Cthulhu fhtagn, bitches

Above is the trailer for Call of Cthulhu by the HP Lovecraft Historical Society, a thoroughly delightful, eerie film. I'll just let the Society make the pitch:

The famed story is brought richly to life in the style of a classic 1920s silent movie, with a haunting original symphonic score. Using the "Mythoscope" process — a mix of modern and vintage techniques, the HPLHS has worked to create the most authentic and faithful screen adaptation of a Lovecraft story yet attempted.

Many of their techniques really remind you of Nosferatu and other silent classics of horror. They seem to have brought a style of film making back from the dead here. Quite a nice way to blow an evening. Check it out here. And if you have Netflix you're going to stream that mother.

The Society has other projects in the making -- like a similarly filmed "talkie" version of The Whisperer in Darkness. I can't wait.

(Special thanks to Joe Monster of From Beyond Depraved for starting me on a whole stop-motion thing this morning. This can only end with my finishing my XXX version of Davie and Goliath.)

Psycho Charger -- I Eat the Dead

As a title, "I Eat the Dead" is like Snakes on a Plane or Debbie Does Dallas. You just know what you're getting into here. I think Psycho Charger is a seriously fun experience -- their songs, their videos, and their live shows are pure fake-blood-slathered fun. If you don't get a kick out of what this band does you need to reevaluate your priorities. Maybe cut some of that churchgoing out.

Deep in the Vault of The Vault of Horror

Sometimes I like to go spelunking in the archives of my fellow horror bloggers. I found this tidbit in The Vault of Horror about the folkloric origins of Freddy Krueger.

"Wes Craven himself has on occasion spoken of the Germanic and Teutonic folklore that partially inspired the character," Vault emcee B-Sol tells us. And evidently it's partly why Craven gave him a German name.

Here's the critter in question:

Alp is typically the name associated with the kind of creature that inspired Mr. Krueger. Kind of a cross between an incubus and a vampire, amongst the only distinguishing characteristics of the alp are its propensity for attacking children during their sleep, and its trademark hat (sound familiar?) The alp also commonly has the ability to shape-shift.

Damn. Never heard of that one. (Read the blog's main page here).

The Alanis Morissette Monster Contest

Let's have a pop quiz.

Which collaborator links The Angry One to two, count 'em, two classic horror features from the 1980's? And what are the movies? The first person to post the correct answer below will be able to make me sing the first verse and chorus of "You Oughta Know" into the voicemail or answering machine of their choice. US numbers only. Oh what the hell -- Canadian too.

Hint: I am using the word "collaborator" loosely. It can mean that the person worked with AM on any type of project.

Zombo's Rings In Halloween Early

Zombo's Closet of Horror has declared Halloween in August with this challenge/demand/threat:

Smash those pumpkins (your blogs), dig deep into those squishy, slimy innards (your posts). Paint your face with them and war-whoop your scariest scream of terror to raise the dead (post your links, like donning your Ben Cooper Land of the Lost costume to jump into that awfully big pile of withered leaves. Not that I ever did that, of course, just saying.)

Post your links about Halloween, or send them to me to post, or hold your own Halloween in August posting-seance with friends, or do a bloggy Halloween Carnival with monsters. Once a week, thrice a day, two by midnight? Whatever suits your fancy.

Just do it! the power of Vampira and her pumpkins compel you!

I for one am pretty damn psyched. Good on ya, Zombo.

The Reverse Pickpockets

The reverse pickpockets
are all over the city.
They loiter in the mouths of alleys
near the main streets, the busy squares.
They know every place hurried, everywhere
they might find your unguarded back.

The reverse pickpockets are good;
they’ve trained in mountain schools
with dummies and old coats, wires, bells.
They know how to feel their way through you,
to find every opening.

And they slip useless objects – old packages,
wrapping paper, untangled bows
into your pocketbooks, the linings of coats,
the odd pouch.

The reverse pickpockets live for
the stories you will make up,
trying to account for the open ring box,
ringless,
snug in the bottom of your coat,
the whole day long,
closer to your heart than your own hands.

The reverse pickpockets leave things
they know will unravel you with wondering,
and they lie in bed smiling at how you must be
in some empty room, with some empty box,
fingering it fascinated
like a wound you find on yourself
in the morning
that you can’t remember, that you have to study –
touching to see how much it can hurt.

A Unique Haunted House Movie

I just watched Session 9 the other day and found it to be pretty inventive and scary. The movie takes place in a haunted house over the course of a week, and it stars David Caruso as exactly the kind of angry loudmouth who's still behind you a hundred percent, man! that you expect him to play. Every haunted house story has to answer one question: Why the hell would anyone stay in this godforsaken place that's obviously soaked in ultimate evil? This movie had a pretty unique way of dealing with that dilemma. And it managed to provided good startling moments all the way through to the end.

So, friendly readers: What's the most unique haunted house movie/story/novel/real-live account you've ever heard of? Where was it, and why did the characters have to stay there after they first heard the whispering voice tell them to get the hell out? I'd love to know.