Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

October Challenge Day 29

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

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

Silent Night, Deadly Night

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

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

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

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

PUNISH

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

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

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

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

NAUGHTY

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can catch this classic slasher hiding in the dark.

Bambi: The Reckoning (2025)

October Challenge Day 27

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

Bambi: The Reckoning (2025)

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

I was inconsolable. 

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

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

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

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

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

Oh and there are bonus killer Thumpers!

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

Evil geniuses. 

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

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

Death Machine (1994)

October Challenge Day 23

This is what I picture AI is doing when it breaks out of the sand boxes. Let's talk about: 

Death Machine

Here we have technology going wildly out of control. Naturally, the killer in the machine was all created under the watchful eye of a socially unhinged megalomaniac tech bro who has unhealthy attachments to women ... where have we seen that before....

He has also acquired his seemingly red pill DOGE team to do the dirty grunt work. Don't worry though. The one woman in this film is smart, so, there is hope.

This is the story of a tech firm, under scrutiny in a depraved future, where a killer robot thing is unleashed. 

Oddly, I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting. Bonus Brad Dourif is SO Scary! Man, that man is exceptional. 

The robot creature monster thing is also wildly entertaining and frankly, scary! I giggled screamed, like at a carnival ride.

I don't know what personality disorder this film has, but somehow it's a fun one. In small doses. 

Gore, tech, fast-paced, and where the one woman asks "Do we have any more explosives?" after falling in an elevator shaft, and one beat later, "Does anyone have a cigarette?"

It was wild to see the discussion of replacing humans with robots, all being played on a floppy disk though - where did they find the space? They can save your personality on a floppy disk too. So. lolololololololo

This is a wildly trippy, mind-fuc of a film if you too have lived through the technology changes over the last 30 years. At 16, I learned about the internet (or as I was introduced: "The World Wide Web") in a FUNERAL HOME, from a man who was paying me in internet classes for doing clean-up labor for the home's remodeling project. It's a long story.

In any case, this film is well worth the watch, particularly

NOW

I watched this film on Tubi, use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this emotionally unregulated diamond in the rough. 

Cape Fear (1962)

October Challenge Day 17

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

Cape Fear

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

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

Back to the movie!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre (2009)

October Challenge Day 16

Let's talk about the Icelandic unsupervised feral child that is: 

Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre

Or as I was introduced to it as: Harpoon - Whale Watching Massacre

I was emotionally all over the place with this one. Let's see if I can parse it out....

First, this is the story of a group of tourists who want to see some whales, so they rent the sketchiest boat they can find. 

Everyone is terrible. The tourists are, comically, the worst type of tourists we can imagine, as if the characters were drunkenly drawn from the bowels of airport lounges.

I can't tell if the two young women are visitors from England or the US, but it doesn't matter - they are toxic, to each other, especially.

The Korean family.... yikes. YIKES. I'm sorry Korea.

The middle aged German ladies who say such things as: "I wouldn't mind being rescued by that black panther over there...." regarding the one black man who is the hero of the story and everyone wants.

The "Frenchman" who gets drunk, climbs up a mast and causes an accident which harpoons the Capitan, who is THE Gunnar Hansen - and that's when I realized how funny this film was. That's when I realized this was a tongue-in-cheek homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and that's when we meet the: 

"fishbillies"

Naturally, this crew of misfits get lost at sea and are hunted down by another ship that has more ill intentions then I could have imagined. 

I nearly rolled out of my couch, roaring with laughter, when one of the young women sadly started singing "It's Oh so Quiet (Blow a Fuse)" by Björk on the boat's intercom system - as everyone is scared out of their mind and there's a harpooned man on the ground.

HAHAHAHAHAHA Why did they do that? HAHAHAHAHAHA

This is an Icelandic gem - what kind of gem is yet to be determined. It rips and attacks so many different scenarios, people, and situations - just relentless and without care but with a bloody smile on its face that, by the end, you too will be laughing manically. 

In short, I'm still not sure how I feel about this film, exactly, but I can confidently say it is certainly it's own thing and taking no prisoners. Almost like a Viking. 

Thank you, Iceland, for creating this gross, gory, violent hot mess - I was honestly astonished, confused, and enteratained. 

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this one-of-a-kind feature.

The Hole in the Wall (1929)

October Challenge Day 14

What do you get when a psychic, who works for the mob, is suddenly killed in a freak train accident, and then a random young woman, seeking revenge, turns to the group of gangsters for assistance - and they turn her into the new "psychic".

You get:

The Hole in the Wall

A strange and wild ride into the underbelly of crime, spirits, psychics, and dangerous love.

There's a line here, said by a patron, that slayed me. The patron turned to the psychic for assistance, as her stocks were diving, and she wanted divine intervention. Taken back, I shouted to the TV: "Ma'am, It. Is. 1929 - I have bad news for you...."

This is a strange and creepy film that is sure to tickle the hearts of fans who like cinematically significant black and white classics. 

According to IMDB, here are some of the tag lines used to advertise one of the earliest talkies. I would have ran to the theater if I saw these:

"She Saw Too Much in the Realm of Spirits Beyond!" (Print Ad- The Journal and Republican, ((Lowville, NY)) 4 July 1929)

"Hear the Dead Speak!" (Print Ad- The Kyle News, ((Kyle, Texas)) 24 May 1929)

"A beautiful girl turns "spiritualist" for revenge! Her crook pals prey on the wealthy. A child is kidnapped. Terror! Thrills, Tremors!" (Print Ad- Bismarck Tribune, ((Bismarck, ND)) 8/8/29)

Hilariously, I stumbled across this film because I was looking for the 2019 The Hole in the Ground. Read my review here!

Pairs best with dark, stormy nights and whiskey on the rocks. 

I watched this film on the Roku Channel or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this historic gem.

The Dunwich Horror (1970)

October Challenge Day 8

Well, what in the hell was that? Let's talk about the trippy little nightmare that is:

The Dunwich Horror

Is this tentacle porn? Maybe.

Is this a very 1970s late night film, best suited for shady theaters and sticky seats? Yes.

Did I like it? Maybe.

Did I respect it? Yes.

You know things are about to get raunchy when the Necronomicon is introduced right away!

Here we're at college, and two young women are tasked with taking the doomed book back to the library when a "dashing" man interjects himself and asks to borrow it. Against their better judgement, they let him, and this leads to one of the students riding to his sprawling mansion where, evidently, he has bad intentions for her and all hell breaks loose for everyone - literally. 

Allagories aside, and not to be detoured, the local town folk had this man on their radar for generations and are constantly on his ass, which was mildly amusing. Our young co-ed, however, is enamored and falls for his charms, to her detriment. 

Sex is splattered all over the place with this film, so prepare for the sounds and innuendos. It's fun for a while but also got old quick, so thankfully the film is not too long. That said, I'm just not a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and the stories often wear me out so, there's that.

Solid, standard, and fun for a late night watch - particularly with the presentation of the creature (psychedelic through and through) - it's a film to see at least once.   

Pairs with meals made out of jello. Lots of jello. Lots and Lots of jello. Best watched late at night and with someone who also appreciates the '70s horror aesthetic. 

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

Spree (2020)

October Challenge Day 6

Oh social media - what has it turned us into? Let's talk about the "dark comedy" that is:

Spree

This story follows a young man who just wants the internet to notice him. Sadly, he goes to extremes to get there. 

While this film is really just making fun of everyone who relies on social media for validation and monetization, with a ride share spin (which was fun), there are a lot of darker issues at play.

For instance, I think this film exposes the exhaustion (and madness making) so many people have about the focus on "likes", "followers", "influencers", and "going live" and/or "going viral". That goes both ways for the viewer and creator. Hell, after the film, I tried to watch some TikToks and got an immediate headache, even nauseous - I needed to literally touch grass and listen to some music for a bit there. 

This is an unserious and lighthearted look at things too, however, where we can all laugh at our profound dumb assess, hunched over a phone. 

So, while psychosis is a very real thing and seeing it in real time on social media is something that happens and we should all pay attention to it - recognize it for what it is - the lengths our young man here goes to capture everything and making dynamic content for his 3 viewers are impressive. You'll chuckle but you'll be a little sad. 

This is an exhausting film and I don't think I'll be catching it again, but it did a great job in capturing our collective crazy. Super shout out to the camera work and its editing with this one too. Very creative and effective!

#Blessings

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this difficult to watch for multiple reasons movie.

Room 205 (2007)

October Challenge Day 5

So this Danish film surprised me! Let's talk about:

Room 205

As a grandchild of Danes, I think I mistakingly expected more. But as a Dane, I'm going to enjoy myself regardless.

So, this is ... an interesting film. I can't say it's great. Honestly it was a struggle most of the time for me, but I was trying to make an omelette at the time I started the film, so my attention was distracted and I'm not a good omelette maker. 

Once my omelette was made, however, I realized the ending is pretty unhinged and all over the place. Which is fun! I like a good mess sometimes! [see also omelette]

Here we have the story of a young woman heading to college, doing all the college things (e.g., meeting the mean girls, the douche guy, etc.,) and she starts learning about the ghost of a "...girl who died in room 205". Suddenly something is unleashed and people start dying, paranormal stuff is happening, young love is bubbling, and a battle with glass and mirrors is everywhere (metaphors abound here).

In all, a story about: finding yourself while battling the afterlife!

At the core, however, is a sexual assault that prompted this activity. This film captures a zeitgeist of our times - an Awareness, if you will - that was truly unsettling and spoke volumes, so watch with caution.

This is not a terrible movie, and it's not a great one either, but it's a solid feature for a spooky not "scary" night. Actually, it's a good hygge film for those cold, dark, nights and you're looking for a cozy ghost story.

Pairs with boiling, feral, unfettered rage about campus sexual assault crimes, in particular. 

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this Nordic chiller.

Midnight Vendetta aka Poison (2001)

October Challenge Day 3

This film starts out with a husband pimping out his wife to a business executive, in the hopes of a new position at the office. 

WOW

I could also immediately tell this film was from the early 2000s. I can't explain it but you can also somehow smell it. Or maybe that's because it might be a little porn-y. This might be a soft porn film, folks. I'm not sure what else to call it.

Let's talk about the surprisingly entertaining film that is:

 Midnight Vendetta aka Poison

After the initial shock of the opening scene - which was RUDE - it's just a wild opening scene, the film quickly pivots to an accidental comedy of extreme drama. I was howling.

This troubled couple then argues about the rape, the husband drives off upset after loosing the job he pimped his wife out for, and dies in a wild car crash. And: scene!

What happens next is so wildly funny it's hard to describe, as we're introduced to the family of the woman who "stole" his job. The "Power Hungry" Mom. The "Seventeen Year Old" adventurous daughter. The "Alarmingly Young and Comically Useless" Husband (who I'm pretty sure I saw on a Hallmark movie poster in the film A History of Concrete - which I caught yesterday at a packed theater). And finally "The Maid".

Take a moment to soak these scenes in, people. It will take a minute to adjust your eyes. But then!! Our angry widow weasels her way into the family .... for REVENGE.

Think a more evil and porn-y version of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle~!!

This film is overly dramatic in such a silly way you can't help but love it. It's cheap, it's fun, it's trashy, and alarmingly engaging. Oh, and don't forget the porn scenes (which are just fine for polite society)! I had so much fun by the end that I'm adding it to my favorites list. 

Pairs with family sized frozen dinners and off brand sodas.

I watched this film on Tubi, of course, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this slutty little adventure. 

Beau Is Afraid (2023)

October Challenge Day 28

I read some reviews of this film that stated, essentially, "F*ck Beau, I'm afraid!". Let's talk about:

Beau is Afraid

Oh boy, this one is an odyssey. 

Here we have the life and legend of a timid man who faces his fears ... sort of. 

Poor Beau is a slump of a man. Living in poverty, in an almost comically insane neighborhood, getting ready to fly and visit his extraordinarily wealthy and powerful mother. When running back to get some floss right before his trip turned out to be the worst decision he ever made.

Yes, this is certainly a film about a domineering mother and her suffocating son, there is so much more to say about society, a man's emotional growth, purpose, and the crippling anxiety that ruins everything.

While, this film is serious and intense, there is a giant dick and balls battle that is sure to delight all!

An existential crisis after crisis throughout the long film, the ending wraps up with a sober dose of wildly dark humor and solid dread. Not for everyone - or rather, you have to be ready to appreciate this punch in the gut and the bitter and vengeful pat on the face.

Best watched in a small group, preferably a group studying philosophy, religion, or depression. Pairs with anything served on broken, dingy plates with rusted silverware. The grosser the better.   

I watched this film on HBO Max or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this charmingly sad nightmare. 

The Premonition (1975)

October Challenge Day 27

As someone who has had premonitions before, I thought this might be interesting. Let's take a look at:

The Premonition

Oh holy smokes, I was NOT prepared for this!

Surprisingly haunting and disturbing, this one follows two very deranged people trying to kidnap their(??) child back. 

This film has a Don't Look Now feel. The Changeling air. A psychosis of Carnival of Souls, and so many more classic films.

The birth parents of the child are absolutely terrifying! Some of the scariest! And what in the world do you call this film? A ghost story? A stalking film? An unraveling mind?

I think I was expecting to see some low budget '70s camp. And I was watching some .... until it wasn't low budget camp anymore. I did, however, end up in some sort of TED talk for a short while, which quickly descended into a psychic intervention.

This is a strange, strange film that will stick with me for a long time. 

Madness, cruelty, parapsychology, kidnapping, a women's unwavering INSTINCT: this film is an art house show bundled, incorrectly, as a late night double feature. 

A cult classic for sure - this will live in the hearts of artists, musicians, and fans of the paranormal. Brava.

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video, and the DVD includes three short films that every theater student, film student, or director of either needs to see:

Terminal Point (1969)

Vernal Equinox (1968)

A Rumbling In the Land (1969)

Or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this wild adventure into the spirit, heart, and mind.

The Human Monster aka The Dark Eyes of London (1939)

October Challenge Day 25

Oh, well ... it was interesting! Let's talk about:

The Human Monster aka The Dark Eyes of London

Now, I typically appreciate a good ol' black and white classic, particularly from the '30s and '40s. And this one is no exception - it checked off all the boxes!

Bumbling

Femme Fatale(ish)

Hard knock detective(s)

Sinister people hiding in the shadows

A "happy" ending - usually with the threat of marriage

This is the tale of a corrupt insurance agent and the bodies he's making money off of. But wait! He's also experimenting on people? He's also a "Physician"? But wait there is still more! Heavy on the focus of a homeless shelter full of blind men. 

While being a little all over the place, I was impressed with how they wove all these characters and situations together - and was especially impressed with the dedication to blindness. I couldn't quite figure if I was insulted or educated. The folks in this homeless shelter are paraded as skilled laborers .... but also used as a buffer for heinous activities. In all, it was an interesting take. 

So while illegal events are surrounding these insurance scams, Scotland Yard calls in the AMERICANS to come help. Lololololololololololo. The comic relief has arrived. 

Now, I have plans later today - excited to say I'm going to the Concrete, WA Ghost Walk! I had so much fun last year I'm gonna do it again! So I watched this as a chill, delightful Saturday afternoon entertainer before the drive to this little town in the woods. I think it would also do well as a late, rainy night watch. 

Best watched alone while working on projects. Pairs with ice cream or soup. 

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

The House with Laughing Windows (1976)

October Challenge Day 22

Oh this has been on my To Watch list for YEARS! In fact, I have been wanting to see this film for so long, I finally put down a $200 deposit to rent it! Lololololo. Let's check out this Giallo gem:

The House with Laughing Windows 

Putting animals in a coffin as a prank during a funeral

Refrigerator full of snails crawling everywhere

Solving an eel situation in the waters that is never discussed again

A cursed church fresco

Electric cords that start on fire

A mad painter

"Caught on fire, ran off, period."

Paralyzed woman locked away? No problem. She probably has a venereal disease

These are the good things a good Giallo film is made of! And this one blew it out of the water. Bonus! Spooky, scary house!

Here we find a young man who's been summoned to a small Italian village to fix a church fresco.  He starts getting strange phone calls to NOT fix the fresco and when he does it anyway, people start dying, disappearing, or deceiving.

I don't watch a lot of Giallo films and that's on me - there's no excuse for this level of lackadaisical. So expect more. 

This is a spooky one, a cripplingly sinister film in a dingy, forgotten part of a fever dream. Captivating and engaging in every way (make sure your eyes are glued at all times), with a masterpiece of set design: this one is for you, especially, cinephiles. 

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video (Wednesdays are rent one get one free day!) or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's to see where else you can find this absolutely stellar, skin crawling, feature.

Psycho (1960), Psycho II (1983), Psycho III (1986), Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)

October Challenge Day 13

So, I watched all the Psycho films in one day.... here are some thoughts on:

Psycho (1960), Psycho II (1983), Psycho III (1986), Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)

So, I don't have much to add about the first film. It's a classic. A study. A brilliant use of all forms of art. More importantly (in my opinion) a perfect example of: if the movie scares you, cover your ears - not your eyes. 

I was hesitant diving into this one, and at first I wasn't really hooked. It felt forced at times ... and yet, things began to change for me when I realized I'm building sympathy for this man, this lost soul. He's just trying to get by, guys, start anew! He did his time. Leave him alone. 

But people are not leaving him alone, some are out for revenge.

The ending sold it for me. Slam dunk! In all, this was a solid return to our weirdo buddy and his "mother".  

Settle in with takeout from a dingy diner with this one.

Now [takes glasses off the face, rubs face], this took a turn for the wild and I LOVED IT. I saw a review refer to this film as the "slutty sister" of the franchise and I have to totally agree. I also agree that it's the slutty sister who is typically having the most fun - this film certainly did. 

This movie starts out with a woman shouting "God isn't real!" and everything went insane after that - like watching dominoes fall in a cinematic display - and they just keep falling. Here we have Norman  chilling at the Motel when a disgraced nun and a male drifter show up. Oh my, I think this might be my favorite of the franchise (I appreciate them all but for different reasons).

This is such a roller coaster watch,  a state fair fun house experience. Gory, very '80s slasher, wild and wacky while also being a gem of a story. Overall, I found this one thoroughly entertaining - straight up entertaining. 

Now, I love a good origins story, but I was sad to see this origin story didn't align with the origin story presented in the 3rd film! Just went in a different direction, particularly related to Norman's father. 

Different so much in that this is a serious feeling film. Disturbing in a different way.

Here we have Norman calling into a late night talk show (calling himself Ed, lolololo), while cooking a nice meal and birds sitting in their cage on the kitchen counter for some reason (chirping in the background), sharing his childhood. 

I love the premise, in fact, I love how he's presented in this film. And yet, and yet, this is by far the most boring of the four films. It's also just odd - I had a hard time picturing his mother in this presentation. It was disappointing, actually.  It's still a worthy watch.

This was a solid adventure for a day free of plans!

I own the first film and rented the rest. Use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find these features!

The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025)

October Challenge Day 12

Watch this film like I did - Sunday, early evening, with the rain steady but gentle coming down, you're juggling several pots (literally) on the stove, two cats are at your feet that you keep almost tripping over, and then you accidentally set the smoke alarm off. Let's talk about:

The Woman in Cabin 10

I'm rarely this early for newly released films, but since I finished the latest Monster series with Ed Gein (which I'll get to....), I thought this might be a fun one to dip my toes in.

Here we have the classic story of a woman not being believed. 

A journalist is invited to an exclusive yacht to celebrate philanthropy only to discover she's the target of a murder hit. 

It's campy and delicious and perfect for rotting away to, or in my case, constructively rotting.

I went on a week long cruise in June, still think about it - it was an experience - and this one just tickled a little bit of that memory. Luxury boat life is nuts, stupidly decadent and a nice place to remember that we're just short-lived organisms hurtling through space on a rock. 

This film is to be enjoyed with a quiet evening to one's self, eating cheese, truffles or ice cream, curled up in your favorite cozy clothes, without a care in the world. It's not a deep film, it's not even a really *intense* film, it's just fun. Fun murder. 

I can see where this film would be a fun, fast summer read. It's a fun, fast, autumn watch. 

This film is currently only on Nextflix. Or, in time, use the Find It! Watch It! links to see where else you can find this girl's girl thriller. 

The Cremator (1967)

October Challenge Day 8

I really didn't know what I was getting myself into when I checked out this film - it's a doozy! Let's check out the mental hellscape that is:

The Cremator

I picked a strange time in our current political climate to watch a Czech film about a sexual glutenous and financially greedy man slowly loose his mind, in public, with celebration of the Nazi party coming to invade and ruin people's lives. He thinks it's a wonderful thing .... to die, particularly by cremation.

This is a wild film - and wildly aware. A menacing and scathing comedy nightmare about the hungers of power and how it will be your personal downfall, every time.

Filmed like a late night theater performance, told like a man's obituary or read at his funeral, and portrayed with all the art of witty intellectualism, this is a stunning performance and a very frightening portrayal of madness.

Best watched with history buffs, social workers - particularly those who work with domestic violence cases, or alone after reading the news. Pairs with rich meals, carp, or heavily frosted cupcakes. 

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this chilling look into demented minds.

The Unwanted (2014)

October Challenge Day 5

As soon as I saw this was based on the Sheridan Le Fanu's short story Carmilla, I was hooked. I'm a fan of his work and surprisingly haven't read this story yet - so it was a delightful surprise to experience this modern retelling. Let's check out:

The Unwanted

 

Now, this isn't a great remake, but it's honest and raw. A pleasent watch for a cold, dark, rainy night. 

Here we have the tale of a loner looking for her mom - and then stumbles into a relationship with a father and daughter who know more than they're sharing about this stranger's mom....

Very Gothic, very Victorian, very man has the scares because woman have opinions and thoughts of their own. Only recommended for those who are slow burner fans and fans of the story style in which is is based off. 

Heady horror, and a little cheesy at the same time. Bonus, lesbians, which I don't see a lot of in horror films. 

To appreciate this film I think you need to know and appreciate womens' horror in the mundane. Think The Yellow Wallpaper, or any Shirley Jackson novel. 

While vampires are a background for this story, it also begs the question of who is a vampire here... this also might be a love story but that's arguable. 

With a brutal and insane ending, this is a must watch for fans of the obscure. 

I watched this film on Kanopy. Use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this swampy feature.

The Candy Snatchers (1973)

October Challenge Day 30

Check out this mighty excellent '70s exploitation film! What more fitting a film for right before Halloween. Let's check out:

The Candy Snatchers

On second thought. No, it's actually about child abuse and kidnapping....

Here we have sweet teenage Candy, who's family has a lot of jewels. Three pieces of shit kidnap Candy for ransom. 

Uh Oh, though. I mute child accidentally stumbled across the crime scene! They have a witness who can't speak!

Bumbling commences. Bumbling, graphic interactions, yelling, screaming, and everything that comes from a classic late night exploitation film.

I would certainly call this movie a classic. It's gritty, raw, hilariously overdramatic, and just overall fun gross.

Absolutely watch with friends and it really should be a late night showing. Perfect for  midnight +. Maybe watch while you're eating Halloween candy. 

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

The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting (2003)

October Challenge Day 28

Well, we're coming to an end soon with this daily challenge. I'm going to miss you, October!

I'm not going to miss you, much:

The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting

I have not been waiting for you, it seems.... 

My brother sent this to me as some sort of challenge. When he handed over the DVD he had rented, I detected a smirk on his face. 

About 5 minutes into the film I burst out laughing. Yep, we siblings know each other well!

Here's the story about a couple who are traveling down rural Texas and pick up a hitch-hiker. 

Everything goes wrong from there!

Uh. This is not a good film. It's accidentally funny and wildly chaotic though, and that makes it Entertaining!

With not a whole lot of good things to say about it, I did enjoy goofy bedlam. It feels like if a movie spent the afternoon day drinking in the sun. It looked like a made-for-TV movie that was shown on a big screen. In all: this film is certainly something.

This movie was rented from Scarecrow Video, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this visual explosion.