Hack-O-Lantern (1988)

October Challenge Day 13 

This is an absolutely zany movie where you'd totally expect to hear such lines as: "But he killed my boyfriend, Grandpa!!"

This is a Halloween/spooky season must watch - at least once - a MUST. Let's talk about the feral film that is: 

Hack-O-Lantern

It's a slasher film from 1988 so you already kinda know what to expect, but like every slasher film from 1988, you're never fully prepared. 

Naturally, (again, as a slasher from 1988) we have a lot of breasts, butts, puns, odd characters, creeps, and slap-sticks abound, but it's the family dynamics with this one that really took me out. 

TOOK ME OUT

SLAYED ME

This is the story of a grandfather who leads a satanic cult and kills his grandkids' father (.... if they really were his kids....) on Halloween night. 

Years later, the family tries to keep it together but lispy grandpa won't let them. Everyone is dying and Mom can't catch a break.

Hy Pike is monstrously fun in this film - just an absolute lunatic. Brava!

This is my kind of trash, however, so I was fully invested. Well, mostly invested. I had it on while I was trying to find a way to preserve onions in pantyhose - we'll see how well that worked out in a month or so. In short, together, this film and I were just being delightful menaces. 

This film is messy *MESSY*, hilarious, and an absolute great time. Come for the devil masks, stay for the garden tool swashbuckling. Watch with friends just before heading out for a party or haunted house. 

Speaking of haunted houses and since it's the extra spooky day of October 13th - I recently went to a haunted corn maze and had the best time! Nature could not have been more perfect, with the crisp air and natural fog making the entire experience all that much better. 

It's hard to describe the gleeful, deeply freeing feeling of running through rows of corn, in the dark, and people are jumping out to scare you for delight - best I can do is say: I've been looking forward to this all year.

Shout out to Stalker Farms for putting on a great attraction! If you live in the Pacific Northwest, I highly recommend checking it out (and be sure to get the VIP tickets. Those lines to get in were LONG). 

A visual little treat at the end of the attraction

I couldn't believe this exit!

A quiet moment in the corn

Speechless 

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 hot mess.

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. 

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. 

Blades (1988) or How I Spent My Summer Vacation

HELLO

Happy Summer. I'm melting. Hope everyone is doing well!

I went back home to South Dakota for the 4th. Had to put eyes on Dad and check in on my brothers, nieces and nephews. We're a motley crew - a hilarious bunch who terrorizes Dad and his house once a year. We also take care of the yard:

This field has seen a lot of wayward discs.

Happy to report everyone is fine and our home-grown Frisbee golf game continues to test/delight everyone!

Most people departed right after the 4th of July, which left a brother and I with Dad -  this brother and I love to coax Dad into watching horror films. He raised us on them, after all, so while it initially wasn't hard to do ... a killer lawnmower was oddly a hard sell at first.

My brother found this GEM and I said "Yes" immediately after hearing the synopsis. Dad said "WTF?". Let's talk about:

Blades

I know Piranha is the favored schlock response to Jaws but this one must be at least an honorable mention! I mean, it's about a rouge lawnmower that kills people on a golf course. 

BRILLIANT

This choice was made more funny because Dad was riding his lawn mower the other morning. I checked in on him, shouting over the blades, "How's it going, Dad?!"

Dad, shouting back over the blades: "JOLIE! I GOT INTO SOMEONE'S IPA!"

Me: "DAD! You can't be drinking those!" It's also 10 AM but that never stopped him before. 

Shortly after, my sister-in-law walked up to me, very serious: "Jolie. Your Dad is playing with a chainsaw. He said 'I think I got the chain on backwards'."

Me, dramatically adding: "No! Dad also got into the IPAs!"

After several quick calls with brothers we ambushed Dad, took over the chainsaw, and cut the dead tree down as he slept off his IPA shenanigans. 

So I howled at the idea of this movie, Blades. Because family and shenanigans. It felt full circle.

This film mirrors Jaws in every way, except, again, it's about a possessed riding lawn mower terrorizing a golf course gated community, instead of a shark in a vacation village. 

Absolutely brilliant sums of this wacky adventure - silly, creative, cheap and rich with wit, this is a highly recommended summer watch. Particularly with your goofy family. 

I was a fan of the end, particularly. They ran out of sh*ts to give and went full turbo wack-a-doddle. FUN STUFF!!

Best watched after doing yard work with a group of your best people who love to have fun with their horror films. Pairs with popcorn, steaks, perhaps a little gardening and of course beers. IPAs might be a bit too heavy, I recommend the cheaper, lighter stuff. 

Have a wonderful summer, everyone! The count down to October begins now!

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 diamond in the rough. 

Primate (2025) or How I Said Goodbye to An Old Friend

Happy new year my little buckets of blood!

While things are off to a rocky start for the new year, politically, economically - well, in general, I wanted to take a moment in my disconnection (for my health) to talk about: 

The Varsity Theater

Friends and family know I am a history fan, an architectural fan  - even wrote a book about it! So when I heard on a Tuesday that the last movie theater in the University District of Seattle was closing on Thursday, I asked my brother "want to see a movie?"

We saw the second to last film shown in this 80+ year old gem of Americana. And it was:

Primate

*I would post a photo of the poster but IMDB and Blogger no longer allows it. I .... have thoughts*

Was it the best film to say goodbye to? No. 

Was it hilariously appropriate for this theater?

Yes. 

I fell in love with this theater when I walked in, over 20 years ago, and realized it's more than a little messed up - in all the best ways. It's grungy, grimy, crooked, sloppy, and totally overrun by locals and cinephiles.  

It takes an alarmingly long time to take the stairs up to the two other smaller theaters that were created in the 70s (??). The bathrooms are wildly haunted. Haunted by ghosts or something else is debatable - they were always scary places. 

But my fondest memory is when I had a laughing attack (in the same theater I was sitting in on Thursday) during a film festival. It was a very serious film, theater was packed, and I just lost it in a laughing fit. 

I escorted myself out of the theater and laughed until I couldn't breathe and had tears running down my face. The feeling of the carpeted walls that I desperately clung to, remains in my veins.

That's how I'm going to remember this place - which is likely going to be torn down, to rest its tired bones. This is one building where I am okay to see it go. It carried too much and couldn't let things go. The place felt like a trap and that's what I gathered from the one and only person running the entire theater on that Thursday.

Which brings me to all the fun I had, watching Primate, as one of three people in the entire theater. 

This film is ridiculous. Silly. And the effects are rather spectacular.

While money was not spent in more solid character development, it was certainly spent on the practical effects and pure brutality. 

I let loose with this film - and this theater. I reacted to the jump scares with vigor, I screamed, jumped, my friends kept texting me and I didn't turn the sound down on my phone, I ate nearly the whole bag of popcorn and drank the large soda, threw my hands up in the air and talked aloud. I sat in discomfort a few rows in front of the seats that were ACTIVELY DECAYING - roped off for security reasons - in front of me.

This was MY theater and I was sending it out with a salute to its decades of entertainment and communal connection. 

Little sad it was Primate as the film but I also laughed about it. This film, while not good, was excellent entertainment for entertainment purposes. 

The story follows a family who lived with a chimpanzee for most of their lives. And then the chimpanzee gets bit, gets rabies, and their entire privileged life falls apart. 

The film is absurd in many ways - my brother and I laughed through most of it - but a serious acknowledgement to the work that went in to to the gore, the chimpanzees' decline, and general malice. 

This film is excellent entertainment if you just want to loose yourself for a little while.; just.... just to be in this rich, liminal space and recline to the chaos that is created from chance. 

While tragic, this film also gives CEOs dying in the ocean vibes. So. Take that for what it's worth. 

RIP Varsity! You were a noble dame who saw 80+ years of people through heart ache, hope, fear, and empathy. Rest now.

You will be missed. 

Nightmare Weekend (1986)

October Challenge Day 29:

We're winding down the month with a CLASSIC 1980's slasher(?)! Let's check out:

Nightmare Weekend

Tech bruhs, being a menace because s*x is hard since 1986.

I don't even know where to begin with this trash masterpiece.  It was hit, after hit, after hit of complete chaos and absurdity. 

We begin with a limo full of some young women who are transferred to a strange house. Not shady at all. That's about it, for plot. 

From there they decide to stop, have a drink, and dry hump strange men at a pinball bar. 

Limo driver drinks booze from inside a sandwich. 

They arrive at the house and while there are experiments going on - where AI, ChatGPT, Alexa, and zombies are formed.

History, folks!!!

The voice talking from an electronic device is a puppet though, that you can pet. You can physically pet your AI neurosis.  

It gets messier from there. I couldn't believe I was watching history in the making.

Only to be enjoyed when you're *ready* to re-experience the joys of a frontal lobe development-free life. Sit back and enjoy the burning world without a flicker happening behind your eyes. Give yourself a break. You deserve it!

Pairs with everything you shouldn't eat or drink. 

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video, or use the Find It! Watch it! Links on Horror Habit's sidebar to see where else you can find this fabulous mind musher!

Curse of Crom: The Legend of Halloween (2022)

October Challenge Day 26

Unsure of what to watch on my Mother's birthday, who departed this world 9 years ago, I was beyond delighted to stumble across this diamond in my Letterboxd feed. Let's talk about:

Curse of Crom: The Legend of Halloween

A bit of backstory to make a bit more sense of why this film was so impactful to me, on this day, in particular. 

Mom ran a Celtic shop for over 20 years. She said, "Jolie, your blood may be Danish but your spirit is Irish". I grew up with fantastical tales of the fantasy and the supernatural, vengeful spirits and jars in the fridge of what Mom called "Water fairies". She raised us on scary movies and childhood adventures. I grew up watching her witch her way into nature and her divine. She left us too soon, but the spirit lives on. 

So when I saw this story about kids accidentally conjuring up an Irish spirit and banding together to rid the world of it's presence, I was: YEEESSSS. 

I turned this film on so fast. Bonus, it was Perfect for the day. 

Alarmingly mature and with wit that had me laughing out loud, this is a smart, sweet, and shocking film. 

Here we have a small band of high school seniors just hanging out and trying to get ready for the world ahead. Everybody has their sh*t together too, which was refreshing, and our main girl is running around doing food deliveries. One delivery too much without a tip sent her over the edge, however, and she unintentionally unleashes a demon when she accidentally kicks over a pumpkin.

Smashing pumpkins aside, I feel this film was created with real love for the horror/childhood adventures of the '80s and '90s epoch. 

The creature/ghost in this film is, uh, really good! Like. Uh, I wasn't expecting it but I really shouldn't be surprised - based on the quality of the rest of the film. 

So, while this may have hit me in the feels, personally, I stand by my being impressed with this little wonder representing a new generation of the joy of childhood triumph in adventure, fears, and building friendships. 

This is prefect for your too smart for their own good teenagers, particularly if they are showing interest in horror or any creative outlet. 

Hat's off to Curse of Crom: The Legend of Halloween! I think I might make it a yearly tradition to watch in the spooky season. Just because. Just because. 

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 adult childhood classic. Happy Birthday, Mom! You did a good job!

The Children (1980)

October Challenge Day 24

I think it's kinda funny that this movie came out in the same decade as announcements on TV asked "It's 10 o'clock, do you know where your children are?" Let's talk about:

The Children

Here we have the classic tale of nuclear waste.

And this waste escaped RIGHT into a school bus full of children! These kids then turn into radioactive beings, going around hugging people to death.

To say this film is a hoot is an understatement. 

Naturally, we have the small town sheriff going around trying to solve the weirdness, and primarily driving around at night looking for these kids. These kids, by the way, who hug people to the point of disintegrating them on the spot! The transitions and practical effects are a sight to behold!

We have pregnant moms who are smoking and drinking, half naked moms just sitting around outside in their underwear, moms drinking next to the pool with their boy toys, police playing shoot out with these wandering kids, a Jaws theme song (??) playing when the kids are slowly walking towards their prey, and so much more.

While this is all fun and games, there is one scene that involves a dog that actually shook me up a bit. I think an "Eeegads!" or "My god!" would be an appropriate response. 

This film pretty much screams "f*ck them kids", and it's wildly entertaining for it. 

[Note, I took a brief break while watching this film and ran into my pregnant neighbor]

Best watched with your child-free friends or frankly, the friends with kids who just need a break. Pairs with beer and your favorite trash food.  

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

Warlock (1989)

October Challenge Day 20

Lololololololoooooooooooooo. This is a fun movie for the right time. Let's talk about:

Warlock

This is such a silly film. I loved it. It's a perfect 1989 film too - just [chef's kiss] quintessential. 

I had a hard time keeping anything remotely like a straight face with this one. Also the woman's hair is so bad. 

Here we have the story of a warlock transported from 1600s Boston, just as he's about to be burned to death, only to tornado his way to 1980s LA area for some reason. But wait! A witch hunter is on his tail and also was transported in time. The witch hunter's use of old English confuses the woman who claims she's 20 and has really bad hair - nevertheless, they have to find the warlock together because the warlock blew through her living room window and killed her gay roommate. 

This picture is a hard one to hate because it's a hard one not to love. It's really bad and knows it, but leaned into its camp so hard that it circled back into a good time.

This film is to be shown in dive bars with a dedicated clientele. Sound optional. It should be re-watched several times before it becomes appreciated. I mean, it can easily be appreciated right away but this is a cult film for sure. 

I watched this while doing several project in the background - and had a good chuckle the entire time. 

This movie is a fun outfit. A drink your friends dare you to try. A story a bestie will share with strangers that will embarrass you a little bit but it was still bonding and you laugh because life is short. 

I do not recommend this film for folks new to horror films. This is not novice stuff - it's for the hardened camp/cult fans who know how to spot deep-seeded satire when they see it. That and appreciating the time it was created. It's a perfect 1980's horror film storm - or rather a Frankenstein monster. 

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

The Brides of Dracula (1960)

October Challenge Day 18

It's Saturaday and you know, you can't really go wrong with a Hammer film! Let's talk about:

The Brides of Dracula

Here we have the classic tale of a manipulative man and the pick-me girls who adore him!

I got myself really set up for this film too - very excited to watch it. I turned all the lights off, turned my floating battery-operated candle sticks on with my remote control wand, had one of my cats curl up next to me, and basked in the bright, beautiful, Gothic dream that is this movie.  

This is a perfect spooky season film for pretty much everyone!

This Dracula tale introduces us to a fresh-faced young woman traveling through the Transylvanian country side on her way to be a school teacher. Village folk are concerned for her safety and a kind-hearted baroness takes her into her castle until she can complete her journey. That's when she meet's the baroness's son who the baroness describes as "sick".

Guess who seeks out this fair young maiden and love bombs her so hard she accidentally releases/validates him? Now everyone is in trouble - that is, until Peter Cushing as Van "mutha facking" Helsing shows up!

Like all vampire stories, this is another analogy for toxic relationships and addictions, which is glaring in this film. Hat's off to this Dr. Van Helsing, though, for demonstrating the most bad ass way to metaphorically set boundaries that I've ever seen in a vampire film. 

 In all, this is just a delightful film and a perfect one for the whole family or for a social gathering of low-level "horror" fans. Pairs with cognac and a hearty stew.

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

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. 

Winterbeast (1992)

October Challenge Day 4

What in the.... WHAT IS THIS?

At least that's what you'll say right off the bat with this one. The tag line "It must be seen to be believed" is TRUE. Let's talk about:

Winterbeast

First of all, this film is inappropriate in so many ways. I lost count.

I mean, it's about a giant "totem pole" that goes on a killing rampage in the woods. Sorta. Kinda. Uh, to summarize, this film doesn't know what it's doing regarding native North American cultures. BUT it is  humiliating white people, so....

This film is a child's drawing come-to-life. 

Complete with claymation, an utterly ridiculous story that just rambles on, and all told with an unchecked and deranged amount of enthusiasm and creativity. 

So folks are being killed by a mystical creature in the woods - I really wanted to watch a creature feature tonight so that caught my attention already - and right after I told myself "sold", then pushed play, immediately my senses were assaulted with abstract chaos.

This is a film you experience. 

You'll be unprepared for everything, and I mean, everything! It carries a sort of "...oh so you like obscure horror, have you seen Winterbeast?!" final boss energy, and then you'll laugh and laugh about all the weird rabbit holes you've been down. Not dissimilar to Slaughter Farm. Oh hey, actually, make this a double feature!

Inappropriate, WILD, creative, Very Bad, Very Good, and just soaking in the juices of it's own making - this is a film to watch for a cinephile movie night. The entertainment will never stop.

Personally, I would like to show this film to a group of friends and just watch them loose their minds in laughter and good times.

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 wild creature feature ride. 

PS and unrelated: Typing this up as I'm watching the Mariners in their playoffs - go Mariners! My brother just told me that they may or may not have hired an Etsy witch to win these latest games, and I kinda really love that. Happy Saturday night!

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.

Satan's Little Helper (2004)

October Challenge Day 25

So, I ... I went through a weird period in my life, during the early 2000's, where I thought I saw this film - among so many others. 

I'm just now realizing that that must have just been some weird fever dream because nearly all the films I thought I saw in the early 2000's - I didn't. This one included. 

Let's talk about: 

Satan's Little Helper

I .... do not like this film. I appreciate this film! Just don't really like it.... 

Here we have the story of a child who is really into video games and mistakes a serial killer as "Satan" from the video game. He's delighted. So is the serial killer. 

This is a cheeky film. It's as if John Waters and Troma had a love child. It's wildly inappropriate and a blood bath - all to say it's fun and entertaining. Just not my go-to fun and entertaining.

But here's where this film was a super win for me. I curled up on the couch on a Friday night, had all my snacks, turned on Joe Bob Brigg's Last Drive-In and he had this playing. Win win win all the way. 

There really is nothing like a late night TV host, sheparding you through horror films on a weekend night. I was in heaven. Just drift away in the comfort of absurdity, humor, gore, and the community of horror.

This is a good film for those weekend nights. This is a great film for those nights. 

I watched this film on Shudder or use Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this cheeky, cheeky feature. 

Wedding Slashers (2006)

October Challenge Day 9

Uh. This film was .... interesting .... Let's talk about:

Wedding Slashers

First of all. This is not a great film. Let's just get that out of the way. This film did appear, however, to reflect that everyone who made it were having a lot of fun. 

It carried the vibe of a bunch of friends from high school and college got together over drinks one night at the local pub, and decided to make a film. They'll figure the rest of it out as they go along.

There were certainly some funny moments where it felt like the really smart kids in the group had a heyday with writing the script, and yet, in the end, the film was a struggle. Who cares though, so long as everyone had fun. 

This is a story about a young woman who's boyfriends keep dying. When the love of her life asks her to marry him, she's hesitant. But then the big day arrives and so does her family, and all hell breaks loose. 

 A silly film with some clever kill scenes, this one is for a lazy day lounging in all the lazy wear.

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 bloody, silly mess. 

A Return to Salem's Lot (1987)

October Challenge Day 7: 

This film is UNHINGED. 

I love it. Let's talk about:

Return to Salem's Lot

Leave it to Larry Cohen to bring us to a small town full of vampires - with his typical scathing humor and spit-your-drink out bluntness. 

This film is feral. 

Absolutely feral.

I'm catching up on all the Salem's Lot movies/shows before I begin on the one that just came out. I was not prepared for this film. Not Prepared!

This film has the same energy as that one rural, wild, small town bar when that one guy everybody knows walks in and it's either going to be a laugh or bottles might be thrown. Chaotic. Curiously entertaining in that cutesy chaotic way. 

Michael Moriarty is a HOOT. This man is so accidentally on purposes full entertainment.

Well, folks, here we have the story of a father and son who are looking to move back to the father's rural home town and whoops. Turns out it's flooded with vampires. Vampires with a purposes for both father and son....

Utterly ridiculous and a wild fun ride, I am so delighted by how much this film surprised me in such a fun way.

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 wild, feral feature. 

Backfire (1987)

October Challenge Day 5:

Oh this here is some sultry business! A classic, classic '80s late night thriller. Let's talk about:

Backfire

Here we have the story of a Vietnam Veteran who is suffering from PTSD and his wife is doing her best to take care of him. Even through this nightmares, his outbursts, his drinking, his embarrassing and controlling behavior...

He experiences an extreme traumatic response and becomes catatonic, where his wife now needs to *really* take care of him in their looming mansion along the water. What could possibly go wrong here?

Oh you know, everything. 

Now, I come from a military family and have dedicated my career to Veterans, so I don't take military PTSD (or any PTSD-related experience, for that matter) lightly and don't want it portrayed lightly. And honestly, I was pretty impressed with how this film handled the experience. Surprised, even, how the story unfolded and concluded.

In all, this is a silky thriller with a solid, nerve-wracking plot and nicely executed acting. Don't care for this poster art through [rolling side eye for eva].

Watch with a friend or with strangers in a bar. Pairs with beers, shots, and salty, salty food.

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 luscious film.  

Raw Nerve (1991)

October Challenge Day #4

Well, this one was interesting .... let's talk about:

Raw Nerve:

Here we have the classic tale of a race car driver who suddenly starts to have visions of women being murdered. This is not good for him and questions are flying. 

And then things got *really* weird. 

This is a solid thriller/slasher with a twist ending that may make you feel kinda gross. Like, it's surprising they went that direction. I'm not big in spoilers but think, Chinatown...

I can't say I liked this film much but I respect it. I stayed for Sandahl Bergman and Traci Lords, who were wildly entertaining. 

Are you in the mood for mediocre '90s fun and a fast acting, fast talking journalist who's just trying to find the truth behind the man who claims to have visions of murders? Then this film is for you. 

Watch while making soup and maybe doing some dusting. Pairs with soup and a leg up on the couch, lounging in your best and most lazy lounge wear. 

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