Top 5 Halloween Themed Movies

Happy Hallowe'en, intrepid reader! In case you haven't already selected your creepy movie list to watch today, I now offer my top 5 Hallowe'en themed movies.

Instead of selecting my top 5 horror films to watch around Hallowe'en (that may be a list coming next year), I picked 5 movies that were set on or around the year's best holiday and that give off a vibe that I think fits the season.

So, without further ado...

5. Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Originally, the Halloween series was intended to be a different story with each release and not just be about Michael Myers until the studios released Halloween III and the public screamed for more Myers. Now, because of that, I know there are a lot of naysayers around this single entry in the series that doesn't feature the iconic slasher. It does, however, capture the feeling of excitement and dread around the holiday with a cheesy zesto that can't be denied. The story revolves around the giant conglomerate Silver Shamrock Company who is planning to kill tons of people via magical Hallowe'en masks. Plus... it has one of the most catchy Hallowe'en tunes ever put to film. "No more days 'til Hallowe'en... Sil... ver... Shamrock!"

4. Night of the Demons

It's Hallowe'en night and a bunch of kids have decided to skip out on the "popular" party and instead head to the supposedly haunted Hull House for a party hosted by the high school's resident creepy girl, Angela.

Angela has a seance planned to see if she can contact the spirits in the abandoned funeral home. Sure... what can go wrong there?

The movie is a cliched, gorey, and twisted ride through everything that I think makes Hallowe'en so great. It's got demons, candy, a haunted house, trick-or-treaters, girls in skimpy outfits and kids messing with all the spooky things that they shouldn't.

It's sheer Hallowe'en cheesy fun!

3. Monster House

Why is a kids' movie on this list? It may be animated but it's still one of the best horror stories put to film in recent years. DJ and his pals think the house across the street is haunted and one Hallowe'en night decide to find out once and for all. It's a great flick for the whole family! And even better... it's actually scary!

2. John Carpenter's Halloween

It's sad that I feel the need to call this Carpenter's Halloween but I definitely don't want it confused with that atrocity from Rob Zombie. Since it's release in 1978, the white-masked Michael Myers has haunted many Halloween nightmares. This masterpiece was, for many years, THE essential Hallowe'en-themed movie until...

1. Trick 'r Treat

This little horror flick slipped under the radar after taking for.ev.er. to actually be released! It's got all the tricks and treats that anyone could ever want for Hallowe'en. It's a throwback to the anthology horrors of the mid-80s but with the twist that they're told in an out-of-order Tarantinoesque style. It's got ghosts, goblins, slashers, murder, vampires, werewolves, jack-o-lanterns, psycho-kids, trick-or-treaters smashing pumpkins. If you associate it with Hallowe'en, it's probably in this movie. Heck... there's even a Charlie Brown reference! If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and watch it tonight.

As an added Hallowe'en treat, here's the short animated film that my #1 pick was based on...

Seasons Greetings!

Poe's The Raven Narrated by Q

Hallowe'en approaches! What better way to celebrate than with a little Poe?

That it's a brilliantly creepy rendition of The Raven by John de Lancie (Star Trek: TNG's Q) doesn't hurt either.

Turn down the lights, close your eyes and enjoy the fear!

 

Buy a Calendar for Charity and Help KNTR

My pal Bone McGraw (aka Kris) and some of his friends have created a calendar that they're selling to raise cash for various charities.

Recently, Bone came to me and asked if I'd help to promote the calendar and maybe provide a picture (I'm Mr. August BTW). I agreed on the grounds that he give some of the proceeds to my favorite charity: Kids Need to Read. Bone agreed and, if he sells at least 1000 copies, he will donate $500 to KNTR.

So check out the calendar below and help out some great causes!

September 11, 2010

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I had just awoken and flipped on the news. I was just in time to catch the news that a plane had crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center in NYC. I rushed to tell my wife who was in the other room. We got back to the television set just in time to see a second plane crash into the other tower. There is no describing the emotions that went through my mind as we realized that it wasn't a crash but rather an attack of some sort. We continued to watch in horror as the towers collapsed. My family spent the entirety of that day huddled around one television set or another waiting for any news. Who attacked us? Why were our families and neighbors being murdered before our very eyes?

In the 9 years since that date, the landscape of the world has changed. In some ways those changes are for the worse. Many people have become prejudiced against a single religion and not just the extremists who perpetrated the attack.

On the other hand, America has become a closer community, both with our own country and with our friends around the world.

There is definitely healing yet to be done and the world will always and should always remember that day. Not for the wars and hatred that it spawned but for the fact that it made the world a smaller place and turned a bright light on the dangers of extremism of any sort.

I wish the world over a peaceful day on this September 11, 2010.

Always Remember.

Hyde and Geek Comic Test Run

I've been toying with the idea of doing a comic strip here at Hyde and Geek but I haven't decided on the art direction or final characters. Below is the first strip I've created just to test the waters of what it might look like. Keep in mind that this isn't the final strip nor is there any promise that there will be any more. Enjoy!

Also, I know some of my readers are artists and webcomic creators. If you have any advice and/or input, I'd appreciate it greatly.

A List of Random Things that I Love...

• the way my wife looks so beautiful without even trying - I'm especially glad that she doesn't realize this or she'd never have married me
• my kids for letting me see the world through their eyes on occasion and experiencing a wonder that only children have
• a fall afternoon when the summer heat is long gone but the chill of winter is still just an unpleasant thought for tomorrow
• the near perfect still of the night at 3am when normal people are asleep and the world feels magical and ancient
• the cold of a dog's nose
• that I'm in my 30s and cartoons, Muppets and toys can still make me smile
• the feel of fresh grass under my bare feet
• that I live in America
• the smell of fresh ink when you crack open a new comic book
• the pencil stain on the side of my hand after an intense session of writing or drawing
• anything made by my kids for me
• the fact that some of those things made for me say "world's best dad" when I often feel so far from that praise
• the smell of a book - fresh and new or old and dusty, it doesn't matter
• cleaning my house while singing along to Cat Stevens tunes when there's no one around to hear how silly I sound
• the still chill in the air just before it rains
• that my mother let me be me and never forced me to be something that I'm not - I hope that I can do the same for my own kids
• and the knowledge that someone who is as hard-headed and downright odd as me could end up with the life that I'm living right now