She-Wolf Of London (1946)

Nothing says a classic 1940's film better than crazy ladies. It doesn't matter if the characters are actually crazy or not, they are ladies and therefore, likely crazy (or fickle, or jealous, or stupid, or money hungry - but ultimately need a man to sort things out).

At least that's what I thought this whole movie was about at the beginning - and it is for a quite a bit of this one hour film - but the end surprised me, just a bit. She-Wolf of London actually took a rather quick, sudden and very short-lived turn into the dark and sinister.

This is a good film for those who love the not-so-creepy black and white classics, with their quirky story lines and smirk-inducing dated material. This is also a great film to wined the night down with, or take a little break in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. A fine fine film to talk to (at) with a group of your best fellow 1940's 'horror' movie fans.

Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (Television Show, 1990)

Back, once but long ago, my two youngest brothers and I would pop some popcorn, stop our fighting, and be sure to gather around the large television set  peaceably by 9:00 PM every Saturday night.

The reason? Nickelodeon's: Are You Afraid Of The Dark? A marvel of teen story telling and entertainment genius for the whole family. We had so much fun building the anticipation for the show as we did watching the show. If you were lucky enough to grow up in the early 1990s, with the parachute pants and hyper color shirts, then you'll likely know what I'm talking about here.

I'm pretty sure the three of us watched each 30 minute show mouth breathing in anticipation of how the story would actually end. Looking back that might just have been me, but I wouldn't be surprised if my bros were right there with me.

The wonderful little stories told during each episode have continued to haunt my memories. So much so that I tracked the first season down (finally found it for a reasonable price) and rejoiced like a delightful, spoiled, little child during Christmas, when the package arrived. Oh, how the memories came right back - and this time they were better than ever.

This is a great television show for the whole family or anyone who enjoys a good, cheeky, spooky tale. Highly recommend paring with popcorn, favorite soda, and some of your best people.

Happy Halloween! Rebecca (1940) and Donnie Darko (2001)

Say what you say? What do these two movies have in common to account for them both being in one post, you ask? Nothing, besides the fact that I couldn't decide which movie should be the last October Challenge Happy Halloween! post. So there you go. It's my blog, I do what I want.

So now that midnight is approaching, Halloween is reaching its creepiest time, and you're sitting at home wondering what to watch next. Well, I'm sure you want to watch something good, right? Something much admired and respected? Something that will spook you - but not too much because you still have to get some sleep before work in the morning? Well then I have two picks for you!

The first: Donnie Darko.

What a film! When I first watched it, I was still neck deep in my David Lynch movie marathon phase and I STILL just about jumped from my seat a couple times, cried a little, and finally about fell out of my chair by the end. I would like to call this one a philosophical horror movie. It could also be a drama buuuuut, no, I think it's more of a horror movie. The bunny costume alone will git ya good. Your mind will get a little twisted, your heart will break a bit, and you'll sit for a good long while afterwards wondering what in the world just happened.

I love this film. Love it. It's my feel good food. My warm bath with Epsom salts. My banned book from the high school library. It's my Donnie Darko. I've not seen anything quite like this film, and I don't expect to for a good long while.

The second: Rebecca.

Oh! Rebecca! The book is wonderful, I gobbled it up like ice cream - until it hurt my head and had to breath through my nose for a while. For those of you not exactly in the mood for horror or ghosts but desire something like that then this is the movie for you! It's a 1940s classic and Hitchcock directed it. That's all you really need to know.

This dark and spooky tale will take you down sordid paths and introduce you to some very spooky people. But I don't think it will give you nightmares, just the good old fashioned chills. And because I love you all so much - here is the entire movie. I present to you, Rebecca:

Happy Halloween, folks! See you all soon and sleep tight!

Happy Halloween! The Uninvited (1944)

The candy bowls are running empty and the streets are getting a little more eerie...

Time for another Happy Halloween movie! And once again, this is another classic tale sure to chill your bones or memory (or both).

My Mother introduced me to this film during my teens. She recorded it just for me one night, since she noticed that I was becoming more interested in ghost stories and haunted houses. I quickly popped the tape into the VCR, yelled at my brothers to Be Quiet!, and proceeded to watch it in plump, greasy faced awe.

I'd never seen anything like it, and there have been very few that meet its caliber still. The 1944 classic, The Uninvited has been called one of the best ghost story movies ever made. There is little question as to why. It's smart, it's quick, it's dark, and mysterious. In fact, it took me several viewings before I caught up with the sassy 1940's banter and through all the levels of social detail.

What I think makes this movie so scary is that it's so casual. There is something so, dare I say, mundane and everyday about it. You find yourself happily watching a good movie without a care in the world and then Bam! Suddenly there's a ghost under your skin... and it crawls out...slowly - making this experience all the more horrific.

This is a great movie to snuggle up on the couch to. Get yourself a glass of wine or brandy or popcorn, or all of the above, chill out, and watch a beautiful story unfold.

Sadly, this movie is a little hard to find. But I have a really great trailer for ya! Enjoy:

Happy Halloween! The Red Room Riddle (1983)

The trick-or-treaters are out and about, knocking at the houses all covered in spooky, and while candy bags are being filled the moon is coming out. Time for another Happy Halloween movie!

This one is another treasure for me. I'm willing to bet it's also a treasure for you if you too were an After School Special watcher. Perhaps you only remember the dog bone in the yard, or the the howling cackle of the kid in the mansion. If you do, I know you remember the red room and that it scared you half out of your wits at the time.

I'm not sure if this little gem can be found in video format, but at least the internets have kept it safe! Granted, although the quality is not that great, please sit back and enjoy a childhood spook that quite possibly has haunted the dark corners of your memory for a long time. I present The Red Room Riddle:

Enjoy!