The Hippie Chick

October 14:

Zombieland (2009)

Because zombies. And Jesse Eisenberg. And Woody Harrelson. And the Bill Murray scenes.



( More movie goodness this way! )

That's it for now! We're getting closer to Halloween, folks!

October 7:

Carrie (1976)



The new version starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore is released on October 18. But I love the original. Sissy Spacek's performance was perfect. Both she and Piper Laurie were nominated for Academy Awards for their roles. It was a tough year that year in both Actress and Supporting Actress categories.



October 8:

Pontypool (2008)



I love me a good zombie movie. This one is excellent.



Both of these are available on Netflix Instant.

October 4:

The Blair Witch Project (1999)



I thought the marketing of this movie was brilliant. I remember the original website!


October 5:

An American Werewolf In London (1981)

Every October I try and watch one horror / suspense / thriller movie a night, culminating in a screening of Halloween on Halloween night. And in grand style, I've started.

October 1:

The Mummy (1932)



The original, starring Boris Karloff. Always good to incorporate the classic Universal Monsters in during the month.
My favorite:

Joseph: [translating inscription on box] "Death... eternal punishment... for... anyone... who... opens... this... casket. In the name... of Amon-Ra... the king of gods." Good heavens, what a terrible curse!
Ralph: [eagerly] Well, let's see what's inside!

Ralph: [after he reads the scroll from inside the box and the mummy comes to life] He went for a little walk! You should have seen his face!

October 2:

Night of the Living Dead (1968)





They're coming to get you, Barbara! This is in the public domain, and available on You Tube as well!

Tonight is the night
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,
When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.

Tonight is the night
When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.

Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghoul and ghost
And goblin host
Dance 'round their queen
It's Hallowe'en!
- by Harry Behn

Catch up time. Here's what I've been watching since my last Halloween Month Movie a Night update.

Oct 15: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
Still my favorite, though very good still is the adaptation made ten years later starring Spencer Tracy. But Frederick March's performance here was much lauded and won him an Academy Award. I also think "Mr. Hyde" is scarier in this version than in the 1941 film.

( more scary movies this way! )

Not sure what's on the slate for this evening, as we get closer to Halloween I love trying out movies I haven't seen or those I haven't seen in a long while. I'll search around and see what comes up.

Okay now that I'm back from Christmas land (see my last post) I snap back into the Halloween spirit! I'll quick catch you up on what I've been watching during my Halloween Month Movie A Night.



( Movies, I got your movies! )

Haven't decided what tonight's movie will be yet. This post on ONTD got me intrigued though. So many have said "Smiley" is just bad, laughably so. But I'm thinking maybe I should check it out. You know, for the lulz. *screech*

Okay it's October 3. I started my (and my mom's) tradition of watching one suspense / horror film a night during the month of October culminating in a screening of "Halloween" on Halloween night.

I started Oct. 1 with the original "Frankenstein". Because the Universal Monsters just say Halloween to me.

Last night it was "Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man". This one was interesting, in that you had two very well known Universal Monsters in one film. Also, in this one, Bela Lugosi played Frankenstein's Monster. He was good, though Karloff really made it what it was. Lugosi, though he had lifts in his shoes, was a deal shorter than Karloff and it showed. I always pictured the Monster much taller, probably because of that image of Karloff in my head. Anyway, nothing against Lugosi, he was good.

Tonight it's "The Bad Seed", based on the book by William March, and maybe something else a little later.



Anyway, I have always just loved this film. One, because it came from the stage to the screen pretty much as is. Mervyn LeRoy saw the stage production, and decided right then and there he wanted to adapt it for the screen. He told the actors to just do it, as if they were on stage. It really does come off like a play when you watch it, since that is what it was. Six of the original stage actors from "The Bad Seed" came for the movie version.

The performance that Nancy Kelly gives is just amazing. And Patty McCormack is a marvel. While some might say it comes off a little cheesy, I really look at its nuances. The acting is superb. The ending was changed from book and stage to movie because the Hays Code which was in place at the time insured that in film, crime cannot "pay". So that is why you see the mother surviving (she does not in the book or the play) and Rhoda getting struck by lightning on the wharf (she actually is the survivor at the end of the book and play). The other change in the film from the stage is the scene between Leroy and Rhoda in the arbor where she's screaming for him to bring her shoes to her. That took place in the livingroom of the Penmark apartment originally.

Anyway. Off I go. I'll pick out something else tonight I'm sure since it's early or maybe not, see what's on TV...

Finally it's October! My favorite month! And those who've been with me know my "Halloween Month Movie-A-Night" tradition. I screen one horror or suspense film each night all month long.

The month will kick off with a classic Universal Monsters movie "The Bride of Frankenstein". Because Elsa Lanchester is kick ass in this movie. I felt really awful for The Monster though because when she was created he seemed so happy to have a companion. Then she rejects him and well you know what happens. :(

Anyway. Rock and roll.

Tonight's Movie: Psycho.

This one is a classic. Tony Perkins was amazing, people. Accept no imitations.



Just to catch you up to speed on what I've been watching (I also hit the horror section at Blockbuster a couple of times) in case you do follow along...


Oct 12 The Bride Of Frankenstein. My favorite of the Whale directed Frankenstein movies I think.

Oct 13 The Exorcist. I've watched a few "demonic" movies so far. This one though is the end all be all... it's just so in your face freaky and scary that I still hear that voice and my blood turns cold.

Oct 14 Ginger Snaps. I love a great werewolf movie. One I didn't expect to be as good as it was.

Oct 15 Phantom of the Opera. Lon Chaney, silent, 1925.

Oct 16 Pet Sematary. Not the best of the best Stephen King adaptation but it does deliver the scares.

Oct 17 Mirrors. Keifer Sutherland. Oh yes. And this was UBER freakout inducing.
It's an American remake of a Korean horror film, and not bad. I haven't seen the Korean version "Go To The Mirror" yet.

Oct 18 Drag Me To Hell. Sam Raimi freaked me out before with "The Gift". This one? OMFG!!! Yes! Go get this one and see it if you haven't!

Oct 19 Candyman. This is a twist on the old "Bloody Mary" legend. I thought it quite well done and very, VERY creepy with some good scares.

Oct 20 Deep Red: The Hatchet Murders. If you are new to Argento, start here, I think it's got to be among his best. Gory? You betcha. Warning you now. Good then, you handled that one okay? Try "Suspiria" next.

Oct 21 Grace. OMG just see this one. I can't even.... OMG.

Oct 22 [REC]. prettyh told me I should hunt this one down and I am glad I did. The scares were intense, the buildups quite good.

Oct 23 Halloween. Rob Zombie's take on it. It was so much better than I thought it would be! Still saving the original for THE night however.

Oct 24 The Strangers. Oh lord.... oh lord... not one I should have watched when I'm going to be alone in the house most of the week. OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!

Oct 25 - Paranormal Activity. Review coming, writing it after I post this.