Submit To The Cosmic Creepiness With This New Video From ‘Vitskär Süden’!

Maybe you’re feeling as though this quarantine is reminiscent of hybrid movie brought to you by John Carpenter, David Lynch, and Panos Cosmatos.  Well, if that’s the case – then I’ve got the perfect soundtrack to go along with what’s going on in that mind of yours.

New ‘doom metal’ quartet Vitskär Süden is releasing their debut self-titled album today, and they’ve given us a visually haunting video for the song ‘Trickle of the Snail’ to go along with it.  Whet your appetite and check the video out below, and feel free to do some drugs in the process:

As previously mentioned, Vitskär Süde dropped their debut album TODAY on streaming platforms – and you can listen, download, and purchase directly from the band’s Bandcamp page HERE.  Grab it and get into it……before it grabs you! (insert ominous evil laugh)

It’s Almost Mommy’s Day!

Mother’s Day.  The time of the year to show your Mom how much she means to you by getting her some cheap flowers from the grocery store.  But Mother’s Day is also the time of the year to remember that scene from John Carpenter’s In The Mouth Of Madness where that creepy little girl says this:

Yes, I know – that’s a random clip to play to correspond with Mother’s Day.  But, I was giving In The Mouth Of Madness a re-watch the other night and that scene always creeped me out.  Maybe it’s the way she takes that little pause before she says “Today is Mommy’s Day” in that unsettling whisper.

Lots of things creep me out about this movie though (that bike scene forever haunts me), but that little girl needed more screen time.  Nevertheless – kudos to In the Mouth Of Madness for being, in my opinion, one of Carpenter’s most underrated films (albeit the plot is a bit of a mess).  And an early kudos to the mothers out there (including mine) who tolerated us watching movies like this!

So What Happens If This New ‘Halloween’ Movie Sucks?

Getting your hopes up is a terrible epidemic that affects millions of people every year.  Especially people who are fans of horror movies.  Last year, my hopes were way up for the new incarnation of Stephen King’s IT – and although I liked it, I was not in the majority that LOVED it.  Hence, my hopes were dashed because they were up way too high.  So what happens this year when October 19th rolls around?  Well, it’s my birthday of course!  Oh – not just mine actually…..but a certain mask-wearing/knife-wielding killer from Haddonfield, Illinois named Michael Myers’ as well.  And yes, he comes home on that date in theaters nationwide!

The new Halloween has some interesting twists coming along with it in the writer/director categories.  Directed and co-written by David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express), he isn’t exactly the first choice for a horror movie.  But, I’ll reserve judgement until my peepers see it for myself.  A favorite of mine, Danny McBride, co-wrote it along with Green and Jeff Fradley.  What does all of this mean for the tone?  Who fucking knows.  But what I do fucking know is that John Carpenter IS onboard as a consultant and will do most or all of the music for the movie.  Oh – and did I mention that Jamie Lee Curtis is back reprising her role as Laurie Strode?  I guess I really didn’t need to mention that unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few months.

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Now, recently some news got out about some early test screenings for Halloween.  And the word was not good.  You can take these opinions with a grain of salt and a Michael Myers grunt, as I will again reserve judgement until I see the final product for myself.  The poster that came out last week was alright, but people were figuratively sucking it off because the mask was shown…..but I kinda thought it didn’t look much different than Rob Zombie’s mask in his Halloween movies (one of the only redeeming qualities btw).  To each his or her own though, the excitement level for Halloween is steadily building steam.  When the trailer drops, so will the horror panties.  I don’t know that the hell that even met.  But anyway…….

So what if it sucks?  What if my hopes are so high, that if it does suck…..I go running out of the theater like a madman and dash into the street without looking and get hit by a car like Ben Tramer???  Oh, let’s hope that doesn’t happen.  And let’s hope that Halloween doesn’t suck, because I really do want to have a good birthday.  We shall see.  And if you want to get me something for my birthday, I’m an extra large.

Duh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh…….Christine Is Back! In A Short Music Video That Is.

FYI – that was my attempt in the title for this post at the song ‘Bad To The Bone’.  But yes, John Carpenter himself has resurrected the killer car Christine for a pretty sweet music video that’s promoting his new Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998 project being released on October 20th.  Carpenter directed a new music video that showcases not only the sexy vehicle named Christine, but also a re-working of the title theme from the movie. Oh and there’s a pretty hot girl (Rita Volk) in the video as well.  And a surprise at the end too!

I for one, have always thought that Christine was one of the better Stephen King book adaptations.  Great characters.  Great soundtrack.  Great score.  And great directing from the legend himself.  And how about Buddy Repperton’s hair???  Carpenter will be taking his band on the road soon to promote the new album, and I for one get to see him on Halloween night in Hollywood.  That’s right, HALLOWEEN NIGHT!  Check out the Christine-inspired video below and go grab tickets for the tour if it’s hitting your town!

Listening To The Song ‘Murder Ink’ By Dr. Dre Got Me To Thinking………

I blame the new HBO documentary series The Defiant Ones for this post.  Not that that’s a bad thing – because it’s actually a stellar 4-part film that showcases the ups and downs of producers and innovators Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine.  And in doing so, it goes to great lengths to make you want to seek out their music after you watch it.  Which is what I ended up doing by revisiting Dr. Dre’s album Chronic 2001.  And upon doing so, I listened to this song right here:

Now, any true horror fan will recognize that piano melody as John Carpenter’s theme from Halloween.  Granted, this is Dr. Dre’s take on it in his song ‘Murder Ink’ – but it’s still the Halloween theme nonetheless and always cool to see it pop up in a hip hop song, or song in general.  Ice-T also sampled it for his song ‘The Tower’ from his Original Gangster album.  But all of this got me to thinking about the other iconic Halloween franchise music that needs to be sampled…….The ‘Silver Shamrock’ jingle from Halloween III: Season Of The Witch!

It could be that I’m just giddy because it’s Friday, but somebody needs to sample this soon, right?  Anyone???  Ok, it might just be me.  But anyway, maybe I’ll make it my mission to find a producer willing to take the plunge down the Silver Shamrock rabbit hole and create some music magic.  Now if only I could find someone to get on the phone and make some calls for me to make this thing happen……………

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Thanks, Tom Atkins!

The Wilford Brimley Clip Of The Day!

Treasured actor Wilford Brimley is basically known for two things:  Oatmeal and Diabetes.  Those are both terrible in their own right, but what I will always remember Mr. Brimley for is the amazing tirade he threw in John Carpenter’s The Thing.

Damn, he went off!  Swinging that axe like a lumberjack and shooting that pistol like he was in the Old Wild West.  Not a bad pistol throw at the end out of desperation either.  I love this movie and every time this scene comes up, I can’t help but laugh.  I also can’t help but feel very sad though as well……and do you know why?  Because in this movie, Wilford Brimley was CLEAN SHAVEN!  Oh the horror…..and a travesty for sure.  Nowhere in sight is his iconic flavor savor that would later go on to have him compared to cats until the day he died.  RIP Wilford Brimley.  Oh….he’s not dead?  Hooray!!!  Let’s celebrate by looking at one of those cat look-a-like pictures then!

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Give Me The Creeps: ‘The Bicycle Scene’ From ‘In The Mouth Of Madness’ (1994)

Are you scared of creepy old guys who ride by on bicycles that have playing cards in the spokes?  Ok, good.  I thought it was just me.  And I have John Carpenter’s nonsensical, but somewhat enjoyable, 1994 movie In The Mouth Of Madness to thank for that fear.

Sure, this movie has it’s problems.  But dammit if John Carpenter doesn’t always know how to send those chills up and down your spine even when a bad Halloween mask effect is the focal point.  In The Mouth Of Madness has a lot of creepy ass moments, but the one that takes the delicious heavily frosted cake is easily the scene where Linda (Julie Carmen) and John (Sam Neil) are driving down the road and encounter our bike-pedaling friend.  Watch the clip below and if you haven’t seen it, I apologize for making you sleep with a nightlight on tonight:

I can’t get out….it won’t let me out.”  Shudder.  I want a duplicate of that mask by the way just so I can scare the shit out of my wife.  Yes, I can be cruel at times.  This is classic John Carpenter by the way and I would have actually loved to see a spin-off movie with this character just popping up in background shots a la Michael Myers.  Personally, it’s moments like these in horror that really tend to stick with me.  The scene is fairly simple, but that’s what makes it brilliant as far as going for that creep-out effect.  Bravo, Mr. Carpenter.  Ok, I’ll leave you now with a pic to make you grab an extra nightlight.

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Sunday Bloody Sunday: ‘Elderly Babysitter Death’ From ‘The Fog’ (1980)

There’s nothing worse than watching an old person bite the dust in a horror movie.  Well, there might be worse things actually, but old people dying in horror movies can really put a damper on an otherwise good day.  So on this week’s Sunday Bloody Sunday, I’m paying tribute in a way to our favorite elderly babysitter from John Carpenter’s underrated classic, The Fog.  That’s right, come on up to the podium and say a few words, Mrs. Kobritz!

Ahhh, that’s right.  She can’t come up and say a few words because she got hacked to death by a bunch of zombie ghost pirates.  We can however, honor her memory and remember her for the brave, yet somewhat stupid, babysitter that she was.  Only out to protect Andy as she shooed him away to his room after a knock at the door, Mrs. Kobritz took her final steps out into the dense fog before being pounced on by the zombie ghost pirates.  Going out like a true babysitter soldier, Mrs. Kobritz will forever be a bright light in The Fog.  (cue up “Wing Beneath My Wings”)

Required Viewing For Halloween: Halloween III: Season Of The Witch (1982)

Here we go.  The Halloween movie that everyone either loves or loves to hate. Halloween III:  Season Of The Witch came out in 1982, but with one small omission. There was no Michael Myers.  What?!!  Blasphemy!!  That’s right kids, no Michael Myers.  Instead, he would be replaced by an evil mastermind of a Halloween mask company called Silver Shamrock who planned on killing millions of kids on Halloween night by placing pieces of a stolen Stonehenge boulder into their Halloween masks! This stuff just writes itself.  Panned by critics as well as fueling outrage from the faithful Halloween moviegoers, this entry into the franchise did poorly at the box office, but slowly started to develop a much deserved cult following.

*jazz hands!*

Yes, I am on the one side of the electric fence that feels that this movie is a guilty pleasure, especially around Halloween time and I’ll gladly burn at the stake for thinking that.   Continue reading

Check Out These Mondo Posters For A Special ‘Halloween’ Screening In LA!

Never before would I have thought that I would use the word “beautiful” in connection with Michael Myers.  But thanks to another amazing product from Mondo, such is the case today.  In correspondence with a special 35MM screening of John Carpenter’s 1978 classic Halloween at the New Beverly Cinema in LA, Mondo artist Ken Taylor has released two special posters for the event.  Check them out below in all of their artistic horror glory:

The good news?  You can look at these posters here.  The bad news?  You can’t really get your hands on one unless you buy the VIP tickets for the event for $500 or bid on Ebay once somebody tries to flip it and make $1000.  This special screening of Halloween on October 27th at the New Beverly Cinema in LA will have John Carpenter in attendance and is part of a special Debra Hill Film Festival.  All proceeds from the festival will benefit the late producer’s foundation.  Regular seats are sold out, but a few VIP tix are still available here!