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.

Crystal Lake (Television Show, 2026)

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

Crystal Lake

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

OH LIFE. 

YOU ARE FUNNY

I absolutely loved this show. Absolutely loved it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mama just loved her kid.

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

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

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

Carrie (Television Show, 2026)

October Challenge Day 22

I was cautiously optimistic about this, and was PLEASANTLY delighted by the new television show: 

Carrie

A damn near seamless re-imagining for the modern era! I was impressed through and through!

This series dives deep into the origins of Carrie, her mother, and the reasons behind the wildly famous prom scene. 

As expected, Carrie is a very sympathetic character, and delightfully - she is adorable and just wants to love and learn. You WANT to be her friend.

Things start to branch out with the deeper dive into Mama, however. She becomes a lot more complicated and all too stunningly recognizable (particularly regarding the outrage found on the internet). 

Chris also gets a lot more complicated. Viewers get a look into the unraveling emotions and mind of a mentally untreated teenage girl who is so troubled she *has* to destroy the world around her to make sense of her own destroyed world. 

The bullying here is intense, modern and all too accurate. It makes the heart sink. Stick with it though, because by the end of Season 1, we're left with a cliff hanger that certainly caught my interest and wondering at what is behind Season 2....

In short, this is a great television show. It's fresh, it's fierce, and forces viewers to experience a lot of different emotions all at once. Hell, I started SOB crying during the prom. I still don't know where that came from but obviously it needed to get out.

While folks can watch this without having seen the original or read the book, it's strongly recommended to know the characters as they were first displayed to the world. 

Talk to your kids about bullying, particularly cyber bullying. 

Talk. To. Your. Kids.

Talk. To. Each. Other.

It makes me want to watch the original, Carrie, however! Which I'll probably do, shortly.  First though, I'm diving deep into the new television series Crystal Lake because I'm on a roll. 

I watched this show on Prime, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else this will be showing, eventually. 

PS: Super shout out to making Haute & Freddy's song Shy Girl the theme playing behind this epic teen drama series. Well done!

Forbidden Fruits (2026)

October Challenge Day 20

Today my 47 year old ass wandered to the downtown shopping area and into a Sephora for the first time in two years - looking for facial serums. I was entirely out of my element and broke out in a cold sweat over all the options.

The last facial serum I bought was from a Grocery Outlet, 7 years ago. I bought three bottles. They lasted a while.

Thankfully, I was kindly assisted and they clocked me, rightly, as someone not interested in products over $70. 

Thank you.

So when I was scrolling through films to watch this evening, I felt it was only appropriate to catch: 

Forbidden Fruits

First and foremost, I'm seeing a lot of people's disappointment with this film because they were expecting a Craft + Heathers sort of experience. There is a Craft + Heathers experience here, but please don't *expect* it to show itself. You have to find it. Also, this film is its own experience, and with, dare I say, an Empire Records spirit haunting the place.

This is the story of "mean" girls, working in a mall boutique, sharing the common bond of fruit as their first names, retail, and being: WITCHES, bitches!

This is Girlhood.

This film is fluffy, pretty, soft, rude, shiney, odd, blunt, possibly drunk or high, and maybe needs some time to ferment for the fruit to really resonate with audiences.

There is an edit to the Ying Yang Twins' "Wait (The Whisper Song)" that had me rolling, laughing, on the ground. Also, I'm on the side of TikTok where this sound is used in wildly humorous situations so maybe my rolling on the ground is a me thing. 

I caught some reviews saying this was the Craft for the #hashtag and emoji girls. It tracks, fam, it tracks. 

Best watched with your dead dad club besties. Pairs with iced coffees and food maybe an influencer would promote for 300,000 likes.

Love it for what it is, not for what you think it should be. 

I hope someday to check out Lily Houghton's stage play this was based on: "Of the woman came the beginning of sin and through her we all die".

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

PS: Speaking as a near 50 year old: Moisturize, Moisturize, Sunscreen, Never Forget the Murderous Girl Spirit in You, Repeat.

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.

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.

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!

MadS (2024)

October Challenge Day 21

OH MY GOD.

THiS iS AmaZING! Let's talk about:

MadS

What an absolute bat shit ride this was! Filmed in one tracking shot with no breaks, this one will grab hold of you the instant it starts and won't ever let go.

I say it all the time - I have a love hate relationship with French horror, and this is one I love. 

This story jumps starts at a drug dealers house, where a spoiled little rich boy takes a snort of some drugs before he heads off to his birthday party. On the way to the party, a creature of a woman suddenly jumps in his car and he can't tell if he's having a bad trip or not. 

This is when the monstrous chaos begins!

I really can't get over the way this was filmed. I really can't. It's perfection. 

Deranged, fast-paced, and diabolical - if you're looking for a psychotic trip through chaos mountain, time to book your ticket. 

Bonus: I can promise you'll hate all the characters in this film!

Best watched while drinking on an empty stomach or after a wild weekend. Pairs with the sustenance of bad decisions from your youth. 

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 acid trip.

Trick or Treat (1986)

October Challenge Day 3

OH HELL YEAH!

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video as a double feature with The Wraith (also highly recommended) and what a GREAT Double Feature idea!!!

Let's check out:

Trick or Treat

Let's stroll down the lane of this goofy but adorable metal head kid as he navigates his high school bullies and his internal torment of his idol musician suddenly dying. But wait! He obtains this musician's last secret album ... plays it backwards ... and suddenly he has extra powers! And those bullies, well, they start realizing they shouldn't mess with him anymore.

Right off the bat this film kicks, is a big bag of bad ass, and just a hell of a lot of fun to watch. 

An absolute must watch for a lazy, cool, October day or a nice Friday night and a not miss for so many horror fans. Let's not forget the little bit of demon sex here. Head's up. 

Hilariously fun and excellent practical effects, with a plot line that grabs you immediately and never let's go - it's been a minute since I have been *this* excited about a teenage '80s slasher/demon drama.

Best watched with people who thought rock and roll would ruin the kids, Carrie fans, or a salty teenager. Pairs with soup or PB&J sandwiches and surrounded by your awesome music collection. Cannot recommend this enough, I can see why it's a cult classic.

Again, I rented this 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 metal slammer. 

Toad Road (2012)

Hello. 

Hello, it's been a minute. Hello from the hellscape that is the U.S. right now under the [belch] trump [belch] administration. 

It was BAD the first time. Now, especially as a Federal Employee, it's a 1000% worse. 

I've been surviving, lately. That's it. That and watching a lot of Snapped episodes. But a TikTok video tuned me on to a film that I don't think I would have otherwise checked out. Let me introduce you to another psychological nightmare:

Toad Road

Here we have the story of young folks getting nose deep into drugs, losing themselves, and the fallout from it all. Oh, bonus, a local legend. 

This film is absolutely not for everyone. Nope. This film is for the Lake Mungo and Requiem for a Dream crowd. 

This one hit me right in the heart because I saw my 20's. I saw my youth and the crowds I hung out with. 

Oh, the days of having a lead singer boyfriend, the days of staying up all night with your friends just to watch the sunrise, the days of absolute debauchery and hilarity. Those were some times...

Most of the folks I shared that life with are dead now. 

Dead. 

As is the lead woman in this film. She died from a drug overdose when this film began to circulate. 

I did not participate in the drug parties but I sipped my PBR and watched it happen. Watching this movie brought me RIGHT BACK to those days, and it gave me all the chills. 

Like Bubble, this film heavily focuses on just watching people. These are not professional actors and it seems as if all the drug use is real. 

Remember: This film is not for everyone. 

Then things get dark, the drugs take hold, the ability to understand reality becomes blurred and lost in madness. And THAT is what makes this a horror film. Sure sure, the kids are talking about the portals down Toad Road, but the nightmares are of their own making and the loss of their identities. 

You might want to take a shower after this film, and know you'll have no answers for the message said here. 

The horror of this film is the a look into the horror of ourselves. 

Pairs with cheep beer or tea. No food. Best watched alone or with a bestie from your wild era. 

If you're currently in your wild era, this film is a warning. 

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 nervous 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.

Piggy (2022)

October Challenge Day 24

Well, this one has been on my To Watch list for a while. Let's go, let's check out: 

Piggy

And it should come to no one's surprise that this is a disturbing feature about very real horrors. Bullying.

I hate bullies. 

OH DO I HATE BULLIES

This young woman is bullied by everyone. Family, community, school - everyone. She's their punching bag and it's hard to watch. It's really hard to watch. 

And then a serial killer shows up in town and is all "Got you, gurl."

Which, if you ask me, is another form of bullying! Now she's at the mercy of a gaddamn serial killer. 

This film is predictable and also not. I watched the end a few times. Just know that. 

This is a slasher film with a different bullied twist....

One could argue that I bullied bullies, particularly in high school. I remember seeing a friend standing in the hallway, crying, because a shit of a boy made fun of her in gym class. 

I immediately hunted - *HUNTED* this boy down. Found him in the computer room and made of a mockery of his entire existence, his friends, the entire school, god - everyone, because I have a big mouth and it's harsh. This Taurus mouth be harsh sometimes.

In all, this film reminded me of that moment where I went on a blind rage and hunted down one of the school's most notorious bullies. He didn't bother my friend again. 

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

Christine (1983)

October Challenge Day 17

When you have a free evening to do what ever you want, it's already dark outside, and the weather is threatening a wind storm: you settle into your pjs, get a pizza, and chill out with a Stephen King classic. Let's talk about:

Christine

I forgot how much I enjoy this film. It's been years, and I think it ages better with time. At the very least, the nostalgia does its nostalgia thing better over time with this one.

While about a haunted/possessed car, which is frightening overall, there is a real sadness with the story. One could argue the sadness is what makes this film so chilling. 

For those unfamiliar, here we have the story of a bullied teenager who impulse buys a dilapidated car and the car *consumes* him, as the car has consumed everyone it comes into contact with.  

Things Don't End Well~

I can't shake the feeling of a greater narrative at play, with this tale. A story about teenage angst, a young man's struggle with his emotions and identity, and the similarities here with loved ones watching someone descend into madness and addiction. 

It's a hard watch. Which is probably why a possessed car is thrown in the mix - it helps translate the difficult by scaring us first. 

In all I love this film. It's a solid fright with a deeper story (I think), that could be discussed for hours.

Best watched with at least a best friend. Paris with beer, pizza, popcorn, and a faint hint of motor oil and rusted car parts lingering in the air. 

I watched this film on Peacock or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you watch this *classic*. 

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. 

Fire Island (2023)

October Challenge Day 2: 

So I was completely shocked when this film started auto playing when I wasn't paying attention... 

Let's talk about:

Fire Island

Folks, I about fell out of my chair when I saw this come across my screen. Because I had Just arrived from Fire Island, NY a month ago. Why did this film auto play!??!?

AND I LOVE THE SHIT OUT OF FIRE ISLAND (the actual ISLAND). So when this started playing I was obligated to sit my ass down and stay. 

When I first got off the ferry and wandered into the Cherry Grove village of Fire Island I knew I was in heaven and found my safe place. Which makes it all the more interesting that this film turned this place into a horror film ... hahahaha. 

Here were have a group of 20 somethings excited for a visit to the now near deserted island right around the height of the COVID-19 lock down era. Happy-go-lucky and excited to hug people again, these friends wander around the small island through it's dunes and unique forest - failing to notice they are being hunted by something.

Now, when I tell you Fire Island (particularly Cherry Grove) is the safest place I've ever been that's not an exaggeration. Well, I mean, you'll need to avoid the sharks, rip tides, and drunkenly falling off the boardwalks but other than that! Perfectly safe place. There aren't even cars to worry about - No Cars Allowed! Even the deer come right up to you. Don't touch them though. Ticks. 

This most personal of an expedience made this film even more humorous for me. Literally the safest place I've ever been -  I was outside showering in front of god and man, maybe I showed my breasts for a few bucks off my drinks (it is an expensive place, FYI), attending drag show after drag show - and this movie is all out here trying to tell me to be scared of the place. Lololololo

This film struggled, though. I, uh, would not call it a good film. GREAT if you are familiar with the island, however. Also note, they keep referring to another village on the island called The Pines, but most of the shots were in Cherry Grove (FYI). Also, also note, don't confuse this movie with the romantic comedy Fire Island from 2022, which is a more accurate portrayal of the Fire Island experience.

I had such a wonderful time in Fire Island I can't be mad at this film. It just brought back so many fresh, happy memories - even through all the murdering. 

Best watched with friends, on the beach or in a luxurious back yard. Pairs with lot of booze. 

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

Now, please enjoy some pictures I took of Fire Island!

Berserker (1987)

October Challenge Day 21

Do I really need to review this film? Really? You can just look at the title and the poster and *KNOW* what's happening here. 

Let's take a look at:

Berserker

Here we have the story of a car full of young folks going out into the woods and - just like that - danger arrives. This time, as a Nordic berserker in bear form. 

Folks, I could not hold it together when the song "Cool Dude" - and two dudes were spraying beer on each other, shirtless - made it's debut appearance. I could not. Hold. It. Together.

So I'm of Nordic descent, on both sides of my family. The geneology results were absolutely unsurprising at 98% Scandinavian. What makes me laugh though, is that I have routinely referred to going into berserker mode when threatened. It's true. I have witlessness. I've scared my friends (in a good way). 

This though ... is .... it's own delightful and charming chaos. 

Folks, this is exactly what you think it will be and that's just fine. I love this stuff - I mean I love all types of horror - but obviously the trash horror is going to be my comfort food. 

Things turn out bad for most of these kids, as expected. But what's not expected is who makes it out of the clutches of this berserker spirit. Sit back, grab a drink and your favorite food and just let the brain melt away for a little while. 

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 slightly unusual creature feature. 

Slaughter High (1986)

October Challenge Day 22

OH YEEEEAAH! Check out the poster image - just LOOK AT IT! We already know what we're getting into with:

Slaughter High

Oh here we go! You know the story folks - a bunch of teenagers (it's the 80's so they're really all in their 30s) are being assholes and the target of their bullying comes back for revenge... YEAH Bring it!

This is another classic revenge slasher, but it is also its own entertainment. For instance, while the prank-gone-wrong happened back in high school, it's the 10 year class reunion now, it's all behind us right? We're a little older, wiser - it's all good now right? 

WRONG

One of the most entertaining elements of this film is the "high school" building. According to IMDB, apparently the buildings used were an abandoned asylum and an abandoned grammar school. [chefs kiss] I loved it. The setting - filmed nearly all at night - looks exactly like a place I would go exploring if given the chance. 

I'd have no problem doing that either because I ain't afraid of no ghosts AND I didn't spend my high school years as a bully (I fought'em though), and so I feel rest assured that I wouldn't be chased down the hall by someone in a giant jester costume. 

And that's our killer here folks, a giant jester costume, because the accident in high school occurred on April 1st. Oh yeah.

In all, this is a ridiculously silly slasher that holds plenty of twists by the end. Fun stuff. Bring the beer and friends, get ready for belly laughs and a gore fest. 

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 slashic.

The Black Phone (2021)

October Challenge Day 5

So I am a true crime podcasts, book, documentary, TV shows, CONSUMER.

In the shower? Listening to podcasts or books. 

Riding the bus? More of the same.

Cleaning the house? Catching a glance at the TV as I'm vacuuming. 

Overhearing a conversation about this topic? I'm Jumping Right In!

I even made a TikTok video about it. I'm on mf TikTok now! Lololololol. Come find me. I'm still working out the details about how to do movie reviews here but, I'll figure it out. 

Back to the movie. 

I bring all this up because this movie is a true crime, real life nightmare. Let's check out:

The Black Phone

Okay, folks. This is a story about child abduction and their deaths.

Here we have a fucking waste of space kidnapping young men and smuggling them away in his creepy van to their final days in a derelict basement. 

But his reign of terror is coming to an end when he kidnaps a boy who can speak to the dead through a strange phone in this basement. The ghosts of the boys call him through this phone and give him some bad skills to KICK SOME FUCKING ASS. 

I don't normally give spoilers but I feel it's important to know that this story ends with catching some hands.

The filming is beautiful, despite it's morbid story line. The writing and characters are brilliant and you feel connected in so many ways. The 1970's background is so tangible you can almost feel the wood paneling and scratchy, ugly couches.

Best watched when ready to explore trauma and retribution. 

I watched this film on Peacock or use the find Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's sidebar to see where else you can find this punch in a bully's face of a film.