Halloween at the Movies

Samhain is quickly approaching, and with it, a plethora of spook-tacular movies both on tv and in theatres. Let's discuss Halloween-y movies...YAY!

I love scary movies...well, certain types. I'm not really into extreme gore movies (with a couple of exceptions)...I'm more of a monster-movie type girl. Here are a few of my favorites:

1) The Mist - Not really a horror movie, but still fairly creepy, definitely scary, especially the fundamentalist Christian lady. It's interesting to see even a somewhat normal, devout religious person turn into a crazy person when "all hell breaks loose". (SPOILER!!!) But her being killed at the end isn't why I like that movie (a scene my Catholic husband even cheered for lol). I love the "monsters" that come out from the mist (though I think the "crab monster" wasn't necessary...kinda lessened the "scare" in this movie). A good jump now and then makes for good entertainment

2) The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Again, not really a horror movie, not all that scary, but a halloween MUST see in my books. It's not halloween if Rocky Horror hasn't been on. I literally grew up on this movie. It was one movie my mother used to watch religiously when I was a child. It got to the point where my dream is to attend a recital/revival (whatever it is) of the RHPS dressed up as my favorite character...no not Dr. Franknfurter, but Magenta. If I can score a maid outfit and high heeled ankle boots, my dream will be half achieved!!

3) Silent Hill - This one is one of the exceptions when it comes to gore. I first saw this on a night I couldn't sleep (go figure lol). I don't know what it is about this movie I love. Yes, it does have strong religious tones within it (misrepresentation of Christianity), and a lot of disturbing imagery and metaphors, but I like it. I like that it's scary...I LOVE the "Pyramid Head" guy. He's got a big, bad ass knife, though I'm not sure about his significance. I read somewhere that he's being punished with that pyramid on his head, but I don't know the whole story...guess it'd help if I had played the video game (of which this movie is based). I still try to find it on YouTube when I can...only cause I don't have any money to buy movies right now, that and I can't find it anyways lol.

4) Maximum Overdrive - This one I first saw when I was younger, and wasn't quite feeling well. I had attended my uncle's wedding and was staying at another uncle's house. I was laying on the couch trying to ease my stomach and my cousins decided to put this movie on. It turned my stomach, and made me fear big-rigs for a while lol. I hated it at first. Then it grew on me. Now it's one of my favorite movies. The face on the main truck's front is enough to make anyone afraid of transports. I'm glad I haven't seen ANY transports with a face like that lol.

Not so much gorey, but somewhat bloody.

5) The Time Machine (1960) - Forget about the remake. THIS one is the best. Because of it's time period, compared to today's standards, this isn't very scary (heck, I've even let my kids watch it, and they aren't phased (though...my kids don't flintch at "Supernatural" or "The Walking Dead" either)). However, at the time (1960) I'm sure there were a number of drive in clenches and covered eyes and jumps now and then. There's just something about a classic movie that still has some scare in it. I think it's the type of film it's made in...the scratches you see on the screen, the music, etc...they sure don't make movies like they used to. While it's not really a scary movie, I'd still recommend it as a halloween movie.

Other creepy movies I like:
-Nosferatu (1922) - Max Schreck is super scary looking in this film...I've even had nightmares lmao
-The Birds (1963)
-War of the Worlds (both the 1953 and the 2005 versions)
-Godzilla
-Jurassic Park
-Night of the Living Dead
-Poltergeist 1, and 2 (3 I thought was a little lame)
-Pet Sematary
-The Shining
-Carrie
-Signs
-The Invasion
-Jaws

(if you want a couple not so scary movies to watch...perhaps with the kiddies...anything by the Peanuts crew, Scooby Doo, Ghostbusters movies, Hocus Pocus, etc)

Anyone have any movies they'd like to recommend as halloween must-see's??? Feel free to leave a comment!

Witch Costumes...Offensive??

Halloween is quickly approaching and I couldn't be happier. I've already been rummaging around stores looking at the costumes, trying to decide what I would like to be this year (last year, I went to a Halloween party as a black angel...needless to say, I've learned my lesson about wings and won't wear them again lmao, even though I did look totally awesome!!! (wink wink)).

I recently saw a discussion in a forum asking if Witch costumes should be offensive. I'm thinking "why??" why should it be offensive for people to dress up as Witches? Personally, I find it flattering. For the most part, the Witch costumes out there come sans green skinned masks, so the Witches look like everyone else, which is refreshing.

I myself have gathered numerous "Witchy" apparel during Halloween (I mean, come on, it's the best time to get you're Witchy look on). I find it the best time to buy all kinds of costumes and clothing for ritualistic use. If you look online for ritual clothing, how much are you spending? A Black Cape from AzureGreen.net is $79.95. Mine (pictured above), $29.99 at Walmart, my gloves pictured above...got them at "Ardene's", 2 pairs for $5, my Witchy, conical hat I also got at Walmart a few years ago for about $20. So you're spending less if you buy your stuff during Halloween, as opposed to buying your apparel at any other time of year from metaphysical shops or online.

But I think I'm digressing here. Should it be offensive for there to be Witchy costumes out there. No. Halloween and Witches go hand in hand. Anyone thinks of "Halloween", they automatically think "Witch". They think of "Witch", they automatically think "Halloween". Witch IS Halloween, and without Witches and the Witch costume, then Halloween isn't Halloween.

I could almost think of it as how Christians view Christmas. Take "Christ" out of Christmas and you don't have Christmas (ya, not really the most appropriate analogy, but the only one I could think of at the moment). I really don't think it should be offensive for Witch costumes to be in abundance during Halloween. I actually love that there are Witchy costumes out there at Halloween, and who knows...maybe I'll go to the next party as a Witch this year (wink wink) :)

Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain!!!