Horror Habit is now on TikTok and Letterboxd

Hey everyone!

I've been trying out different ways relay reviews and my stellar humor, and also actually try and keep up with reviews, etc.

First, I'm still regularly watching horror films, I'm just not telling you all about them as often as I'd like. You can find my to watch list, latest activity, and list of recommendations here on Letterboxd. It's a handy tool that I really enjoy using, although I probably still won't get rid of my 12 year old Excel spreadsheet of movies. 😂 I also rate films on this application, which I won't do here. 

And now I'm really excited to share that I'm on TikTok! I'm doing a lot of experimenting there (more silly stuff than movie reviews), but I'm giving it a go - trying some things out, giving Horror Habit a little bit of a fresh face. So check it out! Let me know what you think. I may also add an Instagram some day, never had one before, but honestly, I'm already a bit overwhelmed with social media.

My thoughts on Saltburn (2023) and Poor Things (2023), and horror movies that are trying to tell me what to do!

I am still on Facebook! Come find me! Note, a lot of what I share there I also share here, minus some horror-themed memes and such. 

I am also on Twitter X - but I rarely, rarely ever use it for social activity aside from sharing links to my reviews here. 

You may also see me on IMDB, as I share links to my reviews there as well but I don't comment in the reviews. FYI

In all, I'm trying some new things out! Let me know what you think. ❤✌

Jolie

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

Evil Dead 2 by Hourglass Escapes AND Evil Dead II (1987)

My family are puzzle people. We LOVE Puzzles! Almost any kind - with the exception of 99% of word puzzles... 

But back to FUN puzzles! 

So we love puzzles, particularly jigsaw puzzles and hours long board games. With that, a brother and I are particularly fond of escape rooms! So, when I asked what he wanted to do for his birthday he said he wanted to do an escape room and would look for one that looked like fun. 

A few days later I get a call: 

Him: "Hey, Jolie. I found an escape room. Can you guess which one?"

Me: "Is it scary?"

Him: "Yes ... it's a movie..."

Me: "Is it Evil Dead!?"

Him: "Yes! How did you know?"

Because I'm good, that's how. No really, I had heard that something like this exists and I was certain he was going to find it and would want to check it out. Siblings. 

So this particular post is going to be a little different because it's both a shout out to an EXCELLENT escape room experience - my favorite so far! AND and little review/reminder of the amazing Evil Dead II.

First, the Shout Out:

If you're like some of my co-workers and friends who just gave me a blank look when I excitedly shared that I went to an escape room over the weekend, let me summarize the experience:

An escape room is where you get locked into a room and you have to solve a series of hidden physical clues within the room to get to additional rooms and or simply get out. Now, this can be a rather claustrophobic experience for some because some of the rooms can be rather small. I actually went to a 'mad scientist horror show' escape room and actually had a bit of a panic because it was #1: felt too small #2: I was getting frustrated at not finding clues.  Sometimes booze helps before these adventures, sometimes it doesn't. 

In all, these rooms require a lot of fun team work and collective critical, analytical thinking. You know, a utopia and what I envision as world peace. 

So that's a summary of an escape room. There are rooms all over the country and they all have fun, exciting, themes that come in all shapes, sizes, and - if it's your flavor like mine - scares. 

With that, since I have been to so many escape rooms, and enjoyed them all, Evil Dead 2tm by Hourglass Escapes has by far been my favorite! My very favorite! This room was exceptionally and lovingly detailed with very clever clues. It was fun the entire time (instead of frustrating) and if you're an Evil Dead fan, all the more the bonus. It will blow your mind with the amount of Easter eggs and tributes - you can tell some love and fandom went into building these rooms.

So yay you, Evil Dead 2 by Hourglass Escapes! IT WAS A BLAST! And great job!

Second, the Movie:

I can't tell you how many times I've seen this film, but I can say it's an utter delight every time I do watch it. It's also a bit of a shock to me when I reference this film (or film series), fully expecting something like "Shop smart, shop S-Mart" as a response, when all I get is a blank stare. I really don't know what to do with myself in those situations and I usually make it worse by trying to share *more* quotes, which, naturally, just digs me deeper into the awkward hole. So, if this film is new to you, let me introduce you to:

Evil Dead II

There is a wild madness to this film. A wild madness that I can never stop looking at, and was honed in on after the making of the first Evil Dead (also an excellent, excellent film, but I think horror fans from all walks will agree that Evil Dead II is better than the original. I mean, hell - there's an entire escape room dedicated to film #2). 

The wild madness is about the first thing viewers will notice - the erratic monster vision, the nonsensical plot line beginnings, and the BRILLIANCE of Bruce mf Campbell (love you). 

Here we have a story about a couple that plan a stay in a remote cabin in the woods. A book of the dead is discovered and demons are unleashed on an epic, gory, hilarious, and outrageous level. I mean, on levels not ever quite seen before or since. 

I was re-watching this film after the escape room and I [insert the Leonardo DiCaprio pointing at the TV with a beer in his hand meme] was delighted af to see all the very, very sharp attention to detail with both this film and the escape room fan room. I could even point to certain scenes in this film where I was able solve parts of the Evil Dead escape room - and didn't realize it at the time. Clever, clever, clever. 

This film is madness in all forms and it's super fun, super gross, super brilliant. It's one-of-kind for sure. A must not miss if you're a horror fan and quite likely a film that will come up in conversation if you're new to horror films. It's a classic and must see. Again. And again. And again. And again. 

This particular escape room is best experienced in a small (around 3, probably no more than 4 person) group. You have 70 minutes to solve the clues and get out or you're dragged straight to hell by a gaggle of demons. Good Luck!

The film is best watched in a much larger group, probably after you just escaped the grasp of being dragged to hell. Pairs best with laughter, booze, pot (probably a lot of pot) and insane snacks that don't sound like they should work or taste good but actually do both and it blows everyone's mind. 

Again, shout out to Hourglass Escapes! If you're in the Seattle area, be sure to check them out. If you're not in the Seattle area please check out your local escape rooms if puzzle rooms are your thing!

I own Evil Dead II or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this MUST SEE and can NEVER FORGET film.

Horror Movie Night Cookbook Volume 1

 Happy New Year, everyone! I hope all are safe, well, and riding out this latest COVID variant in style (and lots of movies).

I wanted to shakes things up a bit to kick off the new year, so I thought I'd give a shout out to a cookbook I received as a Christmas present:

Horror Movie Night Cookbook Volume 1, by Richard S. Sargent

Long time followers know that I often provide a suggested food and beverage pairing for the best horror movie watching experience (albeit, often tongue-in-cheek), but this fine fella Actually Wrote A Cookbook!!

Please know that I howled with delight as I tore open the wrapping paper, and then I just sat there, incredibly impressed and completely absorbed by the contents! This is damn neat cookbook!

You'll find recipes for finger food [heh], beverages, full meals, sweets, loads of horror movies and horror themes to enhance the joy.

This is not only an utterly delightful book with utterly delightful dish and drink names, but it's also really well made. A lot of work went into this project and it shows. Impressively detailed with recipes ranging from easy to difficult, as a self-admitted Not Very Good cook, I started taking it as a personal challenge to see if I could make these fine foods (the alcoholic drinks, no problem). That is to say, although covered in gore, this particular cookbook did not intimidate me. 

As of today, this is a pretty recent publication by Richard S. Sargent, which somehow made the gift that much more charming because I felt I hopped on a cool train to destination trending town. Also, as a published author myself, I really, really respect the amount of work it takes to not only get a book out in the world but also the hustle it takes to get the world to notice it. 

If you or someone you know would also enjoy this treat of a book, then you can find it here. Note, it's also available in digital format.

Great job, Richard S. Sargent, best of luck, and I look forward to seeing Volume 2.

October Challenge 2017: Recap

Well, that's a wrap folks!

Happy November 1st! It was a pretty exciting October challenge, this year. With record breaking views on both the blog and the Roku channel, I'd like to think that everyone enjoyed the entertainment this month :)

It was a little strange simply streaming all the movie picks this year instead of popping into my local video store, I have to admit. RIP Rain City Video. But overall, it was a fun experience, as always.

Thanks again to those who reached out to Horror Habit for the Celebrating Independent Artists day. Until next year, if you would like me to help spread the word on your work, simply send me a message through the contact tool on the website and I'll share it on my Shout-Outs and Film Press Releases page.

To my utmost surprise, my Husband joined me in watching several of the films this year. I might be turning him into a horror movie fan after all...

I started October attending a memorial service for a good friend of mine who passed suddenly. It was heartbreaking. And yet, I had a little experience right before Halloween that might just suggest he's sticking around to keep an eye on all of us from time time time. Mad love, man. [mad crossed out and written backwards in crayon]. Peace.

Overall, it was a very good October challenge. I love them, and I am officially looking forward to not watching a horror movie everyday for a while. On to Documentary November! (coined by my Husband), where we'll just watch real life horror stories.

Thanks again for joining me on my adventure, everyone! As per usual, I'm going to take a little break from posting for a while and will see you in December!

Love love.

Adieu, Rain City Video

Last week I said goodbye to a beloved local haunt.

Rain City Video has been a video rental store staple in Seattle, WA for nearly 30 years, and I have had the great joy of having their flagship store located just down the street from me.

For 10 years I enjoyed the sometimes hot and humid and sometimes brisk and bright walks down the quiet neighborhood street, then rounding the corner to be faced with Never A Cloudy Day.

I've thoroughly enjoyed visits to a local independent video store ever since Dad brought home our first VHS player in 1986 - and we all gathered around, gazing and gawking at it like it was a rare diamond. The youngest brother figured out how it worked first.


From then on Friday family night visits to the video store in our small South Dakota town became a highlight of the week, for all of us. Naturally, nearly all of us gathered in the Horror section.

Adulthood and a move to the city didn't change my opinion of video stores or my love of visiting one on a weekend night. I could spend an embarrassingly long time in one - even in Blockbuster. Family-owned shops will always be my favorite, however.

Even as technology made it possible for me to stream nearly any film I desired directly from my TV and without the burden of moving a muscle, there is still nothing quiet like walking down the street to the local video store. Being greeted by the quirky film aficionado staff, hearing a random film play in the background, slowly working my way down the isle - shelf by shelf...

I visited Rain City Video for the last time last week. I wandered around it's nearly bare shelves, recalling so many fond memories ...and sighing.

For the last four years I visited this shop every week in October to select Horror Habit's October Challenge random movie picks. I loved everything about this experience. Loved everything. The walk through the falling leaves, and taking a different route as much as possible so I could see all the latest Halloween decorations. The wonderful greetings from the staff when they saw me, "Oh, hello again! Back for more for Horror Habit?"

Of course.

I loved hearing the giggling kids trying to pick out the "scariest film, ever!" No doubt having a sleep over party and wanting to be sure to pick out the best one to keep them up all night.

I loved going over the Staff Pick shelf during October and seeing that all their favorite horror films were also my favorite horror films.

I loved this store. I loved how much nostalgia it conjured in me. I loved just closing my eyes and selecting a film for the October Challenge. I loved how close I got to seeing every horror movie in their selection. I loved my impromptu visits throughout the year and then joining my husband for a drink at the tiny fancy bar across the street, where we would talk about our day and get excited to see the latest movie pick.


I loved absolutely everything about this store and I will miss it terribly.


Not all is lost, however. Rain City is looking to transition:

"Although our store front is going away, with a bit of luck the bulk of our inventory will live on. As you may already know, Rain City Video has over 4 times the number of movies available online at Netflix and Amazon Prime combined! We are working on a plan to move the inventory of Rain City Video to an online website where movies can be viewed on your TV, Tablet, Smartphone or Computer. The name of the venture is Cinefile.tv. Please sign up to at the store to receive information on our Kickstarter campaign when it is complete. If we can’t serve you through our Brick & Mortar store, it would be our pleasure to be your on-line video store. It is a big undertaking for a small company but we think it is worth a shot for many reasons and we hope you will support our efforts!"


Additionally and in the mean time, Seattle is not without its video rental store. There's still Scarecrow Video. Thank god.




Adieu, old friend. I'm very thankful to have had the opportunities I did to visit you as often I could.

Onward, upward.

French Films or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Madness

The topic of French horror films came up, randomly, in a British pub and the initiator turned to me and said, "Now, I know you hate French films, Jolie, but ... "

Me: "Wait, what? No, I don't hate French films."

Them: "Yes you do."

Me: "No I don't. I love how much they frustrate me. There's a big difference."

So, seeing how the French TV series Dead Crossroads continues to be my most popular (and controversial) post, and the confusion about my respect for French films lingers, all the while my 100% Scandinavian self is given a French name - I thought I would dedicate a few words to help clear up my complicated appreciation for these films. 

*Note, not all films written here are considered horror, but nearly all of them left me with a cold, dark feeling of utter hopelessness and dread (at some point during the film).*

First, I obtained my name because I was born on my father's birthday - the only girl in a large family of boys. Jolie, French for Pretty. I became Jolie Dawn for the pretty morning I decided to suddenly show up on - getting my mother out of a baby shower she wasn't the slightest bit interested in attending. In school I took French classes wherever possible, assuming that my name would automatically give me special powers to understand the language. Several thrown textbooks, time spent in France, and 4 years of classes later I still can only understand it un petit peu.

In 1990 my mother took me to the theater to see Le Château de Ma Mère, my introduction to French cinema. I haven't seen it since but I remember it being a haunting, beautiful, complicated, and a completely Mind-Blowing Film. Mind-Blowing because I actually hadn't seen anything like it before and I realized then, deep down in my gut, that French films and I were going to be butting heads for the rest of my life. They are able to capture a part of my mind, heart, and imagination without giving anything in return except confusion, panic, heartbreak, and total fascination. 

In my early 20s I spent a great deal of time in movie theaters. Have recently been working in one and not yet realizing I could go out and have a beer on a "school night", I would wander from theater to theater watching films in passing - or just to pass the time sometimes. One of the films I caught at that period of my life was the 2001 film Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte Des Loups). Within the first 10 minutes of the movie I was pretty convinced I was going to marry it. Dashing, dramatic, adventurous, and whole-heartedly entertaining, it was the first film I can remember seeing where I absolutely lost myself entirely in it's wonderful and amazing world. And then it got weird and deeply disturbing - downright frightening on a whole new level. I called the marriage off but it still stands as one of the most influential horror films in my love for the genre. 

In my mid-20s I joined my roommate in a showing of the 1966 Au Hasard Balthazar, at our local film festival. About 35 minutes in my eyes glazed over. At that time I stopped trying to chew my popcorn and was just throwing kernels at my face to keep awake. At roughly an hour in something *snapped* in me. I remember it clearly: I was watching the sweet young woman reach for a jar of jam but her hand was suddenly slapped away by the mean older woman (dramatic scene!). I felt it creep up suddenly, violently, and mercilessly: The Laughter. I jumped up, covered my mouth, and ran out of the theater appearing as if I'm about to spurt vomit over everyone in my path. I plowed through the double doors just in time to let out a wail of such bellowing laughter I was sure everyone in the building could hear me (and I didn't care). I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. I laughed until my eyes hurt from the tears. I stood there in the hallway, ripping out all the laughter I stifled in my life. The laughter came out with such an honest, gratifying, and freeing force that to this day I still look back with fondness. There's not a damn thing funny in the entire film! It's about a mistreated girl and her abused donkey! And here I am, having never laughed harder at a film in all my life. I will always tip my hat to this movie for it's marvel of emotional confusion and absolute odd freedom it brought out in my growth as a person.

By my 30s I had moved out into my own place, acquired a respectable office job, and overall considered myself adult enough to handle actual French Horror Films. I was wrong! Around this time I thought a nice afternoon with the 2003 film High Tension would be a good idea. Not only was I left with more questions than answers but I'm now left with a lifetime of scenes seen that CAN NOT be UNSEEN. I don't think I can forgive this movie for it's ability to make me relive seeing these scenes in my head in attempts to put all the pieces of the story together. Nearly 10 years now, still can't get over it...

Just when I thought High Tension had messed me up, no one - I seriously think no one - can be ready for Martyrs. This is a film where my brother and I whisper the title now and again, give each other a hug, and try to think happy thoughts for several hours. Martyrs, the pinnacle in my absolute loathing/love/hate/appreciation/disgust/fandom for French Horror. It's a horror story unlike anything, *ANYTHING* I have ever seen. Earlier this last year it was suggested by someone that we watch this film for a movie night at a friend's house (a home usually reserved for Mystery Science Theater 3000 films...). I jumped on that suggestion and threw it out of the conversation as fast as someone would a ticking bomb. No one who is mostly a MST3000 Horror Fan is ready for Martyrs - you just ... you just don't do that to people, not if you love them.

During an October Challenge in 2015 I watched the 2007 film, Inside . I essentially bit into a lemon and shouted at the DVD - "Come at me bro!" I thought I was so ready for this film. I was so certain I was ready for this French horror film (particularly since I survived Martyrs) that I blatantly watched a goretastic movie about a pregnant woman ... on my mother's birthday ...  and I vomited, folks. I seriously threw-up in the kitchen sink. Several times. 

As I'm approaching the 40s with the dignity and grace of a someone who abides by the 5 second rule when food falls on the floor, I've slowly but surely introduced French classics into my life. Such as:

• Eyes Without A Face
• Les Diaboliques
• Vampyr
• The Haunted Castle, and so many of Georges Méliès work
• As well as the drama film that will leave you with nightmares about the horrors of humanity: Black Venus

In all, I've come to realize that French films are my nemesis only in entertainment form. They do not relax me, they do not *entertain* me, they do not indulge me. They thrust me into an unfamiliar and uncomfortable world where I am not safe and nothing is guaranteed. They make me uneasy, they fascinate me, and they always seems to bring something out in me that I didn't realize was there (and have no idea what to do with afterwards). Why is it always French films that do this? I have no idea and frankly, I don't really want to know. I'm perfectly happy with the mysterious relationship we have. 

Several months ago I read the late 1800's French novel Thérèse Raquin. Just when I thought French horror movies couldn't get more disturbing I've discovered, so help me, a whole new level of cold-sweat torment:

French horror, French stories, French tales of absolute terror: they are my favorite/least favorite/the best/the best at giving me nightmares for a lifetime. I respect it more than I can possibly articulate and probably will until the end of my days. I also look forward to more.

Adieu for now,

Jolie

October Challenge 2016: Recap

It was yet another exciting year for Horror Habit's October Challenge! Record breaking views this year, thank you so much!!

Also exciting is that this year's challenge was paired with my Roku Channel's 31 days of movies lineup! I was very happy to see nearly 8,000 viewers got to experience that weekly adventure. If you enjoyed the programming please let me know. If you didn't enjoy the programming then you can let me know that too but I probably won't do anything about it. I'm kidding, I *might* do something about it. No really, in all seriousness, the Horror Habit Roku channel is always in development and looking to be the best it can be. November marks Horror Habit's 1 year anniversary on the Roku, and oh the places we'll go....

If you've been following my Challenge posts this month you may have detected a sad tone from time to time regarding my mother. She left this world too soon, fairly recently, I'm afraid. It's also her birthday month, and although she wasn't passionate about horror films, she directly and with great purpose influenced my horror movie love by introducing me the classics (silent era through the 1950's). She also inadvertently introduced me to the accidental horror/straight up terrifying for children films (Gremlins, that time Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs film caught on fire at the theater). She also encouraged my writing, always, from day one. I'm forever grateful for that, among so many other things. 

She wasn't a devoted fan of Horror Habit per se, I suspect her editing eye couldn't take but more than one or two posts, but she loved that I had this blog and was proud and fascinated at my dedication to it.  In all, this was my first October Challenge without Mom and it made sad.

What made me happy, however, is that I still had a really great October - not just watching and writing about films - but also of time spent with friends, family, and cozy me time. 

Moving forward, I've decided to dedicate a few special days in October to particular events/films:

• October 1st: 50 Films You May Have Missed
• October 16th: Celebrate Independent Horror Movies
• October 26th: Horror Films To Raise The Kids (influential horror films for the young - these could be bad or good ideas, either way, they're all based on personal experience)
• October 31st: 18 Short Horror Films - a Horror Habit film festival

Thank you. Thank you for checking out my blog and thank you for watching my Roku channel (November's content to be updated on 11/3). And although I'm going to take a little bit of a break, stay tuned for updates on several new independent features. 

Take care, be safe, play nice, give hugs, say I love yous, chill out, and eat pizza. XO

Jolie

What Happened to the October 10th Post?

October Challenge Day 10:

I did not have a chance to review a film for this day because life happened, wonderful happy life.

Started the day hanging with the family, wandering through beautiful trees - immersing myself in the sounds, colors, and crispness of Autumn.

Then went to visit the EMP Museum with friends, checking out the new Start Trek exhibit and of course, The Lure Of the Horror Film exhibit!

Following that was watching some football with friends, chatting on the porch and eating delicious pork sliders.

Made it home from there with 25 minutes to spare to catch the second political debate. My brother Matt stopped by with pizza and we all watched the madness with marinara sauce on our chins.

Afterwards I walked down the street to visit with some of my best ladies, huddled together on the living room floor, laughing and talking together over glasses of wine.

It was, in fact, one of those perfect days I'll always remember, and there was simply no time for a horror movie.

Horror Habit Is Now on the Roku!

Greetings everyone!

With the holidays approaching, I thought I might stop and give thanks to Roku.

Thank you, Roku, for providing so many awesome video streaming channels. A big, huge, gigantic thank you for allowing me the opportunity to create my very own channel! And thank you very much Instant TV Channel for teaching me how to do it!

Also, thank you so much friends and family, of course, I love you so much too. Tons of thank yous to all who have put up with my ridiculous excitement about my very own Roku channel. No, seriously, I love all you guys. You are the best!

The Roku Horror Habit Channel is up and alive! Look - see, see, see here!

This channel will be streaming some of my favorite movies, and I'll be changing the content once a month. Movies will continuously play once you've started the channel, and should you leave the channel during a showing (so long as it's in the same month), it will pause the film for your return. If you want to skip a film, simply click on the Forward button.

To see what's showing in the month, check out the My Roku TV Guide link in the side bar to see what's currently available.

I am so excited about this channel. The possibilities! And yet, it is also a work in progress so expect changes in look and design. In all, expect more awesome.

Thank you everyone! Thank you for supporting me, Horror Habit, and my never-ending exploration into the unknown projects. I enjoy them so much, and I hope you do too.

October Challenge 2015: Recap

Folks,

This was a GREAT October Challenge! Not only did I not fall asleep in the middle of a single movie, but there were no terrible movies! Every film was entertaining.

This has never happened. 

To top it all off, there was beautiful Fall weather to play in, Mike's super fantastic 40th birthday, a few hilarious adventures, and a record breaking 2,500 views. Amazing.

Although all amazing, I want to take a moment to recognize the fallen tributes that did not make the October Challenge movie watching list this year, due to time constraints:

Stitches  and  Kill List. 

May the odds be better in your favor next year.

I'd also like to recognize the Big Bottle o'Blood that was finally emptied after 6 years of trusted use. Dear: Big Bottle o'Blood, thank you for helping me terrorize my friends and family all these years, and getting me out of some sticky last minute Halloween costume fiascoes. You've been a good, disgusting, non-toxic, and easy to clean-up friend. I will miss you.

Today I've updated all my horror movie lists and pages - be sure to check out the latest and greatest there, and thanks again for a really great October Challenge, everyone. It was the best yet, and I appreciate you joining me on it's 4th annual run.  

Until next time - as I'll be taking about a month break - peace, love, and gore, 

Sincerely, Lizzie/Horror Habit/Jolie

The Spider (A Personal Experience)

It was been one very exciting, fun, scary, thrilling, and epic October Challenge this year. I watched scary classics, tons of gore, a few side-ticklers, and a fine collection of mind benders.

So, before the week is out, I'd like to tie up the Halloween season with a personal story about the one and only thing I saw that actually gave me nightmares.

I'm talking waking-up-in-a-cold-sweat-and-still-fighting-something-off-you nightmares.

THIS:

Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.  Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. 

Nope.

That's right folks. This spider. This massive female black and yellow Argiope (I THINK!?!) was the one thing I saw this October Challenge that straight up gave me horrifying nightmares.

AND IT LIVES IN MY FRIEND'S BACKYARD.

She posted it on Facebook early in October and my life hasn't been the same since. So there you go folks, this one did it for me. 

Thanks for a great October Challenge! See you again in a couple weeks ... and SWEET DREAMS!

Great Big Humongous Surprise

Folks, after a great deal of thought, I've decided not to watch a movie today. For the following reasons:

• I've already watched my monthly quota. 
• My selection was not so great.
• Mike offered-up a Walking Dead marathon instead.
• I HAVE A GREAT BIG HUMONGOUS SURPRISE FOR YOU ALL TOMORROW

Serious. All these things, and maybe a few more, were the reason I decided not to watch a film tonight.

As much as I wanted to keep this surprise until tomorrow - it just can't wait. It Really Just Can't Wait.

For the first time ever, I will be showing 31 Horror Movies For Halloween on Horror Habit - all day - for like, forever...actually...

No Joke! I'll be posting 31 full length horror movies to watch on this blog for Halloween!

There will be full length gore, hilarity, classics, the absurd, movie shorts, fun for everyone, and some of the best for horror movie aficionados.

In short, there will be something for everyone at every stage of the day.

I LOVE HALLOWEEN SO MUCH

I might as well have some inflatable worm people things shooting/blowing up around the house and aimless car salesmen harassing the neighbors while holding signs that say, "SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY"

...now that I think about it - that would be a Great Halloween show...

In any case, I'm so excited to showcase a crap load of movies for you for this Halloween.  You're welcome. Stay tuned for tomorrow!

XO!

Real Life

Tonight I was not able to get a movie in, so I'm dedicating today's post to all the real life horror out there.

You know, the news. Watch the news tonight - Fox News if your into the crazy horror.

More movies tomorrow, sorry folks! Real life happened. Real life - the scariest stuff I know!

My Typos and Other Grammatical Amusements

Ladies and gentlemen,
This blog is littered with typos and other grammatical amusements. I find one every time I review an older post.

At first I tried to correct them as I found them, but after a while I just had to stop. Partly due to exhaustion, partly to keep from beating myself up about all the awesome new words and phrases I was accidentally creating, and partly because I began to view them as one would view their high school yearbook photos.

Can't Take Back That Hair Cut Now, People! That monstrosity is burned into eternity for all to see. Deal.

Like high school hair, the mistakes made here will just have to be laughed about and then we all move on. You see, I have very few imperfections [caugh], so... be grateful you can find some here. Look at my misuse of the comma, the additional "the", or even straight up misspelling a simple word as a treasure hunt, a diamond in the rough. 

Thank you very much for your understanding. The typos stay.

In other news! I'm updating all my Movie Genres pages. Stayed tuned for some new and improved What to Watch lists.

Stay strong, everyone, and keep on keeping on with all the wins!

Love, 

Jolie

To Get You In The Mood

Folks!

Only one month away until my annual October Challenge! This will be the third anniversary of this event and I am so super excited. As in the previous two years, I will be watching a horror movie every day in the month of October.

However, this year I will be taking one day off, October 16th, as a birthday present to my non-horror movie fan Husband. That doesn't mean I won't have a post that day however, I've got plenty of Drafts in this here blog to last me a while.

Most of my movies will be obtained through my local movie store: Rain City Video, because I love this place, you should patronize your local small businesses AND I'm trying to watch every horror movie on their shelves. This is fun for everyone.

To get you all in the mood for this major event, I've supplied a very super scary on multiple levels GIF. You're welcome!



Happy Fall!

Godzilla Pizza

Folks, I found this awesome on Twitter yesterday.

GODZILLA Pizza with Atomic Bacon Breath pic.twitter.com/YAxhWwdMEd
— Ghoulia Childs (@GhouliaChilds) August 15, 2014

And now, somehow, the world is more complete. Thank you Ghoulia Childs. Thank you.

Watch It Now!

Good news, everyone! I discovered the Internet Archive today! They have so much great stuff I can hardly contain myself.

They are a fantastic little non-profit, full of videos, archived web pages, music, podcasts, etc., and it is doing the Internets a lot of good - although I can't say the same for my plans this afternoon...

In any case, I went through their movies and embedded those that were available to my blog posts. For instance, want to to see a review of Attack of the Giant Leeches or Cathy's Curse? Well now you can here AND watch the entire movie! We all win at Awesome today!

Just look for the "Watch It Now!" tag on the left, beneath the Blog Archive - you might find something that will both surprise and delight you.

Happy day everyone!

Sandcastle Pictures' Feature Debut!

You guys you guys you guys! Hey you guys!

Let's step away from horror movie watching for a moment and talk a little bit about horror movie making. 

So, Vancouver, BC based Sandcastle Pictures hit me up on Twitter today, asking me to spread the word on the creation of their first feature film! I must say, they've created a very clever and compelling campaign. 

Their IndieGoGo page is informative, fun, full of excitement, and I'm rooting for them all the way. They won me over immediately with the following statement: 

"We also know horror fans are some of the most passionate people in the world, and it is our hope to rally you to our cause, which is to make a kick ass movie that promises to terrorize, while telling a good story with important themes!"

Oh hell yeah I'm passionate! Promises to terrorize while telling a good story with important themes? Get out of my head, Sandcastle Pictures! Just kidding. You can stay there with the rest of my treasured and well labeled What I Love About A Horror Movie files.

Seriously people, you can be a part of this movie - just check out their fundraising page and see for yourself:

Sandcastle Pictures' Feature Debut!

I've already started poking my movie making brother (and fellow blog contributor, Matthew Bergman) with a digital stick this morning about the campaign. He's probably not up yet, but continue poking I shall because that's what siblings who are passionate about movies do to each other.

So check this endeavor out, everyone! Be a part of it, watch it grow. Good luck Sandcastle Pictures and I'll be seeing you soon!

Jolie

The Oddities Museum (A Personal Experience)

Folks, although this is a horror movie review blog, I need to share a personal experience that I had during my 4th of July holiday vacation.

I drove back to my family home in South Dakota from Seattle with my husband Michael and one of my brothers, fellow blog contributor, Matthew. Despite the two day drive (one way) and 16 family members being crowded together in one house for four days, we all had a great time and I loved being there with everyone. On July 3rd we decided to visit the carnival in town. It's been several years since I went to a carnival and I really wanted to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl with my nieces so I jumped right on that band wagon.

This traveling show comes to our hometown every year for the 4th of July, so I expected to see the same rides and not be blown away by anything new. This year the carnival surprised me with a massive "Oddities Museum" tent, complete with painted banners advertising sword swallowers and freaks of nature.

Right On! I thought to myself - I've always wanted to see one of these shows. What could possibly go wrong?

I surveyed the crowd to see who would join me in this excursion and only my two eldest nieces and my brother, Matthew were willing to join me. My youngest niece, seven years old, informed me that the tent was "inappropriate", my husband said I would regret it, and the other family members conveniently didn't hear me and complained of sunburns and heat stroke.

It was agreed upon that we should ride the Tilt-A-Whirl first and then see the show. I didn't see a problem with this until we got on the ride, started twirling around (laughing, screaming) and then something broke. We came to a sudden stop and the machine operator ordered us off right away, claiming a belt snapped but that we could come back in about 30 minutes and ride for free. This shook me up pretty good. It actually left me more worried about what we'd see in the Oddities tent and with a vow that I would not be returning for my free ride. Figured I just got a second chance at life and wouldn't risk another more dangerous break in the machine that could hurtle me into a crowd of cotton candy stuffed people like a bowling ball plowing through pins.

But on to the Oddities Tent we went! We gave our tickets to the carnival barker - who was not actually barking - just standing behind the podium and adjusting the volume of this barking boom box that proclaimed I'd see wonders that will blow my mind.

The four of us began our tour with seeing supposed mummies, mermaids, and monsters. No big deal, I've seen the same things in touristy curiosity shops but I quickly surmised that all these exhibits were found in a taxidermist's musty basement where they were created 50+ years ago with a little needle, thread, and imagination. But it was when we encountered the live exhibits that the sadness kicked in. A duck with a little webbed foot on it's head, two headed turtles, a dog with five legs, etc. these did not blew my mind - they just made me sad. Especially seeing the condition of their homes which was not okay with me, and  my sad quickly turned into mad.

By this time I want to advise my nieces not to touch anything and ask if they were up-to-date on their hepatitis shots, but then the leopard lady showed up...

She was on a stage, behind us and she bellowed into the microphone: "Hi, hi there! Come on up to the stage now." We turned around reluctantly and walked up to the stage. Think Dorothy and team approaching the great wizard for the first time. Now, the only audience in this tent were me, my two nieces, my brother, and some other preteen girl who was likely only there because an older brother double dog dared her to. She seemed rather afraid of the leopard lady and stood close to us. Although the audience scene was bad, I thought perhaps the leopard lady would show us a trick or two to make this $2.00 ticket experience worth it. I then noticed that her "leopard prints" were smugging around the knees and accepted the fact that I just spent $8.00 to be disappointed.

As the North Dakotan accented leopard lady showed us stabbing herself with sharp objects, and sword and fire swallowing with the enthusiasm of a banana slug, I had a vision of her taking shots of Wild Turkey between each show, crying a little more each time. I felt sorry for her in-between thoughts of: "Why is that typical North Dakota license plate just sitting there, propped up on the stage...?" and "Did you just seriously request that we not take up sword swallowing because there were too many people already doing it?" and "Please make this ride stop, depression is kicking in."

However, it was when she began asking for a participant from the audience that I wanted to grab the kids and run. Instead, my nieces ran and hid behind us. Smart girls. Unfortunately for the double dog dare taker, she then became the target for the leopard lady.

Here's how it went down:

Leopard Lady: "Come on up! I'll put you in this box and run these blades through."
Double Dog Dare Taker: Shakes head violently.
LL: "Oh come on. It won't hurt, I promise. It'll be quick."
DDDT: Shakes head violently.
LL: "Please, see you'll just go in this box and I'll show you where to hide."
DDDT: Shakes head violently.
LL: "Oh I get it. Your parents probably told you not to crawl into strangers boxes at the carnival."
DDDT: Just stands there, on the verge of tears.
LL: "Oh well, alright. On to plan B which is never as good as plan A. Does anyone have a dollar they want to make disappear?"
Me: Everyone is looking at me. "I don't have any cash..." which was not true...
LL: "Come on - a dollar, anyone?"
Me: Fishes into my change container, trying to hide my dollar bills, "...I got...let's see here...sixty five cents?"
LL: "That'll work."
Me: gives change to Matthew who then gives it to the leopard lady.
LL: "Okay, we don't normally accept change but this should work. See this normal piece of fabric? [displays a piece of blue velvet] I will now make this money disappear [continues to display a piece of blue velvet, turns it a couple times] Ta-Da! [displays the same piece of blue velvet, then tosses it over her shoulder. It flies to the stage and you can clearly hear the change when it hits. Matthew and I nearly loose it in laughter at this point]. Okay - here you go young lady, [eldest niece accepts .65 cent gift] a picture of me swallowing a sword!"

We all sad clapped, thanked her for her time and ran out of the tent. The rest of the family was waiting for us right outside and excitedly asked us about the experience. I went up to my Husband and asked him to hold me, Matthew was silent for a long while, and the nieces politely said, "It was interesting."

In all, this little excursion to the Oddities Museum was a bad idea, however if it's not a good time then it's a good story ... and I really needed to talk about this experience to the interwebs. You Are All Welcome! Also, this little adventure was a horror show on a whole different level so I think it will still fit nicely on this blog.

Good luck out there everyone.