Thankfully, I was still able to live vicariously through the Halloween-related media I consumed, with horror movies and television specials allowing me to feel like I was invited to all sorts of pagan festivities – even if many of them ended in horrific bloodbaths. And with All Hallows’ Eve fast approaching, this is the perfect time to honor our favorite spooky celebrations with a list highlighting six of the most memorable Halloween Parties in horror movies!

After all, whether they’re terrifying, hilarious, or just look like a damn good time, Halloween parties are an iconic staple of the horror genre, and there are plenty of fun examples to choose from. Of course, this isn’t meant to be a definitive list of scary parties, so don’t forget to comment below with your own favorites if you think we missed a particularly memorable one.

With that out of the way, onto the list!

6. The College Party – Scream VI (2023)

The Scream movies have a long-standing tradition of using ill-fated parties to get all of our potential victims (and killers) together in the same place at the same time, but it was only in the sixth entry that the franchise would finally depict a proper Halloween party! And while the college get-together from the beginning of Scream VI isn’t quite as memorable as something like the Macher house party from the first movie, it still stands out because of its self-referential undertones.

After all, what better way of examining our main character’s relationship with “horror” after the events of the previous film than by placing them in a meta celebration of all things spooky? And if that’s not enough for you, the scene also features plenty of homages to other horror movies via the partygoer’s costumes, with disguises ranging from an off-brand Wednesday Adams (a clever nod to Jenna Ortega’s other fan-favorite role) to the cardboard knight outfit from our next entry!

5. Murder Party – Murder Party (2007)

Jeremy Saulnier’s debut feature may not have the budget to depict an all-out Monster Mash with hundreds of extras and elaborate costumes, but it’s exactly the low-budget awkwardness of it all that makes the titular get-together in Murder Party so damned charming.

A festive trap orchestrated by a group of desperate art students wanting to impress their mysterious financier with a bloody exhibit, the funniest thing about this ill-fated party is just how relatable it seems to anyone who has ever hung out with self-serious artists.

And with our murderous villains donning homemade costumes referencing everything from Blade Runner to The Warriors, it stands to reason that this underseen gem would make it onto the list.

4. Greenhouse Bash – Ginger Snaps (2000)

A county greenhouse facility may not seem like the most appropriate place to host an underground Halloween party, but I’d argue that the presence of charismatic drug dealers and a local girl who happens to be turning into a homicidal werewolf makes Sam’s Greenhouse Bash one of the most memorable get-togethers on this list.

After all, not only does the event get plenty of slightly intoxicated victims together in the same place, but it also allows Ginger to walk around in public with her semi-transformed lycanthrope face without arousing suspicion, with the other partygoers simply assuming that she’s wearing a freaky costume!

3. Hull House Party – Night of the Demons (1988)

Night of the Demons wasn’t exactly a huge hit back when it was first released, with critics accusing it of being an over-the-top gore-fest with little redeeming value. It’s precisely the flick’s unabashed depiction of 80s excess that has since turned it into a cult classic.

After all, NotD’s inimitable atmosphere makes it a perfect mood piece for spooky season. This makes a lot of sense when you consider that the supernatural splatter flick was originally titled “Halloween Party” before the filmmakers decided to go with something a little less vague.

And the best part about rewatching this classic is being able to pretend that you’re cool enough to be invited to the same party as Linnea Quigley!

2. Werewolf “Orgy” – Trick ‘r Treat (2008)

It makes sense that a Halloween-themed anthology would feature several Halloween parties in the same movie, but out of all the seasonal celebrations in Michael Dougherty’s 2008 classic, it’s the secluded event that Anna Paquin and her more experienced friends are heading towards that really takes the cake as the most memorable.

This segment initially seems like it’s going to be a straightforward retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story as Paquin desperately searches for a date to take to the party, but it’s eventually revealed that the event is actually a werewolf “orgy” where the lycanthropic partygoers feast on their unsuspecting dates under the light of a full moon. And while I wouldn’t exactly want to be invited to this gory shindig, it still seems like a great time for the werewolf crowd.

1. High School Dance – The Guest (2014)

Equal parts action film, psychological thriller, and slasher flick, Adam Wingard’s The Guest is the director’s most entertaining project despite its distinct lack of giant apes and radioactive lizards. Of course, this is mostly thanks to Dan Stevens’ career-making performance as a mysterious army veteran with violent tendencies.

A great example of Steven’s intense persona is the film’s final confrontation at the local High School’s Halloween Dance, with Wingard pulling his best John Carpenter impression as he turns Stevens into a spec-ops version of Michael Myers. However, while this highly atmospheric sequence is appropriately intense, the real reason the dance makes it onto the list is just how much the school appears to have invested in seasonal decorations. After all, the dance floor boasts everything from industrial fog machines to a surprisingly effective scare maze – a far cry from the school events that I’ve been to.

The post Six of the Most Memorable Halloween Parties in Horror Movies! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

If the overwhelming selection causes decision paralysis this Halloween season, consider this a starter pack of horror movies to add to your watchlists, from hidden gems to favorites set around Halloween, and many of them only streaming on Prime Video.

Cat People

A remake that shares very little in common with the 1942 film it’s based (loosely) on, written by makeup artist turned writer/director Alan Ormsby (Shock Waves, Popcorn) and directed by Paul Schrader (First Reformed, Taxi Driver). It follows Irena (Nastassja Kinski), who has arrived in New Orleans to reconnect with her brother, Paul (Malcolm McDowell), after years apart in the foster system. Paul reveals that the siblings come from a line of cat people, doomed to transform into beasts if they dare give in to their sexual desires. Irena doesn’t believe him until she finds herself falling for a zookeeper, and Paul ends up on a murderous spree. This update puts heavy emphasis on creature effects to highlight the monstrous nature of lust.

Companion

In a mounting wave of killer AI features, writer/director Drew Hancock instead positions his sentient robot as a love-stricken protagonist in his feature debut. Sophie Thatcher (Heretic, “Yellowjackets”) charms and then mesmerizes as Iris, the doting, docile girlfriend to Jack Quaid’s Josh, who’s bringing her to meet his close friends for the very first time. But Iris’s presence shakes up the group dynamics in a way that sees skeletons violently ripped from the closet as violence ensues. Companion is a delightful breakup movie gone horrifically awry, with a charming cast and savage twists that blend humor and horror in genre-bending ways.

Fragile

Before Jaume Balagueró teamed up with Paco Plaza to unleash one of the most terrifying movies of the decade, [REC], he proved an aptitude for delivering chills with this underseen haunted hospital fairy tale, Fragile. Calista Flockhart stars as Amy, a nurse brought on to the night shift in the children’s ward at an old hospital in the process of closing down. The problem is that the hospital’s closing means a ghost is very, very unhappy about the children leaving, and Amy has to somehow find a way to keep the children safe from unseen attacks. Fragile is creepy and atmospheric with effective scares, but even better is that Balagueró gives this ghost story an emotional center that resonates.

Get Duked!

Ninian Doff’s feature debut defies easy classification, blending a coming-of-age comedy with a survival thriller. It’s violent, hallucinogenic, and downright hysterical. A bumbling foursome of delinquent teens, Dean (Rian Gordon), Duncan (Lewis Gribben), and DJ Beatroot (Viraj Juneja), and homeschooled loner Ian (Samuel Bottomley), embark on a trek across the Highlands for an award, yet find themselves dealing with the locals. Some want to party, making this a great pairing for Halloween gatherings, and others are determined to hunt them down for sport. This innovative little feature will worm its way into your heart and leave you grinning from ear to ear.

Last Night in Soho

The Running Man director Edgar Wright’s time-hopping psychological horror movie stars Thomasin McKenzie as a fashion designer who uncovers a murder plot from the past. One that has her connecting with Anya Taylor-Joy’s Sandie, an aspiring singer from London’s Soho district during the Swinging Sixties. While Wright’s horror movie opts for high style and fashion over seasonal theming, Halloween plays a prominent role in at least one significant scare sequence. Expect lavish production design and great performances by its leads, with a tonal shift once the ghostly second half arrives.

Night of the Demons

In this Halloween horror cult classic, Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade) and her best bud Suzanne (Linnea Quigley) decide to throw their Halloween party at Hull House, an abandoned mortuary with a dark past. A party séance reawakens a dormant evil, leaving the partygoers trapped inside Hull House while demonic spirits pick them off. Night of the Demons offers a cool animated title sequence, great demon effects and design, a memorable villainess, and a wide embrace of horror iconography- right down to a bookended trick-or-treating tale. It’s a holiday cult classic that embraces Halloween at every turn.

Scarecrows

Never mind the bizarre premise, in which a group of criminals hijack a plane and seek refuge on an abandoned farm. This creature feature begs the question, why aren’t there more horror movies about scarecrows? One by one, victims fall prey to terrifying scarecrows, rendered even more horrific by cool creature designs and effects by Norman Cabrera (Attack the Block, Drag Me to Hell). In a barebones story that doesn’t bother to explain its mythology, this one does the critical thing that matters most in a creature feature. It makes the monsters the centerpiece. It’s a creature feature that favors atmosphere and gory special effects, and that’s enough to ensure a good time.

Suspiria

Set in Berlin during the fall of 1977, a prominent dance company’s lead dancer disappears just in time for aspiring dancer Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson) to arrive in the hopes of claiming a coveted spot within the troupe. She quickly catches the eye of the artistic director, Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton), and is brought under her wing. But the art of the dance is the perfect cover for spellcasting, and the faculty behind the dance company is a coven of witches. Luca Guadagnino’s methodical vision makes for a very different beast from Dario Argento’s 1970s horror movie classic, biding its time with witchy horror until a glorious bloodbath of a finale.

Tales of Halloween

This holiday-themed anthology assembles ten segments that celebrate various aspects of Halloween. Horror stalwarts like Neil Marshall, Darren Lynn Bousman, Mike Mendez, and more take on nasty trick-or-treaters, jack-o-lanterns run amok, yard decor wars, and more, all in bite-sized format. Those seeking horror movies that really embrace the atmosphere, iconography, and theming of Halloween will find it in spades here.

Tumbbad

A visually rich allegory for greed, Tumbbad hails from India and really delivers on the horror. A dark, gothic fairy tale, Tumbbad spans generations as it follows Vinayek Rao from childhood well into adulthood and the curse that surrounds his family. Opening with heavy exposition that explains the mythology at the center of the Vinayek family curse, it’s a story of the corruptive power greed can have and just how deeply it can take root. Although it plays out more as a very dark fairy tale, the horror elements are downright terrifying.  Early scenes were young Rao discovers his cursed grandma, locked away and demonic, is pure terror.

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The cooler weather, the turning leaves, and classic Fall imagery have all become synonymous with Halloween, and this week’s streaming picks aim to immerse you further in those vibes with atmospheric Halloween horror movies that fully embrace the holiday theme.

Because it’s Halloween, we’re doubling up on selections this week. Here’s where to stream these ten atmospheric Halloween horror movies.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Cobweb – Netflix

It doesn’t get more seasonal than the feature directorial debut of Samuel Bodin, creator of Netflix’s “Marianne.” Lizzy Caplan (“Castle Rock”) and Antony Starr (“The Boys”) star as parents who seemingly can’t be trusted when their young son Peter (Woody Norman) gets tormented by mysterious knocking on his bedroom walls. Bodin and screenwriter Chris Thomas Devlin’s R-rated horror fairy tale massively embraces its Halloween atmosphere. If you want full throttle scares, watch “Marianne.” For gateway thrills that go big on Halloween, get cozy with Cobweb.

Dark Night of the Scarecrow – Fandango at Home, Fawesome, Kanopy, Midnight Pulp, Night Flight+, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Screambox 

Don’t let the simplicity of this made-for-TV movie fool you; Dark Night of the Scarecrow is compelling storytelling. Set in a small Southern town over the Halloween season, a mentally challenged man is wrongfully murdered for a crime he didn’t commit. When his murderers evade justice, a mysterious scarecrow systematically takes them out. Halloween décor, scarecrows, farmland, and a fantastic performance by horror stalwart Larry Drake make for one perfect Halloween season movie. It’s a Southern type of Fall-set horror movie, with distinct Halloween flair.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers – AMC+, Shudder

After sitting out the previous entry, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Michael Myers returns to Haddonfield once more on All Hallow’s Eve with murder on his mind. This time, the Boogeyman targets his telepathically linked niece, Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris). Not only does the fourth entry have a great final girl in Rachel (Ellie Cornell), but its Autumnal atmosphere grabs you from the opening credits and never lets go. What’s a Fall horror list without a Halloween entry, anyway?

Lady in White – MGM+, Prime Video, Roku Channel

Based on the legend of “The Lady in White,” in which a ghost searches for her daughter in Rochester, New York, the film begins on Halloween in 1962, where 9-year-old Frankie (Lukas Haas) gets locked in the schoolroom closet by bullies and witnesses the ghost of a young girl getting murdered. This event sets off a murder mystery full of spirits that are spooky and entertaining enough for kids yet layered with complex social themes for grown-ups. Paralleling Frankie’s journey, it’s the type of film that will teach budding horror fans that perhaps ghosts aren’t so scary after all.

Late Night with the Devil – AMC+, Hulu, Kanopy, Shudder

Talk show host Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian) goes all in on a Halloween special that includes psychics, skeptics, and parapsychologists in a desperate bid to stave off cancellation. Coordinating all of the bold personalities and moving parts of live television becomes all the more unpredictably stressful when a demonic entity disrupts the event. Writers/Directors Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes hit the ground running with a rapid-fire documentary-style setup introducing essential exposition and personal stakes for Jack a year before the ill-fated event. The gradual build from pastiche into full-blown nightmare comes fast like a freight train, making for a unique and fun Halloween romp through ’70s TV.

Night of the Demons – AMC+, Fawesome, Midnight Pulp, Night Flight+, Pluto TV, Prime Video, Roku Channel, Screambox, Shout TV

In what is arguably the quintessential Halloween creature feature, Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade) and her best bud Suzanne (Linnea Quigley) decide to throw their Halloween party at Hull House, an abandoned mortuary with a dark past. Sure enough, an evil presence awakens after a séance, and their group is trapped inside Hull House while demonic spirits prey on them. Night of the Demons offers a spooky, fun title sequence, cool demon FX, a memorable villainess, and a wide embrace of horror iconography- right down to a bookended trick-or-treating tale. It’s a holiday cult classic that embraces Halloween at every turn.

Pumpkinhead – AMC+, Tubi

Pumpkinhead captures the essence of Halloween well, despite its sunny Southern setting. After a tragic accident, a man seeks revenge against the teens involved by invoking a curse in the form of a demon. But the toll of vengeance will cost him his soul and others their lives. It’s a fable set against a Southern Gothic backdrop, full of witches, ghosts, and pumpkin patches. The eponymous Pumpkinhead might be the showpiece, but the swamp witch manages to terrify more than the demon.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark – Peacock

On Halloween 1968, Stella (Zoe Margaret Colletti) and her two friends meet drifter Ramon (Michael Garza) while fleeing bullies. They invite Ramon to explore a local haunted house, where Stella discovers a mysterious book containing horror stories that seem to write themselves in real-time. Director André Øvredal brings the nightmarish illustrations by Stephen Gammell and stories by Alvin Schwartz to life. Harold the scarecrow, the Pale Lady, the Big Toe corpse (Javier Botet), and the Jangly Man (Troy James) terrorize Mill Valley’s teens in this recent Halloween treat. It’s the perfect October movie full of chills for the older kid or kid at heart, with Mill Valley a picture-perfect vision of Fall.

Something Wicked This Way Comes – Disney+

This quintessential gateway horror movie has finally made its way to streaming, and it brings the Halloween atmosphere in spades. Based on Ray Bradbury’s novel of the same name, director Jack Clayton’s horror/dark fantasy film Something Wicked This Way Comes didn’t shy away from getting pretty dark. Set in late October, two young boys visit a traveling carnival, led by the mysterious and ominous Mr. Dark. Faustian offers of wishes granted curdle the boys’ fantasies into waking nightmares. A haunting carousel, a blind witch, autumnal vibes, and more ensure there’s enough Halloween tricks and treats here for all.

Trick ‘r Treat – AMC+, HBO Max

It’s near impossible to exclude Trick’ r Treat from any Halloween horror watchlist when it comes to immersive theming; it’s the perfect genre interpretation of the holiday in every way. Writer/Director Michael Dougherty seamlessly interweaves five tales of terror, all set on Halloween night, each representing a different rule or facet of the holiday. And then there’s Sam, the physical embodiment of Samhain, who’s crossed over from celluloid into reality to become a proper Halloween mascot, merch and all.

The post Ten Atmospheric Halloween Horror Movies to Stream This Week appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Our run of Gay Icons and Anniversaries continues. After kicking off October with discussions of David Fincher’s Gone Girl (listen), Tobe Hooper’s original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (listen), and Bob Clark‘s Black Christmas (listen), we’re celebrating Halloween early with Kevin S. Tenney‘s Night of the Demons (1988).

In the film, Judy (Cathy Podewell) is lured by her prospective boyfriend Jay (Lance Fenton) to a party at Hull House, hosted by the school weirdo Angela (Amelia Kinkade) and her boy crazy best friend Suzanne (Linnea Quigley). Along with friends Frannie, Max, Stooge and Helen, as well as Judy’s secret admirer, Sal (William Gallo), the party will accidentally unleash Evil Dead-esque demons that kill and infect the partygoers.

Can the group survive until dawn? Or will Angela and the other demons dance and lipstick boob them to their doom?

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Amazon Music, and RSS.

Episode 305: Night of the Demons (1988)

Ditch the school dance and come party with Angela because we’re talking Kevin S. Tenney’s Night of the Demons (1988).

Not a lot of character or plot in this one, but it’s a really fun time with some stylish direction and great FX.

Plus: Angela as a dancing (nepo) icon, Linnea Quigley’s line deliveries, Rodger as a rare black 80s horror survivor, and subverting the “good boy/bad boy” trope with Jay and Sal.

Cross out Night of the Demons!

Coming up on Wednesday: We’re taking the potion with another pair of divas as we venture to Beverly Hills with Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn in Robert Zemeckis’ Death Becomes Her (1992)!

P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for over 341 hours of Patreon content including this month’s new episodes on Hannibal Season 1 Episode 10, Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby, It’s What’s Inside, Apartment 7A, Salem’s Lot (2024) and a new audio commentary on Wes Craven’s New Nightmare for its 30th anniversary.

The post The Double Divas at the Heart of ‘Night of the Demons’ [Horror Queers Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

So, this week’s streaming picks are dedicated to creature features set around Halloween. These five titles bring the creature mayhem and fun but with a Halloween twist. From werewolves to carnivorous slugs, these five titles find different ways to ring in the best holiday of the year.

Here’s where you can stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Ginger Snaps – Peacock, Shudder

Macabre and death-obsessed teens Brigitte (Emily Perkins) and Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) are outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, making them inseparable. Then Ginger gets her first period, attracting a werewolf that’s been stalking the area. Puberty takes on a whole new meaning as the werewolf’s bite transforms Ginger into something far more monstrous. Ginger Snaps is a werewolf favorite that stands on its own, but Halloween plays a prominent role in party form in the third act, setting the stage for Ginger to let her inner killer roam free.

House II: The Second Story – Arrow, Hoopla, Pluto TV, Tubi

For those in the mood for festive, silly fun, this sequel should do the trick. Skipping any continuity from the first film, this sequel takes a kitchen sink approach with its spooky house. Jesse (Arye Gross) inherits his family’s old mansion and discovers that the rooms act as various portals to different places across time and space, and a certain Aztec crystal skull is the key. Dinosaurs, cavemen, wild west gunslingers, an undead grandpa, and a cute caterpillar puppy round out this wacky horror comedy. The best part? It takes place over Halloween, with a Halloween party factoring into one big chase scene.

Neon Maniacs –  Pluto TV, Tubi

This ‘80s monster fest features a group of homicidal monsters that live under the Golden Gate Bridge by day but come out at night to slaughter. When a teen escapes their clutches, they spend the rest of the film hunting her down and killing anyone in their path. Each monster has a personality and costume of his own, from samurai to mad doctor, which makes their final battle set during the high school Halloween dance a perfect cover. Creatures, silliness, and an ‘80s synth score make for a perfect Halloween party. 

Night of the Demons – AMC+, freevee, Midnight Pulp Peacock, Pluto TV, the Roku Channel, SCREAMBOX, Shudder, Tubi

In what is arguably the quintessential Halloween creature feature, Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade) and her best bud Suzanne (Linnea Quigley) decide to throw their Halloween party at Hull House, an abandoned mortuary with a dark past. Sure enough, an evil presence awakens after a séance, and their group is trapped inside Hull House while demonic spirits prey on them. Night of the Demons offers a spooky, fun title sequence, cool demon FX, a memorable villainess, and a wide embrace of horror iconography- right down to a bookended trick-or-treating tale. It’s a holiday cult classic that embraces Halloween at every turn.

Slugs – Hoopla, Tubi

This slimy, gory creature feature about toxic waste-spawned slugs is from the mind of Pieces’ Juan Piquer Simon. These killer slugs are downright gruesome in their kills, making for some really fun surprises. This small town has no clue what’s happening, and only health worker Mike Brady is on the case. The kills are much more isolated and spread apart at first, but they really ramp up their attack on Halloween, when everyone is out and about in costume. The holiday theming may be light, but the gory kills make this another perfect Halloween watch.

The post Five Halloween Creature Features to Stream This Week appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Director Kevin Tenney (Witchboard) and writer Joe Augustyn veer between creepy and campy throughout the 90-minute runtime. A playfully spooky atmosphere is immediately established by the Scooby Doo-esque animated credit sequence set to a bombastic synth theme by the director’s brother, Dennis Michael Tenney (Leprechaun 3, Leprechaun 4: In Space).

The plot follows a group of rowdy high schoolers to a deadly party at the infamous Hull House. As goth hostess Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade) explains, the abandoned abode is possessed rather than haunted: “The spirits living in a house possessed never existed in human form. They’ve only existed in spirit form. They’re pure evil. They’re demons.” A seance awakens the spirits, who start turning the partygoers into savage demons.

Performances are stiff and the characters can barely tolerate one another, so the film’s first half may by difficult for impatient viewers. Kinkade is the highlight, making Angela a franchisable commodity. She also utilizes her dance background to choreograph a uniquely sensual routine set to the gothic rock stylings of Bauhaus’ “Stigmata Martyr” while strobe lights flash.

Cathy Podewell (Dallas) plays milquetoast final girl Judy, who, with the exception of one flame-throwing moment, is little more than a damsel in distress. Scream queen Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead) shows off her physical assets, but her monotone delivery lacks vitality. The male characters are all varying levels of obnoxious, none more so than Hal Havins (Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama) as misogynistic pig Stooge. Alvin Alexis’ cowardly Rodger is a rare Black man to make it to the end of an ’80s horror movie, thanks to his instinct to run at the first sign of danger.

The faults become part of the fun once blood starts being shed, as the special effects are the real star of the show. Fresh off of high-profile gigs like making Slimer in Ghostbusters and working on Big Trouble in Little China, Night of the Demons was Steve Johnson’s first gig running his own effects shop. He proved himself with some memorable work, most notably the scene in which Quigley seamlessly inserts a tube of lipstick into her breast; a marvel of practical effects that still holds up after 35 years.

Innovative shot composition from Tenney and director of photography David Lewis (UHF, The Hills Have Eyes Part II) give the illusion of better production value than many of Night of the Demons‘ low budget peers. Visual flourishes range from an elaborate shot framing the ensemble in shards of broken glass to Sam Raimi-esque kinetic camerawork.

Night of the Demons has been newly restored from an earlier 4K scan of the unrated camera negative, presented with Dolby Vision HDR, for Scream Factory’s new Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray. The color grade is slightly warmer than the previous Blu-ray, and clarity is sharper than ever. Three audio tracks are advertised — DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and a new DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo remix — but there are minor issues with each of them.

The 2.0 track is actually MGM’s 2012 remix featuring looped audio to compensate for missing elements. It was also used as the base for the 5.1 track, so it has the same problems. The new 2.0 remix, which utilizes all original audio elements, suffers from minor sync issues. It’s hard to say if these mistakes are significant enough to warrant a replacement disc, but Scream Factory has been known to correct such gaffes in the past.

While many of Scream Factory’s UHD upgrades feature new 4K transfers with the same extras as their previous Blu-ray counterparts, Night of the Demons offers new interviews with Augustyn, who details differences between his original script and the final product, actress Jill Terashita (Sleepaway Camp III), who recounts eerie encounters on set and shooting her nude scene, and special effects artist Nick Benson, who discusses his duties under his then-room Johnson, in addition to previous interviews with Kinkade, Quigley, and actress Allison Barron.

Several alternate versions of the film are included in standard definition: the international cut, which is nearly identical but features a different sound mix, the 88-minute Halloween Party workprint, and an eight-minute promo reel created for potential distributors. While the original R-rated cut is absent, its alternate scenes can be found among the extras.

Three archival commentaries are ported over: Tenney, Quigley, actor Philip Tanzini, and casting director Tedra Gabriel from Scream Factory’s 2018 Steelbook Blu-ray; Tenney, Johnson, Podewell, Havins, and actor Billy Gallo (Who’s the Boss?) from Scream Factory’s 2014 Blu-ray; and Tenney and producers Walter Josten and Jeff Geoffray from Anchor Bay’s 2004 DVD. Some details are repeated, as can be expected, but all three provide a healthy mix of camaraderie, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and technical information.

As if there wasn’t enough insight elsewhere, 2014’s You’re Invited: The Making of Night of the Demons is a comprehensive, 72-minute documentary with over a dozen cast and crew members, from Tenney and Augustyn to stunt coordinator John Stewart and animators Kevin Kutchaver and Kathy Zielinski. Other special features include: The Halloween Party alternate title sequence, theatrical trailer, video trailer, three TV spots, promo reel, and four still galleries (behind-the-scenes, special effects & makeup, stills, and posters & storyboards).

In typical horror sequel fashion during the halcyon days of home video, Night of the Demons 2 pushes the concept over the top, with Angela becoming a wise-cracking Freddy Krueger type. Augustyn returned to write the 1994 sequel, with Brian Trenchard-Smith — who previously helmed cult classics BMX Bandits and Dead End Drive-In and immediately went on to make Leprechaun 3 and Leprechaun 4: In Space — stepping into the director’s chair.

The events of the original film have become something of an urban legend in the years since, with the missing Angela (Kinkade) rumored to have descended to Hell. Her younger sister, Melissa (Merle Kennedy, May), is mockingly called Mouse by her peers at a Catholic boarding school for troubled teens. When bully Shirley (Zoe Trilling, Dr. Giggles) is banned from the school’s Halloween dance, she decides to throw a party of her own at Hull House. It’s not long before Angela rears her ugly head and possessions occur.

The cast includes Christine Taylor (The Wedding Singer), Bobby Jacoby (Tremors), and Rick Peters (Dexter) among the teens, along with Jennifer Rhodes (Charmed) as a nun who wields a yard stick like a sword and rosary beads like nunchucks. Too much time is spent with the one-dimensional characters before getting to the good stuff, especially for a sequel, but the acting is better this time around — although several cast members distractingly emphasize the wrong syllable of Hull House (Hull House).

Lewis returned as cinematographer, and while there’s nothing as inspired as the first film’s mirror shot, he still gets to have some fun. The religious angle lends itself to a gorgeous, if underutilized, lighting setup motivated by stained glass. Jim Manzie’s (Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie) score is adequate; more traditional and therefore less memorable than its predecessor. Angela has another dance number, but its potency is dulled by replacing goth-rock with humorously incongruous death metal courtesy of Morbid Angel.

Johnson once again tackled the special effects, which may not be as noteworthy as the first but there are some good gags. A pair of breasts morph into hands in an attempt to one-up the infamous lipstick gag (and the lipstick itself makes an appearance). Unfortunately, the serpentine form that Angela takes in the finale brings to mind 50s B-movies. The snake motif is revisited in the final shot, which features an early CGI creation that reportedly cost $5,000.

Night of the Demons 2 has been newly transferred from the interpositive with DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo sound. A new commentary with actors Cristi Harris, Jennifer Rose, Darin Heames, and Johnny Moran is not exactly illuminating — none of them remember much about the plot, let alone the production — but it’s a jovial walk down memory lane with the cast. An archival track with Trenchard-Smith and Lewis is far more informative, including insight into how budgetary restraints hindered the finale.

“A Tale of Two Demons,” a conversation between Tenney and Trenchard-Smith that lasts over an hour, is perhaps the best extra for either film. It’s fascinating to hear the two creatives discuss with genuine admiration their work in the franchise. The engaging, 48-minute interview with Johnson could double as a proof of concept for a documentary on his storied career. Not only does he admit to disliking the Night of the Demons movies, he also reveals that he got through the production of the first movie with the assistance of methamphetamine.

Kinkade, Harris, and Geoffray also sit down for new interviews. Kinkade confesses to being “stunned” that a sequel was being made and notes that Quentin Tarantino is a fan of the follow-up. Her piece is bogged down by shameless excerpts from her latest book, but it ultimately leads to moving accounts about how much Angela has meant to fans. Other special features include: a 99-minute workprint in standard definition; over two hours of VHS-quality dailies; a gallery of behind-the-scenes photos, including a lot of great special effects shots; and the original trailer.

Night of the Demons may not have the cachet of Evil Dead, The Return of the Living Dead, or Re-Animator, but it was made in the same tradition as those ’80s classics: low budget, high energy, practical effects-driven horror with a side of comedy and a punk-rock ethic. Night of the Demons 2, while not quite as strong as the original, is a worthy follow-up. (1997’s Night of the Demons 3 has also received a new Blu-ray from Scream Factory, but it was not provided for review.) Together, they make for one hell of a Halloween party.

Night of the Demons is available now on 4K Ultra HD.

Night of the Demons 2 is available now on Blu-ray.

The post ‘Night of the Demons’ Scream Factory Double Feature Review – Original Film Hits 4K, Sequel Haunts Blu-ray appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Some of these horror movies bring the fun, while others aim to spike your adrenaline. But all use Halloween parties as a centerpiece for the horror that’s unleashed within.

Here’s where you can stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Cemetery of Terror – AMC+, Shudder

Rubén Galindo Jr.’s most prominent horror feature is the American-influenced Don’t Panic (available on Shudder), but the Halloween-centric Cemetery of Terror offers the most fun. A trio of college kids decides to impress their ladies by stealing a body from a morgue for a Halloween prank and party in an abandoned house. It happens to be the body of a serial killer, and reading an incantation from a book revives him. This supernatural slasher brings bloody mayhem in the vein of Lucio Fulci and features legendary character actor Hugo Stiglitz as the occult expert.

Ginger Snaps – AMC+, Criterion Channel, freevee, Peacock, Plex, Roku, Shudder, Vudu

Macabre and death-obsessed teens Brigitte (Emily Perkins) and Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) are outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, making them inseparable. Then Ginger gets her first period, attracting a werewolf that’s been stalking the area. Puberty takes on a whole new meaning as the werewolf’s bite transforms Ginger into something far more monstrous. Ginger Snaps is a werewolf favorite that stands on its own, but Halloween plays a prominent part in party form in the third act, setting the stage for Ginger to let her inner killer roam free.

Hell Fest – Plex

Not all Halloween parties are house parties; sometimes, they’re an entire Scream Park. Gregory Plotkin’s Halloween slasher unleashes a masked killer who uses a Halloween theme park as his slaying grounds, blending in with the scare actors while committing murder. The terrorized group of friends cannot seek help, either; the patrons think the terror is all part of the event’s entertainment. Hell Fest uses a requisite holiday pastime- the haunt- as the center stage for this slasher that seeks to retool the definition of “Final Girl.” The inventive set pieces add to the fun.

Murder Party – Plex, Redbox, Vudu

Before Green Room and Blue Ruin, filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier quietly debuted with Murder Party. The horror comedy follows Christopher (Chris Sharp), a nice guy with no plans for Halloween, until he finds a mysterious party invitation on the way home. With a DIY costume assembled and a host gift baked, Christopher treks over to the costume party in a nondescript warehouse. There, he finds that the partygoers plan to murder him in the name of art, though everything that could go wrong does to hilarious results. Hyper-violence and a glorious bloodbath make for one of the most fun final acts, with a satisfying conclusion to Christopher’s venture out on Halloween night. Look for Macon Blair as a lovesick werewolf.

Night of the Demons – AMC+, Arrow, freevee, Peacock, SCREAMBOX, Shudder

Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade) and her best bud Suzanne (Linnea Quigley) decide to throw their Halloween party at Hull House, an abandoned mortuary with a dark past. Sure enough, an evil presence awakens after a séance, and their group is trapped inside Hull House while demonic spirits prey on them. Night of the Demons offers a spooky, fun title sequence, cool demon FX, a memorable villainess, and a wide embrace of horror iconography- right down to a bookended trick-or-treating tale. It’s a holiday cult classic. With the sequels finally arriving on physical media, now is a perfect time to revisit this gem on SCREAMBOX.

In fact, Night of the Demons is part of the SCREAMBOX x Bloody Disgusting Halloween Challenge, which runs all October long. Watch along with us on Saturday, October 28!

The post Five Killer Halloween Party Horror Movies to Stream This Week appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Night of the Demons 4K UHD from Scream Factory

Night of the Demons will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on October 3 via Scream Factory. The 1988 cult classic has been newly scanned in 4K from the uncut camera negative with Dolby Vision HDR and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Night of the Demons is directed by Kevin S. Tenney (Witchboard) and written by Joe Augustyn. Cathy Podewell, Amelia Kinkade, Linnea Quigley, Hal Havins, William Gallo, and Alvin Alexis star.

A workprint version of the film, under its original title The Halloween Party, is included. Other special features include two audio commentaries with cast and crew; interviews with Augustyn, Kinkade, and actresses Jill Terashita and Allison Barron; You’re Invited: The Making of Night of the Demons; and more.

Scream Factory will also release the film’s two sequels – 1994’s Night of the Demons 2 and 1997’s Night of the Demons 3 – on Blu-ray the same day.

Boo Berry Action Figure from Jada Toys

Back in 2021, Jada Toys released Count Chocula and Franken Berry action figures. Boo Berry is finally joining his fellow General Mills monster cereal mascots, and Entertainment Earth has an exclusive glow-in-the-dark version.

The 6” scale toy comes with a cereal box accessory and is packaged in window box with opening flap modeled after the cereal box. Shipping this month, it’s available to pre-order for $19.99.

Spirit Halloween: The Movie Blu-ray from Strike Back Studios

Following the recent grand opening of Spirit Halloween’s flagship store, Spirit Halloween: The Movie is coming to Blu-ray on August 22. Previously only available on DVD, the gateway horror flick is up for pre-order for only $12.99.

Rachael Leigh Cook and Christopher Lloyd star with Donavan Colan, Marissa Reyes, Jaiden J. Smith, Dylan Martin Frankel, and Marla Gibbs. David Poag makes his feature directorial debut from a script by Billie Bates.

The first pressing comes with four trading cards with monsters from the movie. Special features include behind-the-scenes featurettes, interviews with cast and crew, Spirit Halloween store grand opening footage, and more.

Halloween III Pumpkin from Trick or Treat Studios

Trick or Treat Studios has released a Halloween III: Season of the Witch pumpkin that lights up and sings the film’s infectious “Silver Shamrock” jingle. Priced at $30, it has two battery-powered modes: steady on and blinking with music.

Barbie/House of 1000 Corpses Shirts from Pentagram Peter Pan

Shameless self promotion, because this Barbie likes blood, violence, and freaks of nature!

I designed these Barbie/House of 1000 Corpses mash-up shirts for Pentagram Peter Pan. They’re available to pre-order for $25 each through Monday, August 7.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including ‘Spirit Halloween: The Movie’ on Blu-ray appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Even better, Halloween comes early with Night of the Demons, the ’80s cult classic about a group of teens who awaken an evil spirit.

The 1988 horror classic takes place on the night of Halloween when a group of teens decides to go to a party at an abandoned funeral parlor. While starting the party, the teens gather around a big mirror to perform a seance…BIG MISTAKE.

Also added today is Meatcleaver Massacre, featuring Christopher Lee. In the 1977 film, “When a professor specializing in ancient rites and rituals is attacked and his family killed by four of his students, he summons an evil spirit to hunt down the attackers and avenge his family.”

Start screaming now with SCREAMBOX on iOS, Android, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, and Screambox.com.

The post ‘Night of the Demons’ – Grab Your Lipstick and Revisit the 1988 Halloween Classic on SCREAMBOX appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

May is here and with it comes a handful of new films that are joining the horror streaming service, including the 1980s classic Night of the Demons, the must-see ultra-gory Project Wolf Hunting, the Halloween-themed slasher sequel The Barn 2, and two SCREAMBOX Originals, The Ancestral and Creepypasta!

From renowned director Le-Van Kiet (Furie, The Princess), SCREAMBOX Original The Ancestral will stream on May 2. The box office-topping Vietnamese film offers a haunting twist on sleep paralysis and trauma.

Hyper-violent must-see South Korean film Project Wolf Hunting streams exclusively on SCREAMBOX on May 15. Written and directed by Kim Hong-Sun (The Chase), the award-winning film has drawn comparisons to Jason Takes Manhatten, Con Air, The Raid, and Resident Evil.

Viral horror stories come to life in Creepypasta exclusively on SCREAMBOX on May 23. The horror anthology finds a young man desperately searching for clues to escape an abandoned house.

The Barn 2 joins its predecessor on SCREAMBOX on May 26. The throwback slasher features genre icons Doug Bradley (Hellraiser), Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead), Ari Lehman (Friday the 13th), Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger), and horror host Joe Bob Briggs!!

Halloween comes early when Night of the Demons possesses SCREAMBOX on May 26. Put your party face on for the ’80s cult classic about a group of teens who awaken an evil spirit.

Other May additions include: Meatcleaver Massacre featuring Christopher Lee; Blood Harvest starring “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” singer Tiny Tim; Hitcher in the Dark from Italian cult director Umberto Lenzi; ’80s slasher Silent Madness; Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies starring Karen Black (House of 1000 Corpses) and Pat Morita (The Karate Kid); documentary In Search of Bigfoot; and more.

If you haven’t caught up on our April releases, here are all of the details including the Japanese remake of Cube, Child’s Play doc Living With Chucky, and Easter-themed horror Family Dinner!

Start screaming now with SCREAMBOX on iOS, Android, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, and Screambox.com.

The post SCREAMBOX – May Line-Up Includes ‘Project Wolf Hunting’, ‘The Barn 2’, ‘Night of the Demons’ and More! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Celebrate the halfway point to Halloween by watching a quintessential Halloween favorite on the big screen alongside a scream queen, as Quigley is hosting a 35th anniversary screening of Night of the Demons at the Capitol Theatre in Arlington, MA on Friday, April 28, at 8:30pm.

The 1988 cult classic will be presented in its unrated form. Quigley — who is also known for her roles in The Return of the Living Dead and Silent Night, Deadly Night — will be on hand to introduce the film and participate in a post-screening Q&A.

The event is presented by MonstahXpo and The Spooky Picture Show podcast. Quigley will be appearing at the MonstahXpo convention in Fairhaven, MA on April 29-30 alongside the likes of Sleepaway Camp‘s Felissa Rose and Frankenhooker‘s Patty Mullen.

Night of the Demons is directed by Kevin S. Tenney (Witchboard, Pinocchio’s Revenge) and written by Joe Augustyn. Amelia Kinkade, Cathy Podewell, Quigley, William Gallo, Hal Havins, and Alvin Alexis star.

Tickets for the screening are available now for $10.

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This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to 1980s horror movies set on or around Halloween, excluding the Halloween franchise.

Here’s where you can stream these five 1980s Halloween titles this week, from kitchen sink cult gems to made-for-TV chillers!

Cemetery of Terror – AMC+, Shudder, Tubi

Rubén Galindo Jr.’s most prominent horror feature is the American-influenced Don’t Panic (available on Shudder), but the Halloween-centric Cemetery of Terror offers the most fun. A trio of college kids decides to impress their ladies by stealing a body from a morgue for a Halloween prank and party in an abandoned house. It happens to be the body of a serial killer, and reading an incantation from a book revives it. This supernatural slasher brings bloody mayhem in the vein of Lucio Fulci and features legendary character actor Hugo Stiglitz as the occult expert.

The Changeling – AMC+, Arrow, Plex, Shudder, Tubi, Vudu

George C. Scott stars in this seminal haunted classic as a music professor attempting to start fresh after his wife and child’s death. He relocates to Seattle and moves into a historic Victorian mansion with plans to work on his music, but he experiences strange phenomena immediately. The more the paranormal activity increases, the more he’s drawn into a decades-long mystery involving a child. The Changeling is a quiet chiller grounded by a fantastic lead performance and an intriguing murder mystery. Mostly, though, it’s full of dread and creepy moments – no other horror movie will make you afraid of bouncing balls quite like this one.

Dark Night of the Scarecrow – Roku, Screambox, Tubi, Vudu

Don’t let the simplicity of this made-for-TV movie fool you; Dark Night of the Scarecrow is compelling storytelling. Set in a small Southern town over the Halloween season, a mentally challenged man is wrongfully murdered for a crime he didn’t commit. When his murderers evade justice, a mysterious scarecrow systematically takes them out. Halloween décor, scarecrows, farmland, and a fantastic performance by horror stalwart Larry Drake make for one perfect Halloween season movie. It’s streaming on Bloody Disgusting’s SCREAMBOX now!

Lady in White – AMC+, Shudder, Tubi

Based on the legend of “The Lady in White,” in which a ghost searches for her daughter in Rochester, New York, the film begins on Halloween in 1962, where 9-year-old Frankie (Lukas Haas) gets locked in the schoolroom closet by bullies and witnesses the ghost of a young girl getting murdered. This event sets off a murder mystery full of spirits that are spooky and entertaining enough for kids yet layered with complex social themes for grown-ups. Paralleling Frankie’s journey, it’s the type of film that will teach budding horror fans that perhaps ghosts aren’t so scary after all.

Night of the Demons – AMC+, Freevee, Pluto TV, Shudder

Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade) and her best bud Suzanne (Linnea Quigley) decide to throw their Halloween party at Hull House, an abandoned mortuary with a dark past. Sure enough, an evil presence awakens after a séance, and their group is trapped inside Hull House while demonic spirits prey on them one by one. Night of the Demons offers a spooky, fun title sequence, cool demon FX, a memorable villainess, and a wide embrace of horror iconography- right down to a bookended trick-or-treating tale. It’s a holiday cult classic.

The post Five 1980s Halloween Horror Movies to Stream This Week appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

These ten Halloween-themed horror movies run the gamut from requisite holiday favs to deep cuts, each using Halloween in some way to bring the chills, thrills, and, occasionally, laughs.

As always, here’s where you can stream them this week….

Oh and Happy Halloween! 

The Changeling – AMC+, Arrow, Midnight Pulp, Plex, Shudder, Tubi

George C. Scott stars in this seminal haunted classic as a music professor attempting to start fresh after his wife and child’s death. He relocates to Seattle and moves into a historic Victorian mansion with plans to work on his music, but he experiences strange phenomena right away. The more the paranormal activity increases, the more he’s drawn into a decades-long mystery involving a child. The Changeling is a quiet chiller grounded by a fantastic lead performance and an intriguing murder mystery. Mostly, though, it’s full of dread and creepy moments – no other horror movie will make you afraid of bouncing balls quite like this one.

The Child – Arrow, Tubi

If you’re in the mood for obscure Halloween fare, Tubi has you covered. The Child follows a recently hired nanny who arrives at her employer’s rural home to find that their eleven-year-old daughter harbors a few very nasty secrets. It’s another entry in the creepy, killer child category of horror but stands out for its bizarre leaps and eerie atmosphere. One memorable jack-o-lantern scare stands out, setting the perfect mood for the Halloween season.

Dark Night of the Scarecrow – Roku Channel

Don’t let the simplicity of this made-for-TV movie fool you; Dark Night of the Scarecrow is compelling storytelling. Set in a small Southern town over the Halloween season, a mentally challenged man is wrongfully murdered for a crime he didn’t commit. When his murderers evade justice, a mysterious scarecrow systematically takes them out one by one. Halloween décor, scarecrows, farmland, and a fantastic performance by horror stalwart Larry Drake makes for one perfect Halloween season movie.

Flatliners – Hulu

Five medical students experiment with near-death experiences; each taking turns flatling for the possibility of knowledge and medical insight into death. The more they dabble, the more their past sins catch up to them, threatening grave physical harm. This star-studded supernatural thriller sees its ambitious characters too preoccupied with their work to embrace Halloween, but Death won’t let them forget. Ghosts of the past get so much stronger on Halloween night.

Hell Fest – Netflix

Gregory Plotkin’s Halloween slasher unleashes a masked killer that uses a Halloween theme park as his slaying grounds, blending in with the scare actors while committing murder. The terrorized group of friends cannot seek help, either; the patrons think the terror is all part of the event. Hell Fest uses a requisite holiday pastime- the haunt- as the center stage for this slasher that seeks to retool the definition of “Final Girl.” The inventive set pieces add to the fun. But if it’s not scary enough for you, Haunt takes itself far more seriously and is available on Shudder.

I Am Not a Serial Killer – AMC+

John Wayne Cleaver (Max Records) adheres to a strict therapy regimen and rules to ward off his sociopathic, homicidal impulses. His darker nature makes him deeply curious when a string of murders ensues in his small midwestern town, each leaving behind traces of black goo. This adaptation of Dan Wells’ novel offers a unique blend of supernatural mystery and a sweet yet strange coming-of-age tale. While it doesn’t wholly embrace Halloween, the holiday does factor into the film’s events. Christopher Lloyd also stars.

Idle Hands – Pluto TV

If you’re in the mood for something that doesn’t take itself seriously at all and goes full-throttle on the Halloween fun, this is it. Devon Sawa stars as Anton Tobias, a high school slacker whose hand becomes possessed and homicidal. That proves problematic when it comes to wooing the girl of his dreams, though his undead friends have his back. Idle Hands offers plenty of splatstick, irreverent charm set around Halloween. Including one prominent third act set at the Halloween high school dance. It even includes several music-based cameos.

Night of the Demons – AMC+, Pluto TV, Shudder

Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade) and her best bud Suzanne (Linnea Quigley) decide to throw their Halloween party at Hull House, an abandoned mortuary with a dark past. Sure enough, an evil presence awakens after a séance, and their group is trapped inside Hull House while demonic spirits prey on them one by one. Night of the Demons offers a spooky, fun title sequence, cool demon FX, a memorable villainess, and a wide embrace of horror iconography- right down to a bookended trick-or-treating tale. It’s a holiday cult classic.

Trick’ r Treat – HBO Max

It’s near impossible to exclude Trick’ r Treat from any Halloween horror watchlist; it’s the perfect genre interpretation of the holiday in every way. Writer/Director Michael Dougherty seamlessly interweaves five tales of terror, all set on Halloween night, each representing a different rule or facet of the holiday. And then there’s Sam, the physical embodiment of Samhain, who’s crossed over from celluloid into reality to become a proper Halloween mascot, merch and all.

WNUF Halloween Special – Shudder

This clever retro-styled horror-comedy presents itself as an off-air recording of WNUF’s Halloween special that aired on October 31, 1987. Television reporter Frank Stewart (Paul Fahrenkopf) investigates the haunted Webber House on-air throughout the news broadcast. It begins benign enough, but the further Frank gets into his broadcast, the creepier the house becomes. Keeping with the recorded-off-TV format, WNUF Halloween Special is loaded with faux commercial breaks and infomercials that evoke Halloween nostalgia.

The post Stay Home, Watch Horror: 10 Halloween-Set Movies to Stream This Week! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Sometimes they deliver treats, but in other films, they bring nasty tricks….

As always, here’s where you can stream them this week.

Anything for Jackson – Shudder

Sheila McCarthy and Julian Richings star as Audrey and Henry Walsh, a well-to-do couple mourning their young grandson’s tragic loss. Still deep in the denial stage of grief, they turn to Satanism. The couple kidnaps a pregnant woman for their ritual; they plan to transfer their grandson’s spirit into her unborn baby. The novice practitioners unwittingly bust the doors to the spirit world wide open, transforming their home into a house of horrors. The snowy setting screams winter, not Fall, but the home gets terrorized by ghosts, including one creepy, relentless trick-or-treater.

Tales of Halloween – AMC+, Roku, Shudder, Tubi, Vudu

This holiday-themed anthology assembles ten segments that celebrate various aspects of Halloween. A few of them take different approaches to trick or treating, either through revenge or mischievous little devils in disguise. But it’s hard not to fall for the adorable alien that came to Earth to partake in the holiday in Mike Mendez’s “Friday the 31st.”

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers – AMC+, Shudder

You could swap out multiple entries of the Halloween franchise for this one, which would apply to this theme. But the opening of Halloween 4 sets the mood with stunning views of the fall landscape and centers around a little girl that wanted nothing more than to go trick-or-treating. Instead, she spends Halloween night fleeing in terror from her uncle, Michael Myers.

Night of the Demons – IMDb TV

Teenagers get more than they bargained for when they decide to party at an abandoned funeral home on Halloween night, unleashing demonic mayhem. Goth queen Angela might steal the crown for this Halloween favorite, but the epilogue offers a frightening take on a common urban legend- razor blades stuffed in apples. It’s a gleefully bloody reminder to be kind to trick or treaters.

We Need to Talk About Kevin – AMC+, Hulu, Kanopy, Pluto TV, Prime Video, Tubi

This one is a meditative, unsettling slow burn about a mother growing increasingly more unnerved by her sociopathic son. After teen Kevin (Ezra Miller) commits a horrible act at school, his mother Eva (Tilda Swinton) reflects on their complicated relationship throughout his life. So much so that she finds herself downright terrified on Halloween night, the pounding on the door by trick or treaters causing her to cower in fear. We Need to Talk About Kevin isn’t your conventional horror movie, but it chills to the bone.

The post Stay Home, Watch Horror: 5 Horror Movies to Stream This Week That Spotlight Trick or Treaters appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The event runs Friday, August 6th through Saturday, August 7th, 7pm to 7am! It’s all going down at the Smithtown Library on One North Country Road in Smithtown, New York.

Organizer Jesse Lemke explains to Bloody Disgusting, “We’ll have an old fashioned popcorn trolley, sodas, chips, waters, plenty of coffee (all free). We’ll also be having raffles throughout the night. I contacted Robert Englund, he donated some things to us, and also Shudder donated a stack of DVDs. It’s open to anyone with a library card.”

“Join us as we celebrate the world of late night cinema with our first-ever movie marathon.”

The movies being shown as part of the Smithtown Underground 1st Annual All-Nighter include The Blob (1988), Session 9 (2001), Enter the Ninja (1981), Messiah of Evil (1973), Demons (1985), and Night of the Demons (1988). Check out the event’s official flyer below.

The post All-Night Horror Movie Marathon Coming to Smithtown, NY Includes ‘Night of the Demons’ and ‘The Blob’! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

There are well over a hundred horror movies set around Halloween, though, many imparting invaluable life lessons of their own. At least when it comes to our favorite holiday.

Here are seven rules to abide by when celebrating Halloween…

Give Treats, Not Tricks – Night of the Demons

Long before Trick’ r Treat instilled the importance of doling out candy to trick or treaters, the curmudgeon in Night of the Demons showed why playing Halloween tricks could come back to haunt you. In the beginning, before the core group of characters would befall the demons of Hull House, a grumpy Old Man (Harold Ayer) with Halloween hatred in his heart bought razor blades. He stuffed them into the apples designated for trick or treaters. The intent, of course, was to kill any joy for the holiday through harm. His vicious scheme backfired when his loving wife baked them into a pie, blades and all, giving him just desserts. Sure, the phrase is “trick or treat,” but always, always choose treat.

Don’t Eat All the Candy – Tales of Halloween: “Sweet Tooth”

By now, movies have long imparted the necessity of checking your Halloween loot, in case you happen to have a miserly neighbor that spikes the treats with razors or poison. But the opening segment of this Halloween anthology gives a worthy reason why you shouldn’t attempt to devour your candy haul all in one go. If you do, you’ll get a tummy ache in more ways than one; the demon Sweet Tooth will collect the candy from your belly if you don’t leave any out for him. Sharing is caring.

It’s Okay If You Don’t Make Your Costume. No Really. – The Predator

Some of us aren’t crafty enough to pull together a great DIY Halloween costume, and that’s okay. Rather than trying to assemble an ensemble from boxed up items collecting dust without mom and dad’s permission, it’s acceptable to go the store-bought route. Little Rory McKenna (Jacob Tremblay) helped himself to dad’s secret box of Predator armor in the basement, donning it as his trick or treat costume. Not only did he murder a bully and blow up his house, but he unwittingly set off the homing beacon that lured the Predator to him. In short, much of what transpired in this sequel can be traced back to Rory’s costume theft. Oops.

Choose Haunts Carefully – Hell House LLC

Visiting haunted attractions is a major staple of the spooky season, but it helps to plan. Read up on reviews to scope a place out before you go. If the site is brand spanking new, has zero reviews yet, and operates out of a dilapidated old hotel or in the middle of nowhere, maybe choose a different haunt. On the first night that Hell House LLC opened its doors, after spending time repurposing an old labyrinthine hotel, it descended into fiery chaos resulting in multiple deaths of patrons and staff. They couldn’t even make it past their grand opening. If you happen to make it to a haunt without doing your research in advance, another indicator of trouble would be the parking lot’s sparsity. In Haunt, the patrons drove out to the middle of nowhere and still signed waivers despite only two cars in the lot. Just go elsewhere.

Halloween Crowds Aren’t Always Safer – Hell Fest

It’s deeply ingrained in us from an early age that there’s safety in numbers. In most cases, that’s probably true. Not on Halloween, though. On a night where ghouls, ghosts, and masked monsters wandering about is the norm, actual killers can lurk in plain sight. No one will bat an eye at a murder happening during a big event or party because it’s assumed to be part of the Halloween festivities. That’s precisely what happens when a group of friends attends Hell Fest, a theme park decked out in holiday décor and mazes. As a masked killer picks them off one by one, the crowd is none the wiser. 

Be a Polite Party Guest – Murder Party

This rule extends beyond Halloween, but on a holiday that revels in thrills and chills, it’s best to really adhere to it this time of year. Lonely Christopher Hawley (Chris Sharp) finds an invitation to a Halloween party on the street. Like a well-mannered party guest, he assembles a costume and whips up a loaf of pumpkin raisin bread to bring to the party hosts. That etiquette assists in saving his life. He soon discovers that the party is hosted by art students looking to impress by committing murder. They intend Christopher to be their victim, but one of them happens to be severely allergic to raisins. It causes her death, taking out one of his would-be murderers and leveling the playing field a bit. 

Never Give Up Your Halloween Spirit – The Halloween Franchise

If there’s one thing the Halloween franchise has taught us, it’s that you cannot kill Michael Myers’ Halloween spirit. No matter the deaths or continuity, Halloween’s favorite boogeyman keeps popping up on October 31 to resume his favorite holiday past time. Halloween is what we make of it, and Michael Myers’ endless holiday spirit is aspirational. We should all be like Michael Myers. Not in terms of killing -that isn’t nice, don’t do it – but in terms of unwavering perseverance in Halloween celebrations. Little Sam might be the embodiment of Halloween, but Michael Myers is the original holiday mascot. For a good reason. Happy Halloween!

The post 7 Life Lessons Halloween Horror Movies Have Taught Us appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

This Halloween, we’re expanding beyond the perennial favorites to look at characters in horror that don Halloween costumes of their own. These are ten of the best Halloween costumes in horror, from impressive DIY costumes to extravagant ensembles….

The Addams Family – Homicidal Maniac

When the idea of putting together a costume seems like too much effort, Wednesday Addams creates one of the most comfortable Halloween costumes ever with a macabre line, “I’m a homicidal maniac, they look just like everyone else.” It works because it’s so eerily accurate. The little goth princess has a style worth emulating even without a Halloween costume. Still, in a year where nothing is normal, Wednesday’s excuse to not go all out feels apropos and a little refreshing.

Night of the Demons – Goth Queen

There are so many levels to this goth queen that it’s surprising Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade) isn’t a more popular Halloween icon. The outcast opts to throw a costume party at an abandoned mortuary and winds up summoning demons during a séance. Before getting possessed and transforming into the series’ villainess, Angela already stuns with her Goth Queen costume. Transforming into a demon only enhances the cool factor. 

House of 1000 Corpses – Skull Priest

Rob Zombie’s Halloween set horror movie introduces the Firefly clan and their sinister Halloween rituals. On Halloween night, the twisted family members wear appropriate seasonal attire for their annual rite, lowering the remaining surviving victims into a well to confront the denizens below. Tiny’s (Matthew McGrory) superhero suit makes for an adorable idea, but we’re going with Otis’s (Bill Moseley) skull priest for sheer versatility. A long red robe and monochromatic skull face painting isn’t just an easy costume to throw together, but it’s one that’s popped up in many other movies, too. Look to 2007’s Halloween, Boys in the Trees, and even Coco for similar red hooded skeleton DIY costumes.

Halloween franchise – Clowns

The default costume favorite belongs to Michael Myers thanks to his coveralls and iconic mask, but this franchise also has a thing for clowns. The shocking imagery of a young Michael Myers being unmasked in the original film’s opening sears itself into your skull. The vacant eyes, while holding a knife midair in stark contrast with the visage of a seemingly innocent boy in a sweet clown costume, is striking. The clown costume makes a significant return in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers when the villain’s niece picks out a clown costume for the night’s festivities. 

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark – The Halloween Pun

The opening of this kid-aimed horror movie sees its trio of protagonists getting ready for a night of trick or treating mayhem. As Chuck (Austin Zajur) prepares for a Halloween prank, he’s disappointed to discover his mom misinterpreted his request for a Spider-Man costume, instead sewing a spider, well, man costume. It makes for a cheeky Halloween pun, but it also triggers the memory of Halloween costumes from our youth, where we wore whatever mom picked out (or made) for us.

Haunt – Halloween Retro Classics

Not much invokes instant nostalgia or vintage Halloween like store-bought, manufactured plastic masks, and vinyl smocks from Ben Cooper, Inc and the like. In horror, corrupting innocence and nostalgia is inherently terrifying. It’s with that in mind that the ghoulish villains in recent slasher Haunt are so effective. Credited according to their masked costumes, Ghost, Devil, Clown, Witch, and Vampire stalk and prey upon the patrons of an extreme haunt. What’s underneath those masks might be even scarier.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch – The Name Brand Mask

Often, all it takes to create a unique Halloween look is one badass mask. In this franchise outlier, the Silver Shamrock corporation manufactured the season’s most coveted item, a trio of Halloween masks. Granted, they came with one nasty chip programmed to do gnarly things to the mask wearer, but have I mentioned how cool they look? Proving that we’re all just suckers for brilliant Halloween marketing, Silver Shamrock owes much of its sales to that catchy earworm jingle in the masks’ commercials. 

Murder Party – DIY Knight

When Christopher (Chris Sharp) finds a Halloween party invitation on the streets, he quickly sets about creating a last-minute costume and a homemade treat to bring. With a lot of cardboard and ingenuity, Chris transforms himself into a DIY knight. He finds himself in a warehouse full of pretentious art students hoping to commit murder, and all with impressive costumes of their own. Still, for a last-minute costume and through sheer construction, Christopher’s costume wins the prize for best in show.

Trick ‘r Treat – Vampire

Sam, the adorable embodiment of Halloween, has rightfully become a holiday icon, and his merch is now endless at the Halloween stores. There are a few costumes worth celebrating here, though. Laurie’s (Anna Paquin) Little Red Riding Hood costume is a wry wink considering she transforms into a wolf in her segment’s finale. The tormented spirits of the Halloween School Bus Massacre are finally starting to receive attention in stores, too. But there’s one that doesn’t get enough notice, particularly for how fully it transforms its wearer. Amidst the revelry, a serial killer dressed as a vampire stalks the streets, seduces women, then severs their veins to bleed them dry. That vampire thinks he’s found his latest target in Laurie, only for her inner wolf to turn the tides. Her unmasking of him reveals a very scared Principal Steven Wilkins (Dylan Baker). 

Tales of Halloween: “Friday the 31st” – Final Girl

The precious little alien in this anthology segment wants to experience trick or treating like humans do. He even has an adorable little jack-o-lantern costume. The poor guy just chose the wrong house; he asks for treats from a deranged maniac that just finished offing his latest batch of victims. The killer picks “trick” and stomps the little alien. In retaliation, the little alien possesses the recently deceased body of an erstwhile Final Girl, kicking off a gory battle that concludes with the alien finally getting his treat- a severed head. “Friday the 31st” delivers two great costumes; the classic pumpkin suit and a full-on meat suit, in the form of a Final Girl. It’s hard to top an extraterrestrial dressing like a human for Halloween. 

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The best Needle Drops use well-known songs in unexpected ways and resonate so strongly that not only does the song effectively manipulate the viewer, but it becomes forever associated with the movie. The worst Needle Drops can pull a viewer right out of the film. For example, Eddie’s showdown with the Leper in It Chapter Two took a jarring left turn with the Needle Drop of Juice Newton’s “Angel of the Morning.” The intent was to elicit a laugh, but it felt so tonally out of place that it wound up confusing instead.

These fifteen Needle Drops not only captured the energy of the movie, they got our fists up in the air and embedded the songs so far into our skulls that they’re permanently tied to their respective horror movies…

Scream – “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper

Nick Cave & The Bad Seed’s “Red Right Hand” is most associated with the franchise, but it’s this Needle Drop that perfectly showcased the humor in this beloved horror-comedy. The cue comes right after Principal Himbry (Henry Winkler), alone in his office, gets stabbed to death by Ghostface. Just as he utters his last breath and the mask of the killer is reflected in his eyes, Alice Cooper’s hit song kicks in. It’s an on-the-nose dad joke, in song form. We miss you, Wes Craven.

Night of the Demons – “Stigmata Martyr” by Bauhaus

Not only does this song serve as an introduction to Gothic rock back Bauhaus, but it’s intertwined with one memorable scene in horror; a demonic Angela’s mesmerizing dance of seduction. Not just visually compelling, this scene imbued the film with rock attitude.

You’re Next – “Looking for the Magic” by Dwight Twilley

It’s next to impossible to walk away from a viewing of You’re Next without humming this tune. Granted, a large part of that earworm effect might be due to the fact that it plays on loop throughout the narrative. Mostly, though, it’s that the pop song perfectly captures the tone of the film with an upbeat tempo that belies a somewhat unsettling undertone.

1408 – “We’ve Only Just Begun” by The Carpenters

If ever there was a song title that sent a clear message in a horror movie, it’s this one. Taking a hit single pop song by The Carpenters and turning it into an ominous threat was a brilliant stroke of genius. A stroke with a major sense of humor, which is fitting for a Stephen King adaptation. Mike Enslin’s (John Cusack) skepticism flipped upside down thanks to the menacing supernatural presence in room 1408, and this song on the clock radio continuously cues up another round of supernatural onslaught. If you didn’t think the song was creepy before, you will now.

Pet Sematary – “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” by Ramones

Almost every single track by the Ramones, a Stephen King favorite, is catchy as hell. Including this one, which serves as cheerful misdirection. The truck driver is bopping along to this song as he barrels down that fateful road, and it’s intercut with the Creed family enjoying a blissful day under the sun. Neither parties are aware that they’re mere seconds away from tragedy. This optimistic song choice is punctuated by a devastating sucker punch.

Shaun of the Dead – “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen

Sometimes the best Needle Drops are the ones meant to get your fists pumping and your feet tapping along. The lyrics and tempo of Queen’s song say it all, as the jukebox kicks in, and zombies invade the Winchester pub. Appropriately, the survivors fight the horde off along with the beat of the song.

The Final Girls – “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes

This Needle Drop essentially becomes the theme of the film, acting as aural symbolism of the deep bond between mother and daughter. It’s a suitably melancholic song about an actress and ultimately brings closure to Max over the death of her mother. Moreover, it completely recontextualizes an ’80s synth classic, ensuring we can no longer hear this song without thinking of The Final Girls.

Us – “I Got 5 On It” by Luniz

As previously stated, the best Needle Drops take a previously released song and apply it in a completely unexpected way, and this makes for a perfect example. The song’s hook is about kicking in money to buy weed, and it’s used as a film as a fun throwback to dad Gabe Wilson (Winston Duke) when it plays on the radio on the road to vacation. The song becomes a fun family moment, presenting the dynamic between the foursome soon to be terrorized by doppelgangers, but it also hides a more sinister foreshadowing in terms of keeping the beat. That the song was featured in the trailers further ensured that we’d never hear this one the same way again.

Stir of Echoes – “Paint it Black” by G.O.B.

This cover of the famous song by The Rolling Stones essentially becomes a supporting character in this spectral murder mystery. When Kevin Bacon’s Tom is hypnotized to become more open-minded, it works and then some, making him susceptible to the other side. That allows the ghost of a missing girl to haunt Tom into solving her murder, and this song becomes a vital tool in unlocking the mystery. So, while “Paint it Black” features in numerous T.V. series and movies, it’s never as prominent as it is here.

Final Destination – “Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver

John Denver’s folk song and a love letter to Colorado doesn’t initially seem like a suitable theme for Death, though it does effectively render an uplifting song a sinister one. That alone would make it an ominous Needle Drop worthy of the film’s suspenseful tone, but then you take into account that John Denver died in a plane crash, and well, it’s an eerily fitting pick. Alex (Devon Sawa) first hears it playing over the speakers in the airport, just before the plane crashes, and again throughout the film as Death claims more victims. Death’s song changed with every entry in the franchise, but the original set the mold.

Insidious – “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” by Tiny Tim

Something is disconcerting about a demon that adores this already relatively creepy song. What’s meant to be a romantic song becomes anything but thanks to Tiny Tim’s overly cheerful, high-pitched voice, and the lyric “by the window, that’s where I’ll be” takes on a voyeuristic quality as ghosts terrorize the Lambert family. That it’s the Lipstick-Face Demon’s theme makes a lot of sense; the song perfectly conveys the terrifying yet whimsical aesthetic of the Further.

American Psycho – “Hip to Be Square” by Huey Lewis and the News

The entirety of Patrick Bateman can be distilled into this iconic scene, in which he manically breaks down this song and its band while preparing his latest victim for slaughter. It’s a song choice befitting of the era in which the movie is set, but it’s enhanced tenfold by Christian Bale’s performance and unforgettable dance moves.

The Devil’s Rejects – “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd 

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s power ballad pops up often in cinema; it’s a massively popular song considered to be the band’s signature, after all. From a lyrical perspective, it’s also a fantastic choice as a moving sendoff to one of horror’s most twisted families: the Firefly clan. The remaining trio of murderers flee their persecutors, badly wounded, then opt to go down in a blaze of glory when they encounter a police barricade. There’s no dialogue or sound outside of “Free Bird,” and it makes for a moving conclusion. Well, until the sequel, anyway…

The Silence of the Lambs – “Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzarus

Sometimes movies pluck little known, obscure songs from the ether and transform them into classics. The story goes that director Jonathan Demme met Q Lazzarus in a taxi, where she played her demo for him. He was blown away, and put it in his movie Married to the Mob. It wasn’t until he used it in the iconic Buffalo Bill dance scene that the song took off. Thematically, it’s earworm precision. A dark wave song about transcendence complements James Gumb’s desire to become a woman, going so far as to craft a woman’s suit. Ted Levin’s dance, complete with a woman’s scalp on his head, launched this song and its corresponding scene into the pop culture lexicon.

An American Werewolf in London – “Blue Moon” by The Marcels

While the film is full of amazing Needle Drops, including two other renditions of “Blue Moon,” it’s the end credit version by The Marcels that wins the prize. Why? Because it serves as a much-needed reminder that this movie is as much a comedy as it is a horror movie, by way of major emotional whiplash. The closing moments of the movie see poor Alex tearfully mourning her lover David, lying dead and naked post werewolf rampage. It’s an absolute downer. Cue the buoyant take on “Blue Moon” by The Marcels, which sends the audience off on a much more cheerful note.

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But there’s one aspect of Halloween horror that doesn’t get nearly as much attention; the heroes and protagonists that honor holiday tradition as well as save the day, ensuring everyone will live to see another Halloween.

Here are 10 of the most unsung heroes of Halloween-set horror.

The Scarecrow – Dark Night of the Scarecrow

This 1981 made-for-television movie might’ve framed the Scarecrow as a terrifying presence, but the motives behind his murder spree make him less a villain and more a Halloween avenging angel. When a group of vigilantes murder mentally challenged Bubba Ritter (Larry Drake) for a crime that never actually happened, they’re exonerated in court. Shortly after, right around Halloween, a mysterious Scarecrow appears in the fields. One by one, the men find themselves stalked and killed by it. Bubba gets the justice he deserved, and that small town is cleaned of its most unsavory people. It’s a win win.

Christopher Hawley – Murder Party

Christopher is a lonely but extremely polite man that lives alone with his cat, Sir Lancelot. He decides to break out of his comfort zone and attend a Halloween party from an invitation found on the street, dubbed “Murder Party.” Like a good guest, he assembles a costume from scratch and bakes pumpkin raisin bread to bring along, because etiquette says you should never show up empty-handed. He soon discovers that the party theme is literal, and he’s now the intended victim. A long night of survival sparks an internal journey of growth, and plenty of gory laughs. Homemade costumes and Halloween baked goods would make Christopher a Halloween winner as it is, but that he finally embraces his inner strength makes him a hero as well.

Ernest P. Worrell – Ernest Scared Stupid

Of all the family-friendly Halloween horror movies, Ernest Scared Stupid doesn’t come up in conversation as much as it should during October. Of all the Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) movies, this one is the best. Sure, the bumbling Ernest is technically to blame for unleashing the demonic troll in the first place, but he’s also the one who saves the day. How? With the heart of a child and unconditional love. That sums up Ernest in a nutshell; he might not be the brightest, but he’s got an innocent heart of gold. Using it to save Briarville, Missouri on Halloween makes for a seasonal treat that at least deserves an annual spot on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween programming. Or any TV channel, really.

Rodger – Night of the Demons

Judy is presented as the central protagonist and final girl of this ‘80s favorite, but Rodger is the true hero of the film. He’s clearly well versed in horror, or at least self-preservation, because the moment he gets a whiff that something is wrong with the place he searches for an exit. When he can’t find one, he locks himself in a car outside. A move that keeps him shielded from most of Hull House’s demonic activity. Eventually, he’s pulled back into the fray, but Rodger never loses sight of what’s important- getting the hell out of there. It’s Rodger who figures a way out, and it’s because of Rodger that “final girl” Judy even survives in the first place. He’s the true MVP.

Eddie Weinbauer – Trick or Treat

Eddie is a bullied outcast in his high school, made even lonelier by the passing of his heavy metal hero Sammi Curr. But Sammi isn’t really gone; he has sinister and deadly plans to implement from beyond the grave. Plans that involve a lot of death on Halloween night. He offers Eddie a chance to get revenge on his bullies. When Eddie realizes Sammi has serious physical harm in mind, he balks. Even when his classmates don’t deserve his mercy, Eddie is a genuinely kind person. He not only spares them the cruelty they likely have coming; he saves the town from Sammi’s madness on Halloween night.

Anna Peterson – The Guest

A stylish action film by way of Halloween, The Guest is one cool Halloween-themed movie. Even cooler is its protagonist, Anna Peterson (Maika Monroe). Like everyone else, she falls under David’s spell when he first arrives at the Peterson family’s doorstep. It doesn’t take long for her to realize something is off about him, though, and acts on her suspicions in a smart way. She’s savvy and brave like your standard Final Girl, but she’s far more modern than that. A rebellious streak, hanging with the wrong crowd, and a penchant for drinking at parties makes her more the Annie Bracket type than a Laurie Strode. It’s refreshing.

Anton Tobias – Idle Hands

In terms of Halloween horror (or horror-comedies in this case), Idle Hands sometimes feels like an underdog. So, too, does reluctant hero Anton (Devon Sawa). All he really wants is to get stoned and do, well, nothing. Too bad his hand becomes possessed by Satan and sets off on a murder spree, which includes Anton’s friends and family. Anton steps up to save the day, and his final showdown with his hand takes place on Halloween. Sawa infuses the stoner with amiable charm and though Anton’s not your average horror hero type, he’s an unsung Halloween hero worth discussing more.

Brigitte Fitzgerald – Ginger Snaps

Sure, Ginger is the assertive older sister, the one featured in the film’s title, and the spotlight stealer thanks to her lycanthropy, but the true hero is Brigitte. Not that that’s a surprise to anyone who’s seen the film. Even still, Brigitte doesn’t often get the credit she deserves. Not only did she step out of her sister’s shadow and save the day – right at Halloween no less- but she continued the fight in Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed. A sequel that did her so wrong. Brigitte deserves better.

Rhonda – Trick ‘r Treat

It’s Halloween enforcer Sam that serves as the connective tissue in this holiday horror anthology, and it’s Sam that takes center stage with merchandise tie-ins. That’s understandable, as he’s Halloween personified and a champion of tradition. Yet it’s Rhonda that offers up the film’s biggest moment of karma. Said to be a savant, Rhonda is a Halloween fanatic. Her yard is adorned with jack ‘o lanterns, and her costume of choice is the classic witch. It’s Rhonda that explains Samhain and the purpose of a jack ‘o lantern on Halloween night, and it comes into play in an integral way when her classmates lure her away from home for a mean prank. Our Halloween hero Rhonda comes away shaken, but just fine after teaching her bullies a valuable Halloween lesson.

Rachel Carruthers – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

Laurie Strode is the one that sparked the very concept of the Final Girl, and the hero that faces off against Michael Myers time and time again. In Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, the film introduces a new final girl in Rachel Carruthers, foster sister to Strode’s daughter Jamie Lloyd. Before Michael Myers even shows up, we get to know Rachel as a normal teenager girl. One that wants to date and have fun with friends but is torn by familial responsibility. Ellie Cornell imbues her character with warmth and complexity that makes Rachel feel less a Final Girl and more an average person facing horrific circumstances. She’s also less a survivor and more of a fierce protector. The lengths she goes to protect and save Jamie Lloyd deserves major respect. It’s because Rachel is such a great Halloween hero that this sequel works. It’s also because of Rachel’s unceremonious early demise in Halloween 5 that it’s one of the worst sequels.

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But while many horror films set around Halloween are tenuous at best in their connection to the holiday, that doesn’t mean we’re in short supply of quality seasonal offerings. There are numerous movies and characters that instantly evoke crisp Fall weather and Halloween vibes. It is the best time of the year, after all.

In celebration of Halloween, we’re shining a spotlight on the 10 most iconic characters of the genre that perfectly capture that holiday spirit!

The Sanderson Sisters – Hocus Pocus

This family-friendly comedy-horror movie is a tried and true Halloween staple. Think horror lite for the budding fan, created by horror royalty that includes Mick Garris (Masters of Horror, Critters 2, The Stand), David Kirschner (producer behind the Child’s Play films), and Neil Cuthbert (The Return of Swamp Thing). As for the central villains- sisters Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimi), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker)- they may have been comedic in their attempts to understand the modern world, but their sole goal was to suck out all the souls of Salem’s children before dawn so they may return to life permanently. Delightfully dark Halloween material, but with a whimsical charm. They’ll put a spell on you.

Billy the Puppet – the Saw franchise

From 2004 to 2017, you could count on the Saw franchise to bring the Halloween chills with late October theatrical releases. While the series is by no means traditional holiday fare, it was always a comfort to know you could count on a Saw film to release in October (hello, sparse theatrical horror releases here in October 2019). Franchise mascot Billy the Puppet might be Jigsaw’s favorite communication tool, but his creepy appearance and eerie laugh makes him a great seasonal icon as well.

The Firefly Family – House of 1000 Corpses

Rob Zombie’s feature debut is an over the top, violent ode to Halloween. The very idea behind it was birthed when Zombie was designing a haunted maze attraction for Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights (which has come full circle for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights). Set over October 30-31, 1977, two young couples run afoul of the Halloween-loving Firefly clan while researching urban legends in backwoods Texas. The victims are subjected to torture as well as bizarre Halloween rituals from the likes of Otis, Tiny, and Baby. But perhaps none as are iconic as Captain Spaulding.

Silver Shamrock Novelties – Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Discourse has long since turned around on this once maligned entry in the Halloween franchise, and a major component of that belongs to the evil corporation behind it- Silver Shamrock Novelties. The mastermind behind the company is Conal Cochran, a witch aiming to resurrect an ancient age of witchcraft through Stonehenge runes. How? By creating deadly Silver Shamrock masks, a hot commodity, to implement a mass sacrifice of children. Those masks are the true icons, having been visually referenced in other holiday classics like The Guest. It also helps that the musical jingle associated with the masks is so damn catchy.

Elvira

Beloved horror host and Mistress of the Dark, Elvira, has long been associated with Halloween. Endless Halloween promos, commercials, and an Elvira Halloween costume that never goes out of style at the Halloween shops would be enough to earn her a spot on this list. But there’s also the 1986 MTV special Elvira’s Halloween Special, Hulu’s 13 Nights of Elvira Halloween series in 2014, a long-running Halloween-themed musical comedy featured as a fixture of Knott’s Scary Farm theme park, and various judging roles in Food Network’s Halloween competition series. Don’t even get me started on the endless Halloween-centric Elvira merchandise. More than a Mistress of the Dark, Elvira is a Mistress of Halloween.

The Headless Horseman

Washington Irving’s short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” birthed a Halloween icon. An icon that naturally inspired many TV and film adaptations. The most definitive of which are 1959’s Disney animated classic, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Tim Burton’s 1999 film Sleepy Hollow. The latter of which digs into the Hessian soldier origins behind the original tale. There’s a version of this story for all horror ages and tastes. Across the board, though, they all scream Fall atmosphere and Halloween.

Pumpkinhead

Stan Winston’s feature debut isn’t Halloween related at all, but over the years it’s been assimilated into Halloween iconography by devout horror fans. It’s easy to see why. The biggest symbol of the holiday is the pumpkin, or the jack o’ lantern, and the titular creature is birthed from a pumpkin patch. By a terrifying swamp witch, no less. That checks off two Halloween boxes right there- witches and pumpkins. Add in the poem by Ed Justin that inspired the tale, and well, that marks three. It’s official. Pumpkinhead is a Halloween demon.

Angela Franklin – Night of the Demon Series

When Angela Franklin throws a Halloween party, she really throws a Halloween party. Three films and a remake worth of Halloween parties that literally raise the dead. Or more like demons, but you get the gist. Goth queen and Halloween fanatic, Angela just wants to revel in the holiday. Really, after becoming inhabited by a demon in the first film, Halloween is the only day she’s allowed to play. That makes this franchise one of the very few associated with Halloween, and Angela a villainous Halloween icon worth celebrating.

Michael Myers – the Halloween franchise

The poster child for the definitive holiday set series, Michael Myers is the Halloween boogeyman. When you think of Halloween set horror, this silent killer is likely the very first one to pop in mind. Beginning with John Carpenter’s 1978 film, Michael Myers has slashed his way through 10 movies with two more already on the way. His slaying field is Haddonfield, on Halloween only, of course. Michael is a rare Halloween fixture who has transcended beyond the holiday to become a definitive horror icon.

Sam – Trick ‘r Treat

This peculiar trick or treater, dressed in an orange onesie and burlap sack mask, is the connective tissue between the four interlocking stories in this Halloween horror anthology. He’s there anytime one of the characters break a major rule or tradition of the holiday. Meaning it’s quickly apparent that adorable little Sam is an enforcer of Halloween. With a savage mean streak when necessary. Trick ‘r Treat’s finale is an epic showdown between Sam and a holiday grinch, revealing Sam’s true face- a child-like pumpkin demon that’s as terrifying as it is utterly endearing. Sam, short for Samhain, is Halloween personified. Literally. And fans have been clamoring for more of this Halloween icon ever since the film’s release.

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It Came From the ‘80s is a series that will pay homage to the monstrous, deadly, and often slimy creatures that made the ‘80s such a fantastic decade in horror.

One full decade after John Carpenter’s Halloween kickstarted the slasher craze, writer/producer Joe Augustyn and director Kevin S. Tenney set about creating their own holiday set slasher, titled Halloween Party. The slasher craze had all but slowed to a trickle at this point, and Augustyn wasn’t really interested in creating another masked maniac. Instead, he applied the slasher formula to demonic possession. As the body count grew higher, so too did the number of antagonists. Though low budget, the production design, characters, cool demon designs, and a title change resulted in a definitive Halloween cult classic.

The premise is simple. Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade) and her best bud Suzanne (Linnea Quigley) decide to throw their Halloween party at Hull House, an abandoned mortuary with an ill reputable past. Sure enough, an evil presence awakens after a seance, and their group is trapped inside Hull House while demonic spirits prey on them one by one. Other than goody-two-shoes Judy (Cathy Podewell) being the obvious candidate to survive, Night of the Demons tends to eschew traditional horror rules.

There’s a bookending subplot about an ornery old man that hates trick or treaters to the point of harm, and the detailed journey it takes for the 10 or 11 partygoers to unite under the Hull House roof. It takes quite a while before the actual demonic part of the story really gets going. While that slow start might be tedious in other horror movies, it works here. That’s because of the Halloween and punk rock spirit. Goth queen Angela is a counterculture icon. Night of the Demons often tends to be many viewers’ first brush with Bauhaus. We’re reveling in the atmosphere along with these characters.

Of course, there are the demons, which were designed and created by special makeup effects artist Steve Johnson (Lord of Illusions, Blade II, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master). Johnson had already established himself as an artist, working for and along artists like Rob Bottin, Greg Cannom, and Rick Baker on major productions. But Night of the Demons was the first film that was entirely his own, his breakout film with his own effects company. Though the budget might have been a lot lower than films he’d previously worked on, he was determined to prove himself. First order of business was designing demonically possessed characters that didn’t look anything like the Exorcist-type that had become standard.

He found inspiration in Lon Chaney Sr. Namely, in Chaney Sr.’s ability to exaggerate his features to maximize the makeups and the scares. It was The Lost Boys that provided the rest of the inspiration behind the memorable demons. Or rather, it was while he was working on a makeup test for The Lost Boys -director Joel Schumacher ultimately decided to go in a different direction– that gave him the idea to stretch out the mouth by taping back the skin. Think demonic facelift. Add in creepy teeth and demon prosthetics around the eyes and cheeks, and voila. A new kind of movie demon was created.

Initially Suzanne, as the first to become possessed, was to spit bile. But the Exorcist’s Regan already cornered the market on demonic vomiting, so it was swapped out with the memorable lipstick moment. For that, Johnson created a whole chest piece for Quigley using gelatin so it’d look realistic. That also meant having to shoot it quickly before it melted once removed from the fridge. A fake gelatin chest and a trick lipstick. It was hardly Johnson’s only ingenuity on the meager budget; when Jay gets his eyes gouged out, that’s cherry tomatoes. Nothing pops and squishes quite like a tomato, right?

Between the demons, the killer soundtrack, fan favorites Suzanne and Angela, and a serious level of entertaining fun, Night of the Demons has become a Halloween staple. Moments of utter silliness are balanced out by moments of cleverness; spoiler- Rodger (Alvin Alexis) outlasting everyone because he’s the first and only to flee in absolute terror is a nice touch. Who could forget that killer animated title sequence, either? All of which to say, Angela sure knows how to throw a killer Halloween party.

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This exclusive 2-pack offer can be found exclusively at ShoutFactory.com, and only 2,500 units will *ever* be made. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. You can purchase the set for $79.99.

• The 8” clothed figures will be housed together in a retro-style box featuring the original theatrical key art.
• The figures are fully poseable.
• Suzanne comes with an alternate head and a tube of lipstick.
• Stooge has a separate nose piece.

The release date for this set is November 26, 2019.

The post ‘Night of the Demons’ Action Figure 2-Pack Now Up for Pre-Order from Scream Factory! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

It’s not just the setup the makes Luz feel different from any other possession horror film out there, though the demon’s body-hopping style is reminiscent of The Hidden. It’s the avant-garde way in which Singer relays this story. Through wide-tracking shots, dreamlike and smoky staging, and an electronic score to boot, Luz is firmly planted in the experimental. There’s nothing traditional about this film, from the way it handles the mysteries behind this demon’s desire to find Luz or the way it unravels the narrative. Which means that while it most certainly won’t be for everyone, the way it approaches the possession genre is refreshing.

Possession horror began in earnest with William Friedkin’s seminal classic, The Exorcist. Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel, The Exorcist established the rules and tropes of the subgenre, largely in part because of the wave of films that borrowed from it in attempt to capture the same success. Tropes like the demon targeting a young female, who often wears white gowns to her exorcism. Or a priest suffering a crisis of faith. Symptoms of possession taking root almost always include speaking in tongues, levitation, and some form of body mutilation or gruesome physical deformity, too. There’s also a good chance the possession film will come with some warning that it’s based on a true story.

Because these tropes and story beats mirrored from The Exorcist have become so exhaustingly common, it’s become far too easy to just classify exorcism centric films as a separate subgenre. But they all stem from demonic possession, and the ones that attempt to break free from The Exorcist blueprint are worth celebrating.

The first major release to do so, launching a franchise of its own in the process, was Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead. A group of friends unwittingly unleash a Kandarian demon via tape recording found in the basement of their weekend getaway cabin. It doesn’t just choose one victim to possess, it wants them all. One by one, the group is possessed and turned into a gnarly deadite until only Ashley J. Williams (Bruce Campbell) is left. And as the franchise lays out, there’s no removal of this demonic infestation; Ash’s battle with demons is lifelong.

In the years that followed, similar demonic possession films appeared. 1985’s Demons turned unlucky theatergoers into demonic monsters, spread by scratches. Night of the Demons bent the rules even further with its fun take on demons that take over a Halloween party by way of possession. John Carpenter gave demonic possession his own spin with the second entry in his Apocalypse Trilogy, Prince of Darkness. Here he took the concept of the ultimate evil, Lucifer, and merged it with physics, namely matter and anti-matter.

Event Horizon plays out like a gory haunted house movie set in space, but that haunted house- the Event Horizon– is sentient, possessed by the hell dimension from which it returned. In turn, that evil finds a human host in Dr. Weir (Sam Neill), who self-mutilates and eschews his former identity to carry out the ship’s desires.

While the found footage craze came and went, and is now often met with derision, we can’t be too upset at a subgenre that gave us the REC franchise. The first film delivered a terrifying outbreak style horror film, an intense sort of zombie movie. Except, the final act revealed the outbreak’s source. A priest kept a possessed girl, Tristana Medeiros, sedated and used her in scientific experiments. Eventually, he isolated the possession to a particular enzyme, a contagion spread by saliva and bodily fluids. This outbreak, and the infected, are all demonic in nature. Something that’s expanded upon in REC 2, pushing even further into the religious.

The Blackcoat’s Daughter may have proven divisive with its slow-burn brand of horror, but it’s an interesting premise that I’m surprised we haven’t seen more of; a horror movie set after the exorcism. At least in part. The plot sees two girls facing an evil, demonic presence when they’re left behind at their boarding school over winter break, and it plays against a parallel story that sees one of the girl’s parents picking up a lonely girl at a bus stop while en route to the school. While the former plays out like an atmospheric tale of demonic possession, the latter takes a meditative examination of the aftermath. What happens to the victim after the demon has been expelled?

The Exorcist was so effective and such a major success that it became the standard. Its recognizable characteristics makes it easy to dominate the conversation about possession horror. But there’s a lot more to the subgenre, including great movies that aren’t afraid to explore different aspects, themes, and mythologies of possession. Luz is just the latest of many demonic possession films that defy convention, and they’re all worth seeking out.

The post ‘Luz’ and Demonic Possession Horror Movies That Break Convention appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Kinkade and Quigley were signing autographs at the NJ Horror Con the weekend of March 29, and the actresses reunited for a photo together… as their Night of the Demons characters!

“Angela & Suzanne, together again,” Quigley captioned the photo over on Twitter.

“In costume” photo-ops have recently become incredibly popular on the horror convention scene, and it’s always a treat to see our favorite actors bringing their characters back to life.

Check out the Night of the Demons reunion photo below!

The post [Image] ‘Night of the Demons’ Stars Amelia Kinkade and Linnea Quigley Reunited at NJ Horror Con! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

What exactly is a title sequence? At its most basic level, a title sequence gives the film’s title, obviously, as well as credits for the cast and crew involved. But it also sets the tone of the film ahead. It captures the essence of what the film is about, a sort of tease. Take Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, for example. The long-winding shots overhead of the family’s road trip to the Overlook Hotel while the ominous theme music plays and the credits scroll gives an overall sense of foreboding and dread that carries through the entire movie.  Here are more examples that prove how effective the title sequence can be, and a few that keep the artform alive.

Frankenstein (1931)

The title sequence for Universal’s 1931 adaptation of Frankenstein begins with a warning on behalf of the producers by character actor Edward Van Sloan. It’s full of theatrics that promises shock and horror to come. Perhaps even more interesting is that the opening credits list The Monster as being played by a question mark. It’s not until the end credits that the actor is revealed to be Boris Karloff.

Halloween

Like John Carpenter’s simple yet effective theme music, this title sequence manages to accomplish a lot with simplicity. A black background with orange text and a jack o’ lantern flickering orange with candlelight, it’s pure holiday menace. And whether you enjoyed Halloween 2018 or not, how amazing was this callback to the original film via title sequence?

Creepshow

After an opening scene that sets up this anthology’s wraparound, which sees a boy seeking revenge by way of horror comic, the title sequence encapsulates that comic book aesthetic. Vivid animation and matching music set the tone of the film. Moreover, if you’re paying attention, the images give teases of the segments to come.

The Thing

You can always count on John Carpenter to nail a title sequence. Beginning quietly before Ennio Morricone’s score kicks in, it’s the music that sets the tone against plain black and white credits. The title sequence closes with an impressive title effect by Special Optical Effects supervisor Peter Kuran that pays homage to The Thing from Another World.

A Nightmare on Elm Street

What an amazing way to introduce an audience to the central boogeyman without giving too much away. The title and credits are intercut with images of that now iconic glove being assembled and the unnerving boiler room nightmare of Tina. This is how you make an entrance.

Night of the Demons

When you think of title sequences in horror movies, this animated opening almost always comes to mind. A playful animation sequence that invokes haunted houses and Halloween spirit signals that the movie that follows has fun on its mind. That is was handled by animator and artist Kathy Zielinski, known for her work in Disney and The Simpsons, further cemented this title sequence as an all-time great.

Se7en

Up until this point, the title sequence had just about died out completely. David Fincher’s Se7en kickstarted a new renaissance of title sequences thanks to its intricate and highly detailed opening credits. Directed by Kyle Cooper, it’s a series of images and fragments as killer John Doe makes entries in his diary, develops photos, and cuts out book clippings. It all gives the viewer a glimpse into the mind of a serial killer.

The Cabin in the Woods

After an ominous set of credits set to a serious score and red tinted depictions of hell, it abruptly cuts to a seemingly mundane lab with a trio of employees exchanging mundane banter. It’s an intentional set up for the jump scare- the title card. This sequence gives you everything you need to know about the film; at first glance it’s pure horror, but it eventually gives way to humor that lovingly spoofs the horror genre.

Climax

There are many filmmakers today that are doing their part to keep the spirit of title sequences going, and Gaspar Noe is leading the pack. A provocateur that manipulates the format of a title sequence with aggressive style that boldly declares the madness sure to follow, Noe’s work is unlike anyone else’s. In Climax, the main credits don’t even pop up until halfway through; Noe uses them as a way to break up the film into two parts. Tom Kan, the artist behind Noe’s title sequences, give each actor unique font corresponding with their personalities. It’s heavily stylized, and follows on the heels of a pulse-pounding overhead dance number. Noe’s a rulebreaker in every way, and his title sequences serve as a perfect introduction.

What movies have your favorite title sequences?

The post The Dying Art of the Horror Movie Title Sequence appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

One of the selling points of the doc is that it’ll include several never-before-seen deleted scenes from each of the films, and we’ve been provided with one from Night of the Demons 3!

Writer Kevin Tenney explained the deleted scene to us, “This scene was meant to add more to the Holly character’s backstory. She had a near death experience as a child which was setting up why Angela had such an interest in her soul later on. It suggested that Holly’s soul was ancient somehow and very powerful. We ended up cutting this and changing Angela’s interest in Holly’s soul because she was a virgin. I can’t remember now why this scene was cut. The acting’s pretty good. In retrospect, I wish we’d kept it in the finished film.”

Check out the scene below and head over to Indiegogo to pitch in!

Night of the Demons premiered in 1988, spawning 2 sequels as well as a remake in 2009 – this documentary covers each film extensively with interviews from the cast and crew.

“Fully supported by original director Kevin Tenney and hosted exclusively by Amelia Kinkade, returning once again as the evil Angela, this documentary will unearth the behind the scenes shenanigans of the making of the original trilogy and 2009’s remake. With behind the scenes footage, interviews with the cast and crew and a wealth of never-before-seen interviews, ‘The Party’s Just Begun!’ is the ultimate celebration of Night of the Demons!”

The post [Exclusive] Watch a Never Before Seen Deleted Scene from ‘Night of the Demons 3’! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

From writer Chris MacGibbon comes the upcoming The Party’s Just Begun: The Legacy of Night of the Demons, a fan documentary from Dead Mouse Productions LTD, Cult Screenings UK LTD and Michael Perez Productions that’ll bring you back to Hull House with exclusive cast interviews, behind the scenes material and more, covering the entire franchise.

As we recently told you, The Party’s Just Begun is currently being funded through Indiegogo, and the team is generating press for the campaign today by announcing that several never-before-seen deleted scenes from Night of the Demons 2 and Night of the Demons 3 have been unearthed, which will be available exclusively as part of the doc’s release.

They detail, “There are several excised scenes from each film that have never been seen before that are EXCLUSIVE to this release. These scenes will also be included as bonus features separate from the documentary.”

Check out a Night of the Demons 2 deleted scene below and expect the doc in 2019!

Night of the Demons premiered in 1988, spawning 2 sequels as well as a remake in 2009 – this documentary covers each film extensively with interviews from the cast and crew.

“Fully supported by original director Kevin Tenney and hosted exclusively by Amelia Kinkade, returning once again as the evil Angela, this documentary will unearth the behind the scenes shenanigans of the making of the original trilogy and 2009’s remake. With behind the scenes footage, interviews with the cast and crew and a wealth of never-before-seen interviews, ‘The Party’s Just Begun!’ is the ultimate celebration of Night of the Demons!”

The post ‘Night of the Demons’ Documentary Digs Up Deleted Scenes from the Sequels That Have Never Been Seen appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Night of the Demons premiered in 1988, spawning 2 sequels as well as a remake in 2009 – this documentary covers each film extensively with interviews from the cast and crew.

“Fully supported by original director Kevin Tenney and hosted exclusively by Amelia Kinkade, returning once again as the evil Angela, this documentary will unearth the behind the scenes shenanigans of the making of the original trilogy and 2009’s remake. With behind the scenes footage, interviews with the cast and crew and a wealth of never-before-seen interviews, ‘The Party’s Just Begun!’ is the ultimate celebration of Night of the Demons!”

Check out the trailer below and expect the doc in 2019!

The post [Video] Watch a Six Minute Trailer for ‘The Party’s Just Begun,’ Next Year’s ‘Night of the Demons’ Documentary appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Slugs – Infested Dinner Meeting

From co-writer/director Juan Piquer Simon, the director behind ultra gory ‘80s slasher Pieces, this creature feature is delightfully gruesome. Toxic waste turns garden slugs into carnivorous killers, and they are very messy eaters. Halloween is only a background detail in the small rural town where the slugs lay siege, but a final act sees the hero trying to put a stop to the toxic waste slugs amidst costumed party goers in a wooded Halloween celebration. Of all the gory demises, the most over the top is the one where the poor guy finds out why you should wash your produce well before you eat it.

Ginger Snaps – Werewolf Dinner

Poor Sam Miller. He had no affiliation at all with the Fitzgerald sisters until Brigitte enlisted his help after Ginger got bitten by a werewolf. On Halloween night, Sam teams up with Brigitte to try to cure Ginger of her lycanthropy, but it’s not that easy. First Ginger breaks his arm when he rebuffs her advances, then she later brutally mauls him. With labored breathing, he’s forced to watch Brigitte attempt to slurp up his blood, and when Ginger isn’t convinced of her sister’s devotion, well, let’s just say she hates being rejected more than once. Werewolf induced death is always vicious, but Sam really didn’t deserve that.

Deadly Friend – Slam Dunk

This Wes Craven film has one of horror’s most insane deaths of all time, so it earned a spot here. After mean neighbor Elvira (Anne Ramsey) ruthlessly destroyed robotic friend BB, Paul puts the robot’s microchip in newly dead Samantha (Kristy Swanson). The microchip takes over, turning Sam into a revenge-seeking killer machine. Cruel Elvira is on her hit list, and it turns out robots don’t understand the rules of basketball. It’s gory, physically impossible, and ridiculously fun.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch – Mask Meltdown

One of the biggest taboos in horror is killing children, and this sequel’s entire setup is about doing just that. The Silver Shamrock mask company has nefariously implanted their top-selling Halloween masks with a Stonehenge infused microchip, and a signal in their catchy earworm commercial triggers it to cause the mask wearer a twitchy, brain damage induced death. If that’s not painful enough, those nearby have to contend with the swarm of insects and snakes that’s unleashed. Even without the bloodshed, it’s intense, painful, and melty enough to earn a spot for its brutality.

Night of the Demons – Razorblade Apple Pie

The old man at the center of this death totally deserved it, but what a merciless way to go. The bookend story to the main plot, the film opens with this jerk man carrying home razorblades and apples, the clear intent to destroy any trick or treaters that dare show up at his house on Halloween night. His saintly wife bakes him a pie with the leftover apples, though he doesn’t find out until too late. It’s a violent, bloody departure that couldn’t have happened to a worthier guy. A great endcap to a horror movie that revels in holiday fun.

Trick ‘r Treat – Always Check Your Candy

This Halloween favorite interweaves various stories that teach the rules of the holiday, otherwise, death can ensue. There’s a number of great deaths, but the most gruesome belongs to Charlie, a diabetic who doesn’t bother to check his trick or treat candy for tampering before chowing down.  Too bad it was spiked with cyanide, and Charlie is painfully destroyed from the inside out. It’s violent but fairly quick, and oh so very messy. It’s a terrible enough death, but then his killer decides to carve up his head as a jack o’lantern.

Murder Party – Art Gala Melee

Jeremy Saulnier’s feature debut may be way more comedic than the taut thrillers he’s come to be known for, but that doesn’t make it any less violent. This pitch black horror comedy, in which an unwitting victim is invited to a Halloween party to be slaughtered leads to a variety of brutal deaths. The entire final act is a bloodbath, making this one a tough call. But the winner goes to Bill, in costume as a Baseball Fury, who unleashes his pent-up rage against his fellow art students. When it’s not satiated, he goes on an ax-murdering spree in an adjacent art party. The blood flows free at this party.

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers – Jamie Lloyd Harvested

The recasting of Jamie Lloyd was brutal enough, but the theatrical cut of this maligned sequel sees the fan favorite character dispatched in the most ruthless way in just the first act. After giving birth and then fleeing with the baby, Michael Myers chases her down and impales her on a corn thresher at a farm. It’s violent enough, but when she refuses to give up the baby, he turns the thresher on. Ouch.

House of 1000 Corpses – Dr. Satan’s Vivisection

The four friends that come upon the Firefly clan on Hallow’s Eve spend the evening and through Halloween night getting tortured. None of it is pleasant. But for Jerry, he suffers more than any of them. First, he’s partially scalped by Baby, then he’s vivisected by Dr. Satan himself in the underground layer. His girlfriend Denise finds him still alive, twitching and coughing up blood as Dr. Satan leans over his open chest cavity, surgical tools in hand. Jerry wanted a night of Halloween fun, and found himself a failed experiment instead.

Halloween II (2009) – Annie Brackett’s Bathroom Breakdown

Sometimes the most brutal deaths aren’t about the gore, but absolute emotional devastation. Whether you love or hate what Rob Zombie did with his two Halloween films, the death of Annie Brackett is a complete sucker punch. Michael Myers catches Annie off guard in her bathroom, and most of the violence happens off-screen. We see the blood-drenched aftermath, which is downright visceral. But what really drives this home in terms of brutality is Laurie Strode’s emotional breakdown as Annie dies in her arms. If you’re not moved yet, then just wait until Annie’s father Leigh arrives on the scene. Brad Dourif gives a heart-wrenching performance as the father grieving over his daughter’s death, and this is one horror death you really feel.

The post The 10 Most Brutal Kills in Halloween-set Horror Movies! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Night of the Demons

Written/produced by Joe Augustyn and directed by Kevin Tenney (Witchboard), Night of the Demons is a Halloween cult classic. Receiving a regional theatrical release that began in Detroit on September 9, 1988, and spread throughout the country until June 1989, Night of the Demons was initially panned by critics despite earning a profit and, per usual, reception has long since grown more positive throughout the years.

The premise is simple. Teen outcasts Angela Franklin and Suzanne decide to throw a Halloween party in Hull House, an abandoned mortuary with a dark past. The party turns to horror, though, when Angela hosts a séance that frees the demons from the crematorium and begins to possess the partygoers one by one. Though Amelia Kinkade’s goth Angela would become the film’s cover girl, the most recognizable name in the cast is Linnea Quigley, as the first to be possessed Suzanne.

Despite great build up toward the unleashing of the demons, it actually takes a while for the body count to begin. As memorable as the primary possessed villains are in Angela and Suzanne, final girl Judy (Cathy Podewell) is one of horror’s most annoying. Helpless and reliant on the men around her to rescue her, the true (unsung) final girl of the film belongs to Rodger (Alvin Alexis). Never has a will to live been as strong as Rodger, who proves willing to do just about anything to escape the clutches of the enclosing demons.

What separates Night of the Demons from similar plotlines in demonic possession horror is the heavy use of Halloween iconography and special makeup effects design. The animated opening credits is pure holiday magic, and the bookend story about the razorblade spiked apples is a delightful Halloween trick. This is a horror movie that embraces Halloween in a way that so few horror movies even attempt.

The special makeup effects were designed and created by the talented Steve Johnson (Blade II, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master), elevating the low budget into something with an enduring quality. It’s a film not afraid to get weird, if Suzanne’s lipstick trick is any indication.

Night of the Demons is a Halloween descent into raucous B-movie fun that dances with both horror and comedy. Memorable creature designs, a rocking soundtrack, punk attitude, and Halloween iconography makes it understandable why this has become more regarded in the 30 years since release, even if imperfect. Of course, clever marketing with catchy taglines like ‘Angela is having a party, Jason and Freddy are too scared to come. But You’ll have a hell of a time,” helps.

Night of the Demons 2

Co-written by original Night of the Demons writer/producer Joe Augustyn and directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith (Dead End Drive-In, Stunt Rock), this sequel is exactly what any horror sequel should be. It retains the core spirit of what made its predecessor beloved while expanding upon the mythology, upping the body count, and improving on special effects.

Set six years after the events of the first film, all bodies were recovered from Hull House save Angela’s. When her parents received a Halloween card from their missing daughter, they committed suicide, leaving their remaining daughter, Mouse, alone. Under the care of a Catholic boarding school for troubled teens, Mouse gets dragged to Hull House by some of the school’s mean girls for a Halloween party. Not only does Angela now have a new group of victims to play with, she also has more sinister plans in mind thanks to the arrival of her sister.

This sequel doesn’t take near as long for the demonic chaos to ensue, and boldly takes Angela out of Hull House for much of the second act. But above all, Night of the Demons 2 is a Halloween treat in gore. The makeup effects supervisor on this sequel was Joel Harlow, an Academy Award winner for Best Makeup and Hairstyling on 2009’s Star Trek, and character and makeup designer on upcoming Hellboy reboot. In other words, the special makeup effects here are far better than what you’d typically find in straight-to-video sequels.

When these demons kill or get killed, it’s one sloppy, glorious gory mess. It’s also the first and only film in the entire franchise to make good use of both its poster girl, Angela, and the monster demon glimpsed in the mirror of the first film as the big bad. When the protagonists outsmart her in the third act, dealing what seems to be a mortal blow, Angela morphs into a monstrous serpentine demon. Bold horror statement: Night of the Demons 2 is the best of the series.

Night of the Demons 3

There are retro movies that remain out of print due to legal issues, and there are retro movies that remain out of print because they’re so bad no one wants to spend the money to polish them off for new release. Night of the Demons 3 falls squarely in the latter category. This third entry, also known as Demon House, can only be recommended for serious completionists. Even then, well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Written by original Night of the Demons director Kevin Tenney, who also served as 2nd unit director, this sequel seems to have lost all sense of what made the previous films entertaining. Released straight-to-video in 1997, Night of the Demons 3 feels and looks more like a movie that should have been released about 5-6 years earlier. Halloween is more of an afterthought in this installment; the unwitting group of victims enter Hull House after one of them shoots a police officer at a gas station and they need a place to hide for the evening.

This version of Hull House is a beautifully restored upper-class home, with pristine white painted walls. It’s nothing at all like the dilapidated, abandoned mortuary of the first two films. Amelia Kinkade once again reprises her role as Angela, but this Angela is much different than the demonic Halloween goth we’ve come to know. There’s no tiara, no gothic dress, and no goth makeup. Angela rarely even shows her demonic side in this sequel at all. Instead, it’s a clean-cut Angela wearing lacy negligee, and her personality is more softcore seductress than soul chewing demon.

That’s essentially what Night of the Demons 3 is; less of a Halloween creature feature spookfest and more of an excuse to get these horny teens together and naked. Plenty of nudity, and often for weird puzzling reasons. The sex scenes, including one really bizarre scene featuring Angela, are eye-rolling. Where’s the carnage? What little gore there is are done up in poorly dated ‘90s CGI. Also, nothing dates a movie from the ‘90s like having your group of delinquents show off how tough they are by trading “yo mama” jokes. An abysmal conclusion to the original trilogy, Night of the Demons 3 should stay buried in the cemetery of out of print films.

Despite a lackluster finish, two out of three fun-filled holiday-themed horror films are still better than most horror trilogies and franchises. Night of the Demons gets a lot of deserving love this time of year, but Night of the Demons 2 is a great sequel worth carving out space for on those October watchlists.

The post Trick or Treat, Sucker: Revisiting the Halloween-themed ‘Night of the Demons’ Trilogy appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

From writer Chris MacGibbon will soon come the now-in-the-works The Party’s Just Begun: The Legacy of Night of the Demons, a fan documentary from Dead Mouse Productions LTD, Cult Screenings UK LTD and Michael Perez Productions that’ll bring you back to Hull House with exclusive cast interviews, behind the scenes material and more.

“The cult classic NIGHT OF THE DEMONS premiered in 1988 spawning 2 sequels as well as a remake in 2009 – this documentary covers each film extensively with interviews from the cast and crew. Also featuring exclusive behind the scenes footage and photos, this is one party you don’t want to be caught dead missing!”

We expect more details soon, ahead of a planned 2019 release.

The post Upcoming Documentary Will Extensively Explore the ‘Night of the Demons’ Franchise appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Like they did for Silent Night, Deadly Night, Scream Factory has joined forces with NECA for a limited edition Blu-ray offering of Night of the Demons that includes an exclusive action figure of main character Angela, which is only being made available in this set!

Night of the Demons is being re-released in newly-designed Blu-ray steelbook packaging with a new 4K film transfer, and if you order directly from the Scream Factory website, it comes with an exclusive lithograph plus an officially-licensed poseable Angela doll.

The Deluxe Offer is limited to 2,000 orders only, in US & Canada…

• Receive the Blu-ray Steelbook
• Receive a rolled 28.5” x 16.5” lithograph of the new slipcase art by Laz Marquez
• Receive an exclusive, officially-licensed limited edition 8” tall “Angela” doll created by NECA. This will only be available here on our site!
• Free Shipping

Official street date for the release is October 23.

The post Scream Factory Announces ‘Night of the Demons’ Steelbook With Angela Action Figure from NECA! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

This colorful fundraising event benefits the VINCENT PRICE ART MUSEUM in E. Los Angeles.

“Kevin Tenney has been amazing in putting the cast together for this charity event, and we’ve had so many people donate both prizes and their services for free. Everyone’s doing it for the love. Shows you how much respect Kevin and the film have amongst fans and people in the industry,” says Festival Director Miles Flanagan.

Night of the Demons (1988) was such a success, grossing over $3 million against its $1 million budget, that it spawned two sequels and a remake, but did anyone know at the time how successful this little indie was going to be?

“Honestly, if you’d asked any one of the cast or crew members on the set of Night of the Demons thirty-something years ago, not one of us would’ve predicted our little low-budget film would become a holiday perennial, and still be screening for hardcore fans in sold-out venues today,” said Tenney. “We all just did our best and hoped it would find an appreciative audience. Mission accomplished, I guess…”

Adds Flanagan: “It’s not a regular cinema but more of a club – with a proscenium stage, full bar and even a retro disco ball for the after-party. It’s going to be awesome. Our own 80’s prom for adults.”

There’ll be celebrity raffles (with some amazing prizes donated by Arrow Video, Wild Eye Releasing, Susete Saraiva, Mull House Pinworks, Dead End Toyz, Will Turner, Hello Gorgeous Creations, Knee High Horror, The Horror Corner and Lunaris Records). There’ll be celebrity photo ops with the entire cast, NOTD cosplay competitions and much more. The Q&A will be moderated by celebrated journalist Pat Jankiewicz (author of “Just When You Thought it Was Safe – A JAWS Companion”).

Dress accordingly (prizes for best, or should that be worst, 80’s attire). Expect more 80’s horror icons to be there, and party like it’s 1988 Night of the Demons.

The post Hollywood Horrorfest Holding a Big Birthday Bash for ‘Night of the Demons! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

CREEPY wraps up his 31 Days of Horror and we’ve picked 5 of his best episodes to check out.

Please note that listener discretion is advised.

Day 14 – The Tall Man | Day 17 – Why Babies Are Born Screaming | Day 22 – Room Zero 

Day 24 – Parchment | Day 26 – The Smiling Man

The Horror Show takes a look at Boo! A Madea Halloween to find out if it’s scary good or frightfully bad.

Forever Midnight does a Linnea Quigley Double Feature on two great halloween Movies. Night of the Demons and The Barn.

Women in Caskets sit down and talk to director Jon Schnitzer and legendary Haunt actor Shar Mayer to discuss their movie Haunters: The Art of the Scare.

Test Pattern look at two ghost movies that terrified them as children, The Changeling and Lady in White.

The post [Podcasts] Celebrate Halloween With The Bloody Disgusting Podcast Network appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Subscribe and Listen to Past Episodes:
iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher | Web Player

Forever Midnight is a joyful discussion of horror in cinema for all horror fans, not just know-it-all nerds (and also for know-it-all nerds).

You can interact with the guys from Forever Midnight on Twitter and Instagram.

The Bloody Disgusting Podcast Network consists of The Horror Show, Women in Caskets, Forever Midnight, Test Pattern, and Virtual Pros. All of these shows can be found on our iTunes Provider Page as well as the Bloody Disgusting App on all iOS and Android devices.

The post [Podcasts] Forever Midnight – Episode 73: Halloween Quig-Out! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Victor Crowley – the Hatchet series

With the surprise newest entry of this beloved franchise currently on tour in the Victor Crowley Road Show, one could argue that this horror villain isn’t exactly underrated. Yet, the Hatchet series still feels more cult appreciated than the mainstream love it deserves. As for assembling this costume, Trick or Treat Studios made a fantastic Victor Crowley mask available on their site or through Amazon. With a few more easy finishing touches, like overalls and prop weapons, you have an easy costume that will make party-goers intimidated.

Billy Murphy – The Final Girls

This horror comedy doesn’t get nearly enough love, and neither does its slasher villain Billy Murphy. A clear parody of films like the Friday the 13th series, Billy Murphy shares a resemblance to Jason Voorhees. Instead of a hockey mask, Billy has a comical tiki mask. Don’t have coveralls? That’s ok, Billy Murphy is more the black pants, shirt, and jacket type. Easy costume assembly representative of a fun horror comedy.

Any – Killer Klowns from Outer Space

With the smashing success of IT at the box office, you can almost guarantee Pennywise will be a hot costume commodity this Halloween. That makes this the perfect time to bring this cult classic to the forefront. The best part is that there’s no shortage of costume ideas to be taken from the colorful clown villains featured in the film. Jumbo, Fatso, Shorty, and so many more, all are perfect for terrorizing those with coulrophobia this Halloween. Trick or Treat Studios developed costumes for many of the Killer Klowns, though you could always make your own. Not into the idea of being a clown? That’s ok; you could always be one of their victims in cotton candy cocoons instead.

Lola – The Loved Ones

For an easy costume of an underrated, yet chilling horror villain, look no further than Lola “Princess” Stone. Wearing a simple pink dress and a pink paper crown, Lola dubs herself her own Queen of the dance as she tortures her victims for rejecting her, all in search of her own prince. Lola’s standards are impossibly high; making anyone she sets her sights on very unfortunate. Lola is a worthy horror villain with an easy ensemble to emulate- making her a great costume selection this Halloween.

Dr. Phillip K. Decker – Nightbreed

Played by horror master David Cronenberg, the movie’s first introduction to this horror villain is the opening sequence that sees the masked psychotherapist systematically murder an innocent family, including the children. The mask is creepy enough, but Decker’s cold demeanor and calm intelligence make him the true terror of the movie. In a world where monsters of all shapes and sizes exist, it’s the serial killing human that we’re afraid of. A burlap sack-like mask with button eyes and a zipper mouth paired with a suit makes for an easy, yet terrifying costume.

Candyman – Candyman

Not only is this supernatural urban boogeyman severely underappreciated, but he would make one awesome Halloween costume this year or any year. The bees, the hooked hand, and even the exposed flesh- the Candyman, thanks in large part to Tony Todd’s performance, is equal parts terror and class. For all of the horror icons cosplayed at horror conventions or Halloween parties, I have yet to see a Candyman. Can we change that, please?

Julia Cotton – Hellbound: Hellraiser II

While poor Kristy Cotton’s wicked stepmother proved to be a real villain in the first film, the sequel allows Julia to truly shine as the evil killer unleashed from hell. Even without skin, men still fall for her wiles, not realizing how deadly she is until it’s too late.  While Frank Cotton simply wanted to free his hellish prison in the first film, overachiever Julia wants to rule in it as a Cenobite herself. One of the most ruthless horror villains of all time, Julia’s Bride of Frankenstein inspired outfit would make for an excellent costume.

Leslie Vernon – Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

Nathan Baesel’s performance as the eponymous Leslie Vernon is pure heart and humor. This slasher lovingly pokes fun and dissects the slasher sub-genre in mockumentary style before giving way to full-on film during the climax. For those that prefer dressing as a character full of charm that doesn’t take themselves too seriously, Leslie Vernon should be your pick. The overalls allow for more breathing room, you know, if you need to do a lot of cardio this Halloween. And don’t forget the flame-retardant gel underneath the mask if you think your Halloween party might get out of control. Then again, you don’t even have to have the mask to pull this one off.

Officer Matthew Cordell – Maniac Cop 2

Why the sequel version of NYPD’s worst nightmare? While any iteration of the undead Maniac Cop would work, this sequel gives the character a cool makeup upgrade. As for the franchise itself, Robert Z’Dar delivers an iconic performance, and Larry Cohen films are always a blast. Not only is the series worth seeking out and watching, but Halloween could use more Maniac Cops. Cop costumes are super easy to find this time of year, so why not upgrade it into something horror related?

Angela Franklin – Night of the Demons

Night of the Demons is quintessential Halloween. Holding a Halloween party at Hull House is all fun and games until party host Angela Franklin performs a séance and unleashes evil demons within. So iconic and cool, Angela becomes the centerpiece for the entire trilogy. The best part about dressing as Angela is that you’ve got multiple stages of Angel’s possession to choose from. Gothic black wedding dress, tiara, and jewelry and you’re all set for pre-possession. Throw in fangs, contacts, and blood? Even better. Major points to those daring enough to take her full demonic mode.

What will you be dressing as this Halloween?

The post 10 Underrated Horror Villains to Dress as This Halloween appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

When it comes to horror movies that deserve to be watched every Halloween season, Kevin S. Tenney’s Night of the Demons is no doubt near the top of the list. Released in 1988, the film centers on a Halloween party that takes place at an abandoned mortuary… it’s all fun and games until a demonic spirit awakens.

In celebration of the film, artists Chris MacGibbon and Juan José Saldarriaga have partnered up for a series of limited edition 11″ x 17″ Night of the Demons posters, which will be available exclusively at the Lunaris Records booth at this weekend’s New Jersey Horror Con – along with original props and press materials on display.

Each design is limited to just 40 prints, and they’ll be available beginning Saturday.

The posters pay tribute to the film’s classic art, and you can check them out below!

The post Series of Limited Edition ‘Night of the Demons’ Posters Pays Tribute to Original Art appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“…a movie created with the intention of piggy-backing on the publicity of a major movie with a similar title or subject or both.”

The term has clawed its way into the popular lexicon thanks in most part to The Asylum and their blatant “confuse the consumer” products such as Snakes on a Train, The Da Vinci Treasure, and When a Killer Calls. The Asylum’s first mockbuster, The War of the Worlds, wasn’t released until ’05; naturally, it coincided with the release of Stephen Spielberg’s mega-budget adaptation.

The Italians created a boon industry in the late 70s/early 80s of rehashed plots, soundalike titles, and “unofficial” sequels. There’s an upcoming doc called Remake, Remix, Rip-off (which I’m dying to see) that covers numerous Turkish “remakes” such as Turkish Star Wars. Cheap knock offs have been around as long as producers realized they could get away with it, and there are no signs of the trend slowing down. It even appears that big ol’ Hollywood could be getting into the act.

Recently, Brad took the new film, Life, to task for appearing to be an Alien clone. I’m not sure I agree with that sentiment just yet, but I also happen to be a huge fan of Alien knockoffs. B-grade riffs on Ridley Scott’s terrifying “old dark house in space” have turned in some of my favorite Corman pictures. Life is far from low budget, however. Instead, the upcoming film announced from Michael Bay sounds like a far stronger contender for this particular list: Little America is a “if they sued that other movie, they’re certainly coming for you” level take off of Escape from New York.

Now that the mini history lesson is out the way, let’s get to it. Here are 5 horrific horror ripoffs (in no particular order) that have no shame in their copycat game. (NOTE: Being labeled a “ripoff of” does not inherently make a movie bad in my opinion. I actually enjoy some of these films on a purely, brainless, B-movie level. Take of that what you will. Cheers!)

1. Offerings (1989)

First, there was Michael Myers. Now, there is John Radley. The plot of this low budget 1989 slasher flick is…well…it’s Halloween with a few absurd additions. John is a mute who suffers verbal and possible physical abuse at home. He tortures his pets out of frustration (perhaps Rob Zombie was confused and actually thought he was remaking this film). In a terrible accident brought on by local bullies, John falls to the bottom of a well, leaving him terribly burned(?). After ten years in a comatose state, he escapes from the mental hospital to begin seeking his revenge.

Right from the jump, Offerings knows what it is and is totally okay with it. The score alternates between interesting original synth to a complete copy of Carpenter’s daunting piano notes. There’s a local professor who was “involved in the case”, but it’s never really explained what his connection is to the killer. He exists solely because, well, they needed their own Dr. Loomis. Johnny doesn’t wear a mask but sports some spiffy blue overalls to silently stalk his victims, occasionally popping out of the shadows to attack.

As cheapy-cheap as this movie is, the pace moves quickly, the kills are inventive if not terribly gory, and the finale is one big chase scene. When it comes to passable, low-grade, 80’s slasher cheese – that’s about all I could ask for.

2. Creature (1985)

Creature tells the tale of space geologists who make the fatal mistake of responding to a distress signal from a rival German ship. It turns out they’ve just landed themselves smack dab in the feeding grounds of a viscous, slimy, black skinned alien being. Insanity ensues! William Malone (House on Haunted Hill, Feardotcom) directs his second feature, utilizing leftover sets and props from Roger Corman’s Forbidden World (also an Alien impostor).

The truth is there are a ton of movies whose inspiration could be traced back to Ridley Scott’s seminal film (itself reportedly inspired by Bava’s Planet of the Vampires). Creature takes the intergalactic cake for one reason alone, the actual “creature” design. One look at this thing and there is no question Giger and the Xenomorph were being, let’s say, re-interpreted here.

3. Bloody Murder (2000)

You need only look at the cover for this early 2000’s video store mainstay, which somehow spawned two sequels, to tell exactly what’s getting the rip-off treatment. Yes, Friday the 13^th is hardly the most original film to begin with and countless other flicks have dared to venture into a secluded campground with a masked murderer on the loose (Joe D’Amato’s Bodycount is a fun Italian take on the subgenre), but none have ever been so egregious as this. Bloody Murder‘s legendary killer is a scrawny dweeb by the name of Trevor Moorehouse who wears a hockey mask!

The filmmakers weren’t even trying on this one. I really hate to say that as no one sets out to make a terrible film, but sometimes “terrible” does happen. It’s just that in this instance, it’s hard to imagine director Ralph Potillo was really trying to create anything beyond a paycheck. Considering this came out in the post-Scream era there’s still some knowing winks and poor attempts at humor sprinkled throughout. Once the credits have rolled, the gravest sin of all, however, is Bloody Murder is bloody boring. Ay, see what I did there?

4. Demon Wind (1990)

Do you love The Evil Dead? So do the filmmakers of Demon Wind! Okay, maybe that’s not entirely fair. They also seem to really love Night of the Demons, but…mostly The Evil Dead. This is a super cheese-ball flick about a group of friends who escape for a weekend away to a decrepit cabin in the middle of nowhere. They unknowingly unleash an ancient evil, a barrage of body jumping demons.

Lest you think “demons” and “cabin” are the only ED connection, may I point out a big book o’ magic and an ancient blade that may be the only saving grace for our hapless group? Demon Wind will try the patience of some while for others it may prove an amazing movie night flick to share with a group of pals. The effects are generally abysmal, but they’re gooey and repulsive enough to elicit the desired effect.

What’s better is that once you think the main cast has been whittled down, leaving scant opportunity for further bloodshed, along come another group of friends to join the party. This happens TWO TIMES! It’s as if the the writer/directer was on page 30 of his script (and subsequently page 60) and thought, “Damn. I need more people to kill. I’ve got an idea!” You’ll know if this is your bag from the trailer. If so, I highly recommend you track it down!

5. Shocking Dark/AKA Terminator II (1989)

Wow. With this movie we get a twofer. Not only is Shocking Dark a complete rip-off of James Cameron’s Aliens, it’s also an unofficial sequel to James Cameron’s Terminator. That’s right, this film was released as Terminator II in several countries. While the plot itself is pretty much all “bad ass military types must infiltrate a colony where all communications have been lost, only to discover rabid monsters dead-set on their demise.” The final act does shift gears into Terminator mode, just in time to justify that alternate title. And, boy howdy, when it does! It’s an insane amalgam of explosions, surprise robot reveals, and time travel.

The military grunts are all tough as nails archetypes copied from Cameron’s original film. For our heroine, we’re given a “scientist” as Bo-bo Ripley whose maternal instincts kick in upon discovering Bo-bo Newt. Unfortunately, she doesn’t elicit much in the way of confidence. She appears utterly perplexed and aimless in every close-up. In other words – you’ve got to see this movie!

This freshly grated Romano cheese is another Italian import from knockoff king, Bruno Mattei. This man has brought us such classics as Cruel Jaws, Hell of the Living Dead (which actually uses Dawn of the Dead’s score in places without any permission what-so-ever), and Robowar (AKA Robocop No. 2). Robowar is interesting in that, much like Shocking Dark, it’s a mashup of two different pre-existing films: it’s obvious namesake and Predator.

FYI: That terrifying, half naked, screaming man was a legit bumper. Variations of this were added to trailers released by the Japanese company, Caution Video.

Have you seen any of the knockoffs on this list? Did I not include your favorite copycat? Sound off below!

Also, I quickly wanted to thank those of you who have welcomed me to BD. I appreciate it and hope you’ve been enjoying my stuff. Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions below or you can always hit me up on Twitter here.

The post Sincerest Form of Flattery: 5 Horror Knockoffs appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Since Halloween is just around the corner, I figured I’d put together a list of a few movies that really embody the spirit of the holiday, at least in my mind. These are movies that feature monsters, ghost stories, candy, costumes, and pretty much everything else that one could want. I also tried to go for a range of styles. That way, you can choose to laugh, scream, or watch something with your kids. Halloween is meant to be shared!

Check them out below and let us know in the comments what you think and which movies YOU can’t go a Halloween without watching!

Trick ‘r Treat

Let’s just go ahead and get this one up there first. After all, I honestly can’t think of another movie that so perfectly embodies everything that Halloween has to offer than Mike Dougherty’s 2007 anthology flick.

The point of this movie is that people should respect holidays and honor their traditions. If you don’t, you never know what might happen. That’s why you need to keep those jack-o’-lanterns lit, keep handing out that candy, stay in costume, and simply have a good time!

If you only watch one horror movie this Halloween, give Trick ‘r Treat that honor. It deserves it.

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch

Perhaps the cruelest Halloween movie I can think of, this entry in the franchise created by John Carpenter was reviled upon release due to its lack of Michael Myers. However, as time has gone on, the horror community has largely come around and realized that the film is actually rather incredible.

When you think about it, the current incarnation of Halloween as a holiday is meant largely for kids. It allows them to become whatever their imagination desires, rewarding them with treats and candies. It’s a night of wonder and excitement, which makes it all the more tragic when Season of the Witch mercilessly slaughters (potentially) millions of children across the country.

In terms of stakes, no Halloween movie has them as high as Halloween 3: Season of the Witch.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

After Halloween, the big holiday that every store starts promoting isn’t Thanksgiving, it’s Christmas. Since we know it’s coming, why not embrace it and mix our love of two holidays (well, for me it’s Hanukkah but that’s beside the point) into one wickedly entertaining and exciting movie?

What makes this movie wonderful for the holiday is that Halloween is meant for both adults and children. I know that many of you have children of your own, so what better way to show them that monsters aren’t all evil than by showing them The Nightmare Before Christmas? Adults get to enjoy spooky imagery and an incredible production while children get to sing along and fall in love with charming and delightful characters.

I call this a win-win for anyone with kids or those on babysitter duty that night.

Night of the Demons

First of all, can we talk about the amazing animated opening credits sequence? If nothing else, those few minutes alone would be enough for me to add this film to the list. But when you’ve got a bunch of teens partying in a possessed house and doing séances that ultimately releases demonic creatures that come after them, you bet your ass I’m happy to toss this film up here!

Night of the Demons is that 80’s cheesefest that is so popular this time of the year. It’s that movie with bad acting, a ridiculous plot, and a complete lack of care about either because it’s too busy having a damn good time! And if you don’t like that, well… “Eat a bowl of fuck! Cuz I’m here to PARTY!”

Tales of Halloween

Another anthology horror flick, this one features shorts directed by and starring some of horror’s most recognized and prolific names. With tales about the Devil, violent trick-or-treaters, deformed creatures, witches, aliens, and more, you simply can’t go wrong with a movie like this!

Sure, some of the shorts aren’t exactly the best but that just makes the good ones all the more special and effective. I’ll leave it to you to see which ones you like more than others!

The post 5 Movies That Capture the Halloween Spirit appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

No matter the quality of the movie itself, good art can get people to watch that movie and bad art can turn people off from it, and though that’s as true today as it was back in the ’80s and early ’90s, there’s no denying that horror movie art hit peak awesomeness during the heyday of the mom-and-pop video shop. That box art had to be eye-catching in order to encourage rentals, and oh boy was it ever.

Unfortunately, necessary bells and whistles like company logos, taglines, pull-quotes, and movie titles often distracted from the stunning artwork that painters and photographers were tasked with whipping up to grab our attention at the video store, and we’ve never really gotten the chance to see what some of our favorite VHS art would look like without all that filler. Until now, that is.

Massachusetts-based artist Chris MacGibbon recently set out to retouch and clean up some of his favorite pieces of VHS art, breathing new life into old art simply by washing away anything and everything that distracted from the raw artwork itself. The result of the restoration project? Absolutely stunning pieces of art that look brand new, despite how familiar we are with them.

“Well, it was mostly as something to practice on,” MacGibbon told me, when I asked him about the genesis of the project. “See if I could do it and keep the art alive. It’s not an art form really, cloning, it’s more of a… precision. You clone too much, you remove a piece of the art or alter it so it looks tampered with. But when you get that right mix, and it starts to work – it really comes together.”

“A lot of the studios with these films never kept or had access to the transparency art – so I realized that some of these would always have text, titles on them and such,” he added. “So why not try my luck with these and see if I can restore them to just pieces of art? And here they are.”

You’ve seen the art. You love the art. But you’ve never seen it like THIS before!

The post Artists Removes Text From Horror VHS Covers; Raw Artwork Shines appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The Purge: Anarchy

Taking everything that worked about The Purge and improving upon it tenfold, The Purge: Anarchy was quite the surprise of 2014. After The Purge disappointed in 2013 (but surprised at the box office), audiences were gifted with this clean slate of a film that actually took advantage of its interesting premise: for 12 hours, all crime is legal. Anarchy isn’t a perfect film, but it’s a helluva lot of fun.

Battle Royale

The children in Battle Royale got an extension on their “survive the night plot” and get a whole 72 hours to make it out alive! Well, one of them anyway. In the Japanese classic, 42 students participate in the annual Battle Royale as a result of the BR Act, which was passed after 800,000 students walked out of school. It’s a brutal film, but it’s a classic for a reason.

30 Days of Night

AKA One of the best vampire movies of the new millennium! David Slade (Hard Candy) brings us this frost-bitten tale of some of the scariest vampires you’ve ever seen. And even though it takes place over the course of 30 24-hour periods, it is technically one night!

Jeepers Creepers 2

Here is where the “mostly” comes in with this article title. Jeepers Creepers 2 is no gem. In fact, it’s pretty mediocre, but it’s still highly entertaining. Eschewing all of the creepiness that made the first film so effective (Jeepers Creepers is an underrated gem and I won’t hear any opinions to the contrary!), Jeepers Creepers 2 follows a bus full of high schoolers as they must survive the final night of the Creeper’s rampage.

Terror Train

A New Year’s Eve train ride takes a turn for the worse when a masked serial killer comes aboard to kill the boys and girls of Sigma Phi (“some will live, some will die” notes the supremely clever tagline). It’s a bit silly since no one realizes anyone is dead until about 70 minutes into the movie, but that third act twist with the killer reveal is one of the better ones to come out of the 80s slasher craze.

Saw II

Less about surviving the night and more about surviving until the deadly toxin in the air kills the lead characters, Saw II is all about a race against the clock. I maintain that it is the best Saw film (come at me!), and while the twist doesn’t exactly live up to the standards set by the first film, it does feature some of the franchise’s best traps (the needly pit, anyone?).

Night of the Demons

Whether you’re referring to the totally awesome 1988 film or not-quite-as-awesome-but-still-totally-entertaining 2009 remake, you can’t go wrong with Night of the Demons! A group of kids are trapped in Angela’s (Amelia Kinkade/Shannon Elizabeth) house as demons are unleashed and begin to possess them one by one. If they can make it to sunrise, the demons will be banished forever!

Demons

Demons sure to like harassing people in one building, don’t they? Looking back on Lamberto Bava’s Demons (which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary), it still stands the test of time as an unabashedly entertaining meta gorefest about a group of people who have to survive the night in a movie theater as demons begin to possess them. There’s nothing classy about it, but if you sit down and let Demons take you along for the ride, you’ll find yourself having the time of your life!

What is your favorite “survive the night” horror film? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 8 (Mostly) Great ‘Survive the Night’ Horror Movies! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The post 10 Horror Movie Halloween Nights You Do NOT Want to Attend appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Additionally, they’ll be streaming the documentary Adjust Your Tracking, which follows modern day VHS collectors.

The retro website went live this afternoon and it’s pretty fuckin’ cool.

Shout! Factory TV proudly presents a #ThrowbackThursday of epic proportions! Sit back, relax and return to your retro roots with the VHS Vault. Shout! Factory TV is being kind to rewind you all the way back to the days of VHS, just in time to revisit your favorite Halloween flicks—five cult classics in their VHS pan and scan full-screen ratios, to be exact. Forget about high definition, and relive the style that gives these films the character that cult fans all over yearn for. To top it off, we’re also streaming the documentary film ‘Adjust Your Tracking: The Untold Story of the VHS Collector,’ an exploration of the recent resurgence of VHS culture. It features over 100 interviews with VHS collectors, video store owners, directors and more.

Sleepaway Camp

(Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tiersten, Karen Fields)

Traumatized and shy Angela Baker gets sent to a totally bogus summer camp that doesn’t even have a Nintendo in Sleepaway Camp. Once she gets there, everything goes super smoothly–NOT. Leave your jean jacket at home so it doesn’t get covered in blood.

Night of the Demons

(Cathy Podewell, Alvin Alexis, Hal Havins)

Your Swatch may say it’s time to party, but in Night of the Demons, a bunch of party animals decide to hold a seance in a funeral parlor instead of playing with pogs like normal kids. Their big mistake turns into a totally radical movie for the rest of us to enjoy.

Day of the Dead

(Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Joseph Pilato)

Fill up a fanny pack with weapons and slap bracelets, because you’re about to take on a world overrun by zombies in Day of the Dead. It follows the story of a small group of military officers and scientists living in an underground bunker without so much as a Poison cassette or a Molly Ringwald movie to entertain them!

Class of 1984

(Perry King, Merrie Lynn Ross, Timothy Van Patten)

There’s no Brat Pack in Class of 1984, a movie about a school full of thoughtful, obedient students. As if! This movie is all about a lawless high school that would be totally tubular if it weren’t for the drug dealing thugs that have taken it over! It even features an appearance by a promising new upstart named Michael J. Fox.

Exterminators of the Year 3000

(Robert Iannucci, Alicia Moro, Luciano Pigozzi)

Parents thought it was the end of the world when kids started wearing side ponytails, Jordache jeans and neon windbreakers, but that’s nothing compared to the gang of motorcycle psychos who run rampant on a post-apocalyptic Earth in Exterminators of the Year 3000! It’s a glorious crash of guns, nuclear fallout and cutting-edge synthesizers!

Adjust Your Tracking: The Untold Story of the VHS Collector

(Lloyd Kaufman, Anthony Timpone, Keith J. Crocker)

Frankie says relax and watch Adjust Your Tracking, a movie about how awesome VHS is! We all knew that home entertainment couldn’t possibly get any better once we could watch our favorite John Cusack movies whenever we wanted (unless they make a 64-bit video game system, but that technology is way off). Check this film out and learn about your fellow VHS collectors.

Thanks to reader Jesse K. for the tip!

The post Shout Factory Streaming VHS Versions of Horror Titles! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

To celebrate this release, a music video was made by Jean-Pierre Van Damme that takes footage from Night Of The Demons, Return Of The Living Dead, and, one of my favorite horror films, Lord Of Illusions, compiling them all into a series of images that highlight the dancier aspects of the song while still embracing the darker side of things.

Quick head’s up: The video is definitely NSFW as it features the scene from Return Of The Living Dead where Linnea Quigley dances naked atop a tomb.

The song is also available as a free download via the Soundcloud player below.

The post Powder Slut’s “Symphony Of Purgatory” Video Is Meant For Horror Fans appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The Shining

Sure, it’s obvious but that doesn’t stop the hair from standing up on the back of my neck every time I watch it.

Night of the Demons

Psycho

Blacula

Alien

A Nightmare on Elm Street

In addition to loving this title sequence, I also really miss that kick ass New Line logo!

The post My 6 Favorite Opening Horror Title Sequences! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The album is being co-distributed by Wolfmen of Mars and Poisoned Mind Records and is set for a late August/early September release to, “…get everyone in the Halloween spirit.”

On top of being able to announce this incredible release, we’ve also got the exclusive album artwork for you to marvel over! It was done by Devon Whitehead, who also did the artwork for the Night Of The Demons vinyl release, which you can see here. Additional artwork for the record will be provided by Kevin Spencer.

Head below to stream music from each band and to see the artwork!

The post Get Ready For ‘Wolfmen Of Mars Vs. The Mangled Dead’! (Exclusive) appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Over 75 celebrity guests are scheduled to appear all weekend long, including: CLIVE BARKER, DOYLE, COREY FELDMAN, TARA REID, BILL MOSELEY, SID HAIG, JOHN SCHNEIDER, RON JEREMY, KANE HODDER, and cast reunions for RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, NIGHTBREED, NIGHT OF THE DEMONS, THE THING, and much, much more!

Live music, 60+ hours of film and special event programming, monstrous after hours parties, costume and tattoo contests, and the best memorabilia vendors from across the country all weekend long.

Save money over the door price and avoid waiting in longer lines the day of the show by pre-ordering your tickets (through Thursday, Sept. 25th).

For tickets and full event info, visit the official website.

The post [Los Angeles] ‘Days of the Dead’ Is THIS Weekend! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The film, which spawned two sequels and 2009 remake, takes place on Halloween night where Angela is throwing a party… but this is no ordinary Halloween party. Everybody’s headed to Hull House, a deserted funeral home, formerly the home of a mass murderer. But when the partygoers decide to have a séance, they awaken something evil…and these party crashers have a thirst for blood. Now it’s a battle for who can survive the night in Hull House.

William Gallo (Crash), Amelia Kinkade , Cathy Podewell (“Dallas”), Jill Terashita (Sleepaway Camp III) and Screen Queen Linnea Quigley star in this ‘80s splatter-fest directed by Kevin S. Tenney (Witchboard).

Shout Factory has an unrated Blu-ray out now, which is totally worth a look.

The post ‘Night of the Demons’ Released On This Day In 1988 appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

This news came from director Kevin Tenney’s Facebook page, which stated:

Hey, boys and girls. I can finally announce that Lunaris Records will be putting out a soundtrack CD of NIGHT OF THE DEMONS later this year, as well as good ol’ fashioned vinyl LPs and audio cassettes. In the meantime, they will be selling promo posters, Tee shirts, and post cards at Days Of The Dead Indy this weekend, as well as a special limited edition test pressing of the Witchboard soundtrack on a 7″ vinyl record, which has the opening theme and the end credit song on the A side, and a Witchboard design etched in the B side. What more could any horror fan want?

Lunaris will also be releasing the soundtrack to Street Trash. More information will be posted once it is announced.

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The movie was one of those staples for rental in the early 90’s for sleepovers. Despite being a little hokey, silly, and, by today’s PC standards, could be considered completely racist, sexist, misogynistic, etc (by uptight people) – it is actually pretty damn awesome. It was made at a time when monsters were created with makeup, matte paintings were used as backdrops instead of CGI, the “slut” characters (in this case, scream queen Linnea Quigley) were abundant and gratuitous, and what may be thought of now as bad writing or acting, were all just endearing qualities of horror films.

Having only seen the movie over the years either on VHS or television, the new Blu-ray transfer is spectacular. Normally, these movies are engrained in my mind in the state I originally saw them: dark, dirty, disturbing. Something about that original vision made the hokey storyline believable, in a way – and almost could induce a panicked state if one put themselves in the place of the characters, and the situation at hand. The film itself is still murky, as it takes place at night in the house, but now, details can finally be seen through it. Even the effects are cleaned up, like when the demons are summoned through the mirror, and they look eerier than before. Makeup effects, with the brightness finally restored, are far more disconcerting (lipstick trick!). Overall, the new transfer, the sound – everything about the restoration – Night of the Demons deserves.

The Blu-ray is packed with trailers and TV spots that are of that old original dim VHS quality. It would be interesting for these releases to have that pre-restoration copy available to watch, as well. The “Making Of” featurette runs over an hour long and is packed with a lot of goodies. From director Kevin Tenney being brought in to direct writer Joe Augustyn’s script, to the changing of the title (original Halloween Party, which was threatened lawsuit by the Halloween folks), to friction between many parties involved, the amount of quality information about the struggles of making the movie is insane. There is also an interview with star Amelia Kinkade – which is more or less the unedited interview from the “Making Of”. There is also a personal photo gallery provided and narrated by actress Allison Barron, and an extensive makeup effects gallery.

The Blu-ray is a must buy – especially for the “Making Of” extra, which simply shows the love and dedication that went into making this movie. With an awesome restoration, Night of the Demons can be shared and appreciated by the fans.

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