1st and 2nd of the Top 13 Best Halloween Internet Finds List

1. Everything Else Halloweenie

13. How to add a ghost to any of your photos:

I think this would have been improved if it was a demonstration of how to get ghosts out of your photographs, now that one I could really use!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Ghost-Spotting-in-Any-Photo/

12. How to make fake blood:

The presenters are a little kooky, but starting with the Karo is always a good plan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhN6sUNwBWA&feature=player_embedded

11. Extreme Pumpkins:

Now what does this remind me of? 

http://www.extremepumpkins.com/

Yes, that's it!

http://www.randafricanart.com/Bakongo_Nkondi_figure.html

10. Eco friendly Halloween idears:

Some super inexpensive idears on this here link:

http://greenlivingideas.com/2011/10/21/eco-friendly-halloween-ideas/

9. The best Halloween photography exhibit online:

Every photo in this online Halloween exhibit is evocative and beautiful

http://blog.pokkisam.com/content/super-solid-examples-halloween-photography

8. Halloween and stuff about/for babies:

http://www.billybobteeth.co.uk/

Would these be considered a fetish item or a costume if adults wore them?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/21/halloween-babies_n_1024084.html?

1319222488&icid=maing-grid7|hp-desktop|dl11|sec3_lnk1|106408

7. Hints for Halloween decor from Disney designer:

I cannot get enough of these white pumpkins, baby!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLvy-w0-pVQ&feature=related

6. Maize mazes:

Been to one of these...and I guess living on a farm in my youth made me a little less than thrilled to wander about getting lost in the corn

http://www.nickcannon.com/post/insane-halloween-corn-mazes

5. Horrible origin of Halloween:

An obviously well-thought-of personage when alive, judging by the floral tributes

http://edsitement.neh.gov/october-2010-history-and-origins-halloween-and-day-dead-celebrations

4. Evil doll story

Every Halloween needs an evil doll story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWNkDuf-now&feature=related

3. History of Halloween

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-VRAemIvbI

2. Pitt Rivers Museum

The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford can be rather haunting
image from:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brett-tully/3823367659/

Still a major Victorian showpiece

http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/index.html

1. Something to do on Halloween

Everything you need is described below:

http://vintagehalloweenideas.com/seance-for-a-halloween-party-1920s

2. Music and Books

13. "Let's all sing like the Birdies sing"

OK this is not a Halloween song, but the cartoon is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TIRVMI1JOQ&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLC109DF02E38060EF

12. Book Surgery

This is truly amazing and somewhat horrible for the librarian in me ;-)

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/the-book-surgeon-15-pieces

http://centripetalnotion.com/2007/09/13/13:26:26/

11. "Pumpkin Syndrome [VOCALOID Halloween Song]"

I just liked the images on these ones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwlMnX_u6kE&feature=related

10. "Pennywhistle Halloween Book"

If you're going to "do" Halloween, you'll like this:

http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?isbn=9780671737917&

9. "Lucille"

I reckon he's going to be #1 viewed YouTube clip this Halloween

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6Xyl1B3mZY

8. Dennison's Bogie Book

It will cost you a lot more than 10 cents to download a facsimile copy of this one...still I want it...should I?...it would be the first book download I've ever done....

http://vintagehalloweenideas.com/products/1923-dennisons-bogie-book

7. Marianne Faithfull - Witches' song

Who does this remind me of...?

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH-Edq3H3Q4&feature=related

...Kim Novack in "Bell, Book and Candle", no wonder...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bell-Book-Candle-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B00061X9K6

6. "The Witch of Blackbird Pond"

My favourite book when I was 13

http://blot.com/blog/2010/10/the-witch-of-blackbird-pond/


http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Witch_of_Blackbird_Pond.html?id=6WGTMG3bF88C&redir_esc=y


5. "Three Pairs of Arms"

an acquired taste for some, but I love them...

http://www.youtube.com/user/tigerlilliesofficial?blend=7&ob=5#p/u/2/NKjS-jDvUaU


4. "Geek Love"

Not a Halloween book really but it is an excellent read

http://staylit.blogspot.com/2010/10/geek-love-and-palahniuk.html


3. "This Haunted House" -Loretta Lynn

Loretta looking all ghostly in her mock Victorian dress

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOIyPPpkfBI&feature=fvsr


2. Stephen King Tribute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcpTJgcmrD8

From Stephen King's IT

1. "This is Halloween"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOtEdhKOMgQ

Well, it had to be done...glad I don't live next door though! ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5qJCEaTdr8&feature=player_embedded#!

As always, share at will, Gabrielle x, 2012

3rd of the Top 13 Best Halloween Internet Finds List

3. Costumes

I haven't dressed up for Halloween since 1994 so I am a bit rusty on what's a hot costume for 2011. In my lifetime I have, however, made many, many costumes for the stage, so I had to get a costume list up...and in time for the big weekend before Halloween, what am I going to be this year spin. 

I offer you this gallery of clever Halloween costumes, make-ups and masks that caught my eye:

13. Zippyface

 This would have gotten an A+ if someone had created this for their final makeup design [you know who you are ;-)]

What  is this character from or is she just going for the shock factor or is it a kind of poetic statement?

http://www.estetica-design-forum.com/off-topic/40203-most-awesome-halloween-costume-ever.html

12. Melanie Daniels [Tippi Hedren] in The Birds

I personally love this one, but of course I am old and  am still a little scared whenever I see a few too many birds congregated in an unexpected location

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Birds-Costume/

11. Old Ladies at the door

http://mylifeisaverage.com/s/188776/

Someone was so inspired by this sweet story that they drew a cartoon strip to illustrate it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/docpopular/4063790568/lightbox/

10. Gutted

I'm afraid this one might take a little longer than just the weekend...

http://blogs.static.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/37142.html

9. Creepy doll face

She's really confident in her delivery as she shows you how to apply this makeup

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/8DQYd8/www.youtube.com/watch%253Fv%253D4XIu7FvvpJ8

8. Psycho

Another that will take a bit of planning...but "such fun!"

http://taitegallery.net/2010/10/weirdest-halloween-costumes.html

7. Cheshire cat in tree and Chia Pet

I've made a Cheshire Cat and a tree---why didn't I think to put them together??? Brilliant idea!

I cannot stop laughing...normally I really don't like costumes for animals, but in this instance I gotta make an exception

http://inhabitat.com/announcing-the-inhabitat-green-halloween-costume-contest-winners/

6. Little Headless girl

She's so sweet and so scary!

http://www.mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=418282


5. Sock Monkey

I still have my sock monkey my Grandma made me so I had to feature this incredibly clever costume

http://mapcomart.com/2010/11/05/contest-photos-are-up-help-us-chose-the-best-ones/2010-11-04_entry5_sockmonkey/

4. Vintage Masks, creepier now than they were in the olden days

I had the one that has a blue crown and earrings [top row/second in] when I was 8 years old

http://www.johnnycupcakes.com/blog/2010/09/costumes-vintage-masks-pt-1/

3. Phone Heads

Though they're very much older designed phones this look is so in with the Ga-gettes

http://troubleandtrifle.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-inspiration.html


2. Costume EPIC FAILS

It's the Human Pumpkin

I know, bad taste, sorry

http://blog.rounds.com/halloween-costume-fails/


1. Guy Fawkes/V is for Vendetta

If you don't know what this is all about, please read the related stories, below:

http://blog.cytalk.com/2011/10/whos-behind-guy-fawkes-mask/

http://transitionvoice.com/2011/10/bringing-ows-home-for-the-holidays/

As always, share at will, Gabrielle x, 2012

4th of the Top 13 Best Halloween Internet Finds List

4. Films
There is nothing quite like snuggling up on the couch to watch a scary movie over the Halloween period. Here is my list of those that have a certain special something about them that underscores the humours of darkness and trickiness of this season

13. Kiddie-safe Nostalgia:
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) and Hocus Pocus (1993)

No, you blockhead, I know this is not a scary movie but Halloween just doesn't seem like Halloween without this one...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8G0lWNu3Og

You can see a recent article on the history of this little film here:
http://www.examiner.com/parenting-education-in-national/charles-schulz-animated-classic-halloween-special

"I've learned there are three things you don't discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." -Linus


Hocus Pocus (1993)
Here's another one that is safe for kids.  It's a cute Halloween movie about three witches and stars Bette Midler, Kathy Najimi and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Doug Jones is featured as Billy Butcherson, the nice Zombie in "Hocus Pocus"

Doug Jones and I went to university together and he really is one of the nicest people I've ever met.  Since doing this, he's been in many films and is doing well for himself. I believe it will continue because he deserves success. Read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Jones_(actor)
 Here's an interesting video focusing on Billy using music from the band, Lordi, winners of the Eurovision song Contest, with their song "Would you Love a Monster-man?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYjOjLxSXoE
And here's a trailer for another of  Doug's films, 

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari 2005

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXyrrmqV_HY
Winifred Sanderson: You know, I've always wanted a child. And now I think I'll have one... on toast! 

12. Former glorious girlies who've turned into faded, bitter and twisted harridans:
Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte (1964) and Whatever happened to Baby Jane?(1962)

I didn't see Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte when it came out because I was too young

 but I do remember seeing it on television when I was babysitting at a neighbour's house.  Even though it is a little drawn out, by today's standards, it's still creepy enough to hold my attention, and the acting (though firmly on the melodramatic side) is at times very good and at other times it is so bad it is good

Bette Davis in the trailer for "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxBvn_-WIo4

Charlotte: "What do you think I asked you here for? COMPANY?"

Whatever happened to Baby Jane? is probably my favourite of Bette Davis' films as she is so frightening...I have this thing for scary clown faces and her make-up in this film is scarier than any clown I'd ever seen when I finally saw it on a midnight film double bill in the 1980s with something I cannot now remember, but I could never forget Bette's Miss Jane.  
Well, how could you?

"I'm Writing a letter to Daddy..."
Singing her signature tune

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--RI7tlWuaM&feature=related

Jane: But you *are*, Blanche! You *are*

11. Screwed up families Part 1-Isolation give families new Cannibal rules to live by:
The Hills Have Eyes (the original, 1977) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Hills Have Eyes was major shocking to me when I first saw it, back in 1979 at a drive-in. It's filmed so that it feels like somebody else is filming it from a hidden position with their own home movie camera, that's what makes me feel so uncomfortable when watching it. The other part of the reason it is so scary to me personally is because one of the friends I went to see this movie with, waited until I went to sleep and opened the window and jumped on me like one of the menfolk from The Hills Have Eyes ...I did not sleep again that night!

Michael Berryman is just too scary in the film but in real life he is a great humanitarian

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0077720/#Actor

Here's a recent review for more information on the original [not the remake]

http://hkfilmnews.blogspot.com/2011/09/hills-have-eyes-1977-dvd-review-by.html

It's loosely of based on the story of Sawney Bean, though the story comes from Scotland, you can read about Sawney and his family here:
http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/scotland/dumfriesshire/legends/the-legend-of-sawney-bean.html

Victorian rendering of Sawney Bean and his family 

Their story inspired much popular culture, from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawney_Bean
Wes Craven directed the 1977 movie The Hills Have Eyes, which sets the cannibal clan in modern-day America; a 2006 remake of the film was made by Alexandre Aja and Gregory Levasseur and reimagined the cannibal clan as deformed mutants. The Hills Have Eyes: The Beginning graphic novel details the fictional history of the clan. Gary Sherman's Death Line (aka Raw Meat) depicts the Sawney character as a derelict living in the London Underground subway tunnels.  In 2003 Christian Viel directed Evil Breed: The Legend of Samhain (aka Samhain), a soft-core version of the Sawney legend set in modern-day Ireland. 2006 saw the release of The Asylum's Hillside Cannibals, with Bean portrayed by Leigh Scott, although in this case, Bean was a pilgrim settler in New England rather than a Scotsman. There is a SawneyLondon Dungeon wax museum. Along with other London Dungeon displays relating to cannibalism, this is located just outside the snack bar. There is also a boat ride set in the caves inhabited by the Sawney Bean family in the affiliated Edinburgh Dungeon.
Mars: "Baby's fat. You fat... fat and juicy." 
Texas Chainsaw Massacre

"After you stop screaming, you'll start talking about it"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=285ImXTYdsg 
Hitchhiker: My family's always been in meat. 

10. Screwed up families Part 2-They could live next door:
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976) 
and Mom and Dad (2008)
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane isn't a horror film but it is creepy, the acting is so good in this film, even now being 35 years old.  Jodie Foster could always act and she is very good in this film that bridges the gap between being a child star and beginning to take on more adult roles, she was in Taxi Driver that same year.  

A review of this film from Black Hole Reviews, follow link below http://blackholereviews.blogspot.com/2010/01/little-girl-who-lives-down-lane-1976.html

Frank Hallet: You know how to survive, don't you?

Rynn: I thought I did. 

I don't recommend Mum and Dad for anyone in any way---it is grotesque and gory and disturbing...but I know you will be tempted.  It's very new in comparison to the first films on this list (2008) so the special effects are very convincing.  Honestly while I was watching I was wishing I'd stop watching it, but I just couldn't look away...

If you don't believe me then please read the review at the link below before rushing out to rent or buy it

http://www.fatally-yours.com/horror-reviews/mum-dad-2009/
 (Mum): "I'm Mum. He's Dad. You live with us now."

9. Horrible Revenge:
I spit on your grave (1978) and The Last House on the Left (1972) and Freaks (1932)

I spit on your grave is my number one harrowing film...I'm still putting it on the list even though I will never watch it or its remake ever again. I think others might find it socially of interest.  When it came out in 1978 it was with great controversy as the some folks saw it as exploitative of women while others felt it was an empowering message to women...regardless of it's logo...

Even though it's from 1978 don't let its lack of state of the art special effects fool you, this is a harrowing film.  I only saw it for the first time in 2002, and by then I'd seen many new films with better techniques and filming capabilities, and it still affected me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Spit_on_Your_Grave
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242432/

Stanley: "Total submission. That's what I like in a woman - total submission". 


The Last House on the Left
The Last House on the Left is a veritable mish mash of a movie, as though three different people directed it.  The first director works building realistic and terrifying characters and scene, as when the gang meets the girls.  The 2nd director directs the parents to be quite stereotypical and obvious in their actions and wooden in their acting.  The third thinks he is making a Dukes of Hazard episode using broad comedy brushes to create the law and order duo.  

It's only a movie...It's only a movie...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W9KPhmYYtg
Sheriff: How'd you like me to put my boot up your ass... sideways?

Freaks
One of us, one of us
Gooble gobble, Gooble gobble
We accept her, we accept her
One of us, one of us
Any time is the right time to watch this film, it shouldn't be limited to Halloween.  Even though it is the oldest film on the list, it certainly captures you attention and keeps it.  It is a film that still affects its audience and is definitely a tale of revenge

Original Theatre poster from 1932

There is a full review of the film on this link:  http://terrortrap.com/reviews/freaks1932/

And here you will find a clip from the film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C4uTEEOJlM&feature=related

[referring to a "half-man/half-woman" who has given Hercules an alluring look]
Roscoe: I think she likes you - but he don't. 

8. Super Suspenseful:
 The Descent (2005) and Final Destination (2000)

The Descent has such a powerful sense of timing...it really builds the anticipation.  When I watched it, I felt like I was watching Wiley Coyote trying to catch road runner and all these horrible things keep happening to him and you know they always will. Not that it's funny---it's not at all---but it's that sense that you just know it's all going to get a whole lot worse.  It is relentless and gives you no time at all to catch your breath.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5I1q4KhKNU

Beth: I'm an English teacher, not fucking Tomb Raider.


Final Destination
The Final Destination series of horror films are also quite watch-able and the timing of the horrible events are done with spectacular effect. It's a very popular branded series, so you know what you're going to get once you've watched the first one.  Certainly the premise is clever and the killings are unique so it keeps your attention and there are some really funny moments...

Final Destination is fast-paced horror

Everything you ever wanted to know about this series of films can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Destination_(film_series)#Final_Destination_.282000.29
Alex Browning: [looking at Tod in the funeral home] Is that him? 
Clear Rivers: I think so. Why did they make him look like Michael Jackson? 

7. Loners who Kill because their Mommies made them that way
Psycho (1960) and Deranged (1974)
Who hasn't seen Psycho?  Who hasn't seen it more than once?  It's worth seeing again, even if it is over fifty years old now.  It's really the first of the creepy horror films that didn't involve monsters.  (I've always found films about real people who are monsters way more scary.)

Still creepy after all these years

http://www.filmsite.org/psyc.html
Norman Bates: It's not like my mother is a maniac or a raving thing. She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you? 


Deranged

Deranged was based on the life story of serial killer Ed Gein

Ed Gein who committed his murders in the 1950s in Wisconsin, USA, has been compared to the characters of Leatherface, Norman Bates and Jame Gumb.  You can read about him on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Gein

An interesting aside on this film is that the very famous special effects artist, Tom Savini, did the special effects for this little film.  It did not hit when it was first released but has got a bit of a cult following in recent years.  I'd actually never heard of it until we got a copy of Motel Hell and a copy of Deranged came with it.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfUg1In4utQ&feature=related

Ma Cobb: Remember what I've always told you: The wages of sin is gonorrhea, syphilis, and death. 

6.Babies Evil
 Rosemary's Baby (1968) and It's Alive (1974)
Rosemary's Baby was a film I was not allowed to see because I was far too young, still watching the trailer for it on television made me super curious about it.  The link for the trailer is below, back then the directors were really good about showing you just enough to make it tantalising so people would go to see the film.  

Poor Rosemary...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otPyEsObI1M
Here's the haunting music from the soundtrack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yqyC4s72SU
Minnie Castevet: As long as she ate the mouse, she can't see nor hear. Now sing. 


It's Alive (1974)
I remember going to a drive-in to see something else and remembering the trailer for It's Alive for much longer, I can't even remember the movie I actually went to see any more.  Thing is, I never did go see this film & back in those days, once it was gone from the cinema [or drive-in] it was gone!  So a few years back, we got a copy of the DVD...I just have to say the guy who did the trailer was way better than the guy who was in charge of making this film.

They had a baby but they're not sending out announcements

The best part of this film is the trailer and you can watch that on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8xe8p6zECQ&feature=related
If you want to know what someone who recently watched it thought, 
check here for a review from January 2011:
http://wiwln.blogspot.com/2011/01/insomniac-theater-double-feature-its.html?zx=36cd209b4e3f551e
Lieutenant Perkins: Hunting and killing babies doesn't seem to be my specialty. 


5. Deep South Horror, A whole terrible town
Two Thousand Maniacs (1964) and 2001 Maniacs (2005)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Thousand_Maniacs!
During the Civil Rights Movement, television and mainstream narrative films opted for a less realistic depiction of redneck than the televised news of the era. Films that tried to comment on the issue of race relations were commercial failures ^[5] . However, Herschell Gordon Lewis’ plotline in Two Thousand Maniacs! focuses on the ghost of a violent, vengeful Confederacy, and is aware of the region’s violent history and place in the anxiety of the rest of the United States ^[6] Although the film was released in 1964, in the midst of the Civil Rights movement, issues of race relations and segregation are never interrogated in the film. Despite the lack of African American characters, the racial element of the violent South does not lurk far beneath the surface. By returning to celebrate the centennial destruction of Pleasant Valley by Union troops, the redneck ghouls take part in ritualistic acts of revenge that is indicative of the South obstinate refusal of desegregation and Civil Rights in the 1960s. The film dictates the anxieties the rest of the nation held towards the South’s, and its white inhabitants, history of extra-legal violence, perceived primitivism, and unresolved regional conflict ^[7]. 

Two Thousand Maniacs! introduced drive-in theater audiences to the formulaic plot-line of southern gore films: northern outsiders who are stranded in the rural South are horrifically murdered by virulent, backwoods southerners ^[4] This subgenre of Grindhouse peaked with the release of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) ten years after 2000! Maniacs.

Even though this is an old film and low budget...it's still got a creepy feeling

Here is a review:

http://filmfanatic.org/reviews/?p=124
“Something is very wrong with this town.”


2001 Maniacs (2005)
The film is also an ironic commentary on the myth of Southern hospitality, and how it elides some of the ethical dimensions and historical atrocities imbedded in its discourse. In his essay entitled "Remapping Southern Hospitality", Anthony Szczesiul explains the film’s use of Southern hospitality and other Southern stereotypes: “The film’s ironic parody of southern hospitality highlights theperformative nature of the discourse. When Mayor Buckman delivers his promise of southern hospitality in his thick, cartoonish accent, the reference is immediately recognizable to all – the characters in the film, its actors and director, its original audience, and by us today – but here the possibility of southern hospitality is transformed into a cruel joke: the visitor becomes victim ^[8]. ” Throughout the film, the "Yankee" victims are simultaneously celebrated as “guests of honor” while being tortured. Together, with the theme song The South’s Gonna Rise Again and other twists on Southern tropes, like the cannibalistic communal barbecue of the northern outsiders, the film alludes that region’s historical conflict and intractability towards modernization are still unresolved.

The 2005 remake, 2001 Maniacs, explores some of these same themes. While the original film’s “Yankees" were strictly white, the remake focuses on the race relations, Gender equality, and Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures of the outsiders as they are slaughtered and turned into barbecue by the residents of Pleasant Valley. This suggests that while the original parodied the images of the virulent, rural Southerner, or redneck, the remake posits the nation’s anxieties towards the reactionary backlashes against race and sexuality in the new millenium on, and working through, motifs of Southern redneck.  

The "Remake" is actually a kind of continuation
It is quite entertaining, as evidenced in this scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=fXicNj-l-vI
This review may help you decide if you feel like you'd want to check out this particular sub-genre:
http://drgorereviews.blogspot.com/2007/01/2001-maniacs-review.html
Kat: Is this some hillbilly reality show type of thing?
Harper Alexander: You know this is Georgia, Miss Pussycat. 

4. Zombies and other dead things
The Evil Dead (1981 and 1987), Drag me to Hell (2009) and Zombieland (2009)
This isn't really my genre---once I saw Night of the Living Dead I kinda got that I was not a fan of Zombie flicks.  Even though I did one day's work on the subsequent Dawn of the dead, making arms to have spam stuffed in them for the actor's to eat I still never got into dead coming to life stuff. So they shuffle, they drool and groan and try to eat you and you have to shoot them in the head to kill them, but enough already I got it how many zombie films does the world need?
That said, I can recommend the Evil Dead...this series of films are actually so interesting because of the director, Sam Raimi, was only young when he made them and they were so fresh and fun to watch.  If you like to see how special effects improved from the first to the second film, then watch them in order.  If you prefer to watch things that are slicker, then forget the original just go straight to two.

The Evil Dead is a series by Sam Raime

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/8IB1wQ/www.youtube.com/watch%253Fv%253DgD45zfarp1Y
When I saw it the first time, I remember how they had a tree replica in front of the theatre in Ann Arbor, Michigan and some of the promo stuff said: "The Evil Dead, they got up on the wrong side of the grave".  So of course we went immediately to see but hadn't heard much about it so we didn't know what to expect.  And it was so quirky and fast-paced that I was hooked immediately. I especially loved the fact that this was a bunch of students' first film.
You can see my favourite Hilarious scene from Evil Dead2 here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-jVgWY9Ej0&feature=related
You can read a review of it here:

http://filmfanatic.org/reviews/?p=124
Oh my goodness I just saw that there is an "Evil Dead, the Musical"!!!, here's their website:
http://www.evildeadthemusical.com/site/
And here's a funny song from it on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrDui7xeGv0


Drag me to Hell (2009)
I know a lot of people don't care for this film, but I loved it and so did my friend who went with me to see it in the theatre.  We could not stop laughing and shrieking through the scene in the car when the old woman curses her button, I do wonder where he found the actress that played the old woman...she was scary alive and even scarier dead.

This film was heralded as Sam Raime's return to horror

You can see the trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXN3r1EGXZ4
The one thing that you can count on with a Raime film that he is going to use sound to scare you.  His timing is very exciting and unexpected. OK, maybe this isn't a real Zombie film but the old woman appears after she is dead so there.
Waitress: So you're just going to sit here all night, drinking coffee?
Christine Brown: Yes... No! Maybe! Whats it to you?
Waitress: Honey, I'm working a job where tips is my living, and coffee drinkers DON'T TIP!
Christine Brown: [Holds up envelope containing the cursed button] You keep the coffee coming honey, or I'll give you a tip you won't forget! 


Zombieland (2009)
I thought that Zombieland was actually quite good for a Zombie flick, especially because the ombies are actually much more of a menace than in most of the shuffling, moaning films. Most of all, it has an excellent high-dollar cast and probably this is why I don't like most Zombie movies because the actors are so bad.  I guess everybody thinks making a Zombie movie is just big bucks, so get on that gravy train right now, but they just shouldn't.  Especially when they "hire" "actors" who are unknown and unproven, yes it should be easy to drool and shuffle, but not every bad actor is good enough to play a zombie with the "X Factor".
That is why Zombieland stands out from the rest, it's a real Zomedy!

Zombieland is a fun film, zombies or not!

http://www.cinemablend.com/reviews/Zombieland-4191.html
Columbus: [after his neighbor changes into a zombie] You see? You just can't trust anyone. The first girl I let into my life and she tries to eat me. 


3. Comedy
Young Frankenstein (1974) and Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Getting weary of all the hairy scary films so far?  Let's take a little break and look at two comedy horror films that were produced thirty years apart.

Dr. Frankenstein meets Igor
You can see this scene using the link below:

http://movieclips.com/Mxd2-young-frankenstein-movie-dr-frankenstein-meets-igor/
Igor: My grandfather used to work for your grandfather. Of course the rates have gone up. 

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

A Romantic Comedy, with Zombies, a Romzom, or a Zomedy,  watch the trailer it is funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfBewQPFdKE
[Shaun leads the zombies away from the pub to create a diversion]
Shaun: Come and get it! It's a running buffet!
[shouts]
Shaun: All you can eat! 

2.Turning a Special Occasion into a Nightmare
 Carrie (1976) and Happy Birthday to me (1981)
Carrie certainly made an impression on me, so much so, that I usually pick this one to watch again at Halloween time.  Now it definitely suffers from Brian VePalma's split screen direction, because it plants it firmly in the 1970s.  Still the scene with Carrie and her mother at the end of the film, when Carrie's mind takes over and kills her mother psychokinetically with kitchen utensils is just as creepy as it was when I first saw it. Again here is a horror film with terrific actors, [see a pattern emerging?] great production values and fantastic story by Stephen King.

The original Carrie still can't be beat!

"One can’t help but to smile fondly when one hears the line, “They’re all going to laugh at you.” Carrie was the first, and undoubtedly the best of Stephen King’s book adaptations. What gives Carrie its staying power? The fact that underneath the supernatural overtones, this film remains to be one of the most realistic and relatable cinematic tragedies of modern day..."

http://classic-horror.com/reviews/carrie_1976

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJe0iVo8y3A

So something missed my radar & I just found out someone remade Carrie in 2002.  I haven't seen it so would appreciate comments, thought the trailer wasn't up to much. Also I found a song from Carrie The Musical, I really wish I could have seen that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jacVFhFAdj8

Margaret White: Witch. Got Satan's Power.
Carrie White: It has nothing to do with Satan, Mama. It's me. Me. If I concentrate hard enough, I can move things.

Happy Birthday to me (1981)
This little film is still quite watchable.  The acting is quite good and the plot is clever.

John will never eat shish kebab again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEalmOJsvM0
Melissa Sue Anderson stars in this film, she was once in "Little House on the Prarie" as Mary Ingalls.  Don't believe me? Check Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_Sue_Anderson
Ginny: You came to my birthday party.
That's better.
Now, would Daddy like a big piece or a little piece? 

1. Halloween-specific
Halloween (1978-2009: the original, the sequels and the remakes) 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_(franchise)

Film	Director	Writer(s)
Halloween (1978)	John Carpenter	Debra Hill and John Carpenter
Halloween II (1981)	Rick Rosenthal
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)	Tommy Lee Wallace
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)	Dwight H. Little	Alan B. McElroy
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)	Dominique Othenin-Girard	Michael Jacobs, Dominique Othenin-Girard & Shem Bitterman
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)	Joe Chappelle	Daniel Farrands
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)	Steve Miner	Robert Zapia and Matt Greenberg
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)	Rick Rosenthal	Larry Brand and Sean Hood
Halloween (2007)	Rob Zombie

1978
Watching it now is pretty boring, but I remember the date I was one when we were watching it. I certainly wasn't bored then...actually I did a lot of babysitting, and this film did nothing but make me picture Michael Meyers in every corner when I was babysitting.
http://movieclips.com/sUbR-halloween-movie-trailer-1/

Laurie: It *was* the boogeyman.
Dr. Sam Loomis: As a matter of fact, it was. 

2007

http://movieclips.com/CUkh-halloween-movie-trailer-1/
The remake is soooooooooooo much better than the original.  You finally get to find out why Michael becomes the way he does.  It's a really good film, made well and is so evocative in all the details.  The designers and set dressers are outstanding. I suspect this is all down to Rob Zombie and his directing style and vision for the whole piece, here's his website:
http://www.robzombie.com/  
I'd really love to see two things, Rob Zombie and Sam Raime work together on a film, and for Rob Zombie to make a non-horror film as I suspect both would yield excellent successes.


Dr. Samuel Loomis: Inside every one us, there exists a dark side. Most people rise above it, but some are consumed by it. Until there is nothing left, but pure evil. 

Certainly link and make suggestions to anyone you think would like to see these. Just please do not reprint as your own work and make sure you always link to the original, thanks!

Best Wishes,

Gabrielle Elliot, ©2011