OCTOBER 31ST, 2021
BY JOHN LILIES & LANA CARBON
[John] Well, here we are again. After another year of very few posts from us, we have returned with 31 Movies for 31 Days of Hallowe'en, the 2021 edition.
We aren't sure why we do this to ourselves every year; we have a lot of fun coming up with the theme each time and then somewhere around the half-way point we realize what we're doing and we question our sanity. "Why are we doing this, again? Whose idea was this? Is this even fun anymore?" And then we argue about whether or not we should continue and does anyone really care and is the blog really this important. And then we realize it's all important to us and a couple of days later we're talking about the next year's possible themes. Every. Year. The. Same. Routine. We are quite the pair, we are.
So, we made it through again and this year we focussed on classic horror movie actors (and, in some cases, the word "classic" is a bit suspect). Basically, those we associate with horror and those quite well-known for their horror movies.
[Lana] I know you weren’t directing that comment towards Bruce Campbell. He is a true icon and that is a hill I am prepared to die on.
[John] Oh, Bruce Campbell.
Some of the 31 movies we watched this year were familiar to us and others were new experiences. Some were awful, some were uncomfortable, and a few were not bad.
We hope you enjoy our list this year and please tell us which ones you've seen and what your thoughts are. Any you haven't seen but plan to? Some might be hard to come across but hopefully you can find them. Lana has been building an extensive collection of movies over his lifetime, so we are quite fortunate.
On that note... get ready, get set, keep reading!
1. Bela Lugosi - White Zombie (1932)
IMDB plot summary: "A young man turns to a witch doctor to lure the woman he loves away from her fiancé, but instead turns her into a zombie slave."
[John] The most organized and obedient zombies I've ever seen... walking in single file and following orders. And Bela... those eyes... always the eyes. As always, I struggle with watching the old movies involving black face - I’m more and more unwilling to watch these old ones.
[Lana] Times and horror have changed a lot since 1932. Not that I don't laugh my way through horror movies of today, but I really chuckled through this one. Bela really needed some serious electrolysis.
2. Bela Lugosi - Island of Lost Souls (1932)
IMDB plot summary: "A mad doctor conducts ghastly genetic experiments on a remote island in the South Seas, much to the fear and disgust of the shipwrecked sailor who finds himself trapped there."
[John] So... times have changed and I have to remind myself that society has come a little way from the 1930's. Still, I struggle watching any movie of any time where animals are caged, forced to perform, and in the case of this time period, not likely protected from poor treatment. This movie is based on The Island of Doctor Moreau, by H.G. Wells - a book I have yet to read but thankfully am familiar with the story. I'm not sure how far in we were when Lana asked me, "So, um, where is Bela?" Turns out he is not so easy to recognize in this film. What does it say that the first scene with the ship strangely made me want to watch the Garfield Hallowe'en special... I'm weird and proud of it.
[Lana] After watching it, it wasn't really the big Bela Lugosi showcase that I thought it might have been, as he was basically unrecognizable. This movie might have been scary if I had been alive to see it in 1932.
3. Linda Blair - Dead Sleep (1990)
IMDB plot summary: "Young nurse investigates suspicious deaths in a psychiatric ward."
[John] The horror is in the doctor. Not much more to say about this one.
[Lana] It was not enjoyable.
4. Linda Blair - Repossessed (1990)
IMDB plot summary: "Parody of The Exorcist (1973), with Linda Blair once again possessed by Satan, and Leslie Nielsen as the exorcist."
[John] So, Lana decided we had to avoid The Exorcist because we've watched it so many times, however, a parody was not ruled out. With Linda Blair involved and Leslie Nielsen working together in this, how could we ignore it? I'm not usually a huge fan of parodies or comedy (I have no sense of humour) but this just seemed right. This is a really silly movie. I think "oh my" was about the only response I had throughout the entire movie. It was... something.
[Lana] First of all, you do have a sense of humour, John. It just wasn't required for this movie. I am a fan of parodies but this one was something else! Picture Leslie Nielsen at his cheesiest, then multiply that by 100. That should give you an idea of how this movie was.
5. Tony Todd - Night of the Living Dead (1990)
IMDB plot summary: "A remake of George Romero's 1968 black-and-white classic that begins in a cemetery, as the recently-dead return to life - from an unknown cause - and attack the living as their prey..."
[John] I told Lana we had to include Tony Todd in our list and when Lana mentioned that Tony Todd was in a remake of Night of the Living Dead, there was no way I could pass it up. I'm happy that Tony Todd played a major role in this one.
[Lana] This is how I enjoy my horror - bustin' a gut. I had forgotten the ending (I first saw this one a long time ago) and I kept picturing the ending of the 1968 version. Glad it didn't turn out that way. It was a nice surprise. It seems weird to see Tony Todd as a good guy.
6. Tony Todd - Shadow Builder (1998)
IMDB plot summary: "A demon is summoned to take the soul of a young boy, who has the potential to become a saint."
[John] A Bram Stoker story with Tony Todd, and filmed in Ontario... "Doggone!" Not bad. Some recognizable actors and many of them Canadian.
[Lana] Loved Tony Todd's character as he played outside of his norm. I found it pretty interesting, though it is not one of my favourite Bram Stoker-related movies.
7. Tony Todd - Candyman (2021)
IMDB plot summary: "A sequel to the horror film Candyman (1992) that returns to the now-gentrified Chicago neighborhood where the legend began."
[John] I think this is one of the few sequels that I actually like, minus the violence and gore. This one held my attention, which most TV shows and movies do not. Disturbing undertones as Jordan Peele is great at highlighting, this was well done.
[Lana] Although he has a cameo, this isn't technically a Tony Todd movie but we're going to count it, anyway. We had to have a new-ish movie to keep the tradition alive and this fit the bill... sorta. I love Jordan Peele's horror films; he's probably the best out there today.
8. Peter Cushing - Legend of the Werewolf (1975)
IMDB plot summary: "Paris, 19th century. A man who has been raised by wolves works at a zoo. But on full moon nights he transforms into a dangerous beast. Professor Paul is in charge of hunting him down as the young man develops an obsession for a prostitute."
[John] So... as I’ve previously mentioned, I'm not a fan of how animals were used and treated in films and that made it tough for me to watch a lot of this one. It was rough.
[Lana] Well, I find blood and gore to be off-putting (although, Hammer Horror films from the 70's make it comical), nothing is as disturbing as cruelty to animals. It is bad enough when it is "perceived" violence, but actually throwing things at real animals, is just wrong.
9. Peter Cushing - Night of The Ghoul (1975)
IMDB plot summary: "A former Priest named Dr. Lawrence harbors a dark and horrible secret in his attic..."
[John] Well, that was kind of messed up.
[Lana] I'm finding that I am having a difficult time rating these movies, as I'm too busy laughing at the special effects. This was creepy but not in a scary way.
10. Barbara Steele - The Long Hair of Death (1965)
IMDB plot summary: "A woman under suspicion of witchcraft is burned alive. Her curse brings her back from the dead for revenge."
[John] So... uh... yeah. I don't think I have much to say about this one. Lana?
[Lana] Well, at least I had fun adding my own comments in response to the wonderful acting.
11. Barbara Steele - The Butterfly Room (2012)
IMDB plot summary: "A reclusive and butterfly-obsessed elderly lady suffering from bipolar disorder develops a disturbing relationship with a mysterious but seemingly innocent youngster."
[John] Well that one was disturbing. How is it that no one hears all the screaming? Regardless, it was interesting to see the difference from a 60's Barbara Steele film to a more recent one... and with Ray Wise, too. (I can never see Ray Wise as anything but Mr. Palmer, no matter how much of his work I might watch.)
[Lana] This is one lady you don't want to forget about on Mother's Day. I dare you not to laugh during the big chase at the end.
[John] I dare you not to laugh throughout the bulk of the movie.
12. Bruce Campbell - Man With The Screaming Brain (2005)
IMDB plot summary: "The brains of a Russian taxi driver and a wealthy businessman are brought together in one body by a mad scientist."
[John] Oh my. Oh my. Oh. My.
[Lana] Frickin hilarious!! Bruce Campbell is da man!
13. Bruce Campbell - The Woods (2006)
IMDB plot summary: "Set in 1965 New England, a troubled girl encounters mysterious happenings in the woods surrounding an isolated girls’ school that she was sent to by her disinterested parents."
[John] Well, Bruce makes a couple of appearances.
[Lana] This started out as one of Bruce Campbell's more serious and suspenseful movies... maybe because he wasn't the star of the film. However, about three quarters of the way through, that changed as the special effects became that classic cheesy cult-style that Bruce is known for. All in all, I found it quite enjoyable.
14. Robert Englund - Kantemir (2015)
IMDB plot summary: "A group of actors and actresses gather in a remote Northeastern town to rehearse for a mysterious stage production, only to be plunged into a hellish world where their real lives mirror the grisly story of the play."
[John] Cheesy. Kind of interesting. Cheesy. Robert Englund.
[Lana] Enjoyed the concept and the blurring of reality. Is Robert Englund really a hero???
15. Robert Englund - Nightworld (2017)
IMDB plot summary: "When former LAPD officer Brett Anderson takes a job as head of security at an old apartment building in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, he soon begins to experience a series of bizarre and terrifying events..."
[John] Sometimes, and by sometimes I mean a lot of the time, movies set things up and tell a good story with details that intrigue me but then rush through the action, and end without really finishing the story. This one was interesting with its set-up and then it rushed through the story and left me with a lot of questions.
[Lana] I think this is the most interesting film we've watched so far in this year's "31". I always enjoy Robert Englund for his creepiness, whether he's the big bad or not.
16. Lon Chaney - London After Midnight (1927, reconstructed in 2002)
IMDB plot summary: "The abandoned home of a wealthy man who supposedly committed suicide five years earlier is taken over by ghoulish figures - could they be vampires?"
[John] Lana had to explain to me that "reconstructed" means the film in its entirety does not actually exist anymore. So, this version in his collection, was basically pieced together from the remains. We essentially watched a slide show presentation with a musical background. This makes it difficult to really provide an opinion but I did find it interesting. I had a hard time following the story, perhaps because of the change in format... thankfully Lana was able to fill me in. Not sure how Hallowe'eny this really is though.
[Lana] After having heard about this movie for a long time, I finally had a chance to watch it. Luckily for me, knowing a little bit about the story, I was able to help John along. It probably would have been easier to understand in its original format. That being said, I actually quite enjoyed it!
17. Lon Chaney Jr. - Pillow of Death (1945)
IMDB plot summary: "Attorney Wayne Fletcher and his secretary are having an affair, so when Wayne's wife is found smothered to death, he becomes the prime suspect. As the police investigate the murder, a psychic with questionable motives tries to contact the deceased woman. Soon, Wayne begins seeing visions of his dead wife, and other people involved with the case begin to be killed, one by one."
[John] Not entirely sure if this one fits the bill but there is a psychic, so Lana says, "Yes". This movie isn't bad but it just didn't really do anything for me.
[Lana] I had a difficult time watching this one. It was a little on the boring side, to be honest. Literally two minutes after we finished watching it, I'm not sure I could tell you what happened.
18. Boris Karloff - The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942)
IMDB plot summary: "A young divorcee tries to convert a historic house into a hotel despite its oddball inhabitants and dead bodies in the cellar."
[John] I don't even know how to categorize this movie in my head but it was funny and interesting, though confusing. Another one that felt like it ended abruptly. I enjoyed seeing Karloff in a movie unlike the others of his to which I'm accustomed.
[Lana] It was quite comical and not at all what I expect from Boris Karloff; but I loved it.
19. Boris Karloff - The Walking Dead (1936)
IMDB plot summary: "After hapless pianist and ex-con John Elman is framed for murder, he is resurrected by a scientist after his execution.
[John] I liked it. It was a nice perspective and not the usual take on coming back to life.
[Lana] What she said. Beware the stare.
20. Elsa Lanchester - Bell, Book and Candle (1958)
IMDB plot summary: "A modern-day witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancée, so she enchants him to love her instead."
[John] A witch at Christmas... what's more Hallowe'eny than that? Despite it not feeling Hallowe'eny, I did really like it.
[Lana] More of a heart-felt story than horror (or comedy), like we're used to. So, it was a nice change of pace for the season. Always love some Jimmy Stewart. And, maybe we can watch it again at Christmas!
21. Elsa Lanchester - The Ghost Goes West (1935)
IMDB plot summary: "A haunted Scottish castle is dismantled and transported to Florida, bringing the family ghost along with it."
[John] So, how does one ghosty get to decide the fate of another ghosty? Is there a ghosty hierarchy? This one was kind of cute actually. And odd. But humourous. Not bad.
[Lana] You can't go wrong with a ghost in a kilt! I hope I never wrong anybody and have to put my nose on the floor.
22. Claude Rains - The Clairvoyant (1935)
IMDB plot summary: "A fake music-hall clairvoyant meets a woman, and suddenly his predictions seem to come true."
[John] I always find these stories curious; the fake clairvoyant who becomes real. In this case, however, he was dependent upon another person, which makes me wonder about a whole host of related ideas.
[Lana] Another interesting concept. I don't know if it is the kind of gift that I would like to have myself, or not. I do know that I wouldn’t want any ability relying on someone else for it to work.
23. Claude Rains - The Invisible Man (1933)
IMDB plot summary: "A scientist finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane."
[John] This was my first time seeing the original version of this movie and as always, when I ponder the concept of being invisible, it begs the question, "How evil would I be were I given the power of invisibility?" And, really, how evil would anyone be?
[Lana] For its time, the special effects were quite impressive. The story was very good, and it's no wonder that it is a classic. Personally, I would love to be able to turn invisible… but that might just be the evil side talking.
24. Dee Wallace - Critters (1986)
IMDB plot summary: "A group of small but vicious alien creatures called Crites escape from an alien prison transport vessel and land near a small farm town on earth, pursued by two shape-shifting bounty hunters."
[John] Ha! This was fantastic in a very obvious Gremlins kind of way but as Lana said when we finished it, not nearly as good as Gremlins.
[Lana] Believe it or not, this is the first time I've watched this movie and it was well worth the wait. Next time you want to blow up something real good, get Scott Grimes to do it for you.
25. Dee Wallace - Haunting of Cellblock 11 (2014)
IMDB plot summary: "A group of ghost hunters must up their game to compete in the competitive world of paranormal TV shows, leading them to a truly haunted prison with a grisly past that proves to be more than they bargained for."
[John] A good take on many of the ghosty hunting/investigation shows we tend to see these days, with some added fun and adventure. While Dee Wallace only makes a limited appearance, the movie is fun and entertaining, and appropriately cheesy.
[Lana] I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the lead actor watched a tonne of Ghost Adventures. It was fun in its own cheesy way.
26. Christopher Lee - The Hands of Orlac (1960)
IMDB plot summary: "A pianist who loses his hands in a plane crash receives the transplanted hands of an executed criminal but his new hands have the murderous tendencies of their previous owner."
[John] So... another one that goes along with an interesting story and then boom! Just like that, it's resolved and the whole thing is over.
[Lana] If you believe strongly enough, you, too, can strangle people and think it isn’t your fault.
27. Christopher Lee - The City of the Dead (1960)
IMDB plot summary: "A young college student arrives in a sleepy Massachusetts town to research witchcraft; during her stay at an eerie inn, she discovers a startling secret about the town and its inhabitants."
[John] An entertaining movie to be sure. I liked the concept and it started out as an interesting story and then... well... watch it and decide for yourself.
[Lana] Stories about witches are always fascinating to me whether supernatural, historical, or anywhere in between. Christopher Lee plays menacing oh so well.
28. Jamie Lee Curtis - Terror Train (1980)
IMDB plot summary: "Three years after a prank went terribly awry, the six college students responsible are targeted by a masked killer at a New Year's Eve party aboard a moving train."
[John] This was some decent cheese.
[Lana] More frat film than horror. If Animal House meets Criss Angel isn't your cup of tea, you can skip this one.
29. Jamie Lee Curtis - Mother's Boys (1993)
IMDB plot summary: "Jude Madigan abandons her husband Robert and her three sons without any explanation. Three years later Jude inexplicably returns to reunite her family. However Robert and his new lover Callie see Jude for the true psychopath she is and try their best to protect their sons..."
[John] Jamie Lee Curtis' character in this one is definitely not the innocent Laurie Strode or even the naive college girl on the Terror Train. It was a bit disturbing but a good watch... 90's cheese.
[Lana] It held my attention but was very much like a TV mystery movie (not saying that is necessarily a bad thing).
30. Vincent Price - Diary of a Madman (1963)
IMDB plot summary: "An evil spirit leaves the body of his human host, a criminal on death-row, and sneaks into the body of his next human host, a French magistrate."
[John] Ahh, Vincent. This was a good one. I liked the way it was done and let's be honest... it's really hard to not enjoy a Vincent Price film.
[Lana] Sure, the special effects are a little laughable now but the acting, while melodramatic, was actually quite good. The story, itself, was rather entertaining. I do love me some Vincent Price.
31. Vincent Price - House of Wax (1953)
IMDB plot summary: "An associate burns down a wax museum with the owner inside, but he survives only to become vengeful and murderous."
[John] Though we had apparently watched this one before, I had no recollection until partway through and even then didn't remember much, so I'm glad we watched it again. Not a bad way to end our run of 31 this year. Going into this year’s 31, we knew we had to leave Vincent to the end and I am quite happy we did.
[Lana] I've been to some wax museums and this movie really makes you wonder, but anytime I've seen Vincent, he's been the one in wax. It might have been interesting to see this movie in 3D.
[John] And with that, another Hallowe'en is over and another 31 movies we have watched. Though exhausted, we have already decided on a theme for 2022 and we are looking forward to building our list of the next 31.
Would you watch 31 movies leading up to Hallowe'en? Let us know what your picks would be!
Hope you all had some spooky fun this year and we look forward to seeing you again!
Happy misadventures!
