Here are five lesser-seen Halloween horror movies and where to watch them.

Dark Harvest – Tubi

Director David Slade (30 Days of Night) and screenwriter Michael Gilio (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) adapt Norman Partridge’s 2006 Bram Stoker Award-winning novel Dark Harvest, unleashing Halloween carnage that upstages the barebones story. Every Halloween, the legendary Sawtooth Jack rises from the cornfields, where he must fight through a gauntlet of murderous teen boys, all eager to snuff him out lest he make his way to the town’s church by midnight. It’s kill or be killed, with the town awarding a hefty prize to the boy who takes out Sawtooth Jack to ensure the town’s survival. Dark Harvest combines folk horror with the slasher, unleashing a surprisingly gory bloodbath set on Halloween.

Livid – Moviesphere+

Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo’s follow-up to the brutal horror film Inside doesn’t pop up on streaming very often. Lucie is an at-home nurse, and the last stop on her roster is a remote mansion inhabited by bedridden recluse Mrs. Jessel. Mrs. Jessel is rumored to have a treasure hidden on the property, so Lucie and her friends sneak in on Halloween night to steal it. Instead, they find a night full of unexpected terror, and Maury and Bustillo deliver a fun entry into fantasy horror. Look for fun homages to Halloween III: Season of the Witch. It’s gorgeous and creepy and offers a unique take on a tried-and-true horror staple.

May – Criterion Channel, Fandango at Home, Fawesome, Pluto TV, Tubi

May (Angela Bettis) is a lonely vet assistant whose only friend is her doll, Suzie. Then she meets Adam (Jeremy Sisto). Obsessed with his hands and ideals of perfection, May descends into madness in her attempts to forge new friendships. Her mother once told her that if she couldn’t find any friends, she should make them. The lonely woman takes this literally. In keeping with the trend, Lucky McKee’s film sets its finale over Halloween night. Framed from the killer’s perspective, though, May becomes a heartbreaking character study.

Trick or Treat – Screambox

Frequently considered the pinnacle of heavy metal horror, Trick or Treat is now available on streaming for the very first time. Which means it’s required viewing this Halloween. Following the death of his heavy metal idol, a bullied teenage boy inadvertently discovers a way to resurrect the rocker. After hearing the news of his hero’s death, Eddie Weinbauer (Marc Price) finds himself in possession of a one-of-a-kind item, the final recording of Sammi Curr (Tony Fields). When Eddie plays the record backward, unwittingly unleashing his idol’s demonic side. With an earworm score and Halloween heavy metal mayhem, throw up some devil horns and enjoy the ride.

WNUF Halloween Special – AMC+, 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 Five Lesser Seen Halloween Horror Movies to Stream Tonight appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Director Chris Lamartina expanded upon the world of WNUF Halloween Special with Out There Halloween Mega Tape just last year, and Terror Vision’s Blu-ray release packages both movies together for the first time. It’s only available from Walmart both in stores & online!

All of us here on Bloody Disgusting are big fans of Chris Lamartina and co-writer Jimmy George’s WNUF Halloween Special, which is accurately presented as a spooky cable access broadcast from the 1980s. Local TV personality Frank Stewart leads a group of paranormal investigators into the supposedly haunted Webber House in an attempt to prove the existence of evil entities within. Complete with faux commercials that interrupt the broadcast, WNUF Halloween Special perfectly captures a vibe that makes it an irresistible revisit every October.

Lamartina’s Out There Halloween Mega Tape puts a 1990s spin on the concept.

Terror Vision previews, “Gorge yourself on candy corn and hunker down in your basement for a haunted house party filled with aliens, vamps, and phantom tramps. First up is trash TV titan, Ivy Sparks’ Halloween Spooktacular episode from 1994, featuring ghoulish guests- each dumber than the last. Fast forward to 1996 to witness Ivy’s nosedive into obscurity when she co-hosts the infamous live “Out There” special for the short-lived ACE network.”

Check out the retro-style promo trailer for the new Double Feature release from Terror Vision below and hunt through your local Walmart stores to find the release this Halloween!

We’re thrilled to announce the WNUF Halloween Special & the Out There Halloween Mega Tape (WNUF 2) are now in Walmart across North America as a 2 disc set. We’re stoked that perhaps a whole new generation of folks will find these amazing holiday classics by @ChrisLaMartina. pic.twitter.com/aQYVWDBXas

— Terror Vision Records & Video (@terror_vision) October 8, 2025

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George Stover reprises his role from the franchise’s second installment, Out There Halloween Mega Tape, in Trick or Treat with Reed Richmond, an in-universe spin-off presented as a regional TV broadcast from 1995 — complete with commercials.

Join cult icon Reed Richmond on a jack-o-lantern–lit journey through history and mystery as he explores the origins of Halloween and the most memorable monsters it celebrates. From witches and werewolves to vampires, mummies, and more—Reed and his ghoulish guests unearth the terrifying truth and fearful folklore behind our wildest nightmares in this eerie hour-long special.

Initially aired on the now-defunct Monster Planet channel in October 1995, Trick or Treat with Reed Richmond is a spine-tingling time capsule of basic cable creepiness produced just a year before Richmond’s participation in the ACE Network’s controversial “Out There: Alien Expose” program.

The film is available for pre-order on DVD for $31. Due out in August, it comes with a reprint of the October 1995 issue of What’s Your Damage? featuring an interview with Richmond.

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary with Head Archivist Chris LaMartina
• Audio Commentary with Reed Richmond Historian George Stover
• Bloopers and Outtakes
• Trader Tony’s Twisted Trailers excerpts

“I’ve joked that if the plan is to make WNUF a true trilogy, Trick or Treat with Reed Richmond is my Ewok Adventure,” WNUF mastermind Chris LaMartina previously told Bloody Disgusting. “It’s this weird little standalone project that’s not really a movie; it’s an honest-to-God one-hour special that you might find on the History Channel or Sci-Fi Channel back in the ’90s.

“It covers the origins of Halloween and the folklore behind iconic monsters such as Dracula, Frankenstein, werewolves, witches, and mummies. It’s very bizarre and I’m not sure folks will like it, but that’s how I felt when I created the original WNUF, so who knows. The movies just keep getting weirder, but I figure if I’m having this much fun making it, then we’ll find the audience it was meant for.”

LaMartina is also in early development on the third film in the WNUF trilogy, which will be set in the early 2000s.

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Executive produced by The Blair Witch Project director Eduardo Sanchez, the mockumentary will possess Digital and VOD on March 11 from Dread.

Melissa LaMartina (Amanda the Adventurer) makes her feature directorial debut from a script by husband Chris LaMartina (WNUF Halloween Special) and Rob Walker.

Susan Price is a savvy realtor and certified exorcist who’s spent years flipping haunted houses across the country, but as she hunts for her own forever home, the ghosts she’s evicted return for revenge. Will Susan settle with these vengeful spirits… or could she lose her life along with her down payment?

Emily Classen, John Dimes, Tatiana Ford, Julian Ball, Helenmary Ball, and Penny Nichols star in the horror-comedy.

“For a movie with a groin-grabbing succubus and death-metal necromancers, For Sale By Exorcist has a surprising amount of heart,” said Melissa LaMartina. “At its core, the story is about creating community and finding a place for everyone in it—living or otherwise.”

The post Get Possessed by the ‘For Sale by Exorcist’ Trailer from ‘WNUF Halloween Special’ Writer Chris LaMartina appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Now available, this first-ever WNUF Halloween Special collection from Fright Rags includes three t-shirts – “WNUF Halloween Special,” “I Survived the Spirit Board Murders,” and “French Johnson Halloween Make Up Kit” – as well as a “Happy Halloween Trick or Treat Bundle.”

Selling for $45, the bundle includes the following items:

• Officially Licensed WNUF Halloween Special T-Shirt
• WNUF Orange Halloween Trick or Treat Tote Bag
• WNUF Pumpkin Safety Light
• WNUF Halloween Special Button Set
• WNUF Bumper Sticker
• Artwork by Kyle Crawford
• Printed on our super soft 4.5oz 100% pre-shrunk ringspun cotton shirts

As for the three other WNUF Halloween Special t-shirts, they’re being sold for $33 each.

Head over to Fright Rags to browse the full collection!

Chris Lamartina and Jimmy George’s WNUF Halloween Special is a found footage-style horror movie that plays out like a vintage television broadcast, faux commercials and all.

“In 1987, a TV news team tried to contact spirits in a haunted house. But something went wrong. Three decades later, the recording of this spooky special has finally surfaced and viewers can now see what really went on that fateful night – complete with commercials!”

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At the recent Hometown Horror and Hops convention in Plymouth, MA, WNUF Halloween Special and Out There Halloween Mega Tape writer-director Chris LaMartina gave Bloody Disgusting an exclusive scoop on the upcoming WNUF projects and more.

Up first is a spin-off titled Trick or Treat with Reed Richmond.

LaMartina previews, “We’re almost wrapped production on Trick or Treat with Reed Richmond, a WNUF spin-off starring George Stover who is reprising his role as B-movie star Reed Richmond from Out There Halloween Mega Tape.

“I’ve joked that if the plan is to make WNUF a true trilogy, Trick or Treat with Reed Richmond is my Ewok Adventure. It’s this weird little standalone project that’s not really a movie; it’s an honest-to-God one-hour special that you might find on the History Channel or Sci-Fi Channel back in the ’90s. It covers the origins of Halloween and the folklore behind iconic monsters such as Dracula, Frankenstein, werewolves, witches, and mummies.

“It’s very bizarre and I’m not sure folks will like it, but that’s how I felt when I created the original WNUF, so who knows. The movies just keep getting weirder, but I figure if I’m having this much fun making it, then we’ll find the audience it was meant for.”

LaMartina is also in early development on the third entry in the WNUF trilogy.

“I’m probably five or six years away from making WNUF 3, but the core concept is already running around screaming in my brain,” he teases. “Without blabbing too much, it’s a dark satire of early 2000s reality television and the ‘challenge’-type TV shows of that era, set against the backdrop of post-9/11 America and the Iraq war.

“There will be a handful of returning characters, it’s all still set around Halloween and taps into some of the intense polarization and demonization that stemmed from the cultural climate of 2004.”

Before that, LaMartina plans to direct a feature in four days that he’s co-writing with fellow indie horror favorite Michael Varrati (The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, Fangoria Chainsaw Awards).

He explains to Bloody Disgusting, “I turn 40 in April and one of my bucket list items is to shoot a feature in four production days, so I’ve decided to lay out that challenge for myself: direct a feature in four days before I’m officially middle-aged!

“Unlike the analog wackiness of the WNUF flicks, this story is a return to a traditional narrative feature for me. Thematically, it’s a lot more serious than my previous movies. It’s a riff on the classic horror story ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ but set on New Year’s Eve. It’s about choices and consequences, wishes and regrets, life at its midpoint, and the second guessing that sometimes stem from those reflections.

“I’m currently co-writing this one with my dear friend, Michael Varrati, and as long as we can find the money, I plan to direct it in early spring.”

But wait, there’s more! LaMartina has also been collaborating with his wife, Melissa LaMartina, on film and video game projects.

“My wife and I recently co-directed and co-produced the cut-scenes for the video game Amanda the Adventurer 2. We’d previously co-directed the cut scenes for the original game, and Melissa wrote both games,” LaMartina tells us. “She’s a powerhouse, and I’m fortunate to ride her coattails on this one!

“The popularity of the Amanda game has been truly mind-blowing. It’s probably the biggest thing I’ll ever be a part of, and it all stemmed from the DreadXP team being fans of the WNUF movies and asking me to cut some analog-style promos for them.”

LaMartina also co-wrote Melissa’s directorial debut, For Sale by Exorcist, which premieres at this weekend’s Nightmares Film Festival in Columbus, OH. “Melissa just directed her first feature for Dread/Epic Pictures,” he explains. “It’s a horror-comedy I wrote with my buddy Rob Walker called For Sale by Exorcist about a realtor who flips haunted houses.”

A truly independent filmmaker, LaMartina juggles all of his movies while working a full-time job.

He notes, “There’s a lot going on, and it’s worth noting that making movies is not my day job. If folks dig what we’re doing and want to help us keeping creating truly batshit art, they can support us at WNUFHalloweenSpecial.com.”

So dang pumped! Next week, the world premiere of For Sale By Exorcist hits @NightmaresFest! Beyond proud of the cast & crew who brought this story to life. It was an honor to work with such a talented group on this funny, touching, spooky little flick. I’m a lucky ghoul. pic.twitter.com/ftCeg3S1jA

— Melissa LaMartina / Aurora Gorealis (@auroragorealis) October 7, 2024

The post Chris LaMartina Previews the Future of the ‘WNUF Halloween Special’ Cinematic Universe [Exclusive] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Director Chris Lamartina expands the world of WNUF Halloween Special with Out There Halloween Mega Tape, which Terror Vision brings to 2-Disc Deluxe Edition Blu-ray.

This release is a Limited Edition of just 2,000 copies, and it can be pre-ordered right now on Terror Vision’s website for $40. They’re expected to ship in time for Halloween next month.

The company previews, “Terror Vision is proud to present the spiritual sequel to WNUF Halloween, the Out There Halloween Mega Tape from director Chris LaMartina. Packed with special features and some bonus goodies to make your Halloween extra special.

“Gorge yourself on candy corn and hunker down in your basement for a haunted house party filled with aliens, vamps, and phantom tramps. First up is trash TV titan, Ivy Sparks’ Halloween Spooktacular episode from 1994, featuring ghoulish guests- each dumber than the last. Fast forward to 1996 to witness Ivy’s nosedive into obscurity when she co-hosts the infamous live “Out There” special for the short-lived ACE network.”

This Limited Deluxe-Edition Includes:

• Rigid Slide Loader Box
• Embossed Slipcover
• Perfectly Bound Booklet of Trader Tony’s Mail Order Catalogue
• Foldout Poster
• Immortal Dagger CD
• 4×6 Postcard

Special Features On Disc:

• Commentary with infamous mail order movie maverick, Trader Tony
• Commentary with Director Chris LaMartina
• Pause & Play: Extended Audio Commentary with the Producers
• Immortal Dagger Music Video
• Lost Frank Stewart Promo from WNUF TV-28
• Crowdsource Campaign Videos + Bloopers
• Archival Interview w/ Paranormal Researchers, Dr. Louis & Claire Berger
• Dr. Bloodwrench’s Scary Christmas Promos
• Purple Stuff Podcast Picks Their Favorite Commercials
• Taped-Over Transmissions – Unreleased Commercials from the Nightmares Cut
• Ejected! BTS Bloopers & Outtakes
• EP Mode: Extended Scenes

“There will be a Standard Edition (without the Slide Loader, Booklet, CD) down the road,” Terror Vision promises. In the meantime, you can grab the Deluxe Edition while supplies last.

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The Outpost 512 team tells us, “We hire artists to create bespoke art for our favorite cult films. Our enthusiasm for films and art can be seen in every limited screen print we create. With over 10 years of working with the best artists and screen printers from all over the world, we take great care to ensure that the poster created stays true to the heart and soul of the film.”

“We bring high quality screen printed posters to our customers whether it is within the walls of our new brick and mortar location right outside of Austin, TX, meeting them where they are at various pop culture conventions across the country, or worldwide through our online store,” they continue. “Things that go bump in the night have always fascinated us.

“We’ve been loyal attendees for Texas Frightmare for the last few years and are ecstatic to announce that we will be attending this year not as patrons, but as vendors. To christen this momentous occasion we’ve spent the last few months working with artists from all over the world to bring you four new posters for titles that are near and dear to our hearts.”

The first four posters from Outpost 512 are based on Dario Argento classics Phenomena and Tenebrae, as well as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and WNUF Halloween Special.

Check them out below and if you’re attending Texas Frightmare Weekend next week, make sure to swing by booth 441 to pick up a copy of these for your own personal collection!

Phenomena by Matty Ryan Tobin
24″x36″ Screen Print, Edition of 200
Printed by Atelier Du Grand Chic
$75

Tenebrae by Bruno Vergauwen
24″x36″ Screen Print, Edition of 150
Printed by Lady Lazarus
Separated by Juan Saniose
$70

The Rocky Horror Picture Show by Frederick Cooper
24″x36″ Screen Print, Edition of 250
Printed by Lady Lazarus
Separated by Juan Saniose
$80

WNUF by Justin Osbourn
24″x36″ Screen Print, Edition of 100
Printed by Lady Lazarus
Separated by Juan Saniose
$70

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It’s almost like there’s a subconscious understanding that some stories are best told through fuzzy visuals and heavily compressed audio, which is why I appreciate flicks like Anthony Cousins’s Found Footage throwback Frogman, a cryptozoology-inspired scary movie that dares to incorporate lo-fi aesthetics into its storytelling during a time when most studios encourage filmmakers to make their projects look as generically slick and polished as possible. And if you also enjoyed Frogman and are on the lookout for more VHS-based gems, Bloody-Disgusting has got you covered, as we’ve come up with a list highlighting six shot-on-VHS classics for your viewing pleasure.

As usual, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite analog thrillers if you think we missed a particularly spooky one. I’d also like to give a shout-out to Bloody-Disgusting’s own long-running V/H/S series, which won’t be included here for obvious reasons.

Now, onto the list…

6. Zero Day (2003)

School shootings are one of the scariest realities of the modern world, but the complicated political elements behind these tragedies mean that most genre filmmakers don’t even try to tell stories about them. There are a few exceptions, however, and one of the most notable is Ben Coccio’s Zero Day, a deeply uncomfortable Found Footage character study that explores just how far ill-intentioned teenagers might go to prove a point.

Inspired by the real-world Columbine Basement Tapes, in which the mass-murderers kept a record of their plans and motivations, Coccio’s film follows a fictional video diary where troubled friends Andre and Calvin discuss their homicidal intentions. Another case where the gritty visuals make the story hit even harder, I’d recommend this one for discerning fans of True Crime media.

5. August Underground (2001)

Out of all the movies on this list, Fred Vogel’s August Underground is simultaneously one of the most fascinating and the hardest to recommend. A simulated snuff film following the exploits of a degenerate serial killer and his deranged filmmaker friend, the low production value and amateurish visuals make this shot-on-video experience even more uncomfortable as you begin to question if it really is just a movie.

And while Vogel would go on to expand on this controversial production with a series of slightly more agreeable sequels that boasted improved visuals, none of the follow-ups can quite compare to the raw thrills of the original. Just make sure that you don’t accidentally pick this one for family movie night if you dare to give it a watch.

4. WNUF Halloween Special (2013)

The only entry on this list produced after the decline of VHS-based media, this 2013 classic still holds up as a convincing masterclass in authentic period-piece horror. A simulated recording of a public access show gone terribly wrong, the WNUF Halloween Special should be on everyone’s spooky season watchlist – though I’d argue that it’s best enjoyed as a background conversation piece during Halloween parties.

From the hilarious yet extremely believable retro advertisements to the not-so-subtle hints of the satanic panic motivating the story, this is a delightful experience even if you weren’t alive back when this kind of TV was still on the air.

And if you like this one, don’t forget to check out the Out There Halloween Mega Tape, which was made by the same director.

3. The McPherson Tape (1989)

Originally made popular by bootleg copies circulating the underground VHS trading scene, there’s no discussing shot-on-video horror without bringing up one of the grandaddies of modern-day Found Footage, the legendary McPherson Tape. Also known as UFO Abduction, this homemade thriller follows a birthday party gone wrong as the Van Heese family is visited by extraterrestrials.

While the flick works better as a terrifying hoax rather than a proper movie due to its odd pacing and general lack of traditional story structure, it’s still a must-watch for Found Footage fans. Just be sure to track down the gritty original, not the 1998 remake, Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County.

2. Ghostwatch (1992)

The term “made-for-TV” used to carry some seriously negative connotations in the world of film, with most audiences assuming that this kind of classification meant that they were about to watch low-budget schlock unsuitable for the big screen. However, there were plenty of clever filmmakers that managed to turn the limitations of broadcast television into storytelling tools, and a great example of this is Stephen Volk’s excellent mockumentary, Ghostwatch.

Starring real TV host Sir Michael Parkinson and borrowing details from the infamous Enfield Poltergeist case, this controversial TV special attempted to do for hauntings what Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds radio adaptation did for aliens. And while we’ve seen scarier Found Footage ghost stories in the decades since Ghostwatch premiered, I’d argue that the chilling authenticity behind the production makes it well worth revisiting in 2024.

1. America’s Deadliest Home Video (1993)

Jack Perez’s pioneer POV thriller may not be that well known these days, but this obscure little gem is actually responsible for many Found Footage tropes that we now take for granted. Telling the story of an amateur cameraman who finds himself being kidnapped by a group of criminals during a road trip, this video diary from hell still holds up as a horrific example of grounded Found Footage.

While some questionable acting and convenient story beats sometimes break the carefully crafted immersion, America’s Deadliest Home Video stands out by not only being one of the first of its kind, but also by embracing its amateurish roots instead of being embarrassed by them.

Frogman, which actually was released on VHS, is now available on VOD outlets.

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Still, despite the crossed out titles and unintelligible scribbles vaguely describing the contents within, the fragmented, commercial laden videos carried a sense of discovery with them. A tangible feel of date, time and place that no other form of media seemed to bear and this sensibility became most pungent around the holidays. Particularly, Halloween. I remember the tape I used to record my favorite spooky specials, filled with Great Pumpkins, horrific treehouses and so many seasonal sitcom episodes, marked simply with large, orange letters: HALLOWEEN.

While I’m grateful for the conveniences of modern technology and quite content to have my favorite Halloween programming in pristine condition at the click of a button, there was something otherworldly about tapes like my own that added to the October experience. A notion that their contents were frozen in time, everything from the murky analog video to the regional advertisements that made the thing feel captured rather than recorded. It was an experience I had once thought impossible to replicate, unique to an era that had come and gone, but then, ten years ago, the WNUF Halloween Special (2013) appeared on a nondescript VHS tape and did just that.

Initially left abandoned at horror conventions, bathrooms and mixed into tape swaps and rummage sales, WNUF snuck into the world on VHS with an air of mystery. Opening with fragments of local television commercials, the video moves right into the WNUF TV28 Evening News where the two anchors, dressed as a vampire and a witch, host their Halloween themed public access news show back in 1987. Everything from the orange and black dollar store streamers decorating the news desk to the discolored tracking lines flickering at the bottom of the screen cements the authenticity of the segment and the tape.

The anchors promise stories on a religious collective crying Satanic panic, small town politics and even a live segment from a real-life haunted house as paper skeleton faces peer in from the back window. Its genuineness is further solidified as cheesy commercials for High Pike Farms Pumpkin Patch, the WNUF Reading Club and even a NASA themed advertisement for a soda called Orange Blast Off break up the broadcast. The WNUF Halloween Special didn’t feel like a new discovery, it felt like an old one, a relic of the past that just might hold some danger that was never supposed to be seen, recorded or, God forbid, passed along.

It’s that feeling of legitimacy, of true found footage, that director and co-writer Chris LaMartina, screenwriter Jimmy George and a crew of fiercely dedicated creatives set out to evoke when they brought the WNUF Halloween Special to life. With the goal of tapping into the found footage milieu while breaking the mold of its sometimes boorish and nonsensical trappings, LaMartina and George devised the idea of an ensemble led film that would be framed as an old program taped off local TV. The concept allowed for a slew of characters to keep the story interesting and an opportunity for commercial breaks to both cut away from the action and break up the narrative all the while providing invaluable validity to the project at large.

The core story follows investigative reporter Frank Stewart, played by Paul Fahrenkopf, as he hosts a live television special at a supposedly haunted house. Once the nightly news concludes its segments featuring a cop warning of Halloween’s dangers, a dentist’s plea for kids to donate their candy and even a little boy who was mistaken as a soldier and shot while trick-or-treating, Frank appears outside of the Webber House to advertise his upcoming special. But before the program finishes, one more package plays. Featuring Kendra North as Angela Harris, founder of a collective called H.A.R.V.E.S.T., the woman claims that Halloween is Satan’s night: a time of evils that should be destroyed, not celebrated. Her irrational rantings are exactly the kind of faux-Christian seasoning that might have been present in the late 80’s and an evocative point of view to juxtapose against the Halloween special that immediately follows.

The remainder of the news segment is peppered with yet more inspired commercials, including a pushy carpet salesman eerily reminiscent of the old Empire carpet ads I used to see growing up in the south suburbs of Chicago and a 1-900-MONSTER hotline that Freddy would’ve been proud of. While the entire film was completed from script to screen in approximately nine months, the commercials required some of the most work. More than 60 commercials were made, created from a combination of stock footage, public domain content and tape that was donated to the production by prolific genre filmmakers who had been operational at the time WNUF is set, including J.R. Bookwalter.

Aside from the authenticity the periodic two minute commercial breaks establish given the range and diversity of ideas they represent, the performances and realism of those in the program truly solidify the WNUF Halloween Special in the realm of believability. Frank’s special begins in front of a crowd of excited residents, all itching to see themselves appear on local television. Dressed as pumpkins, rabbits, gorillas and drugged up vampires, their interactions with Frank feel off the cuff and natural, crafted through a combination of scripted prompts and improvisation, something the filmmakers use to great effect consistently throughout.

A shoddy reenactment akin to what might have been seen in the early hours of the Sci-Fi channel decades ago tells the story of Donald Webber. Claiming he murdered his parents because demons commanded him to do so via Ouija board, the house is revealed to have been cursed ever since. An anonymous police officer recalls his haunting experience investigating the crime and the segment leads to Frank’s clear dismissal of the mythology in lieu of exploiting people’s superstitions for ratings. Frank introduces Claire and Louis Berger shortly thereafter, famed paranormal investigators who are clearly inspired, or perhaps conjured, from two real life proxies.

Helenmary Ball and Brian St. August play the Bergers with ego and gravitas, inflating meaning into every syllable and truly selling their otherworldly convictions. Clutching to their cat Shadow who helps Claire commune with the beyond, they play their parts as spirit-hunting travelers that have a lifetime of adventures behind them with just the right amount of pompousness and unease. In contrast, Paul Fahrenkoph presents Frank as smug, arrogant and willing to do whatever it takes to get his story of choice, providing an entertaining through line to his interactions with the Bergers regardless of whether he’s being overtly condescending or playfully irreverent. Together, the three keep the simple, low-fi narrative on its toes.

The look of the film is key to its credibility. Shot on VHS, SVHS and MiniDV, LaMartina took every precaution to avoid the look of digital film. Once the footage was compiled, they took the tape and ran three passes through a VCR, ensuring a degraded analog look that gave the impression the tape had been swapped and bootlegged countless times over. As a result, the WNUF Halloween Special exudes the feel of a dusty, forgotten cassette one might find in their distant relative’s closet years removed from its creation, its relevance restored by the strange specificity of what lies within.

In between commercial breaks chronicling the mud-slinging governor’s race and extolling the virtues of tarot card readings, Frank cracks the doors of the long dormant Webber House. Inside, he introduces Father Joseph Matheson. Played by Robert Long II, he wears his clear, crescendoing discomfort with hilarious certainty. Talks of an exorcism and an elaborate EVP reading lead to the destruction of the Berger’s expensive equipment and a live call-in seance. Distraught about their equipment and their now missing cat, the Bergers, along with Frank and Father Matheson, play off of unscripted phone calls creating a further sense of uncomfortable realism. Based on stories of a real televised seance from the 70s that took place in Edgar Allan Poe’s home, the sequence feels as silly as it does eerie and something that may be better left not broadcast.

As Frank’s special deteriorates with the advent of Shadow the cat’s demise and an ill-advised exorcism, the special is forced to cut to commercial more and more. But after pet store advertisements and the promise of wax museum invading monsters on Dr. Bloodwrench’s late night horror show, the WNUF Halloween Special returns to reveal the dark fate of Frank Stewart, his guests and his crew. The exorcism breaks down when Father Matheson reveals that he’s an actor and not a priest, cowering in fear as those in the house are attacked— not by ghosts but by H.A.R.V.E.S.T. A Technical Difficulties sign interrupts the attack and then one final sequence reveals the bodies of the Bergers and an incapacitated Frank. Angela Harris is there with a knife and she severs Frank’s tongue, before one of her cohorts wishes all a Happy Halloween.

The anchors from the film’s start greet us once more in a brief clip of the news post-Halloween. They explain that Frank and his crew are still missing and then go on to continue reading their prompters as they do every evening. The image cuts out and the tape is done. No credits greet the viewer. Nothing to suggest anyone worked to create the strange analog artifact, just the emptiness of a cassette ready to be rewound and watched again.

Like my tape with the large, orange letters, the WNUF Halloween Special seems preordained to be one of those movies. An annual tradition, non-negotiable viewing during October’s crisp embrace that feels more and more a part of the fabric of stuck-in-time 1980s television fare the more immersed one becomes in it, regardless of whether or not you know it was made in 2013. The lore only strengthens and grows, evolving with things like the spoken word album Frank Stewart Investigates: Halloween which features Frank’s investigations into a haunted laundromat, a terrifying Sheepsquatch and the infamous Phantom of the Roller Rink. With a B-side featuring more of the Berger’s investigations, it’s an essential WNUF companion, all proceeds for which go to the “Find Frank” Fund that appears to need all the help it can get.

A movie like WNUF Halloween Special is more than a seasonal favorite, it’s a historical testament to the prowess, capacity and potential of physical media. How something can be a record of more than just the frames flickering on the screen and what it is that we once mindlessly harnessed for fleeting entertainment. What remains is not only a document of an oft forgotten exercise but a refreshed perspective for those too young to know or too old to remember. Halloween lives in the WNUF Halloween Special, out of time and out of place, ready to be passed, traded, copied and bootlegged again and again so that generation after generation might be lucky enough to stumble upon the unique wonder that process presents.

You can grab the WNUF Halloween Special Blu-ray from Terror Vision now.

You can also purchase Chris LaMartina’s sequel Out There Halloween Mega Tape here!

The post ‘WNUF Halloween Special’: Celebrating 10 Years of Pure Halloween Nostalgia appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Director Chris Lamartina is back with Out There Halloween Mega Tape, which has just been announced as the official title for the official sequel to WNUF Halloween Special!

Check out the poster below, which promises to bring Halloween to your VCR!

UPDATE: You can grab a copy of the sequel on DVD right now!

Out There Halloween Mega Tape is playing at Midsummer Scream this Friday and in Baltimore, Maryland on August 20. Be sure to follow Lamartina for all the latest updates.

We don’t know much of anything about the new movie at this time, but we can expect more found footage and more faux commercials that’ll take us right back to the 1980s.

More as we learn it. Stay tuned.

The post ‘Out There Halloween Mega Tape’: ‘WNUF Halloween Special’ Sequel Gets Official Poster! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Director Chris Lamartina is back with WNUF Halloween Sequel, and he’s taken to social media this morning to share a first-look teaser trailer for the brand new found footage.

Lamartina tweets, “Looking forward to feeding your VCRs and seeing you at screenings this fall. World premiere info coming soon!”

Hit play below to watch the WNUF Halloween Sequel teaser!

We don’t know much of anything about the new movie at this time, but we can expect more found footage and more faux commercials that’ll take us right back to the 1980s.

More as we learn it. Stay tuned.

Trick or treat, weirdos.

Proud to unveil the WNUF Halloween Sequel teaser today.

Looking forward to feeding your VCRs and seeing you at screenings this fall. World premiere info coming soon! pic.twitter.com/HfphAVJ8Bj

— Chris LaMartina (@ChrisLaMartina) May 17, 2022

The post ‘WNUF Halloween Sequel’ – Chris Lamartina Shares First Teaser for New Movie! 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!.

Mockumentaries and simulated home movies can still be an effective way of framing horror stories, but we’ve seen quite a few Found Footage oddities since The Blair Witch Project first came on the scene. From faux livestreams to fake Reality TV shows and social media recordings, the sky is the limit when it comes to these movies, and that’s why we’ve come up with this list of Six of the Most Unique Found Footage Films.

The movies on this list aren’t all masterpieces, but they all engage with Found Footage in an innovative way, either through a unique approach to storytelling or with how they justify why these events are being recorded in the first place. As usual, this isn’t a comprehensive list of all the strangest Found Footage flicks out there, so don’t forget to share your own favorites with us in the comments below.

Now, onto the list…

6. My Little Eye (2002)

Featuring an online game show that challenges contestants to isolate themselves for six months in order to win a million dollars, My Little Eye‘s premise admittedly feels a little quaint in a Covid world. However, the movie stands out by telling an alarmingly prescient story about the moral implications of Reality entertainment and how far people would go for a prize.

With Big-Brother-inspired camera placement and an eerie, voyeuristic narrative, My Little Eye is an underseen early 2000s gem that only works so well because of its commitment to the Reality format. The home video release even includes interactive cameras, making you feel like you’re actually spying on these ill-fated contestants.

On a side note, the film also features one of Bradley Cooper’s first movie roles. His appearance is a little immersion-breaking, but you can’t fault the filmmakers for failing to predict the actor’s eventual rise to stardom. If you feel like tackling more Reality TV horrors, I’d also recommend Daniel Minahan’s underrated Series 7: The Contenders!

5. Livescream (2018)

With the insane amount of internet urban legends describing cursed videogames, I find it surprising that they don’t show up very often in horror movies. Michelle Iannantuono’s Livescream is one of the few exceptions, taking a dive into the world of livestreaming as one unlucky player is forced to complete a supposedly haunted game.

Brilliantly taking advantage of modern gaming conventions and internet urban legends, the movie also boasts some brisk pacing and a short but sweet runtime. This guarantees that you won’t get tired of watching what amounts to an extended let’s play, though the low budget keeps the film from reaching the heights of other famous desktop thrillers.

Even so, Livescream earns its place on this list by proving that Found Footage can work even in cyberspace, though I’d still love to see a sequel expand on its spooky ideas.

4. Sickhouse (2016)

George Romero once compared Found Footage to live theater when discussing Diary of the Dead‘s long, uninterrupted takes. While there’s a lot of truth in that comparison, Hannah Macpherson’s Sickhouse takes this concept to the next level by being the first horror film shot live on Snapchat, with the actors improvising most of their lines in an unusual haunted-house flick.

The story itself may be a little bare-bones, following a group of teenagers as they document their spooky exploration of the titular haunted cabin, but it’s the film’s innovative production that really sets it apart from other Found Footage movies.

Shot in the vertical aspect ratio inherent to most mobile devices, this is one scary movie that would probably be best enjoyed on a smartphone while hiding under the bedcovers. Just don’t let David Lynch catch you watching it like that.

3. August Underground (2001)

Horror media has always been fascinated with Snuff films, with some creators even attempting to simulate these supposedly real depictions of graphic violence. While this extreme kind of horror isn’t for everyone, there’s no denying the visceral scares of films like Fred Vogel’s controversial August Underground.

Shot on VHS for added grittiness, this neo-exploitation flick chronicles the depraved exploits of a serial killer and his anonymous accomplice. The film may be light on story, but its realistic tone and nonchalant depictions of horrific imagery make it one of the most disturbing movies of all-time. The director was even arrested when bringing copies of the film to a Canadian horror convention, with authorities suspecting that the tapes contained “real” obscene material.

If lo-fi simulated murder sounds like your thing, Vogel also produced two sequels, though I wouldn’t be surprised if viewers are put on some kind of government watchlist after purchasing them.

2. The Dirties (2013)

From the cartoony antics of Nirvanna the Band the Show to the conspiratorial rabbit hole of Operation Avalanche, Matt Johnson is one of the most versatile filmmakers of the Great White North. In 2013, he directed and starred in The Dirties, a controversial high-school flick about a couple of film-obsessed friends who want to strike back at the students who bullied them.

School shootings may be a sensitive subject when it comes to North-American media, but The Dirties somehow manages to be both a sincere coming-of-age story as well as a horrific look at how societal neglect can create monsters where we least expect them. The film is also notable for its unorthodox production, forgoing a traditional script and using real documentary techniques to create a realistic High-School environment.

It may be tough to watch at times, but I think The Dirties is a rare example of a Found Footage movie that balances both its dramatic and horrific elements perfectly.

1. WNUF Halloween Special (2013)

Found Footage films usually attempt to simulate reality in order to make their scares hit closer to home. Presenting itself as a bootleg recording of a “real” 1987 TV broadcast, the infamous WNUF Halloween Special is an incredibly entertaining exception to this rule. While it’s still fairly creepy, this odd little production focuses more on recreating a nostalgic collage of 80s television than being a proper scary movie.

Mostly directed by Chris LaMartina (there are actually six more directing credits, plus 11 writing ones), the Special is exceptionally convincing in its simulation of retro programming. From the Satanic Panic to sensationalist journalism and silly commercials, the film doesn’t just feel authentic, it also feels strangely comforting.

With the Halloween season finally upon us, I think it’s time for more horror fans to dig up this highly unorthodox take on Found Footage storytelling. Even if you’ve already seen it, the WNUF Halloween Special also makes for great background programming during seasonal celebrations.

The post Screaming Live on Snapchat: 6 of the Most Unique Found Footage Movies! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Bloody Disgusting is excited to exclusively announce that WNUF Halloween Special will be the launch title for new label Terror Vision Films this October, and it’s up for pre-order NOW!

Additionally, we can report that the following titles are coming soon from Terror Vision…

WNUF Halloween Special (2013) – Blu-ray – Up for pre-order now!

“In 1987, a TV news team tried to contact spirits in a haunted house. But something went wrong. Three decades later, the recording of this spooky special has finally surfaced and viewers can now see what really went on that fateful night – complete with commercials!”

Norway (2014) – Blu-ray – available in December

“Photophobic Zano arrives in the city for the very first time. The year is 1984 and Athens beckons. A vampire and a fine dancer, Zano quickly gets devoured by the dark underbelly of the capital city. All he really wants is a ”warm” girl.”

Terror Vision has provided us with a more attention-grabbing logline for this one, explaining that it’s about “a vampire that has to keep dancing or he will die.” SOLD.

Video Violence (1987) – Blu-ray – TBA

“A husband and wife open a video store in a new town, and come to find out that the locals only rent horror films and the “occasional triple X’er”, and make their own snuff videos.”

Killing Spree (1987) – Blu-ray – TBA

“A man suspects his wife of adultery and goes on a killing spree, eliminating all he believes are sleeping with her, but his victims don’t stay dead.”

Terror Vision Films is led by Ryan Graveface from Terror Vision Records and Brad Henderson from Vinegar Syndrome, and the label’s films will be distributed by OCN Distribution.

On a related note, Chris Lamartina is currently working on a sequel to WNUF Halloween Special, which you can expect to enjoy sometime on the road to Halloween 2022!

The post [Exclusive] Terror Vision Films Launching This Halloween Season With ‘WNUF Halloween Special’ on Blu-ray! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

From Writer/Director/Producer Chris LaMartina and Writer/Producer Jimmy George, the duo behind WNUF Halloween Special and Call Girl of Cthulhu, comes the brand new horror anthology What Happens Next Will Scare You, described as a “clickbait horror satire.”

What Happens Next Will Scare You is now available for pre-order via Kickstarter through May 19th, and the official teaser trailer for the horror anthology has also arrived today.

You can secure yourself a digital download for just $15, with an estimated delivery in September 2021. Just in time for Halloween! Grab your copy and check out the trailer below.

What Happens Next Will Scare You includes a wrap around story and eight spooky anthology segments.

“Staying late in their office, a motley crew of click-bait writers are watching the top thirteen scariest viral videos in preparation for a Halloween listicle, but when an early entry curses whoever watches the cryptic link, our snarky hipsters must distinguish fact from fiction before a tidal wave of terrifying supernatural activity leads to real-life murders.”

Nominated for “Best Horror Comedy” and “Best Writing” at the Nightmare Film Festival, What Happens Next Will Scare You is the seventh feature film from Midnight Crew Studios.

The post From the Makers of ‘WNUF Halloween Special’ Comes Horror Anthology ‘What Happens Next Will Scare You’ [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.