Holiday Flix: Hack-O-Lantern (1998)

 Today make sure to carve a pumpkin, not a person!

This is Hack-O-Lantern, a 1988 Film that keeps my streak of not watching Trick 'r Treat going.
Sorry, Film- maybe one day.

It comes to us from Jag Mundra, the Director of, well, nothing else I've ever seen.  Given the quality of this Film, that may not change anytime soon.

The Plot involves a family, a creepy grandpa and a dark ritual.  It's set on two different Halloweens, so it still works today.

Will evil win this day?
Will our Hero resist temptation?
Will the Plot stop for five minutes to let a random Stand-Up Comic try out his 'tight five?'

To find out, read on...

In, um, 1975...maybe, a blond kid is given a pumpkin and a strange gift from his Grandpa.

He cuts his hand during the carving later and the Mom smashes it.

The Dad is upset about Grandpa still visiting.

He goes out to his House on Halloween Night (not that one) and it turns out that he was having a ceremony with his Satanic Cult.

Whoops.

He's killed and we see that the Grandson was given a satanic amulet.

One transition later and now he's an Adult who poses like Jeff Goldblum.

We get to see the now grown up family- two sons and a daughter- and their random, dead meat friends.

Grandpa wants the Grandson to do a big ritual that night to fully join the Cult.

In the meantime, a masked guy is killing the dead meat.

The other Son is a friendly Cop.

He meets with the Mom- who has aged well!- and tries to get his big Brother to change.

Silver Spoons here fails.

Skipping ahead past the random Rock Video and Halloween Party filler, the Grandpa gets the chosen one for the Ceremony, but it is interrupted by the Sister.

Her Boyfriend was killed by- she assumes- the Brother and calls him out.

Grandpa tries to sacrifice her, but the Brother frees her...and that's his Arc over.

She calls the Cops to the Barn from the ritual, but it is empty now.

The Cult- or at least one of them- is now at the Party and kills a few people, including her best friend.

At this point, we get to the big twist when the killer in the mask arrives and Grandpa confronts them!

The masked Cultist kills Grandpa, who sets up the Sequel Bait.

Said killer was wounded and wanders to the tombstone of the Dad and it's...Mom?!?

'What a Twist!'

In the aftermath, we see that the Sheriff's Deputy Son was corrupted by Grandpa's touch on the forehead and now he's the new Leader.

Dun dun dun!

Oh right- no Sequel (and the Director died 14 years ago).

A pretty underwhelming Film, especially for a Halloween Film.

To be fair, it does feature a Party, many people in costume and pumpkins.
It's not a cheat to call this a Halloween Film, but does it fit the spirit?

The Plot is both too rushed and too slow.
They clearly didn't have enough Plot for the full 80 minutes, so it just stops for the Party Scenes, the Rock Video and that random Comic.

What you actually get is really melodramatic, not too well acted and also with a hint of incest.  
First Elves did it for Christmas and now YOU did it for Halloween!

There is some fun to be had here- intentional and unintentionally- but I'd recommend most other Halloween Films over this.

That said, what the hell is going on with this background picture?!?

Have a Happy Halloween.  Try to avoid any Cults if you can- unless they offer seasonal cocktails, of course!

Tubi Thursday: Lady in White (1988)

 A small-town mystery by way of The Wonder Years.

This is a Film I've been putting off until it was seasonal, so let's float on in...

Frankie is a small-town boy in a small town.

He is happily celebrating the last day at School before Halloween when...

Bleh.

He's locked in the Coat Room by 2 bullies.

While there, a masked man wanders in the room looking for someone.

When spotted, he puts his mask on, but is nearly choked to death.

As he slips in and out of life, he sees a little girl ghost and other strange visions.

What is going on?

Well, he was nearly the next victim in a devastating trend of children killed mysteriously.

This is 1961, so you know who they blame for the killing.

No, it's not the white guy and some mockingbirds were harmed in the making of this metaphor.

Is this related to the mysterious Lady in White? 
Given the Title, I would hope so!

Frank finds some evidence in the Cloak Room and now he needs to save the day.

Here's hoping that Not Karen Allen here isn't out to get him.

To find out what happens, stream it now.

If you mixed a Ghost Story with A Christmas Story, this is basically it.

There must have been lots of people really yearning to tell tales of their youth in the 80s, what with this, A Christmas Story and The Wonder Years (to name a few).

This one is all about making things feel real, authentic and lived in.  You get to know Frank's family and their quirks.  It's not about them, but you can easily define them in a description.

The Film lives and dies by its Special Effects.

The early stuff with the Ghosts looks really good, especially when the invisible man (as Frank doesn't know who it is) carries her.

Sadly, the final Special Effects tend to really lean on the digitally added backgrounds and the seams are pretty obvious.  
They aren't terrible, but they are very noticeable.

If you're willing to just get into the Story and Characters, the Film will really hook you.
It's not the best Halloween Film though- don't let me get carried away...

A solid, if underappreciated Ghost Story from the '80s.  Just know that the big moments are spaced out and the Film is lengthy.

Doc(umentary) Hollywood: Terror in the Aisles (1984)

 What is Horror?
Well, forget that question- this is about TERROR Films.

This is Terror in the Aisles, a 1984 Documentary about Thrillers and the Horror Genre.  It was actually released in some areas as That's Shock!, as a play on That's Entertainment, a pair of '70s Documentaries about Hollywood Films.

This one is a pretty loose attempt to show you a bunch of Horror Movie clips.
There's sort of a message.
There's sort of a point.

Nowadays it would be done on AMC and spread out over like 7 Episodes, so doing it in 80 minutes is a treat.

To see how this nearly forgotten Documentary was restored in recent Years, read on...

Donald Pleasence is here to talk to the Camera during a full Screening of...I guess lots of Films.

He talks about fright and human emotions for a bit in his great voice.

The Film occasionally tries to make a point.

Something about how we seek out terror.
Something about how we enjoy it.

Oh and let's make this topical (and then dated in a week) with him talking about how Texas Chainsaw Massacre was based on the life of Ed Gein.

For some reason, he says it as 'Ed GUY-ne' and not 'Gee-n.'

He also says that, well, he was also a...

'It was acceptable in the '80s...'

Since it is not just about Horror Films, they have more free reign with the clips/segments.

This one heavily features bits from Nighthawks, Vice Squad, Dressed to Kill and Marathon Man, for instance.

Clearly it is not!

For pacing, the Film splits up the Movies selected somewhat by Theme.

After talking about Villains (above), it turns to terror from other places.

Cue Alien, The Thing and, oh, hi Jeff.

I should mention that Donald is not our only Sometimes Narrator.

Nancy Allen also pops in at times, like to talk about how Horror Movie Victims tend to be Women.

Liked Donald, she also doesn't mention when she herself is included in the Clips chosen...

'Dressed to Narrate'

The best and worst thing about the Film is the sheer eclectic nature of the Films highlighted here.

So many are ones you'd imagine- like Rosemary's Baby, Jaws, Psycho and Night of the Living Dead- while others are just a bit odd.

For instance, brief clips can be seen of 1975's Bug (below), Suspiria and even Frogs.
That's a trio that definitely.... goes together?

In summary, some light reflection on humor nature from Donald Pleasence, a shotgun blast of random Film Clips (how else do you have Scanners and Konga in one Film?) and...that's it.

It's weird and kind of fun, even if there's not much of a point.

The End.

I wish I had more to say.

Of course, I wish the Film had more to say.

If you're not big into Films or, you know, obsessed with them like I am, you will probably get more out of this. 
You'll have seen less of the Films. 
You'll have not heard the points 40x by now.

That said, I was entertained.  
It is a bunch of great Films, many silly ones and some less mentioned ones all in one package.

I must again point out some recency bias as the first 1/3 heavily uses Scenes from Nighthawks and Vice Squad- two Films from 1982.
If that's why we get the 'You've got to be f***ing kidding me' Scene from The Thing, I guess I can live with that.

Kudos for mixing in stuff like The Brood, Wait Until Dark, Ms. 45 and others in with the more obvious fare.

Seriously, look at this selection of Films mentioned (for the VERY complicated Film Credits at the end) here and tell me you can find a throughline....

Next up, a proper Halloween Review that is STILL not Trick 'r Treat.  Sorry, but this one is hopefully good and cheesy!  Stay tuned...

'90s Class: The Frighteners (1996)

 There's nothing like the feeling of unwrapping a DVD and getting a gem.

Today's Film is The Frighteners, Peter Jackson's first big Studio Film for America.  It's a shame that he never made anymore, right?!?

Jokes aside, the Film is historically significant as his pals over at the WETA Workshop needed to up their game for this Film and its many, MANY VFX shots.  They bought more computers and went to work- never once looking back.

The Plot itself involves a man who can see ghosts and then discovers a true danger.  Too bad he's been a conman so long that nobody believes him!

Can he rise to the occasion or will he fail yet again to save a life?

To find out, read on...

We meet a young Social Worker who checks on a lady at her Mom's House.

The Mom is super paranoid and won't let her leave the House.

At home, she finds out that the woman is connected to a Spree Killing from the 1960s.

She was released to her Mother's care, while the boyfriend was executed.

This sure won't be important, so why am I bringing it up?

Michael J. Fox plays Frank Bannister.

He will show up and get rid of the poltergeists...for a price.

As it turns out, however, he can see ghosts- like John Astin here- and uses them to scare people into paying him for his services.

He also has a dark backstory involving a dead wife, because, of course he does.

He's also been at this for quite a while, which has angered certain ghosts.

R. Lee Ermey plays...well, himself as a ghost here.

He's more than just a fun Cameo, however, as he will be key to the Plot in Act 3.

A series of strange deaths have been occurring in the last several months.

Since Frank's Wife died mysteriously, he's a suspect.

As it turns out, the real culprit is more, well, of a Ring Wraith.

It's actually Death, but jokes.

Of course, it is not that simple.

Frank learns that this is actually connected to that Spree Killing I mentioned at the beginning.  How weird!

He can see the killer spirit, but can't interact with it...unless he temporarily makes himself a ghost first.

Everything builds up to a big showdown at the sight of said killing all of those years ago.

The 'poor' woman was actually his accomplice and the killer is now the aforementioned spirit that is trying to break the record of most killings by one man/duo.

Of course, Pedro Alonso Lopez (who is possibly back at large!!!) set it officially at 110, so he'd need like 3 more Films.

In any event, Frank obviously saves the day.

The End.

A really fun Film that showed where a Director was going to go.

It is fascinating to see Peter Jackson go from a guy who made fake Documentaries and low-budget Zombie Films to a guy who made the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (and definitely none after that!).

This is the key, middle step to it all.

The Film is quite fun, giving you interesting visuals, enjoyable Characters and a quirky Plot.
Some say that it is a bit overlong, and I can't really argue with that.

That said, it is also hard to complain when you get more of, well, this.

Most of the CGI has aged very well here.  A few bits have that lack of texture/sheen that comes with adding a CGI Character/object into a shot.
Nobody is perfect.

Ultimately, The Frighteners is a great Film to enjoy if you're a fan of Jackson, ghosts or both.
Just don't accidentally get the TV Show of the same name by mistake...

Next up, I'll try to squeeze in one more regular Review before the Halloween one.  If so, get ready to howl!  Stay tuned...

Shudder Day: Clown in a Cornfield (2025)

 A Film that was recommended by people on FB.
It is by a Director of a Film I liked.

Let's tackle our coulrophobia and kalampokiphobia in one fell swoop!

Welcome to the Town of Kettle Springs.

They love Corn and Clowns.

Our Heroine is a new Girl with her Doctor Dad moving into Town a la Arachnophobia.

She makes friends with the 'cool kids' that have turned the Town's Mascot (above) into a Horror Character via YouTube Short Films.

They make enemies of the main Adults in Town (like the Sheriff, their Teacher and a Shopkeeper) along the way.

While filming a video, she spots a masked clown in the background...

In spite of what her Dad says, she goes to a Party by the Cornfield.

However, they get company in the form of Frendo the Clown...and more!

It all leads to a reveal- which I won't SPOIL- about who is doing the killing and why.

In lieu of an actual Shot of the reveal, I'll give the next best thing.

To find out how it plays out, stream it now.

A fun Film, as long as you let it build up properly.

For better or worse, this is very much in the mold of what Modern Slasher Films are.  
If you're a fan, that's great.
If you're not, just be patient.

The Film builds up nicely to a climax involving the Clown and our Heroes.
They are mostly a likable bunch.

As always, the big selling point here is the gore and the creativity involved.  It delivers.

This one doesn't exactly break any new ground, but stomps it quite nicely.
Will posting this picture help my engagement by including Art?

A fun Film that is very much in the mold of what Modern Slasher Films are.  For better or worse, it does that exactly how you'd expect (and also well).

Holiday Reading: The Teen Titans Battle a Slave-Hunting Ghost (in 1971)!!!!

 Fate brought my attention to this Comic.
$7.99 brought this Comic into my life.

I might as well share this bizarre oddity with you!

In the 1970s, the Teen Titans weren't selling that well on the newsstands.  The Writer- Bob Haney- was writing weird and wacky NON-SUPERHERO Tales with the Characters in an attempt to be hip.

As such, they fought foes like an evil Sorcerer, Aztec Warriors and demons!
As teased, they must battle an evil, racist ghost from the Civil War!

At this time, the team is working for a Mr. Jupiter.
He once had them fight crime without their gear, but that is a thing of the past.

He takes them to his old Home to see his Aunt before she dies and...

So, look, Bob Haney (seen here) was a 46 year old White Guy when he wrote this.  
As someone who is closer to that than he wants to admit, he probably shouldn't write Stories like this if he's going to write Mal like this.

Anyhow, Mal is out that night and is chased by something.

It leaves no evidence, so he makes a big stink about nobody trusting him.

As it turns out, he's being targeted by the Ghost of a local Slave Catcher, since he bears a more than passing similarity to his last victim.

That one escaped when he drowned in the icy river.

Robin and Mr. Jupiter realize this and seek out a magic doll to save him...

It was this or call Batman, so...

Wonder Girl tried to pull Mal to safety once, so she's out.
Speedy shot three arrows...that didn't work, so he's out.

Thankfully the now-giant Doll is up to the task.

It breaks the ice and drags the Ghost Dogs with it.

It also breaks the ice up so much that the Ghost falls into the icy waters again.

You see, the Ghost can only be stopped if THE EXACT SAME THING happens again.

How convenient.

They leave the Doll on the Aunt's grave.
The End.

This was....pretty much what I expected and was hoping for.

This whole thing is just odd.  You have the Teen Titans, so let's have them...fight a Ghost?  The 70s were a weird time, but there had to be some limits.

To be fair, Batman started to deal with this stuff too...also in Bob Haney Books, mind you.

The dated stuff about this is REALLY dated.  Even so, I like to think that this was done sincerely.
This was truly a 'How do you do, fellow kids' situation...just with extra cringe because Race was involved.

The whole Story is just so strange and so bizarre.  It also makes such a poor use of most involved, hinging 100% on a single-issue Ex Machina.

I guess our Heroes helped by calling it to do all of the work though.

Teen Titans Delegate!

Look, I'm trying to find weird and obscure stuff- not all of it will be a Classic...unlike these sweet Records you can get for less than $3

Comics are usually a fun bit of escapism.  In this case, escape to a time where things were...quite different!