OctOVER

Yikes!
So today is the last day of October. I've completed the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge and I managed to find Halloween themed songs for every day of the month. I think I put quite a lot of effort into the blog this month and managed to generate a lot of spooky themed posts from make up tutorials to film analyses.
I hope you enjoyed it.
I'm looking forward to resting a little!

Screen Junkies: Most Underrated Horror Movies

Fevre Dream: Review (comics + novel)

Happy Halloween!

Since my youth I've been utterly fascinated with the myths surrounding vampirism. This interest means I watch a lot of vampire films and read a lot of vampire literature and I'd like to share with you a recent find of mine. As promised I sat down with the novel and the comic adaptation and had a read of both and am here to share my thoughts with you.

When I started reading Fevre Dream I had no knowledge of the plot. I like George R.R Martin and am a huge Game of Thrones fan so I decided to check out some of his work when I stumbled across the first three issues of the Fevre Dream comic at Mega City Comics in Camden. I have to tell you that I was thoroughly pleased with this utter gem. This is an incredibly original, interesting vampire story that lovers of Anne Rice, Mark Twain or Stephen King will certainly appreciate. It explores the morality of vampirism and actually makes some really good points on how humans and vampires are probably more alike than we think. The novel, and the comic books that follow, are a darkly romantic tale of vampirism and river life with chilling, staccato moments of horror and twists and turns. I highly enjoyed both the book and the comics. The novel is so beautifully written and the novel, being so faithful, totally follows. Indeed I found the comics to be very faithful to the book. I loved that George R.R Martin had involvement with the story in novel and comic book form. If you read GRRM's short story "Four Color Fanboy" in "DreamSongs", his anthology of short stories, you'll know how utterly devoted he is to comic books. He was writing comic books way before his longer novels that he's so famous for. The Fevre Dream comics are beautifully drawn and coloured.  I'd see this if it were a movie. I'm hoping for a Fevre Dream movie.

Consider this my All Hallows Read gift to you: go out and find yourself a copy of Fevre Dream be it the comics or the novel and take a bite. If you're a vampire fan then I assure you, you won't be disappointed.

Halloween

So I bet you're all wondering what I'm doing for Halloween?

Well after the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge I'm kinda just chilling at home. I absolutely adore Halloween and I've been celebrating it in my own way all month. Tonight, however, I'm having a night in with my beloved. We're going to watch bad horror movies, catch up on TV shows and carve the adorably tiny pumpkin she bought for me.
Honestly, I've never seen such a cute pumpkin. I'll put pictures up on twitter later. I loved that when it was still the early hours of this morning and Halloween had just begun we had crazy strong rain outside. It seemed so appropriate. Tonight I'm not in costume. I'm giving out candy to trick or treating kids. How the tables have turned! I guess I really am an adult now...

Wherever you are now, be kind and respectful to people.
Have fun.
Stay spooky.

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Thirty One: Jack Frost (1997)

YES! WE FINALLY MADE IT!
31 HORROR FILMS IN 31 DAYS!
I managed to complete this despite taking a laptop-free trip to Yorkshire and being without power and internet after the storm. I'm pretty darn proud with myself. I've decided, for my final film, to watch something that just sounds abominable. I enter this film with absolutely no previous knowledge of it. In fact I'd never heard of it until about an hour ago. The film is called Jack Frost and it apparently follows a giant, murderous snowman. I mean... this feels so funny to watch for Halloween as someone who gets annoyed when people don't wait for Halloween to come and go before advertising Christmas stuff.

OK, the child voice at the start is creepy as Hell. You know that isn't a child and it sounds like this could be the start of a film for children and you know it's gonna get grim. The narrator is the worst relative/guardian ever.

I like that the opening credits are made up of the names of the cast and crew painted onto Christmas decorations on the tree.

With this film I didn't even really have the energy or the patience to blog along. So here are my rough thoughts on the film. I can't believe this movie was made. This film features anatomically incorrect deaths and inappropriate sexual violence. It's a low budget mess of a film. Everything about it feels like a perversion of the most positive aspects of Christmas. It tries to create comedy from the unlikely killer and the strange Christmas themed deaths but is all in very poor taste. It's almost too ridiculous to be scary. There's nothing clever or classy about it.


AND I'M DONE.
Time to go enjoy Halloween knowing I've finished the challenge, booyah!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

As you can probably tell, I'm happy that today is the spookiest day of the year. I should have been at Whitby Goth Weekend right now but unfortunately couldn't afford the trip. It's quite a luxury and I'm sad I can't see all my wonderful Whitby friends right now.

That said I'll probably spend tonight watching copious amounts of horror films and giving out candy to little kids trick or treating in my neighbourhood.

Whatever you do tonight to celebrate Halloween all I ask is that you stay safe, remain kind and be considerate of those around you.

Have a nice night, blog-ghosts.

Song of the Day: The Monster Mash by Bobby 'Boris' Pickett

What other song could even be appropriate for Halloween's song of the day?
I hope you remember this one and that you have a great time tonight, whatever you're up to.
Enjoy,

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Thirty: Road Train / Road Kill (2010)

This is a raw blog. By now I'm sure you know that a raw blog is where I just blurt out my thoughts and feelings on the film as I watch it in real time and then post everything uncensored and unedited.
WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

This film has been released under the name "Road Train" but also under the name "Road Kill"

Yeah dude. Don't mess up your Mum's jeep.

It's a bit like the beginning of Jeepers Creepers with the van.

Is this going to be like Christine but with a big ass truck?

After this and Wolf Creek maybe this is a sign to not go on a holiday to the Australian outback.

What is a big commercial airline style plane going to do for you?

Oh yes. Drinking a strange red liquid from an unlabelled can in an abandoned, scary shack.
It seems like the sensible thing to do...

There are some beautiful scenic shots of the Australian outback. It's sort of a strange mix of films like Train and Christine and Wolf Creek. I love the cyclical ending and use of music. The song at the very end was a great tune.

YES! ONE MORE FILM TO GO AND I AM DONE!

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Nine: The Ward (2010)

My film now, film number twenty nine, is John Carpenter's The Ward. This is a raw blog. By now I'm sure you know that a raw blog is where I just blurt out my thoughts and feelings on the film as I watch it in real time and then post everything uncensored and unedited. This saves me time. After this I need to cram another 2 horror films into the day.

WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

As if I needed another film that makes me anxious about hospitals and mental health facilities. This is why I never go for health checks...

I'm reminded of that line from Pitch Perfect: "I set fires to feel joy."

Can a doctor/psychologist give you pills and not tell you what they are? I'm not sure but it doesn't seem very ethical.

Oh look, Meryl Streep's daughter playing another character called Emily. You can also catch her in a show called Emily Owens, MD.

Gratuitous shower scene because of reasons.

Ha! For the first time in ages a horror film made me jump. The jump scare in the shower scene got me and it's the middle of the day and I'm surrounded by people, not too vulnerable, and I jumped which is rare for me.

This film is actually kind of interesting at the point. I'm very interested in the treatment of women in mental health throughout history. Please tell me that this is all because of some vengeance seeking ghost of a woman who was poorly treated decades ago?

Alice Hudson, a previous patient at the hospital. Did I not say? Did I not kinda call it?
I was close, I guess. Not right, but close enough.

Another excellent jump scare.

This was a decent enough film. I like something with a good twist and it actually made me jump. Normally horror films don't have that much of an impact on me so that was good. Decent enough flick.

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Eight: The Evil Dead(1981)

OK so you know how this goes: I'll be raw blogging along with the film as I watch it. This is the first time I've seen The Evil Dead. I know, I know! But hey - isn't this what the challenge is for?

Ok so a raw blog is a blog that I just write whatever I think and feel at the time as I go along with the film and then upload the post without editing. For me it just saves time. WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

One of the actors reminds me of Liam Kyle Sullivan.

I feel like this film was essential viewing before watching Cabin in the Woods. Like... I've seen plenty of cabin centred slasher/horror flicks but this, I'm assuming, is the archetypal cabin horror.

Adorable daisy cups.

Is that a The Hills Have Eyes poster in the basement?

I live near a forest and I've never seen weird mists like this when I walk around at night.

OK. So I've come to the scene with the tree. Is that honestly necessary? Has violence against women in film become so accepted that we need to put them through new horrors like being raped by a tree? I'm not pleased. That's one of the most uncomfortable film scenes I've ever had to watch.

This film is full of creepy, gross effects that add up to create some excellent Halloween viewing. It's particularly good for the experimental use of sound throughout the movie. I love old school movie effects. So much is done with CGI and digital technology now. I like to see someone transformed into a zombie or someone covered in wounds using only man-made prosthetics and make-up.

"L L L L L L S U exec EXEC."

So I know that not everyone can handle watching horror films with blood and guts and gore but if you want to watch something equally awful this Halloween check out this terrible Student Union music video from the Loughborough University SU exec team. 

It makes for pretty awkward viewing so I'm sorry.

I'm so happy this isn't my alma mater...

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Seven: The Children (2008)

You know the drill by now, guys. I'll be blogging along with the film as I watch it. This is a raw blog so I just write out thoughts and feelings as they come and publish them unedited to save time. WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

Yeah! Film 27! We're getting close guys.
I've now learned just how many horror films are up for free on YouTube. Wow. How do these not get taken down by YouTube asap? They don't even seem to have the setting where you have to confirm you're over 18 to watch them.

This is one of those films I'd always see in the HMV Horror section.

The lead young female character looks like a pre-teen Avril Lavigne. FILLED WITH ANGST BENEATH ALL THAT EYELINER.

Creepy little kid walking into a room full of jubilant adults... reminds me of the opening scene of The Exorcist.

OH GOD NO.
IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO THE CAT.

Again. Teens. Just do what you're told. It's for the best.

I can't watch something with a creepy child in a red raincoat without thinking of the film Don't Look Now.

Cat doors: perfect for setting a curfew for your children whilst maintaining safety. Why don't we market this? Oh yes...

What's with all the other children? I guess I kinda would like to know exactly what it was that caused all of this to happen but I also like that we don't know... I'm unsure where I stand on the matter.

I like endings like this where the protagonists escape but there's still that looming threat so you're not entirely sure what happens next. Brilliant.

The film has good pacing and taps into basic human anxieties, reminding us that children can totally own a horror film. It doesn't show you too much. It doesn't have to show you the moments of impact. It doesn't have to rely on every shocking moment. It shows you just enough to make you feel queasy. There are some really excellent but subtle shots like the lips on snow and then blood spreading through snow turning it from white to red. I liked the more subtle moments of this film. It felt more fresh and less formulaic than most horror films.

Laci Green speaks out on the topic of Halloween Slut Shaming

This is from a post made by Sex + host and sexual health and relationship educator, Laci Green, on the topic of Halloween slut shaming. Women should be able to wear whatever Halloween costume they want without fear of name calling, harassment or sexual violence. Women, everyone in fact, should be respected every damn day regardless of what they wear.

 Click here to see the original post.

"**5 THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SLUT SHAME THIS HALLOWEEN**

1. Calling women sluts/whores/skanks is a form of sexism.When it comes to costumes, clothing, and sexual behavior, women are judged by a very different rubric than men.  When a guy has a lot of sex, he’s a stud.  If a woman behaves the same way, she’s a “whore”, “dirty”, “used up”, and doesn’t deserve to be treated with respect.  While people may use terms like “manslut” or “manwhore”, the consequences for the “manwhore” are not nearly as extreme.  People don’t see him as unworthy of respect.  He won’t be degraded, bullied, or have lies and rumors spread about him.  His reputation won’t be destroyed.  Being a “manwhore” is dismissed as him *~just being a guy~*.  

Because slut shame is a result of sexist ideas about what a woman “should” be or is allowed to do/be in the first place, women slut-shaming each other is a form of internalized sexism.  This is where a woman believes sexist things about herself and other women.  It can be very disruptive and harmful to women’s relationships with each other.  

These are some of the ways slut shame is entrenched in sexism.

2. Slut shame limits women’s freedom.Calling women names and degrading them when they *break the rules* about how a woman is SUPPOSED to dress or behave ensures that women don’t have the same freedom men do.  They are not allowed to dress or do what they like…unless they want to pay the price of being bullied or dehumanized for it.

3. Slut shame is one of the ways women compete with each other for male approval.   Slut-shaming creates a divide between women.  There are the “slutty stupid ones” with “no self respect” and there are the “proper ladies” who deserve to be treated as human.  Instead of building women up and cultivating healthy friendships, slut shame turns women against each other so that the slut-shamer can prove she’s “not like that” and therefore worthy of respect.  It puts women into harmful categories based on nothing more than how someone dresses or is perceived by others.  

4. Slut shame is a form of bullying.
Girls who break outside the mold of what they are supposed to do/be sexually and are thusly labeled sluts are at a higher risk of anxiety, depression, and suicide.  There have been many suicides that started with bullying in the form of slut shame. RIP Felicia Garcia, Amanda Todd, Phoebe Prince, Hope Witsell, Stacey Rambold’s unnamed victim, and all the other young women who have tragically taken their own lives because of the heartlessness and sexism of their peers.

5. Slut shame leads to rape, sexual assault, and sexual violence.Because people see “sluts” as unworthy of respect, she is therefore not entitled to say no.  In this mentality, “sluts” become a target of harassment, assault, and even rape.  After the violence, she is then blamed for it.  After all, she was just a dumb slut….she asked for it, right?

This Halloween (and always) be a good person.  Respect women, respect their choices, and check yourself when you find yourself thinking or saying someone is a slut.  It’s a deeply held attitude about women that we all learn from our sexist culture, and it is vital that we all take the time to unlearn it.  These attitudes are more vicious and dangerous than they might appear.

xx

Laci"

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Six: Cabin Fever (2002)

This is yet another blog-along post where I'll be blogging along as I watch another horror film as part of the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge. This film promises gore, sexual scenes and horror so hopefully it'll be better than the last two films. Warning: Since I'm blogging my thoughts whilst watching the film THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

These are raw blog posts. I start and I write until I finish without any editing afterwards. I just post the raw thoughts from the film as they occur. I enter this film with absolutely no prior knowledge. Enjoy, 

Yeah! Film 26, we're getting there!

The dog is clearly dead. People in horror movies are stupid. 

A nice little village store run by racist Hillbilly Santa.

Did she just say "Don't be gay" to that guy for expressing some emotion/interest in dating her? Ugh. Real classy, Eli Roth. Did the dude also say he was gonna kill squirrels because they're gay? There's nothing more horrific than homophobia, kids. 

Apparently all teens and young adults like weeds... enough to let a creepy stranger join their party.

This is the exact kinda film that has served as fuel for the film Cabin In The Woods.
Can we talk about Cabin In The Woods though? Cabin In The Woods is amazing. 

I'll be honest. If someone comes to my door and their face is falling off I'm not letting them in. 

Finding an infection on a thigh before sex almost seems like a bad metaphor for STDs. Get tested, folks. 

The bath tub scene... Ugh. It makes me never want to shave my legs again.

Time for me to develop a severe drinking problem where I only consume beer. 

That ending...

This film is an unabashed homage to rural horror films of the 70s and 80s with some truly memorable moments. It's not a film I'll forget. Suddenly I really want a beer....

Who? Where?

I'm forever happy to see people all over the world stopping by to read my humble little blog that I started with no major plans for it. Here I am many months later and still raking in views from all over the world.

Here is a list of the countries that have stopped by my blog so far. Thank you for reading and making me feel awesome on a daily basis. Don't forget that you're awesome too:

United Kingdom
Latvia
Mauritius
United Arab Emirates
Zimbabwe
Singapore
South Africa
Trinidad and Tobago
Taiwan
Estonia
Slovenia
Saudi Arabia
Portugal
Hungary
Norway
Tunisia
Belarus
Morocco
Poland
United States
Germany
South Korea
Brazil
India
Indonesia
Finland
Argentina
Puerto Rico
Bulgaria
Greece
Sweden
Mexico
Turkey
Romania
Serbia
Philippines
Japan
Canada
Netherlands
Spain
Chile
Switzerland
Italy
Ireland
France
China
Hong Kong (as special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)
Vietnam
Malaysia
Czech Republic
Russia
Ukraine
Australia
New Zealand
Belgium
Denmark
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Argentina

Song of the Day: Burn by The Cure

Eye-liner painted folk across the world know the significance of this day.

The day before Halloween? Yes.

My ex boyfriend's birthday? Well... yes that too, but not the answer I was looking for.

Many fans of the film "The Crow" know tonight as "Devil's Night" which is said to be the night before Halloween. It may seem silly but I grew up watching The Crow and I kinda have a place in my heart for this film and the graphic novel upon which it is based. The film featured a great song by "The Cure" which is called "Burn" and is our song of the day.
I really, really, really love this song.
I'm actually excited to share it with you today.

If you can, go buy or rent The Crow if you've not yet seen it as a remake is apparently in the makes and you know... you should totally see the original.

Enjoy

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Five: Life Blood (2009) / Pearblossom

This is yet another blog-along post where I'll be blogging along as I watch another horror film as part of the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge. 
Warning: Since I'm blogging my thoughts whilst watching the film THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

These are raw blog posts. I start and I write until I finish without any editing afterwards. I just post the raw thoughts from the film as they occur. I enter this film with absolutely no prior knowledge. Enjoy, 

Apparently this film is also known as "Pearblossom"

UH OH. LESBIANS. THURRR BE LESBIANS. I hope this is handled tastefully, dear God I do...

Uncomfortable threat of sexual assault isn't fun to watch. No wonder the actress in this role has since tried to downplay her role within this film. At least the rapist was confronted and is depicted as an utter jerk. 

I suspect a case of Schroedinger's douchebag.  

I, like Amelie, cannot stand when characters don't pay attention to the road when driving. AND LOOK THEY KILLED A POSSUM AS A RESULT, AH GOD NO.

So wait... is Rhea more sad about the death of the possum than her friend now? Not that I think the lives of animals are less than that of a human. 

I like how the possum has become a big thing. The possum was a sign apparently. A SIGN. A sign of a potentially shitty film.

When is this film meant to be set? A lot of the make up styles, hair styles, clothing etc it seems very modern but is meant to be set in the 60s or something?

Two deaths and an angelic lesbian vampire... they're kicking off the year in a pretty interesting manner.

"I promise you... we will make you proud" - If I were in this situation I think I'd be a little more creeped out by everything. Carmilla The Vampire, it is not. Happy New Year! ...You're a vampire. Enjoy!

Creepy truck driver just casually driving past two potentially unconscious women...

OK maybe it's just this scene but things have turned pretty comedic. I thought this was a horror film. I do like that this film depicts people calling out other people for being sexist or for attempting to rape someone. It's pointing out wrongs.

How exactly does Rhea know that they've been underground for 40 years?

Bill has such a funny voice/way of speaking. It's the best part of the film so far...

This is a pretty decent B Movie horror film following two lesbian vampires with a tendency of calling out people for being shitty and for treating as sex objects. Of the two lesbians, Rhea and Brooke, one represents good and the other represents evil. Brooke provides the immoral horror and gore and Rhea is a moral breath of fresh air. They kill some people and take over a small gas station store. It's not the strongest film but it's better than many.

Isn't it sad when vampirism tears a couple apart?




Watching this film has made me realise that I haven't read Le Fanu's "Carmilla" and as a self professed vampire connoisseur I think I really owe it to myself to read it. The actress playing Brooke looks a lot like model Rebecca Romijn.
This film is actually more interesting and way more promising than I initially thought it would be. My expectations for films such as these are usually very low.





If you suspected something weird was going on at a gas station, would you really stay?

So far, and I must now be a good way into the movie, there hasn't been as much horror as I'd expect.

"Dude I think she's a vampire, run!"
Finally, a knowledgeable person in a horror film...

Oh wait, I spoke too soon. There's another little dash of horror...

"This is the Pearblossom Police!"
That sounds like a group from a bad TV show for toddlers.

This day at the gas station has gone by really quickly.

I think it's interesting to leave the film with a moral vampire who aims to use their powers to rid the world of evil. As far as B Movie horror films go this one was way better then most are. It has some virtues and I'll probably mention it in conversation with people when discussing vampire movies without the urgent need to buy the DVD. It was fresh, not overdone at all. It was a strange and pleasant surprise.

The worst part of the storm by far is that the lack of electricity and internet meant I couldn't get online to get tickets for the Hobbit fan event in London next week.
I'd actually, before the power cut, had the correct tabs open on my laptop and I was just waiting for the tickets to go on sale. It's just unfortunate that they went on sale this morning when roughly 19,000 homes are still without power. Of course I can watch the event at home (if the power is up by then) but I wanted to actually be there. Andy Serkis and Lee Pace are gonna be there and I kinda wanted to geek out.
I am one sad nerd today...

Recommended Reads

Good morning, blog-ghosts.
Here for a delicious morning slice of Recommended Reads?
Of course you are.
As you'll notice there are a few Halloween costume related items in here if you're trying to scramble together some last minute ideas!
Here are my reads for the week:

• 23 Kids totally nailing the concept of awesome Halloween costumes.
• And speaking of Halloween costumes check out who Paris Hilton is dressing up as and then scroll down to the bottom of the article to see a collection of photos of celebrities in costumes. My favourite is Shannon Woodward and Katy Petty dressed as Daria and Jane Lane from MTV show Daria. That's one costume I have to try one day.
• Some poetry for you: Clementine Von Radics, a talented poet from Portland, uploaded regular poems and you can donate to fund Clementine's work if you like it.
• Pitbulls get a bad reputation in the news, but this adorable video of a pitbull trying to save his owner (though the owner is in no danger) is absolutely charming.
• Listen to this beautiful poem about love and living with OCD.
• FRODO AND SAM SUPERCUT: The names will lose all meaning.
• Photos of cats who REALLY RESENT their Halloween costumes...

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Four: Survival Of The Dead (2009)

So for film 24 in the challenge I've sat down to watch Survival of the Dead.

Having recently watched Night of the Living Dead, I've learned this film is another instalment of a long list of "Living Dead" films by Romero. This, however, lacks the quaint charm of "Night of the Living Dead" where we can forgive the newness and the innocence of the genre exploring new boundaries. Survival of the Dead is a poor quality flick and the zombies are unbelievable and tacky.

This film is interesting in that characters are keeping their undead relatives "alive" by keeping them in their zombie form until a cure can be found. This, of course, leads to problems. It's a nice idea for zombie films, the idea of holding onto hope of a cure and keeping your loved ones, but it's an awful film.

My partner just said "Ha, so this is a comedy? This is meant to be a joke, right? Yeah... this is a joke."
Says it all, really...

This film is so bad it's good really bad.
I'm glad I survived this movie...

AGH!

So the last time I was able to access my blog was during the storm.

As you may know, the storm has caused/left considerable damage in places leaving many across the country without power. Having been without electricity and internet I've not been able to blog but I'm also two days behind on finishing the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge. I'm so determined to complete this challenge on time but it's going to be a real push to get it done in time. I'll probably fit one film in tonight and then have to watch another six or so in the next two days, just three films per day. It is, of course, more films than I would naturally watch per day but we'll see what I can do. I hope you weren't bother by the storm, dear reader.

How To Tell If You've Found "The One": Halloween Edition

There are points in our relationships that solidify one humble and solitary truth: this is the person that I am meant to be with.

It's not something we always realise instantly. It often takes a foundation of love, trust and respect. Along the way there are several important discussions. We discuss our responsibilities within the relationship. We discuss whether or not we want marriage. We discuss whether or not we want to have children. Once we know that we're on the same page as the person we've chosen to share our life with, it feels like a bridge has been crossed and we're now on the same page and we can peacefully continue our relationship. There is, however, one crucial discussion that all couples need but somehow forget. Once this all important conversation has arisen and been thoroughly discussed in depth it will reveal whether or not you and your partner are compatible...

This conversation in particular is, of course, the ever crucial zombie apocalypse survival discussion.

Yes.

How do you know if you and your sweetheart are meant to be if you don't know your plan for when the undead begin to walk the Earth?
I mean surely the conversation starts with where you in the event of a rage virus outbreak. Do you move into your home together? Do you move into their apartment? How much clothing do you pack? If you live together do you stay there in that home or move elsewhere? Should you fix that slick crack in the window now to prevent zombie breakage later? Which side of the bed do you sleep on and under which pillow do you hide a handy axe?

You then have to discuss the rights and responsibilities of the situation. Who takes on the role of zombie lookout? Who is better at firing a gun? Is your shared home/location big enough for a large supply of weaponry and long-lasting canned goods? You need to discuss your tactics because no one wants to be slowed down by a partner with lousy survival tactics that will ultimately land them, and possibly yourself, in the position of becoming zombie food.

Then we come to the most crucial part of the discussion: what happens if one of you becomes infected. If you're truly in love there should be a pang of sadness in your heart at the very idea of your beloved becoming a member of the living dead but it's also a good idea to discuss what you do in the situation. Anyone who has watched a zombie film probably knows that gut-wrenching moment when the realisation hits: there isn't much time and this person is infected and soon to turn into a zombie. You have to take action and you need to do so very quickly. Now there are two really good options. The first is that you agree to do the humane thing for you both and you kill your partner so there's one less zombie in the world and you at least have a higher chance or survival. The second, and arguably more romantic route, is to stay by the side of your darling and become their food source and hopefully become infected with the same virus. This way you can continue your life together as you run around eating all the humans and causing general global terror but hey - at least you're doing it together!

If you both have a coherent zombie apocalypse survival plan and can agree on tactics and life-saving decisions, you're sorted because if you've got your relationship planned from this point until the dawn of the zombie apocalypse, you know you're set for life. Don't forget: a couple that slays together stays together.

Song of the Day: Totally Goth by Roddy von Seldeneck

This is a song I'd totally forgotten about until now and it makes me laugh every damn time.
My friend Natalie and I used to sing this to each other, almost aggressively.

'Don't feed me soup with too much broth;
That's because... I'm totally Goth.'

Enjoy,

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Three: Wolf Creek (2005)

Since I've been cramming in horror films this will be more of an observation and collection of my thoughts on the film rather than a blog along post as I watch the movie. I fancied a break from blogalongs.

For me, this was a fairly forgettable film. Once you're done watching it, not much of it stays with you. Whilst I was watching I did feel awful for the victims, especially in those moments when a victim realised they had no hope at all and that running was truly hopeless. Finally! A character I had some sort of real sympathy for! That's all I ask for: something human in a character that makes you feel a pang of fear when you really want them to make it through the movie. This is a crisply shot film with a great opening. Then, as the plot turns sinister, the film is simple a depressing exercise in mutilation and torture as the group of holiday-goers are picked off one by one. I don't think it makes a good, memorable movie.

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Two: My Bloody Valentine (1981)

This is yet another blog-along post where I'll be blogging along as I watch another horror film as part of the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge. Warning: Since I'm blogging my thoughts whilst watching the film THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

These are raw blog posts. I start and I write until I finish without any editing afterwards. I just post the raw thoughts from the film as they occur. I enter this film with absolutely no prior knowledge. Enjoy, 

I'm just gonna go out on a limb and say that anyone who wants to keep a weird gas mask on during sex probably isn't the kind of person you want to have sex with?

Ahh, a cheesy camera descent into the mouth of a screaming female victim. Classic. 

I'm not sure how I feel about a Canadian horror film. I'm not quite ready for my image of jolly, friendly Canadians to become slightly shattered. IS NOTHING SACRED?

LOOK AT ALL THE HETEROSEXUALITY.

AHH, THEY'RE PLAYING THE KNIFE GAME. 

God, this killer really doesn't like Valentine's dances. Surely you'd just never have another Valentine's day dance. I mean you can dance every other day of the year in this town but why, on one day of the year, tempt fate? People in horror films are unnaturally stupid.  Just have a dance a few days later. I mean if you've already received a creepy warning involving a real human organ surely that's a good sign to cancel a silly dance. 

OK. If you call up a mental institution and the serial killer who has haunted your town for decades with a personal vendetta against Valentine's day dances... YOU CANCEL THE DAMN DANCE. 

OH LOOK. AGAIN. STUPID TEENS DISOBEYING RULES AND WARNINGS END UP DEAD. LET'S ALL BE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AND HAVE LONG AND HAPPY LIVES, OK?


Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. Movie teens are stupid. 

This is a fairly standard slasher film. It's kind of like the film Halloween... except it occurs around Valentine's day. *facepalm*

31 Horror Films Challenge: DATA COLLECTION (Re-post)

Ok, so if you've been following the blog through October you'll know I'm taking part in the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge.

If you've been watching any horror films this month in the run up to Halloween then why not help collect data about the death count in horror films. Click here to take part in the Super Scary Blog data collection project where they're aiming to create a database concerning which different kinds of people die in horror films. Do women die more? What role does race play in the death count of horror films? What role does rape or sexualised violence play in horror movies? Does the film pass The Bechdel Test?

Please get involved to help collaborate with this blog to create interesting data. I'm currently watching a film and filling in the information. It'd be great if you could join in :) There's not much longer to help out and get involved with the project!

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty One: Train (2008)

This is yet another blog-along post where I'll be blogging along as I watch another horror film as part of the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge. 
 Warning: Since I'm blogging my thoughts whilst watching the film THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

These are raw blog posts. I start and I write until I finish without any editing afterwards. I just post the raw thoughts from the film as they occur. I enter this film with absolutely no prior knowledge. Enjoy, 

Film twenty one. Just ten more films to go and three more days to do it! I think I might do this, guys!

OK so this film is, apparently, about a group of young Americans who are travelling around Europe. On their travels they board a dubious-looking train that takes them on a Hellish ride with some rather questionable characters.

Whilst editing the tags/labels section I first accidentally wrote "Thora Birch" as "Thora Bitch"
I just thought you'd like to know that...

This film has a better start than The Dark Lurking. It sets up some suspense even though it's a bit too gory for my liking. I suppose that you could argue that it really sets the tone and takes you out of your comfort zone from the very start. I didn't like how the last film began totally in media res without any character construction or explanation of what on Earth was going on.

Uh oh. Is this film gonna be like 28 Weeks Later in that bad things happen because some teens want to break the rules and stretch their legs? How often, in horror films, do the good kids who obey the rules and remain concious of possible terror suffer any negative consequences of their actions? I'm just saying, kids, have an early night and study hard if you find yourself surrounded by strange events. It seems like the way to go...

How creepy. A door to my left just slowly creaked open. It's fairly common for this to happen in my house. It's an old, heavy door so it often just slowly swings open but this occurrence is always particularly unwelcome whilst I'm watching horror films in the early hours of the morning.

I've not really written much as I've been trying to put together data for the super scary blog data collection project about race and gender in horror films. What I can say about this film is that it's totally disgusting. The basic premise is that a group of American tourists are tricked onto a train where they unwillingly become organ donors for fellow passengers in need of organs and are picked off one by one in an increasingly gross manner. 

Ahh! Sheldon just got the Theon Greyjoy treatment if you know what I mean...

Again, we've not really been made to care for any of the characters. I don't need overly sentimental scriptwriting, all I ask is for characters that appear human, the kind of people you want to live because they just seem like really nice, cool individuals. In this film I don't think we've been given the opportunity.

This really isn't the kind of film I'd recommend as I didn't enjoy it. It was just a big ol' gut fest with lashings of fake blood aiming to make you unconsciously wrap your arms around your body in a feeble effort to protect yourself because watching that much gore on screen is  uncomfortable viewing. Really this film is just senseless violence and I cannot recommend it. I'd actually suggest you don't watch it... Especially if you want to go inter-railing any time soon.

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty: The Dark Lurking (2010)

This is yet another blog-along post where I'll be blogging along as I watch another horror film as part of the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge.
 Warning: Since I'm blogging my thoughts whilst watching the film THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

These are raw blog posts. I start and I write until I finish without any editing afterwards. I just post the raw thoughts from the film as they occur. I enter this film with absolutely no prior knowledge. Enjoy, 

Yay! I'm on film 20 which means I'm getting close to completing the challenge! OK, I know absolutely nothing about this film but I've just read the info section. It claims to be an action packed survival horror. In an underground research station something goes horribly wrong and eight people have to fight their way to the surface which battling rapidly mutating ancient creatures. Awesome. 

I'm only a few minutes in and I'm sensing this film was pretty low budget from the camera angles and editting. Shaky cam from the very beginning. This film lacks the romance and glossy nature of Hollywood. OK sure, maybe they're aiming for it to be atmospheric so we feel like we're on the crashing ship or... I don't even know. 

For some reason I'm more interested in the fact that I've not seen the third Matrix film than what is currently on my screen. 

Gratuitous bely button close up...

Bloody shower scene. Very Carrie...

Not really feeling the film so far but it'd probably make a decent enough video game. We're pretty much thrown into action straight away with no real explanation as to what is going on. 

Oh goody, some bad acting. Don't get me wrong. I love bad acting. A slight continuity error too. Yup. I reckon this film didn't have that flashy a budget and if it did it was kinda wasted on a low quality movie. Also at moments, the character who was in the shower at the beginning looks like the female protagonist of The Shining. 

The film hasn't made me care for any of these characters. I don't even know their names so why should I care if they are being attacked by mutants? This is poor character construction. 

"There is so much wrong with you, you crazy bitch"
The line came across as kinda funny. For a moment I was actually briefly entertained by this film.

I don't feel like this is a film I'll really remember a few weeks from now. It's not a film I'd really recommend to anyone at all.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-

Maybe I spoke too soon.
The wind is picking up slightly and it's a lot stronger now. Doors and windows are rattling slightly from the force of the wind.
Eep!

Song of the Day: Riboflavin by 45 Grave

"When the moon arises on the western sky 
And the vampires are out on the sly 
At times they have trouble finding necks to bite 
That's why i cook up in my roon tonight... 
My riboflavin flavored, non-carbonated, polyunsaturated blood 
(her riboflavin flavored, non-carbonated, polyunsaturated blood) 
Drac came to me one night at 12 
And said the blood bank had no blood on the shelf 
I exclaimed "don't fret!" i'll give you on fix 
Of my newly regenerated mix"

Enjoy,

Optimistic.

Call me optimistic but I think that the storm may have passed.

It's still dark so I can't really see the state of things outside but it doesn't seem as bad as some of the storms I experienced in Huddersfield. In Huddersfield there were nights where a storm would roll in so strong it was practically pushing you over. There were winds that rattled buildings, tore trees apart and sent wheelie bins down the road, scattering as they flew off.  I'm just glad that I've managed to watch a few films for the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge. A power cut would have put me way behind in my efforts to finish the challenge on time.
I hope you're all safe and that the storm hasn't had any negative impact on you, dear reader.

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Nineteen: Night of the Living Dead (1968)

This is yet another blog-along post where I'll be blogging along as I watch another horror film as part of the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge. 

 Warning: Since I'm blogging my thoughts whilst watching the film THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

These are raw blog posts. I start and I write until I finish without any editing afterwards. I just post the raw thoughts from the film as they occur. I enter this film with absolutely no prior knowledge. Enjoy, 

I can't believe I haven't seen this film before. I know I've neglected a classic. I've seen clips, but not the whole thing. Something about black and white films just comes across as really classy regardless of the content...

Doing this challenge I've realised that I'm not really scared by horror films. Of course there are films that I've watched and had some sort of emotional response. Some have left me feeling offended and angry or pensive but I never really feel too unsettled afterwards. 
This is probably due to the fact that I've watched so many horror films that I can very easily detach from the horror on screen and tell myself it's just a film. The most recent films I watched that left me feeling shaken were Rosemary's Baby last year and, a few years before, Don't Look Now. The old ones are the best, right? I think maybe watching so many horror films in one month also leaves you a little desensitised because you get so used to it.
"Oh look, another death..."
"Oh, it was behind you..."
"No... don't go in there. That's really not a good idea.... Oh, you did it regardless. Go figure."

I like that these early zombies seem spooked by fire much like depictions of Frankenstein's monster. 

Grabby hands through the boarded up window reminds me of the opening scene of 28 Weeks Later which I watched last night.

The scene with the truck explosion feels very Final Destination. I'm having horror film deja vu.

Ahh. Considering how early a zombie film this is it all seems so innocent and fresh. It's really forging the genre whereas other films come with preconceived ideas and familiar conventions because now we're so aware with the tropes associated with zombie lore.

Ha! Lights out. Yes, my exact fears for this point in time. I swear, if the storm knocks out my electricity and I'm plunged into darkness I shall be rather annoyed.

Death by trowel.

Ugh. What a tragic ending. 

Though this film may seem slow to a modern audience familiar with the evolution of the on-screen zombie myth then this film still stands as a sharp political comment on contemporary racism along with a great deal of social commentary often interpolated into zombie films. It must be remembered that this film paved the way for zombie films that came after and therefore deserves a great deal of respect. For the time when it was released this film is candidly gory and sprinkled with nihilistic, violent and emotional moments. The suggestion that the zombies or, as the film calls them, "ghouls", are a result of radioactive contamination on a returned space probe resonates from cultural contemporary anxieties since, at the time, space travel was still relatively new and society was coping with the fear of what lies beyond the world we know. It's really interesting to see an exploration of zombies in this circumstance rather than aliens. 

Also, if you'd like to watch the movie I seem to have found a copy of it on YouTube so you can watch it for free!