN WOODS!

The hotel she is hired to work at is .....gross..... I've seen some reviewers say it reminds them of the hotel from The Shining but I disagree. Very much disagree. While the hotel is very, very creepy, it's its own awkward place. 

The people she works with are hard, cold, blunt, mean, and guarded. No one is telling her about the woman she replaced because that young woman disappeared without a trace...

Was it the witch in the cave who took her?!?!?! Was it the aggressive young men who linger at the dance club in town??!?!

This might be a cultural thing but there is an eye appointment in this film and it is the strangest eye doctor appointment I have ever seen. No wait! The dance club scenes - those are the strangest! What was going on in Austria in early 2000s with your eye doctors and dance clubs? Threw me for a loop.

Our ghostly film here is not for everyone. It's a SLOW BURN and you have to pay attention to every second. I'm sure I'll notice even more things on a second, third, fourth, viewing - which it is deserving of. 

There are no jump scares or creatures, just a *fear* lingering around every corner. I enjoyed it!

Best watched alone, just before going on a trip overseas or to a remote village. Pairs with a dark, dark, night - preferably in the woods. 

I watched this film on Kanopy (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 spine-chiller. 

Bambi: The Reckoning (2025)

October Challenge Day 27

I walked into this without a drop of expectation. I was feeling whimsy and devil-may-care though, so I dove in with eyes wide. Let's talk about:

Bambi: The Reckoning (2025)

The original cartoon naturally traumatized me as a kid - in two ways. One: It's BAMBI, it's traumatizing. Second: when I came home from watching the movie in the theater, Mom and I found Dad and my older brothers in the shed with a dead deer hanging from the rafters! 

I was inconsolable. 

Took me a long time to even watch the cartoon film again. 

So here I am, decades later, giving ol' The Reckoning a try! And I frickin' loved it!!!

This is the heartbreaking bloodbath story about how Bambi grew up without his Mom, because she was shot by hunters, he makes it through, grows up, falls in love, him and the doe raise their little one, life is grand, and then BAM!

His family is murdered, he encounters toxic waste, and turns into this wild beast of a creature and he has one mission: TO KILL

Bambi is pretty scary here, pretty fun scary. With the combination of the dark woods and sound effects, he was animated effectively. Again, this is a gruesome story so hang on to your heads!

Oh and there are bonus killer Thumpers!

This movie is diabolical for it's one last kicker: You'll Be SAD. Bambi is going to Break Your Heart Again! Just brilliantly diabolical. Made even more wail-inducing by the soundtrack at the end.

Evil geniuses. 

Best watched at night with friends who love to hoot and holler at the TV or alone with headphones on. Pairs with a classic childhood dish.

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 surprise.

Crystal Lake (Television Show, 2026)

My Mom died suddenly, 10 years ago. She would have been 80 today. Let's do a little mama celebrating with:

Crystal Lake

As stated in my Carrie review, I knew I was going to be talking about this eventually.  Hell, heartbreakingly, nearly 10 years ago exactly I wrote my review on Friday the 13th (and about a memorial for Mom). 

OH LIFE. 

YOU ARE FUNNY

I absolutely loved this show. Absolutely loved it.

Right away, we see Jason as the kid we all knew was there. Just a .... kid. A smart and curious kid who is wildly loved by his mother. It's a shame about his face, head, and the  radiation....

And we see his mother! A dedicated and hardworking single Mom making ends meet with side jobs and maybe hiding out from something.

This show is *slick*. I mean that in multiple ways. Where the original movie is, perhaps, grainy and loosey goosey, this show ties up frayed ends and really connects the viewers to the humanity behind the "monsters". 

Naturally, we have sex curious teens, to be expected, but they don't play the same role as they do in the movies. Not exactly. They are acknowledged and almost act as tributes - with rather spectacularly gory death scenes, and their morals and downfalls are not really the terror of the film.

This show is about heartbreak, friendship, madness, desperation, psychosis, insane scientists, abusive relationships, and those unfortunate to be caught in the cross fires of all that.

This is the 8 episode story of a Mom trapped and the lengths she'll go to protect a child who the world would otherwise abandon or exploit. 

Mama just loved her kid.

I think what made this series work so well is that it really felt like it was made with LOVE (not necessarily a Mama's love) by people who understood the Jason lore. They understood the first film (and the 3rd....), in particular, and took all the great parts and refined them. Sharpened them. Doubled down. 

Again, I love this show! It's not for the newbies though. I really think you need to see *at least* the first movie to appreciate the series. Also, it's a gore fest - a shockingly delightful blood bath, so get your rain/splatter gear on and hold tight.

Best watched with Moms. Pairs with cafeteria food and canned beverages. I watched this show on Peacock or use the Find It! Watch It! links to see where else you can eventually find this SLASHER.

Invitation to Hell (1984)

October Challenge Day 25

HAHAHA - AHHHHH

This is so great! 

Let's talk about the TV movie:

Invitation to Hell

Tubi did me a solid and selected this one to watch as I was washing dishes and didn't make it to the remote in time - and good thing I didn't, because I otherwise would have missed the opening scene (which had me sat). 

This is the story of an *All American Family* on their way to their new home and Dad's new job at a tech company.

We have Sebastian from Never Ending Story Robbie Winslow as the young son who is just as interested in computers as his Dad, the baby sister he picks on because girls aren't smart enough for computers, Rose from Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead Mom Winslow as the ideal caregiver, and Dad Winslow - who is honestly a great Dad in so many ways. 

They pull up to the Poltergeist house ideal suburban home of the '70s and '80s and get ready to start their new nightmare life. 

The community has a Mar-a-lago club, however, and it's *THE* place to be a part of....

I couldn't quite tell if this was a warning about the dangers of gated or isolated communities or not - considering it was directed by Wes Craven, I think it was, although it had a little religious and moral obligations to the family undertones too. Either way, I actually enjoyed it, particularly since the father Husband-ed and Dad-ed so hard it was kinda hot. 

Good, kind men are ATTRACTIVE AF and this film had my continued attention because of Pops, here. Rose Mom also had my continued attention because she still had her "I'm Right on Top of It Rose" laugh while the world was burning around her.

In short, this is a story about the desire for power at the expense of yourself and others.

Hell yeah, I'm glad I accepted Tubi's invitation to this film. 

Best watched alone or with a friend who understands and appreciates '80s made-for-TV movies. Pairs with meatloaf and potatoes, and in your best comfy clothes. 

I watched this film on Tubi or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this strikingly cozy film.