Paranormal Caught on Camera (Television Show, 2019)

 October Challenge Day 11:

If you're new to Horror Habit this might be a good time to stress what a paranormal fan I am - like, it might be a problem. Just check out my Paranormal TV and Documentary list. So it shouldn't be much of a surprise that I'm about to gush some love for:

Paranormal Caught On Camera

Now, I totally understand that some people just - flat out - don't believe in the paranormal. That's fine and don't watch this show, it's not created for you. This show was created to showcase a curated collection of baffling things caught on film. Meaning, if you're a fan of the paranormal or just enjoy wild videos - this show is for you because FUN!

I love this show. Love, love, love it  - even if some of the videos appear a little goofy or straight out faked - I don't care. I really don't care. It's wild fun and that is the point. Something many of the user reviewers on IMDB don't seem to understand. In fact, I think to fully appreciate any paranormal story there requires some suspension of disbelief. Just embrace the mystery and roll with it.

Here we have a collection of paranormal investigators reviewing videos submitted to submitparanormal@gmail.com. There is an abundance of:

Ghosts

Demons

Aliens

More Aliens

More Ghosts

Cryptids

SO MANY DIFFERENT CRYPTIDS

SO SO SO MANY DIFFERENT CRYPTIDS

For example, here's a news report on one of the videos submitted. This one still slays and baffles me. WTAF is that?!?!?

I'm particularly a fan of when we get to hear directly from the people who submitted the videos, it shows some authenticity and you often get a little more background and context for the video seen. 

While there are plenty of ghosts and ghouls galore in these videos, there are also some things that are truly baffling. Like this baby getting out of the crib. I don't know what's going on here but it's terrifying. 

In all, this is binge worthy entertainment for your lazy weekend afternoons. You might even learn new things, like me. I had no idea a collection of UFOs was called an armada, or the excitement of learning about the ghosts and creatures of other cultures. And of course, all of the spooky places! I had never heard of Hales Bar Dam but damn, this place is super spooky!

FUN FUN FUN FUN STUFF

It's fun folks, remember how to have fun? I know times are tough right now but there's still some room for fun.

This TV series is available on the Travel Channel. I don't have cable so I'm watching it on Philo. I love paranormal videos and I also love Philo. I LOVE Philo, in fact my love for it deserves a post of its own! Check it out of you're looking to cut your cable. 

Pairs with junk food and total laziness OR have it on in the background while doing chores. Best watched when you're ready to binge something new.

I See You (2019)

October Challenge Day 10:

Whoa. 

There's a lot to unpack with:

I See You

For this film I had a virtual shared movie watching experience with a friend - it's become a bit of a tradition with us and if you haven't tried it, you're missing out. Naturally, it's not the same as sitting in the same room - watching a film together - but COVID times requires some creativity to keep the sanity. 

So, ironically, we watched a film (apart) titled: I See You. 

Here we go folks, here we go - this one has A LOT packed into it's hateful little heart. I mean, just get a load of that poster image. Speaking of poster image, the one above immediately won me over as something I needed to watch. Whereas, it seems Amazon thinks this monstrosity is worthy of public exposure:

Good gawd, what a mess of a movie poster.  If you're new, know I am very, very judgy about movie posters. This is an example of a terrible one.

Getting off topic - this film follows a family in crisis, a family that is quickly falling apart following an extramarital affair. There's also a story of missing children lurking in the background. What is going on here indeed....

This film is menacing and intentionally messes with your mind - deliberately portraying one story while an entirely different one is parading in the background without your knowledge. You won't see it all, I promise you, until the film is ready for you to see it all. 

Bold and unapologetically raw, this film is a rollercoaster of emotions and tension. Prepare yourselves best you can. 

Pairs with TV dinners and drinks in fancy glasses. Best watched in a place that is built specifically to give the neighbors the idea your life is better than it really is. 

I watched this film on Prime, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this real creeper of a feature.

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

 October Challenge Day 9:

Sometimes you come across a film that leaves you so breathless it's a struggle to find the right words to describe the viewing experience. For me, one of those films is: 

Picnic at Hanging Rock

Soul-suckingly haunting, dreamy, and with a mighty dose of madness - this incredible film is one I will never, ever forget. 

Like the poster implies, this story revolves around a small boarding school and their venture to the Australian geological marvel, Hanging Rock. A fever dream of a nightmare ensues. 

Tangible yet also phantasmal, the viewers are taken through a trip of youth, lace, feathers, fresh linin, wraithlike order and obedience, blinding sun and grassy backgrounds - and there you'll stay until the bitter end. 

This bit of information from the Trivia section of IMDB pointed out something I couldn't quite put a finger on while viewing - and I think it's brilliant:

"Commentators have pointed that the film is set at the end of an era, from multiple points of view. The setting is the year 1900, the last year of the 19th century. Appleyard College represents the rigid culture of the Victorian era, and the era ended with Queen Victoria's death in 1901. The film's events are also placed a year before 1901, when the British colonies in Australia unified into the Australian federation"

*mind blown*

The film also felt very similar, at points, to The Virgin Suicides. Again, according to IMDB Trivia, this film had an influence on Sofia Coopola when making The Virgin Suicides. 

Originally a book, written by Joan Lindsay in 1967, The Hanging Rock has a long history of influencing the arts and legends. 

For example, here is William Ford's lovely painting from 1875: "At the Hanging Rock":

Additionally, here is an interesting article by The Telegraph regarding this spooky location, and another article by Elle Australia that also highlights the Picnic at Hanging Rock miniseries that came out in 2018 (of which I have yet to see!). *note, articles have spoilers

In all, this is a really terrifying film in that it infiltrates all your senses, leaves you hallow despite your desire for more, and again, so breathless it's a struggle to find the right words to describe the viewing experience.

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 phantom of a film.

Crawl (2019)

 October Challenge Day 8:

I was thinking of all the hurricanes that have occurred this year (one is currently happening as I type this) while staring at the poster image for this movie. Trying to decide if I really wanted to watch it. 

I've never been in a hurricane - tornado and earthquake girl myself, but holy smokes, this film certainly frightened me and I would like very much never to be in one. Hurricanes are bad enough - let's throw in some really mean gators!

May I introduce you to the heart stopper: Crawl 

Although I initially thought the premise was a little hokey, the absolutely fantastic special effects and sound quickly won me over. 

I damn near got a little emotional even.

Here we have a Floridian father and daughter (and dog) trapped in their flooding house due to a hurricane. In come the gators!!!! A fight for survival with mother nature ensues. 

Folks, this one sinks it's teeth in ya and does not let go! DOES NOT LET GO! I'm legitimately impressed with how terribly frightening this film is. 

Again, the special effects and atmosphere are absolutely stellar but what really blew me out of the water (...I did that on purpose...) were the sound effects. Props to our family for having a pretty sweet sound bar, but I don't think you need anything fancy to really experience the outstanding sound and music. 

All the raves to all the work put into creating a film that got this hardened horror fan to repeatedly jump and literally sit on the edge of my seat through the whole film.

I watched this film on Hulu, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can catch this whopper of a film.

Wake In Fright aka Outback (1971)

October Challenge Day 7:

10 minutes into this film and I was already scared - scared of the hell that was undoubtedly heading my way with this scorching nightmare.

Words really can't describe the Australian masterpiece that is: Wake In Fright

OH THE NIGHTMARES, FOLKS! I was not prepared for this film but I knew it was going to get ugly, very ugly, and oh did it. 

I swear I could smell this film. 

Smell it. 

Still shuddering. It's so intensely visceral - by the end I felt like I just had a three all day drinking binge with the worst company possible...

Here we have the story of a stressed one room school teacher in the Australian outback who is just trying to get back to his girl in Sydney during the Christmas break. A transfer spot at one of the most remote towns in Australia leads us all to a three day nightmare that repeatedly punches so many places in the psyche that I am now officially out of words. 

You can feel the scorching outback heat. *FEEL IT* You can feel the sweat, the nihilism, the stench of stale beer, the chaos, and you will most certainly feel everything about the kangaroo hunt... (fair warning friends, it's a real hunt and it's incredibly difficult).

UGH. This one is so terrible. So terribly good and now I need a long, hot shower. 

Pairs with beers. Way, way, way, way too many beers. Watch with trusted friends, or maybe your drinking buddies. Wait. Maybe not your drinking buddies. 

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 fabulous feature. Good luck.