Happy Halloween! Here's 18 Short Horror Films You Need To See! (2019 edition)

October Challenge Day 31:

Happy Halloween everyone!! Here is 18 brilliant short horror films to spook up your day.

Why 18 you ask? Because this is the 8th month of the old Roman calendar and the 10th month of the current calendar. BRAINS!

So without further ado, below is my pick of some of the best out there. With a review of 18 words or less, and in no particular order, please enjoy Horror Habit's 2019 Short Horror Film Festival.

Pictured: Short film scream queen Lotta Losten (of the shorts Light's Out, Coffer, and Attic Panic) delights again!

Pictured - Horror short from David F. Sandberg on Vimeo.

Holy F__K: Oh, holy sh_t this one is hilarious!! Stellar and hilarious!

HOLY F__K  |  Short Film from Chris Chalklen on Vimeo.

Salt: Best keep those salt shakers handy for this fast and furious bite-sized morsel!

SALT - Short Horror Film from Rob Savage on Vimeo.

The Fisherman: SCARY SEA MONSTERS ARE SCARY! This one is so, so good!

THE FISHERMAN - SciFi/Horror Short Film Trailer from A. Suarez Lozano on Vimeo.

Smear: All the ladies love going in for their annual pap exam - amiright?!! Ladies?!?!

SMEAR from Kate Herron on Vimeo.

Homunculus: A bizarre animation/stop animation about rotting food...

Homunculus from Humble + Postal on Vimeo.

There Comes A Knocking: A solid, ghostly chiller! Someday we might even see this be turned into a feature film!

There Comes a Knocking - (a Short Horror Film) from Ryan Connolly on Vimeo.

Self-Assembly: Wowza! This one's a devilish delight. Warning - the opening scene is intense.

SELF-ASSEMBLY (Horror Short) 2015 from Ray Sullivan on Vimeo.

Mother Died: Well, this one is sure a shocker! Possibly poetic even...

MOTHER DIED - BloodyCuts.co.uk Short Horror from BLOODY CUTS on Vimeo.

Meow: Well this one is a lot of fun! Perfect for cat lovers. 

MEOW - A Horror Short With Claws from Chris Jopp on Vimeo.

Lilith: Made in 48 hours, this moody and spooky film will leave you with chills!

LILITH - Short Horror from LODOVOS on Vimeo.

Undress Me: Dear christ almighty! Gruesome, gruesome, gruesome!

UNDRESS ME - Short Horror Film from Amelia Moses on Vimeo.

Shhh: This one is inspired by Guillermo del Toro's childhood nightmares - and the monster does not disappoint!

SHHH- A Horror Short Film by Freddy Chávez Olmos and Shervin Shoghian from MONSTRUO PELUDO FILMS on Vimeo.

Reverse: Evil garages are evil! This one is especially spooktacular. 

REVERSE | Short Horror Film from Perception Pictures on Vimeo.

Cliché (Short Horror Film): The title says a lot - but the scares are still pretty good!

Cliché (Short Horror Film) from Lucio Laugelli on Vimeo.

Deadpan - An Awkward Comedy Horror Short Film: Shout to these kids who put this bizarre concoction together in a couple of hours. Hahaha!

Deadpan- An Awkward Comedy Horror Short Film from Jocose Films on Vimeo.

Momo: A disturbing little thriller about love, loss, and madness!

Short Horror Film - Momo from DDark Films on Vimeo.

Big Bad Wolves: I too have theorized the story of Little Red Riding hood is a cautionary tale about sexual predators...

BIG BAD WOLVES from Rajneel Singh on Vimeo.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

October Challenge Day 30

I sat on this film for a while and didn't think I would get a chance to review it - but here I am on a late night on October 30th and with little chance to get a new movie in this evening - so I thought I would dedicate some time to a film that I hope is never forgotten.

Sequels are hard to really appreciate. Especially when they get to the third round, etc, like A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. I get it, they often suck. That's why I wanted to give a special shout out to this one.

A Nightmare on Elm Street is my youth! Wearing over-sized cat imaged shirts, sitting on shag carpet in front of a large television that guarded pretty much the entire floor, late night Saturday nights when the parents were asleep - MY JAM!

That was not my experience with this film, however. I saw this one just a few months ago. Now I'm in my 40s and cynical of franchise films, I approached this one with apprehension and low expectations - imagine my surprise when I found this film *dare I say* better than the first? At the very least, a close second!

Bonus: One of the first films where we see Patricia Arquette (Love You So Much Gurl!). Call me.

Overall, this film still follows the children of murderous parents, but these children are not having it. At all. Nor should they. They kick ass, take names and  Nancy is back to help. This is a really fun film and deserves a view for all, and all generations. This is not your parents or grandchildren'ts 3rd film of a franchise.

Pairs with food recommended by your doctor and best watched with a few of your close friends. I watched this film on Shudder. Use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's sidebar to locate where else you can find this surprise feature.

Midsommar (2019)

October Challenge Day 29

I'm reviewing this film in October, even though I didn't watch it this month, because I received such an overwhelming response from friends wanting to know my opinion. Most questions came this month. Oh, Midsommar. We fellow Scandinavians are f*cking crazy sometimes.

I'm stupidly Scandinavian - STUPIDLY. My blood flows with farming, snow peaks, and fjords.

So my brother and I went to see this film in the theater and I was immediately uncomfortable with the somber yet "friendly" greetings the strangers in this film were met with. It felt like Thanksgiving or Christmas in my family. I'm American enough to know what's happening and it's stupidly Scandinavian.

Panic set it quickly.

It doesn't help that we have "strange" traditions in our family. We try to warn visitors about the dancing and singing around a Christmas tree and trying to find odd objects in food as a game... there's no amount of warning. Nine years with my husband and he magically disappeared when these traditions were called upon.

So when I saw this film as I was all like, "Oh hell, yeah. We're weird sometimes...."

Then this film got really WEIRD and I was all like, "Oh, hell yeah no.".

I'm equal parts Danish and Norwegian - with a very scandalized history revolving a Swedish grandparent. This movie revolves around Sweden. Sorry Sweden! We don't talk about you at dinner!

No, in all seriousness, this film is a nature horror story and those stories are scary no matter where they come from. I react to nature god horror stories like this one or the Yellow King as I would finding a gigantic spider in my kitchen.

Kill it with fire. 

There is a very specific anxiety about nature god stories that I've never been able to understand, and I'm not sure I want to. But that anxiety is very, very real for a lot of people - it helps make this movie a truly horrifying show.

I, in the mean time, am going to continue being a quiet ale drinking occasional fun-loving berserker with a I'm uncomfortable hugging problem - and stay far, far away from those nature gods.

Pairs with anxiety masked as friendliness. I watched this film in the theater. Use Horror Habit's Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this really disturbing film.

The Birch (Television Show, 2019)

October Challenge Day 28

When I started seeing ads for a horror film to watch exclusively on Facebook - on Facebook - I was extraordinarily hesitant.

Then I learned it was a series, and the ads kept coming, I decided to watch The Birch, finally, in the only way I thought reasonable considering the context. In a bar and on my phone.

What happened next still blows my mind. 

The World Series is playing this week (go Nationals!) and bars are erupting. I'm sitting there, with my huge Bluetooth headphones - at the bar - watching a horror film. Like a normal person.

But it's what happened next that blew my mind: I loved it. I absolutely loved it.

Acting, execution, cinematography, and creature feature amazingness - all blew my mind. It's heady, dark, and crosses boundaries in horror that I very, very rarely see in quality work. Crosses boundaries in what is 'okay' normally for a certain platforms. Let's say, regular TV. Not uncommon in cable or specialty streaming channels, and maybe that's what really struck me. This show is on Facebook for free and showing some deep sh*t. Ballsy, scary, serious sh*t. 

This show follows a collection of teens as they navigate life though an unceremonious and unjust world thrown to them. You know, life. Except, in this one, they summon a beast from the Oregon woods and things get very, very interesting from there. 

Gaddam. This is a brutal and visceral show. Well done!

Best watched on your phone, in a crowded, loud place. Pairs with the sad memories of your youth. 

I watched this - for the first time ever saying - on Facebook Watch. As of today, there is nowhere else to see it. 

Tragedy Girls (2017)

October Challenge Day 27

I stared at this one for a long time before I decided to watch it. I stared at it with my head tilted and I honestly couldn't figure out if it was going to suck, be really interesting and original, or be one of those films that just tries too hard. In its own weird way, Tragedy Girls is all these things - and I liked it.

I looked at some IMDB user reviews and I quickly realized that everyone is [sometimes] a [bad] critic, and it seems that this film is just too 'modern' for some horror fans. Like some food dishes, sometimes the meal tastes better after it has sat in its own juices overnight.

Shutout to leftovers!

This film is also quite original - it's an extremely macabre story about the addictions of social media (in a way). Not sure where to file that one, but I can say that in the era of true crime podcast galore and murder porn everywhere, this film was birthed at just the right time. It is in its element and knows exactly what it's doing.

Here we have high school best friends who run social media accounts about a murder spree in the area. But you gotta get those 'likes', you all!! So what are you going to do ... or rather, how far will you go for them?

Despite some not liking this film, I honestly think this one holds a solid hold in the cult classic favorites just as soon as it simmers a bit - eventually sitting on the same honors shelf as Heathers, for instance. It just sounds like it's going to take some time, however.

Overall, I really enjoyed the film and I particularly enjoyed the risks it took. The acting was fun, the plot was a striking, and the ending births a new idea for monsters. Best watched with a frienemy, and pairs food you loved in high school. Or something made in a slow cooker.

I watched this film on Hulu. Use the Find it! Watch it! links on Horror Habit's sidebar to locate where else you can find this YOLO feature.

I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958)

October Challenge Day 26

Saturdays are MADE for classic movies - day or night. You would also expect that with a title like I Married a Monster from Outer Space, you'll be diving into some full on cheekiness. And you are ...  a little, but not really. Let's just say that if you enjoy I Bury The Living then you'll enjoy this one. 

 

And check out these two ballsy tag lines: "Is it possible? Is it true? Can humans mate with MONSTERS?" and "Shuddery things from beyond the stars, here to breed with human women!".

Whenever I hear someone refer to people as breeders, or 'breeding' in general, or even 'mating' I cringe. Imagine saying to someone: "Do you want to mate with me?" or "Hello, let's breed." Get right out of town, creeper. Gross.

This film did surprise me though, for many reasons. For one, it's well done! Not cheep, not cheesy - actually pretty thrilling. For another, I couldn't shake the feeling of how serious it is for women who do get married to someone who turns out to be, well a monster. You know what happens to them? They get killed.

In this story, however, aliens invade the bodies of all the men so as to 'breed' with human women, so as to continue their race. Get right out of town, creeper. Gross.

You think you know someone.

So, ignore the very '50s creature feature title. Even ignore the poster image - this film is far more serious then you realize when you view it between the lines. It has a lot of symbolization, particularly for women. Dare I say, it may even touch on the topic of how changed some soldiers are after returning from war .... particularly after WWII or the Korean War ... 

In all, this was a prefect film for a Saturday and I was really impressed with how well done it is. Best watched with a small group of your gal pals and pairs with nightmarish 1950 dishes.

I watched this film for free on Kanopy or use the Find It! Watch it! links on Horror Habit's sidebar to locate where else you can find this cringe binge of a feature. 

Haunt (2019)

October Challenge Day 25

My brother came by the house and, after lovingly arguing about several films, we settled on this one.

I hated the title, but we both found the synopsis promising. The high ratings helped. If it wasn't for the ratings I wouldn't have checked out Haunt.

Damn. I hate this title so much. Poster is interesting ...

This film is about a collection of college students who check out a haunted house attraction on Halloween. Yawn? Yes. But again, the ratings won me over. It has high marks for the right reasons.

The brief synopsis is not capable of describing how clever and interesting this film is. Sure, it's about a bunch of college students who check out a haunted house attraction, but it's also brilliantly filmed. The cinematography is wildly well done considering the bland topic. Excellent acting, striking jump scares, and amazing kill scenes is an absolute bonus!!!

Damn, I hate this title so much though. 

Sure, sure, sure - it's a horror story about a haunted house attraction. I get that it's called "Haunt". But it also incorporates so many elements of an Escape Room attraction. It fact, it's more of an Escape Room than a haunted house... the title is really the only thing that sucks about this film. 

Wait. So my brother and I laughed out loud a bit about the last few minutes of the film. We're hard, cynical, and well traveled horror fans though. The ending was a hilarious moment for us, but for non regular horror fans, it may be a delight. 

Overall, we both really enjoyed this horror show. It was unique and a win despite it's (initial) blandness. In fact, it's a great Halloween film. 

Best watched with a group who loves sudden adventures. Pairs with shots and food found in a baseball park. I watched this film on Shudder. Use the Find It. Watch It. links on Horror Habit's sidebar to locate where else you can find this very Halloween feature. 

Murder by Television (1935)

October Challenge Day 24

The title of this film was the only reason I watched it - well, that and the year it was made.

Beloved Bela Lugosi stars in Murder by Television as two people, twins!! And what's this about killer televisions?

Not dissimilar to the thriller, Sorry Wrong Number - and well, any horror film that incorporates the horrors of modern technology - this one ties in the latest marvel of home televisions with a bonus who-done-it.

This is a quiet, slow film though. Absolutely not for all horror fans (I thought the TV was going to be more of a killing machine. It's not) but it is for fans of the classics, particularly if you love having them on in the background or curling up to them in the evening before bed. 

The story revolves around a scientist who is reluctant to sell his amazing new TV technology. He dies, suspiciously - mystery ensues. So not 'horror' but certainly a spooky mystery. I love this sh*t.

What I loved most about this film is when they reveal this new amazing technology - the ability to see the world in real time, on a tiny screen, instantly, from anywhere. And there I was on my phone at the time and I *might* have been arguing about something with a stranger or I was loving on a cat who lives halfway across the world. 

Technology! Love you, you clever devil. 

Again, this is a film for classic film lovers, late night non-horror lovers, and curling up on cold nights. It's slow, quiet, and mediocre but quaint. 

I watched this film on Amazon Prime. Use the Find It. Watch It. links on Horror Habit's sidebar to locate where else you can see this spooky TV feature. 

Graverobbers (1988)

October Challenge Day 23

Things are getting tough, folks. Send provisions.

Every year I start my daily horror movie watching on October 1st with total excitement. By the 4th week I'm dragging and end up finding films that I'm not sure what to do with.

Let me introduce Graverobbers. It's about a town bonded together by necrophilia.

And why does this guy look like Donald Trump!!??!!!

What the hell is going on in this picture???!!!

Help!

Necrophilia, necrophilia, necrophilia. It's what unites this community and that's pretty much all you need to know about this rare '80s feature. 

It kicks off with a waitress accepting a wedding proposal from a total stranger at the cafe counter and things only get hilariously ridiculous from there. 

Despite it being a very (VERY) cheesy 1980's horror flick, it's also an oddly engaging cheesy 1980's horror flick. The kill scenes are also spectacular. I saw an IMDB comment refer to this film with "...Nothing in this 'movie' qualifies to be a serious attempt at film making." They must be new. Don't listen to the newbies. 

I enjoyed this film for the absurdity it is. Note, there's also a scene with a grandmotherly librarian being electrocuted while having sex with a corpse - and that scene, I can almost guarantee it, will be forever burned into your brain. I totally understand if you file that one away in your Nope folder.

So, essentially, I've officially thrown my hands up in the air and reached a point in this year's October Challenge where I watched a film like this and laughed out loud, several times. That's where I'm at folks, and this film is bonkers in every way.

Best watched with a trusted friend and pairs with coffee or a bizarre cocktail. 

I watched this film in the Roku channel Just Horror. Use the Find it! Watch it! links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this WTF feature.

Black Holler (2017)

October Challenge Day 22

The Black Holler Twitter account reached out and alerted me to this mighty gem. The tag line: "Grody to the MAX!" won we over instantly.

They had me at "Grody".

It's the 1980s and a bunch of college students head out into the (haunted!) woods for a class assignment. Badass newbie, LaQuita Johnson, is forced to join this astoundingly ridiculous ragtag team of incredibly stupid white folks. 

I was ROLLING within minutes!

Here are just a two quotes (from the beginning of the film) that I had to rewind and watch again, I laughed so hard. There are so many more:

"I consider you my #2 because you're the shit."

"It's a very entertaining story, Mr. Stephens, but let's keep the fiction in women's studies. Mmmm, K?"

HAHAHA!

Satire and slapstick, seriousness and silliness - this film is a win! Do yourself a favor and sit back, chill, and enjoy the fun that is Black Holler.

Folks, I don't want to share much more, it's best experienced walking in blindly. Just know it's fun and delightfully weird.

Can be watched alone or with friends and pairs with beer and wine coolers. I watched this film on Amazon Prime. Use the Find it! Watch it! links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this hilarious feature.

Joker (2019)

October Challenge Day 21

If you've been following my blog long enough, you'll notice that I categorize quite a few 'drama' or 'thriller' films as horror.

I do this for films that give me nightmares (because of the reality) or because of the intense, jaw-dropping, reaction I have to them. This one is both.

Let's send in the clowns!

:(

Joker. 

I've been fighting for the well-being of all since I was a wee child. It's part of my soul and person. So as someone who has always been interpersonally motivated to help anyone who struggles - whether these struggles are from economic, social, or behavioral burdens (which this film is all about) - this film crippled me.

Now here I am as an adult and unsurprisingly with a behavioral science degree and working in the realm of PTSD, I had to restrain myself while in the theater. This film screams injustice every which way from Wednesday.

Almost everyone knows the story of Batman's Joker. Or at least when Batman is involved. That is not this story. It's a background story about a man - who didn't have to be the Joker...

As I have been typing this up in a local cafe, I watched a smiling young male employee who is *different*, sweeping the floor and having great f*cking pride in it - as you should (dude even had a laugh and specific pride for dispensing ice for the bar) - when I legit watched a group of drunks make fun of him. He laughed and 'played along'. This drunk group moved on faster than my mouth was able to form words but it brought on the clogged-throat punchies in me. I'm a fighter for all but I have a serious stuttering problem when I can't believe the horribleness of what I'm seeing. I couldn't believe this was happening in front of my eyes - as I was typing this.

Don't be f*cking assholes, people. It's not hard. And that's my review. Well - more of a strange rant. Don't be an asshole in any form (financial, behavioral, etc.), and this film is amazing, and it also broke the heart.

Pairs with cold hard facts and hugs.

I watched this film in the theater. Use the Find It. Watch It. links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this mind-blowing feature.

In the Tall Grass (2019)

October Challenge Day 20

I'd been eyeing In The Tall Grass for a bit, finally decided to give it try on a dark and lonely evening. It was a good choice for a dark and lonely night.

This Stephen King and son, Joe Hill, collaborative effort is very *Kingish* in that it's creepy, crawly - with highly original horror ideas - and yet still has some very odd (head tilting) moments. For instance, if you were driving down a deserted road and heard some child call out for help from some immense grass, would you go into the grass or would you be a reasonable person and call the police?

But you know - it's King's world. You go into the grass. And since it's King's world, you roll with it.

And that's where our story begins, with a brother and sister wandering into the grass to save a child they believe they heard calling for help. Folks, it just gets intensely weird from there. Religiously weird.

Right when the film finished I pretty much jumped up from the couch, pointed a finger at the TV and said something to the extent of "Someone call the burn unit for organized religions."

After sitting on it for a few days, I still feel pretty much the same. I'm going to put money on this being a scathing thought piece on (the hypocrisy of) religion. The blatant, empty church sitting next to this field is screaming symbolism - and that's just a start. The rest of the film is screaming: "Oh, we are mad. Rightfully mad."

I enjoyed the film. It's chilly, weird, and original. It's also so weird, slow, and original that I doubt it will be enjoyed by most horror fans. In fact, it may bore some audiences. Overall, the texture of this film is haunting, quiet, and the cold clings to the bones. It requires attention, patience, and an open mind. An ironic element, considering the story line.

Best watched alone or with one or two people. Wait for a dark and stormy night. Pairs with corn, bread, and soup.

I watched this film on Netflix. Use the Find it. Watch it. links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this chilling feature.

The Moose Head Over the Mantel (2017)

October Challenge Day 19

I was perusing through some of my not-often-used streaming services when I found this one for free on Pluto.

The title was all I needed to know, to know I must see it: The Moose Head Over the Mantel

AMAZING

This title feels like it's part of a therapy question. Like: how does this title make you feel?

I'll tell you! Nightmares!

I toured an old mansion in North Dakota when I was around 10. In the mansion there was one room full of animal heads. Everywhere. The taxidermy didn't fare well with one of the deer heads and I recall that it appeared as if the eyes of that deer's head was "rotted" out. Quiet seriously. It was graphic, disgusting, and was dumbstruck. I still shiver when I think of that place.

Didn't help that eight year old me was not prepared when I saw the laughing demon deer head in Evil Dead II....

Then this film shows up and not only does that childhood experience come flooding back, but the visuals this title incites is remarkably disturbing. Egads this title troubles me something fierce...

This film follows over a hundred years of one family living in the same house - with that damned moose head looming over the living room the whole time, 'watching' the generations come and go. Watching the murder, violence, and mayhem coursing through the bloodline.

What is most striking about this film is that it feels so theatrical, as in I could easily be watching this on a stage, at a late night trendy, bohemian theater. The film takes place entirely in the living room with 99% of the camera angles coming from the moose head (and a deer heard, with the occasional view from a wolf's head). I really enjoyed this originality and was shook every time it seem as if the heads were moving or jolting 'awake'.

I would call this an art house horror film - it takes serious risks and navigates by way of intensity, emotion, and heavy symbolism. The acting is also curious, possibly made more curious because of the camera angles. You can tell real heart went into the making of this feature, however. The passion is palpable - as palpable as the violence!

Now I would just like to take a moment to turn the spotlight on this film's sound effects. Dear god almighty. Someone give everyone responsible for the sound effects all the awards. All of the awards! Just - hand them all over.

I ... I don't think I'm going to get over the sounds this film emanates. Truly remarkable work and it plays such a crucial role. Dare I say: makes the film.

Overall - it's a memorable and very original film. You'll need to pay attention at all times though. Not one for the background.

Best watched alone, late at night. Pairs with drinks that you should avoid because, historically, they make you crazy.

Again, I watched this film on Pluto - try it out! It's free and pretty dang neat! Use the Find It. Watch It. links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this unholy film.

Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

October Challenge Day 18

A friend suggested we go check out Zombieland: Double Tap on opening weekend. I don't normally check out films on opening weekend because I don't like people crowds, but this actually sounded like a really fun and wild idea. Sign me up!

And up I was signed!

That's when it occurred to me that I hadn't seen the original Zombieland since I saw it in the theater back in 2009. WTAF. Seriously. How has it been ten years?!

Despite it being ten years since I'd seen the original, and ten years since this was rebooted (to a degree), this particular film rolled right into the story as if a day had not passed. And I rolled right with it!

In fact, we caught this film in a theater revamped with leather(ish) Lay-Z-Boy style chairs that go *all the way back*. Folks, I got a couple beers in me, reclined in this masterpiece of theater attire (blanketing myself in my big poofy coat) and just let the world around me disappear while a hilarious, witty, fast-paced creature feature was relayed before me.

I WAS DELIGHTED BEYOND WORDS

I can't say yet if I liked this one more than the original because I need to rewatch the original. But I can say that I walked out of the theater liking this one more than I remember liking the original when I walked out the theater!

So, so fun. So, so, fast. So, so funny. And these zombies are so, so, thrilling. Overall, my friend and I couldn't stop talking about how *fun* this film was, after we walked out of the theater. Clever, exciting, and fun - this is one I recommend seeing in the theater.

If you don't catch this one in the theater then I recommend watching it from a Lay-Z-Boy chair, reclined to ridiculous laziness and let those belly laughs bellow loud and proud. Note: reclined to full laziness will make it more difficult to jump up when the actually thrilling and slightly frightening scenes occur. Speaking from experience.

Best watched with people you want to survive the zombie apocalypse with and pairs with appetizers you suddenly decide to splurge on.

I watched this film in the theater. Use the links on Horror Habit's sidebar to locate where else you can find this freaky fun creature feature.

Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1993)

October Challenge Day 17

So I love, Pumpkinhead. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! I walked into the second installment, Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings knowing it couldn't possibly be as good as the first one, but I was in the mood for some schlock on a sunny afternoon and this one sounded good.

The film opens with some kids from the 1950's roughing up a defenseless young man with a wide variety of physically obvious difficulties. 

This *past experience* is relayed in black and white film. 

But I forgive! I knew it was going to be schlocky so - chill, Jolie. From there I continued with my work while this one played in the background. 

Most certainly an early '90s film in all possible clothing and hairstyle ways, I eventually warmed up to the film and found the story of these rowdy teens 'accidentally conjuring up a locally known demon' endearing.

More endearing still (since that is hallmark of the original Pumpkinhead story) are the ties to family and loyalties to the rural southern area - as well as the love and heartbreak people experience for their loved ones. Bonus! Pumpkinhead makes many more appearances! More so than the original. 

Unfortunately for me, appearances of Pumpkinghead usually comes with a lot of flashing lights (lightning, a massive amount of lightning - even on a calm, quiet evening). Folks, as much as I love Pumpkinhead, I don't think I've seen it since I had a pretty serious surgery on my head that has since effected my hearing and balance. For reasons that continue to baffle me, since this surgery, I go into a straight up panic around flashing lights. 

For those who should not be around flashing lights for reasons related to seizures, please be warned. I had to turn around/leave the room/close my eyes - the flashing is fierce! MUCH TO MY GREAT SADNESS! 

Pumpkinhead is such an excellent monster and I wanted to see more of it. Sadly, I could only hear it. And by that I mean hear the kids screaming.

:(

The film is cheeky, quaint, and delightfully weird - and if flashing lights do not bother you, then you get a great amount of Pumpkinhead scenes. Overall, this is a fun film with friends during the day or night, and pairs well with foods that are bad for you.

I watched this film on Hulu. Use the links on Horror Habit's sidebar to locate where else you can find this classic story told in a less serious or sad way than the original - but still endearing. Cheesy and endearing.  

In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)

October Challenge Day 16

So my brother texted me in the evening - alerting me to In The Shadow of the Moon. He started to check it out and thought I might like it. I dropped what I was doing when, after I wrote back asking if I should see it, he responded with "...might be a vampire story. I'm not sure".

We decided to watch it together - separately - and continued to communicate by text. Folks, below is our conversations:

Me: "Not sorry I never had children and that mustache is ridiculous."

Bro: "I was just about to say: this is every kid in movies nowadays."

Bro: "Why is every movie kid an adorable little dumpling."

Me: "Except for when they are killers. Kids are either dumplings or killers."

Me: "That mustache needs to go away."

Bro: "Bokeem Woodbine looks actually younger."

Bro: "I actually like it."

Bro: It was the 90s Jolie!"

Me: "The mustache? It makes me uncomfortable. And 90s Jolie was strong! I feel we're in Se7en territory now though."

Bro: "As someone who hasn't shaved her legs since the 90s, you have no right to critique body hair. Quit 'stache shaming."

Me: "(laughing emojis) FAIR"

Me: "Why are you not addressing the Se7en aspect?"

Bro: "What do you mean?"

Me: "Wait: THE MATRIX MEETS VAMPIRES"

Bro: "Damn"

Me: "RIGHT"

Me: "Wait. What?"

Me: "WAIT WHAT"

Bro: "Hmmm, now not sure where this is going"

Me: "Yeah..."

Bro: "You cannot bitch about the 'stache now that he has this shitty beard."

Me: "Full moons, vampires, time traveling - nope. The 'stache problem is gone."

Me: "And now this feels like Frailty."

Bro: "I don't get why he's so set on killing her. I think I'd be more intrigued with finding out what's going on"

Then then the ending happened and we were both a little speechless .... but not in a *good* way....

Bro: "Please call me"

Folks, it's really rather difficult to describe what this film is about - although the message at the end has a righteous purpose/message, the manner in which the story is told is overly, how shall I say ... dramatic? Confusing? All Over The Damn Place?

In all, when bro and I talked after the film, we both were all like "Ah. What was that?" It's science fiction in a horror suit, walking around with a ton of thriller baggage, masquerading as a drama. It's an odd film.

Best watched with someone you can text with throughout the film - while they too are watching it.  Pairs with a PBR and something you fished out of the freezer and has an expiration date in the past.

I watched this film on Netflix. Use the links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this .... unusual film. 

13 Nights of Elvira (Television Show, 2014)

October Challenge Day 15

Folks, I have a perfectly good reason for why I suddenly found myself in an RV, in the middle of a trailer park, in San Diego, California.

But that's another story.

What I would like to talk about is when I woke up in this RV on Saturday morning. My weekend morning routine is to turn on some horror schlock while I tool around on some chores - but I was outside my element (and subscription channels). The Roku channel came to my rescue!

I found the brief television show, 13 Nights of Elvira, and it was THE BEST (for anytime but especially when you suddenly find yourself in an RV, in the middle of a trailer park, in San Diego).

I had already seen most of the films shown on this sexy 13 episode show - but it kicked off with Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (which I had never seen) and I just about fell out of the slightly faulty door of my RV, laughing.

It's as bad as you think and the title is all you need to know. If I went into more detail I would give the entire story away.

I only made it through this film before I headed out of my RV for the afternoon - but it was exactly what I needed to start my day in a strange place. Folks, I didn't even have COFFEE. I took in a big dose of WTAF is this and I was good to go!

Again, I've seen most of these remaining films, but I also - against all wise use of energy ideas - keep the show running while I was gone so that it could welcome me with open arms and a loving bosom when I came back. And it did. It also tucked me into bed at night. Thank you, Elvira!

Check out the first season list for all the episodes - you are sure to find one (if not all) that will delight you to no end.

I watched this series for free on the Roku channel. Use the Find It. Watch It. links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this ABSOLUTE DELIGHT of a show.

Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)

October Challenge Day 14

Folks, I absolutely could not take the poster for Cast a Deadly Spell seriously, when I first saw it - still can't.

It physically pains me just looking at it.

I need to get movie poster help - I really get so hung up on them... 

Damnit! This poster hurts my eyes!!!

MOVING ON

This is a story about magic, demons, an evil dark other world, and greed in exotic 1940's Los Angeles, where everyone uses magic to get ahead. So let us welcome tough nut, hard talking, no nonsense gumshoe: H. P. Lovecraft, who is hot on the case of the missing Necronomicon!

Folks, I am a fan of Lovecraft's monsters and mayhem but I am not a fan of the racist monster he was. Not. A. Fan. This film incorporates the famous monsters and magic, but it's also *painfully dated*, particularly regarding race and the LGBTQ+ community. 

This is simply a very strange and often confusing film on many levels - it feels like an alien trying to walk around in a human suit. There is an especially frightening creature that pops out of a cooking pot though! Bonus points there.

In all, I had a lot of sighs but also a lot of, WTAF (can't look away). 

Probably best watched in a group and on a lazy afternoon. Pairs with whiskey drinks and ... that's probably about it.

I watched this film on HBO. Use the links on Horror Habit's sidebar to locate where else you can find this monster madness.

Dracula's Dog (1977)

October Challenge Day 13

When I saw this poster, I knew I had to watch Dracula's Dog: Right. Now!

FOLKS, LOOK AT THIS WORK OF ART!

Who's a good poster? Yeah, who's a good poster? Oh yes you are! You're a good poster! Good Poster! Here's a treat for you all:

This story starts with Russian soldiers randomly blowing shit up in Romania ...

What they unexpectedly unearth is a bunch of tombs from the Dracula family, where all the bodies are found to have wooden stakes in their body!!!

One of the bodies is of a dog! When its stake is removed, the dog comes to life and proceeds to kill, but also is a good boy and removes the stake from his human - err - washuman, who also comes back to life.

The two of them then take a boat trip to California to find the last descendant of Dracula. You see, the Draculas were master to both the man and this dog, and they are good boys.

They find this last descendant alright - cruising around with his family and their dogs in the most epic 1970s Winnebago I've ever seen (according to IMDB trivia this was the most expensive prop). Queue road trip scenes of when kids were allowed to roam randomly around in the car. That was my childhood anyway. Fun fact, I used to hangout in the footwell of the passenger seat, under my mother's feet. I'd just chill there for hours. Bonus, smoking with the windows rolled up.

Anyway -

Chaos ensues. 

It should come as no surprise that this one is an accidental tickler. The dialog is also especially hilarious. What will come as a surprise, however, is the honest-to-goodness thrills and straight up disturbing scenes. The soundtrack is also oddly enticing... except the constant dog barking. It was, actually a bit much (and occurring mostly when you can see all the dogs are not actually barking).

I'm going to be hesitant to say dog lovers should see this film. It's certainly All About Dogs (and vampire dogs), but there's also some uncomfortable scenes - particularly for animal lovers. It was, shall I say, shocking.

In all, this is a classic 1970's creature feature that should be seen at least once. I watched this film for free on Kanopy - check it out! It's a service through local and University libraries. Check it out to see if your library is participating. This app has an amazing amount of films. Amazing.

Pairs with uncomfortable, scratchy couches - and food and drinks served in well loved Tupperware dishes.

Train to Busan (2016)

October Challenge Day 12

This film apparently broke the box office in Korea, and it didn't take long for it to crush it world-wide.

It's taken me a while to catch the Train to Busan, but it was oh so worth the wait.

Two words: FAST ZOMBIES

Damn, I hate love fast zombies. They give me palpitations. I have to sit now for these movies. 

This film has so many fast zombies I had to take breaks. I watched it over a period of many hours on my TV and then on my phone - ironically, at home and then while on public transit... oh man, that just became really funny right now as I was typing this...

This movie does not give breaks, however. It's a nonstop madness bloodbath adventure. 

Here we have a young girl who just wants to see her mother for her birthday. Her work-focused divorced father reluctantly takes her on the train as a last minute birthday gift. 

MANIACAL BLOOD BATH OF ABSOLUTE CHAOS QUICKLY ENSUES

Great zombies, great characters, great intensity, great effects, and great super sweet story line - folks, this is a win in the zombie film world. 

However, it runs the fine line between being too scary for those who *don't really like horror films* and those who LOVE horror films. That could be part of the allure - it's not clear who the audience is for - it is just a great film. 

Gross, engaging, and with jaw-dropping effects: you can't go wrong spending some time with this ride. 

Best watched on a busy day and with one or two people. Pairs with snacks you'd bring with you on a day trip. 

I watched this film on Shudder. Use the links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this real screamer. 

Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)

October Challenge Day 11

The dark, damp, Pacific Northwest winter is creeping in already - and this calls for some dark, damp, black and white classics!

Sorry, Wrong Number was a local library find and it took me a good week+ to get to it, knowing I needed just the right day/evening for it.

The day has come.

I first would like to talk briefly about this poster. I honestly didn't see this image until I started typing up the review.  Having now seen the film, I'm quite disturbed by the blatant slap the man is about to make. 

The blatant slap is disturbing ANYWAY

Once you see the film, you might also see what I'm finding so disturbing about it (movie wise).

Again, the blatant slap is disturbing ANYWAY

Now, on to the film. First and foremost, you'll almost always find this film in either the Drama or Thriller section. It's on my horror list because it's strikingly nerve-wracking and - 

 really disturbing ANYWAY

The story revolves around a difficult ... disturbed (?) woman who is waiting for her husband. It's late, he's not called, and she's on the phone trying to find him. She's in bed, late at night, and the phone clutched to her hand and face is hauntingly similar to how we cling to our modern phones... 

And that's when she overhears through a mixed line, a plot to kill a woman. Things spiral into an insane story from there.

Like many thrillers and film noirs of its time, it's fast - super fast. Snappy and convoluted, you need to pay attention to it at all times. I had to rewind every time I looked away or got distracted by my phone.

The very ending of this film is extremely striking. Dare I say, extremely scary. It's going to stick with me for a long, long time. 

Watch on a dark, damp night and keep your rotary phones close (I do. I seriously have a rotary phone. It sits in the kitchen). Pairs with strange 1940s recipes and uncomfortable but great looking sleepwear.

I rented this film from my local library. Use the links on Horror Habit's sidebar to locate where else you can find this real creeper.

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001)

October Challenge Day 10

I have a friend who recommended I see Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, and when I asked what it was about, exactly, he just waved his arms and said, "Just See It!"

Now that I've seen it, I understand his reaction so much now.

[SHOUTING IN CARNIVAL BARKER]:

We have the best Kung-Fu! Gather around for the epic, one-of-a-kind Kung-Fu scenes!

Want a musical number? You - yes you, madam! I know you want a musical number!

See the amazing Mexican wrestler, Santos!! No, folks, not *the* Lucha Libre El Santo, but you'll still love him folks, I promise you!

We have the most amazing lesbian vampires - they walk in the sunlight!!! Now I know you've never seen that before! 

Wait, wait - we also have superheros! Young man, I know you like superheros - I bet you'd love this Mary Magdalene-inspired superhero! Yes you do!

And who can forget, folks, we have JESUS CHRIST! He's a skateboarder, he's dedicated to the good of humanity, he's a martial arts expert, and he's really short!

Folks, come one and all for all the meta! Religious hypocrisy, B-films love, the soundtrack, but stay - absolutely stay for the extremely clever dialog! You won't regret spending time with this writing!

Step right into the tent, folks. Be prepared to be amazed! Or at the very least, you'll probably walk out with a WTF Was That face and a chuckle in your chest!

Pairs with blessed wine or water, crackers. 

I watched this film on Amazon Prime. Use the links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this truly unusual film!