Friday night/Saturday morning I had one of my many dreams which leaves me haunted by the aura of the dream for days. Most of the details became hopelessly garbled upon waking up, as dreams so often do. But here's the gist of what was left:
I was on this street which was mostly like a street I drive through in Concord but with elements of Laconia, Carbondale, and complete fiction thrown in. It's a residential street, lined with rather nondescript, 2-story, wooden frame houses, all of which seem to be white.
Somehow I meet this guy who I would swear I know in real life but just cannot remember who he is. (As usual.) For some reason I agree to go back to his house to see it and meet his roommates. It's one of those houses with an exterior that looks like someone has added a number of boring box-like additions to a rather boring original box, and has taken no special care in designing any of the additions or in building them. But it looks large and old, and sometimes the insides of large old houses are full of charming old wooden fixtures and lots of character, right?
Not this one. Every wall is covered with cheap wood paneling. Every piece of furniture looks like it was salvaged from an outdoor dump. Anyone who ever went to a party in half the rental houses/apartments in Carbondale has an idea what this looks like. We spend a long time standing in the main room downstairs, and all I can see of the rest of the house is another large room downstairs and a giant square cut into the ceiling between the two rooms. This gives a view of the second floor which looks pretty much like the first. But there are no stairs. No ladder. No way to get up or down. The Guy's roommates consist of a woman and a man who are in and out of the rooms (to and from who knows where) and don't say much but I'm getting bad vibes and they're giving me looks that I don't trust. There are at least a couple of other girls upstairs, but I'm not sure how I know this.
While The Guy is talking to me, I realize I'm not going to be allowed to leave. I've been lured here so they can put me on the second floor with the other girls up there. I'm getting a little scared and a little panicky, but I'm playing it very cool. For one thing, the walls of the other downstairs room and what I can see of the upstairs are lined with large windows. No shades or curtains that I noticed, but all the better to let in lots of light. The place feels oppressive in some ways, but it's also very light and very open. I find this somehow reassuring. Still, I'm not sure why they want to keep people on the second floor, and this is obviously a very large part of why I'm scared. There doesn't seem to be any indication that captives are being abused or tortured or having horrifying things done to them. But, this is both reassuring and MORE frightening, because if not those things then WHAT??
The Guy has shown me into a small library off the main room, and we are alone. He's still talking to me about who knows what, and I'm trying to talk him out of keeping me here. I realize that something is wrong with him. He doesn't make eye contact. He's not engaged. He's aware of me but doesn't care. He's distant, remote. I've realized this because, even after figuring out that he wants to keep me captive in this house, I've been attracted to him the whole time and I'm getting frustrated because I can't make him respond to me. (In the dream, I'm single and live alone in an apartment in a house not far from this street. Very strong Grad School Days vibe on that aspect.) I've actually been trying to sort of seduce him both because I simply want him to like me and because I'm hoping if I can get him to like me he'll stop being "bad" and let me go.
But he's not interested in me for me. My attempts aren't getting anywhere, and so my mind is becoming increasingly frantic in it's attempts to come up with escape plans. Then, somehow, another guy enters the dream who is trying to help me and I end up escaping.
Do I immediately run to the police or to my home? No. Not at all. First I wander around the neighborhood, walking on various different kinds of pebbles. Because, you know, in residential neighborhoods there are often multiple large open areas, each just covered with individual types of pebbles. Then it's getting dark and I realize I should go home where I'll be safe. But instead of just going, I start walking up and down the street. Then I hear a car coming and hide, and when the car goes by it's The Guy, and suddenly I'm absolutely terrified he'll catch me again. He stops to talk to someone else who was out walking down a side street, and I start making my way toward my street, crouching behind cars in driveways and running to hide behind trash cans and bushes. Up and down and around various side streets, circling back closer to where The Guy is instead of straight home! And I'm screaming at myself in my head to just GO HOME AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. But I'm not doing it.
Which is when I wake up feeling numerous intense emotions that won't subside for over an hour. There's still some of the panic and fear. There's still frustration at myself for not being sensible. But there's also this sort of dirty feeling of having been embedded in such a sordid place. Sordid is the perfect word for it, but even the perfect word isn't enough to convey the feeling that continued to haunt my whole body. The miasma of the immorality, depravity, impoverishment on so many levels that permeated that house. And I wasn't even sure why The Guy lived there. Why he was doing what he was doing. Because I really, REALLY didn't want him to be what he was. I woke up feeling guilty for wanting him, but I also woke up still wanting him the way I had in the dream. And that just made everything even more sordid.
That dream atmosphere stayed with me to some degree the rest of the weekend. Then I had another "weird atmosphere" dream last night. I don't remember anything about it, although I know it wasn't the same at all. But, it also left me feeling somewhat unsettled when I woke up. I snapped out of that more easily and thought it was all pretty much gone. Until I drove up that street in Concord this morning, and my stomach got really tight and my nerves went on alert. It was a very strange feeling, and I wanted to stop and look at each house more carefully while also wanting to drive through as fast as possible and get out of there.
For a dream to have that kind of power after two days is rather awesome. I'm fascinated by the visceral power these kinds of dreams have over me. If I had a choice between extremely strong disturbing dreams that might be considered "bad dreams" and uneventful, utterly forgettable dreams, I'm picking the disturbing ones whose auras can still be felt years later. It's sort of like some alternative high. Such dreams can feel like a portal to another universe, and I'm definitely holding onto that. Because while they can make me feel slightly disconnected from this world for brief flashes of time, they also make me feel more alive. As if I can lead all these multiple lives without having to sacrifice any of them. And that's rather exciting, I think.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
Autumn Falls Heavily
Fall used to be my absolute favorite season. That was before I moved
to the Snow Belt and had to become a responsible working adult.
Now it means nervously watching the weather forecasts as I try to figure out whether frost is going to damage my food plants and trying to figure out when I'm going to be able to clean up the other plants as they die off for the year. It means wondering how soon I'm going to have to put the clothesline away and whether the leaves will ever be dry enough for me to finish mulching them so I can move the lawnmower to the basement so there's room in the shed to put the grill away.
It means not being able to open the windows during the day, because it's too cold when I leave at 5:30 in the morning, and not being able to open them for long (if at all) when I get home because the warmth of the sun is already fading at 4:30 in the afternoon.
It means having to keep an eye on the weather to watch for combinations of rain and below freezing temps which can make the roads slippery in the predawn darkness, and it means the slow onset of first-snow anxiety. Although I tend to relax a little once I've made it through the first snow of the winter, a certain level of snow anxiety remains until April or May, so fall is also a time of having to try to calm myself out of panic attacks at the thought of the impending months of weather-induced anxiety and fear of whether I'm going to have a debilitating case of seasonal affective disorder this winter.
It means having to decide when to switch the screens to storm windows, and when to start the loathsome process of sealing out any fresh air so that we can at least afford to keep the thermostat at a whopping 60 degrees.
It means having to switch out my summer clothes, which it seems like I just finished taking out of storage, to get out the same boring winter clothes I've been wearing for about 8 months a year for the past 8 years. (Minus a couple of pairs of jeans I finally wore through leaving me with the same 4 pairs of pants to wear all winter.)
Just because death and dying are part of the natural cycle doesn't make them any less hard to deal with. The eternal hope of another spring and another summer provide some consolation --in fact, they are vital to being able to accept this season of dying at all. I can still appreciate Nature's last hurrah to some degree, if I can ignore the fact it is an omen of the coming season that can kill the soul even when we keep it from killing our bodies. I can still appreciate it IF I can carve out moments in which to appreciate it for its own glory. It's very hard to get all pumpkiny-cidery-falling-leaves-are-so-pretty-hooray-for-Halloween when you're stuck in a cubicle looking at a computer screen during 90-99% of the daylight hours all season long. But this year I'm going to try to suck every bit of autumnal appreciation I can out of the miniscule evening hours available and the remaining weekends. I'm going to try my best. I'm still me after all, so this isn't going to happen without a lot of hard brain work and psychological fighting. And I could very well fail miserably, literally. But, fingers crossed. And I do have that hat.
Now it means nervously watching the weather forecasts as I try to figure out whether frost is going to damage my food plants and trying to figure out when I'm going to be able to clean up the other plants as they die off for the year. It means wondering how soon I'm going to have to put the clothesline away and whether the leaves will ever be dry enough for me to finish mulching them so I can move the lawnmower to the basement so there's room in the shed to put the grill away.
It means not being able to open the windows during the day, because it's too cold when I leave at 5:30 in the morning, and not being able to open them for long (if at all) when I get home because the warmth of the sun is already fading at 4:30 in the afternoon.
It means having to keep an eye on the weather to watch for combinations of rain and below freezing temps which can make the roads slippery in the predawn darkness, and it means the slow onset of first-snow anxiety. Although I tend to relax a little once I've made it through the first snow of the winter, a certain level of snow anxiety remains until April or May, so fall is also a time of having to try to calm myself out of panic attacks at the thought of the impending months of weather-induced anxiety and fear of whether I'm going to have a debilitating case of seasonal affective disorder this winter.
It means having to decide when to switch the screens to storm windows, and when to start the loathsome process of sealing out any fresh air so that we can at least afford to keep the thermostat at a whopping 60 degrees.
It means having to switch out my summer clothes, which it seems like I just finished taking out of storage, to get out the same boring winter clothes I've been wearing for about 8 months a year for the past 8 years. (Minus a couple of pairs of jeans I finally wore through leaving me with the same 4 pairs of pants to wear all winter.)
Just because death and dying are part of the natural cycle doesn't make them any less hard to deal with. The eternal hope of another spring and another summer provide some consolation --in fact, they are vital to being able to accept this season of dying at all. I can still appreciate Nature's last hurrah to some degree, if I can ignore the fact it is an omen of the coming season that can kill the soul even when we keep it from killing our bodies. I can still appreciate it IF I can carve out moments in which to appreciate it for its own glory. It's very hard to get all pumpkiny-cidery-falling-leaves-are-so-pretty-hooray-for-Halloween when you're stuck in a cubicle looking at a computer screen during 90-99% of the daylight hours all season long. But this year I'm going to try to suck every bit of autumnal appreciation I can out of the miniscule evening hours available and the remaining weekends. I'm going to try my best. I'm still me after all, so this isn't going to happen without a lot of hard brain work and psychological fighting. And I could very well fail miserably, literally. But, fingers crossed. And I do have that hat.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Deja Vu
Exactly one year ago I did the same thing I did today: took Mom back to Dad's as the official final act of my vacation. Also like last year, I feel for the first time today that autumn is definitely in the process of taking over, except this year it wasn't the kind of auspicious taste of the future we got last year. With the dull gray sky and damp, rainy atmosphere there was definitely a greater feeling of loss than of promise. It's an abrupt end to having the time and the energy to make great food, take walks, check out new places, take trips, run errands, and read. (Although I did NOT finish my book, and that irritates me even though I know it's because my time was filled with so many other valuable and interesting things instead.) I also got the news today that one of my workplace pals is quitting. (Who happens to be my MST3K buddy, and I'm seriously going to miss the two of us causing each other to laugh uncontrollably with just a few choice words.) And winter is coming. (Yeah, I know, but screw Game of Thrones. It's actually a real threat to my mental health.)
So tonight it's back to trying to make myself get to sleep before 9. Tomorrow I'll have to wake up at 4, and when I leave the house it'll be even darker than it was last time I had to do that. Back to spending 2 hours in the car every day, and coming home too tired to figure out how to make a decently healthy meal as quickly as possible. Back to fighting all the negative influences and probably back to feeling like a failure when I fail to fight the world off successfully.
Last week I felt so relaxed, positive, and happy that I was looking forward to going back to work. I thought, "This is the real me. This is more of who I'm supposed to be. I'm going to be able to go back and, at least for awhile, show everyone how charming and wonderful I'm capable of being." I had high hopes that the complications and problems that stood in my way before would be surmountable going forward with this renewed feeling of well-being. I was still feeling some of that last night, even though the fear of vacation's end was already creeping in. I give the saving credit to my new hat. I mean, a total stranger at the grocery store commented on how cute it was!! But today is so very NOT last week, and seems a world away from just yesterday.
The one ray of hope I can see is that the distance I've regained between myself and my work may reduce the type of stress I was dealing with before my vacation. The longer I work without a real break that allows me to gain that kind of distance, the more obsessed I become with trying to fix all the inconsistencies, glitches, and problems I can find. Which nobody else cares about or is willing to fix. Which frustrates me intensely. Which stresses me out. A lot. So in one sense, the less I care about things that aren't absolutely critical, the happier I am at work. And the less I want to be there, the less I care about all those non-critical things.
So, while I'm overshadowed by loss and regret, I'm trying to focus on how to carry that renewed energy forward anyway, even as I can feel it ebbing away while fear and resentment start crawling back in. I can do this, especially with the help of my new security blanket. I'm placing a lot of hope in that hat.
So tonight it's back to trying to make myself get to sleep before 9. Tomorrow I'll have to wake up at 4, and when I leave the house it'll be even darker than it was last time I had to do that. Back to spending 2 hours in the car every day, and coming home too tired to figure out how to make a decently healthy meal as quickly as possible. Back to fighting all the negative influences and probably back to feeling like a failure when I fail to fight the world off successfully.
Last week I felt so relaxed, positive, and happy that I was looking forward to going back to work. I thought, "This is the real me. This is more of who I'm supposed to be. I'm going to be able to go back and, at least for awhile, show everyone how charming and wonderful I'm capable of being." I had high hopes that the complications and problems that stood in my way before would be surmountable going forward with this renewed feeling of well-being. I was still feeling some of that last night, even though the fear of vacation's end was already creeping in. I give the saving credit to my new hat. I mean, a total stranger at the grocery store commented on how cute it was!! But today is so very NOT last week, and seems a world away from just yesterday.
The one ray of hope I can see is that the distance I've regained between myself and my work may reduce the type of stress I was dealing with before my vacation. The longer I work without a real break that allows me to gain that kind of distance, the more obsessed I become with trying to fix all the inconsistencies, glitches, and problems I can find. Which nobody else cares about or is willing to fix. Which frustrates me intensely. Which stresses me out. A lot. So in one sense, the less I care about things that aren't absolutely critical, the happier I am at work. And the less I want to be there, the less I care about all those non-critical things.
So, while I'm overshadowed by loss and regret, I'm trying to focus on how to carry that renewed energy forward anyway, even as I can feel it ebbing away while fear and resentment start crawling back in. I can do this, especially with the help of my new security blanket. I'm placing a lot of hope in that hat.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Have a Heaping Helping of Horror
So, the question was put to me: What horror movies would I recommend?
Hoo boy!
I could start with trying to narrow it down by asking what types a person likes or what they've already seen. Instead I tried to start thinking of my top 10 or maybe 20...or maybe 100. Most of these are favorites, but I've thrown in a few that ought to be viewed even though they aren't at the top of my list. I've also included some that aren't strictly horror: a few sci fi, a few with comedic elements, etc.
Let's start with some classic black & whites from bygone decades:
* The Universal Monsters: Any of the movies from any of the different 'series' are worth watching. But of them all, my favorites are:
--Son of Frankenstein (1939): An adorably precocious child, German Expressionist visuals, Bela Lugosi doing a superb job as Ygor, and the source of most of the references in Young Frankenstein.
--Son of Dracula (1943): The first time I heard the use of Alucard. First on-screen bat metamorphosis, I believe. Set in the swamps of Louisiana. This one has been a favorite since childhood.
-- Most of the Mummy movies.
* The Old Dark House (1932): Boris Karloff as a crazy, violent, mute servant. A bunch of people trapped during an unbelievably bad rain storm in...AN OLD, DARK HOUSE. Truly classic.
* I Walked With a Zombie (1943): Val Lewton movies tend to have an ironically lovely atmosphere. And this is one zombie movie that has "genuine" ethnic zombies.
* Them!: Probably the best of the giant bug movies, this time with ants!
* The Thing From Another World: One of my absolute favorites. I never, ever get tired of watching this one.
* Night of the Demon: This is in my top 5 and is the reason I discovered my favorite author. (It's based on a short story by M.R. James, who I had never heard of until I saw this movie.) This is the name of the British version. Make sure you watch this one, and not "Curse of the Demon" which is the inferior American version.
Now we jump ahead to Los 80s! A personal favorite period for horror movies, these aren't technically the best movies ever made, but I don't care. I have a special love for cheesy 80s horror movies:
* Ghoulies: "They call me Dick, but you can call me...Dick." Demons and magic. Nuff said.
* Critters: The monsters are really aliens, but it still has the feel of a horror movie rather than a sci fi flick. And these are pretty monstrous little visitors. I really enjoy this one.
* Killer Klowns From Outer Space: Odd even for its genre. Silly and perhaps even stupid. I love it. Give it a viewing if you like these kinds of movies.
* Return to Horror High: Okay, this is one I've always remembered from childhood. This fits into the hacker/slasher domain, but I've always liked this particular take on the genre.
* The Friday the 13th franchise: I've seen almost all of these, and I enjoy every single one of them. More of a guilty pleasure than a recommendation for good cinema, obviously. But I get some of them out and watch as many as I can every real Friday the 13th.
* Amityville 3-D (& the Amityville Horror): Another guilty pleasure. This one goes well beyond the "true" story of the first one, which I also like and recommend. But the extra demonic elements in the third of the franchise appeal to me. Definitely watch the original, but if you've never seen the third one, give it a peek.
* April Fool's Day: Hacker/slasher with a twist.
Some people consider serial killers and evil people doing terrible things to be great horror. I prefer supernatural plot elements. I've broken them down by either type of supernatural entity or some other unifying factor:
GHOSTS:
* The Uninvited (1944): Probably my favorite ghost story movie of them all, and one of my favorite movies of all time, horror or not.
* The Haunting (1963): This may be THE BEST "ghost" movie ever made. Another all time favorite regardless of genre.
* The Changeling (1980): George C. Scott as a bereaved composer renting a huge haunted house. Atmospheric, interesting, and a little bit creepy.
* Poltergeist: This one still gets to me no matter how many times I watch it.
* Stir of Echoes: I can't compare it with the book, but there's something about the realness of the characters and the relationships that makes this one more than just some ghost story for me.
* What Lies Beneath: I love both Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer and they are excellent in this movie. Keep an eye on mirrors throughout. This is one to pay complete attention to--no Facebooking during the movie!!
WOLVES:
* The Howling: Genuinely scary, I think, because it still makes me feel creeped out no matter how many times I watch it.
* An American Werewolf in London: I've only watched this a few times, but certain parts really stick with me and have since I first saw it as a child. Kind of funny and kind of serious. A must see, at least once.
* Wolfen: I really like this one even though the creatures aren't werewolves or wolf men, but "just" wolves. It's sort of an urban crime mystery with an added layer.
* Dog Soldiers: Elite British military unit trapped in the woods. Sean Pertwee. Must be seen at least once if you like werewolf movies.
DEMONS:
* The Exorcist: Make sure to watch the complete version.
* Pumpkinhead: Maybe this should have gone into the 80s category, because it definitely has that feel. But he really is a conjured demonic spirit, so I'm putting it here. I consider this the best "backwoods" horror movie. I know that may not sound like much of an accomplishment, but I really do think it has merit.
WITCHES:
* Horror Hotel (aka City of the Dead) (1960): This movie is the source of Christopher Lee's quote "Superstition, fear, and jealousy" which is used in Rob Zombie's Dragula. Thankfully, the movie has nothing at all in common with anything Rob Zombie has done, though. Nice little atmospheric piece about a murderous coven. This movie deserves more fans.
* Suspiria: The violent deaths are a just a little on the disturbing side, but the visuals are fantastic and the music is...Argento.
* Warlock: Yummy Julian Sands, yummy Richard E. Grant, delicious 80s atmosphere, and evil magic. I don't watch this one enough, really.
VAMPIRES:
* Lost Boys: How many times did I watch this while I was growing up?? I will always love this movie.
* Subspecies series: These are not great movies, but they are among my favorites. They are some of the few, if not the only, vampire movies actually filmed in Romania. Superior atmosphere, great 80s/90s feel, and a soundtrack I enjoyed so much I bought the cd. Watch the original Subspecies if you are interested. The sequels are only for the die hards.
ANTHOLOGIES:
* Dead of Night (1945): Black & white, British, hard to find on dvd. But if there is any way you can see this, you must. The framing story is excellent and the individual tales are wonderfully atmospheric and interesting.
* Black Sabbath (1963): Italian director Mario Bava is a legend, and this is my favorite of the ones I've seen. Make sure you get the Italian version, which is longer. "The Telephone" should be the first story, followed by "The Wurdulak" and then "The Drop of Water."
* Dr. Terror's House of Horrors: Peter Cushing reads tarot cards for his fellow train passengers, and we see how each of them may die. One of the most memorable of the many anthology horror movies I've seen.
JOHN CARPENTER: There are actually a lot of movies of his I've never seen. And not all of the ones I've seen are my faves. But the ones which are count among my favorite horror movies of all.
* Halloween: The original. I actually own most of the series, but most of them are rather silly compared to the first. I'm pretty sure I've watched the original more than any other movie ever, and I never get tired of it. Quite possibly the tippy top of my list.
* The Fog: Another all-time favorite. Genuinely creepy.
* Prince of Darkness: I can't say this is a favorite, but there's something about it that haunts me. I think it may be the creepiest movie I've ever watched. I'm putting it on as an "ought to give it a look" recommendation.
STEPHEN KING: I happen to think Stephen King has written some absolutely excellent novels. The best of the books have not necessarily been given the best treatment when adapted for viewing. But some of the books based on his ideas are must-sees.
* The Shining: The Kubrick movie, not the stupid mini series. Definitely a classic. I don't care how different it is from the book.
* Silver Bullet: An excellent werewolf movie. One of the few that acknowledges there isn't a full moon every month, and I like the fact that it is really about sibling relationships at the heart of the story.
* Graveyard Shift: How many other horror movies are set in a textile mill? C'mon! With a giant, man-eating creature living underground? It may be a guilty pleasure, but I love this one.
* Christine: Okay, I've only seen this once. But I really love the theme music, and I was surprised that I really liked a movie about a possessed car. It works. I can't honestly say at this point that this is one of my favorite movies, but if you're looking for a should-see-once suggestion, this ought to be on the list.
HAMMER STUDIOS!!!!!: What can I say: it's love. I'll try to pick a few of the best.
* Dracula: Prince of Darkness: This is not the first of the Hammer Draculas, but I think it's probably the best. Great atmosphere, interesting characters, and Christoper Lee as the Count himself.
* Plague of the Zombies: Another "traditional" take on zombies, as in "dead people turned by voodoo to serve an evil master" rather than a "for some reason all the dead want our brains" type of movie.
* most of their Mummy movies: I think I just love mummy movies. Some of the sequels probably aren't all that great. But at least give the first one a try. It has Christopher Lee --nudge, nudge.
THE REST: I couldn't decide where to put these or didn't have enough left to put them in some sort of category:
Quatermass & the Pit (aka Five Million Years to Earth) (1967): I've never seen the tv serial version, but I really like this movie version. Technically sci fi, I guess, it ends up being quite poignant for me. Does not exactly have a happy ending.
Something Wicked This Way Comes: An evil traveling carnival. Based on a Ray Bradbury book, which I don't think I've actually read.
Lair of the White Worm: Part vampire movie, part giant animal movie. The first movie in which I ever saw Hugh Grant. Take note: this is a Ken Russell movie.
Sleepy Hollow: I like Tim Burton, generally, and I think this is the best use of his signature style. I have watched this repeatedly, and will continue to do so. One of my faves of the faves.
Carnival of Souls (1962): What to say? A strange film which definitely deserves recognition as a cult classic.
Python: A guilty pleasure. Giant snake movie! With Wil Wheaton!!
Burnt Offerings: I'm throwing this in as a "should see once" suggestion. It's a rather atmospheric contribution which I think qualifies as a "demonic house" movie, for lack of a better term.
Cat People (1942): Another Val Lewton which can survive on atmosphere alone. I don't know that I'd consider it one of my all-time favorites, which is why I didn't list it with the classics above. But if you haven't seen it and you like the old black and whites, you really, really should watch this one.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956): Pretty much "ditto" what I just said about "Cat People," only with a different atmosphere. This fits with the 50s sci fi genre's atmosphere, but is one of the best of that period. Still, not quite a favorite of mine, but a definite must see.
Dead Alive (aka Braindead according to one source): Peter Jackson's early work was VERY different. One of the grossest movies I've ever seen. Not for those who don't have a twisted side. Actually, this is probably more of a comedy. But I'm throwing it in anyway.
Session 9: I think this is the best use of an insane asylum I've ever seen in a movie. I've seen it twice and it creeped me the hell out both times.
Tremors: I have all of them, and I enjoy all the sequels. But the first should be considered a classic among Big Monster movies.
The Birds: I have the Melanie Daniels/The Birds Barbie. It's the only collector Barbie I still have as a display piece. I would still love this movie as much without the Barbie. If you've never seen it, you need to fix that asap.
So, there you go. Over 50 suggestions for your viewing pleasure. This makes me want to go watch them all...
Hoo boy!
I could start with trying to narrow it down by asking what types a person likes or what they've already seen. Instead I tried to start thinking of my top 10 or maybe 20...or maybe 100. Most of these are favorites, but I've thrown in a few that ought to be viewed even though they aren't at the top of my list. I've also included some that aren't strictly horror: a few sci fi, a few with comedic elements, etc.
Let's start with some classic black & whites from bygone decades:
* The Universal Monsters: Any of the movies from any of the different 'series' are worth watching. But of them all, my favorites are:
--Son of Frankenstein (1939): An adorably precocious child, German Expressionist visuals, Bela Lugosi doing a superb job as Ygor, and the source of most of the references in Young Frankenstein.
--Son of Dracula (1943): The first time I heard the use of Alucard. First on-screen bat metamorphosis, I believe. Set in the swamps of Louisiana. This one has been a favorite since childhood.
-- Most of the Mummy movies.
* The Old Dark House (1932): Boris Karloff as a crazy, violent, mute servant. A bunch of people trapped during an unbelievably bad rain storm in...AN OLD, DARK HOUSE. Truly classic.
* I Walked With a Zombie (1943): Val Lewton movies tend to have an ironically lovely atmosphere. And this is one zombie movie that has "genuine" ethnic zombies.
* Them!: Probably the best of the giant bug movies, this time with ants!
* The Thing From Another World: One of my absolute favorites. I never, ever get tired of watching this one.
* Night of the Demon: This is in my top 5 and is the reason I discovered my favorite author. (It's based on a short story by M.R. James, who I had never heard of until I saw this movie.) This is the name of the British version. Make sure you watch this one, and not "Curse of the Demon" which is the inferior American version.
Now we jump ahead to Los 80s! A personal favorite period for horror movies, these aren't technically the best movies ever made, but I don't care. I have a special love for cheesy 80s horror movies:
* Ghoulies: "They call me Dick, but you can call me...Dick." Demons and magic. Nuff said.
* Critters: The monsters are really aliens, but it still has the feel of a horror movie rather than a sci fi flick. And these are pretty monstrous little visitors. I really enjoy this one.
* Killer Klowns From Outer Space: Odd even for its genre. Silly and perhaps even stupid. I love it. Give it a viewing if you like these kinds of movies.
* Return to Horror High: Okay, this is one I've always remembered from childhood. This fits into the hacker/slasher domain, but I've always liked this particular take on the genre.
* The Friday the 13th franchise: I've seen almost all of these, and I enjoy every single one of them. More of a guilty pleasure than a recommendation for good cinema, obviously. But I get some of them out and watch as many as I can every real Friday the 13th.
* Amityville 3-D (& the Amityville Horror): Another guilty pleasure. This one goes well beyond the "true" story of the first one, which I also like and recommend. But the extra demonic elements in the third of the franchise appeal to me. Definitely watch the original, but if you've never seen the third one, give it a peek.
* April Fool's Day: Hacker/slasher with a twist.
Some people consider serial killers and evil people doing terrible things to be great horror. I prefer supernatural plot elements. I've broken them down by either type of supernatural entity or some other unifying factor:
GHOSTS:
* The Uninvited (1944): Probably my favorite ghost story movie of them all, and one of my favorite movies of all time, horror or not.
* The Haunting (1963): This may be THE BEST "ghost" movie ever made. Another all time favorite regardless of genre.
* The Changeling (1980): George C. Scott as a bereaved composer renting a huge haunted house. Atmospheric, interesting, and a little bit creepy.
* Poltergeist: This one still gets to me no matter how many times I watch it.
* Stir of Echoes: I can't compare it with the book, but there's something about the realness of the characters and the relationships that makes this one more than just some ghost story for me.
* What Lies Beneath: I love both Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer and they are excellent in this movie. Keep an eye on mirrors throughout. This is one to pay complete attention to--no Facebooking during the movie!!
WOLVES:
* The Howling: Genuinely scary, I think, because it still makes me feel creeped out no matter how many times I watch it.
* An American Werewolf in London: I've only watched this a few times, but certain parts really stick with me and have since I first saw it as a child. Kind of funny and kind of serious. A must see, at least once.
* Wolfen: I really like this one even though the creatures aren't werewolves or wolf men, but "just" wolves. It's sort of an urban crime mystery with an added layer.
* Dog Soldiers: Elite British military unit trapped in the woods. Sean Pertwee. Must be seen at least once if you like werewolf movies.
DEMONS:
* The Exorcist: Make sure to watch the complete version.
* Pumpkinhead: Maybe this should have gone into the 80s category, because it definitely has that feel. But he really is a conjured demonic spirit, so I'm putting it here. I consider this the best "backwoods" horror movie. I know that may not sound like much of an accomplishment, but I really do think it has merit.
WITCHES:
* Horror Hotel (aka City of the Dead) (1960): This movie is the source of Christopher Lee's quote "Superstition, fear, and jealousy" which is used in Rob Zombie's Dragula. Thankfully, the movie has nothing at all in common with anything Rob Zombie has done, though. Nice little atmospheric piece about a murderous coven. This movie deserves more fans.
* Suspiria: The violent deaths are a just a little on the disturbing side, but the visuals are fantastic and the music is...Argento.
* Warlock: Yummy Julian Sands, yummy Richard E. Grant, delicious 80s atmosphere, and evil magic. I don't watch this one enough, really.
VAMPIRES:
* Lost Boys: How many times did I watch this while I was growing up?? I will always love this movie.
* Subspecies series: These are not great movies, but they are among my favorites. They are some of the few, if not the only, vampire movies actually filmed in Romania. Superior atmosphere, great 80s/90s feel, and a soundtrack I enjoyed so much I bought the cd. Watch the original Subspecies if you are interested. The sequels are only for the die hards.
ANTHOLOGIES:
* Dead of Night (1945): Black & white, British, hard to find on dvd. But if there is any way you can see this, you must. The framing story is excellent and the individual tales are wonderfully atmospheric and interesting.
* Black Sabbath (1963): Italian director Mario Bava is a legend, and this is my favorite of the ones I've seen. Make sure you get the Italian version, which is longer. "The Telephone" should be the first story, followed by "The Wurdulak" and then "The Drop of Water."
* Dr. Terror's House of Horrors: Peter Cushing reads tarot cards for his fellow train passengers, and we see how each of them may die. One of the most memorable of the many anthology horror movies I've seen.
JOHN CARPENTER: There are actually a lot of movies of his I've never seen. And not all of the ones I've seen are my faves. But the ones which are count among my favorite horror movies of all.
* Halloween: The original. I actually own most of the series, but most of them are rather silly compared to the first. I'm pretty sure I've watched the original more than any other movie ever, and I never get tired of it. Quite possibly the tippy top of my list.
* The Fog: Another all-time favorite. Genuinely creepy.
* Prince of Darkness: I can't say this is a favorite, but there's something about it that haunts me. I think it may be the creepiest movie I've ever watched. I'm putting it on as an "ought to give it a look" recommendation.
STEPHEN KING: I happen to think Stephen King has written some absolutely excellent novels. The best of the books have not necessarily been given the best treatment when adapted for viewing. But some of the books based on his ideas are must-sees.
* The Shining: The Kubrick movie, not the stupid mini series. Definitely a classic. I don't care how different it is from the book.
* Silver Bullet: An excellent werewolf movie. One of the few that acknowledges there isn't a full moon every month, and I like the fact that it is really about sibling relationships at the heart of the story.
* Graveyard Shift: How many other horror movies are set in a textile mill? C'mon! With a giant, man-eating creature living underground? It may be a guilty pleasure, but I love this one.
* Christine: Okay, I've only seen this once. But I really love the theme music, and I was surprised that I really liked a movie about a possessed car. It works. I can't honestly say at this point that this is one of my favorite movies, but if you're looking for a should-see-once suggestion, this ought to be on the list.
HAMMER STUDIOS!!!!!: What can I say: it's love. I'll try to pick a few of the best.
* Dracula: Prince of Darkness: This is not the first of the Hammer Draculas, but I think it's probably the best. Great atmosphere, interesting characters, and Christoper Lee as the Count himself.
* Plague of the Zombies: Another "traditional" take on zombies, as in "dead people turned by voodoo to serve an evil master" rather than a "for some reason all the dead want our brains" type of movie.
* most of their Mummy movies: I think I just love mummy movies. Some of the sequels probably aren't all that great. But at least give the first one a try. It has Christopher Lee --nudge, nudge.
THE REST: I couldn't decide where to put these or didn't have enough left to put them in some sort of category:
Quatermass & the Pit (aka Five Million Years to Earth) (1967): I've never seen the tv serial version, but I really like this movie version. Technically sci fi, I guess, it ends up being quite poignant for me. Does not exactly have a happy ending.
Something Wicked This Way Comes: An evil traveling carnival. Based on a Ray Bradbury book, which I don't think I've actually read.
Lair of the White Worm: Part vampire movie, part giant animal movie. The first movie in which I ever saw Hugh Grant. Take note: this is a Ken Russell movie.
Sleepy Hollow: I like Tim Burton, generally, and I think this is the best use of his signature style. I have watched this repeatedly, and will continue to do so. One of my faves of the faves.
Carnival of Souls (1962): What to say? A strange film which definitely deserves recognition as a cult classic.
Python: A guilty pleasure. Giant snake movie! With Wil Wheaton!!
Burnt Offerings: I'm throwing this in as a "should see once" suggestion. It's a rather atmospheric contribution which I think qualifies as a "demonic house" movie, for lack of a better term.
Cat People (1942): Another Val Lewton which can survive on atmosphere alone. I don't know that I'd consider it one of my all-time favorites, which is why I didn't list it with the classics above. But if you haven't seen it and you like the old black and whites, you really, really should watch this one.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956): Pretty much "ditto" what I just said about "Cat People," only with a different atmosphere. This fits with the 50s sci fi genre's atmosphere, but is one of the best of that period. Still, not quite a favorite of mine, but a definite must see.
Dead Alive (aka Braindead according to one source): Peter Jackson's early work was VERY different. One of the grossest movies I've ever seen. Not for those who don't have a twisted side. Actually, this is probably more of a comedy. But I'm throwing it in anyway.
Session 9: I think this is the best use of an insane asylum I've ever seen in a movie. I've seen it twice and it creeped me the hell out both times.
Tremors: I have all of them, and I enjoy all the sequels. But the first should be considered a classic among Big Monster movies.
The Birds: I have the Melanie Daniels/The Birds Barbie. It's the only collector Barbie I still have as a display piece. I would still love this movie as much without the Barbie. If you've never seen it, you need to fix that asap.
So, there you go. Over 50 suggestions for your viewing pleasure. This makes me want to go watch them all...
Sunday, June 9, 2013
2013 Planting List
Of course, I've had varying success with these so far. Some seeds were planted out directly and some were started inside. I've lost count of how many seedlings I planted out for each of the kinds that had at least some seeds started inside.
Flower & Herb Seeds
Alyssum, Paletta Mix
Alyssum, Sweet Allure Pastel Blend
Anise Hyssop
Basil
Calamint, August Clouds
Calendula officinalis
Candytuft, Fairyland Dwarf Mix
Chives
Cilantro
Cornflower, Florist's Double Blue
Cosmos, Cosimo Collarette
Dill
Flax, Charmer Mix
Flax, Scarlet
Globe Amaranth, Bicolor Rose
Horehound
Lemon Balm
Lychnis Coronaria/Rose Campion
Malva, Zebrina
Morning Glory, Chocolate
Poppies, mixed annual
Poppies, Fruit Punch perennial
Snapdragons, Black Knight
Strawflower, Apricot/Peach Mix
Strawflower, mixed
Sweet Pea, Spencer Prince of Orange
Sweet Pea, Tangerine Cream
Zinnia, Creamy Yellow
Zinnia, Envy
Zinnia, Polar Bear
Zinnia, Pumila Salmon
Zinnia, Violet
Fruit/Vegetable Seeds
Beans, Purple Podded Pole
Beans, Royalty Purple Bush
Beet, Early Wonder Tall Top
Broccoli, Di Cicco
Cabbage, Primo
Cucumber, Beit Alpha
Cucumber, Lemon
Cucumber, Pickling
Ground Cherry, Aunt Molly's
Lettuce, Amish Speckled Butterhead
Lettuce, Bronze Arrow Looseleaf
Pepper, Jimmy Nardello
Squash, Bennings Green Scallop
Squash, Bush Buttercup
Squash, Costata Romanesco
Squash, White Scallop
Strawberry, Mara des Bois
Tomatillo, Verde
Tomato, Aunt Ruby's German Green
Tomato, German Orange Strawberry
Tomato, Isis Candy Cherry
Tomato, Pruden's Purple
Tomato, Razzleberry
Plants
Euphorbia polychroma (3)
Geum, Totally Tangerine
Hemerocallis, Purple d'Oro (3)
Hosta, Guardian Angel
Pansies, Cotton Candy mixed (6)
Pansies, Karma Blue Butterfly (12)
Rhubarb, Canadian Red
Rose, Bonica
Rose, Julia Child
Scabiosa, Mariposa Violet (2)
Thymus coccineus (2)
Viburnum, Arrowwood (bareroot)
Viburnum, American Cranberrybush (bareroot)
Tubers/Bulbs
Kogane Fubuki Dahlia
Calla Lilies
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Words
Crapdoodles: I haven't posted since September?? With all the memos to myself I've collected over the intervening months regarding possible topics for future posting, I would have thought I'd posted SOMETHING. For heaven's sake, there was an election in there! I had to go find a link for my own blog because my bookmark for it had been wiped out in the Great Computer Crash and I had yet to recover it.
But today I have to write because I don't feel like doing anything. I was going to make cookies, muffins, stuffed jalapenos, some beef recipe, and a mushroom-egg pie thing today AND I was going to go to Lowe's, fix the toilet, replace the upstairs litterbox area, and change the bed linens. Maybe even do a load of laundry. But I don't feel like doing any of it now. I don't feel like reading, crocheting, watching a movie, or even sleeping. I don't want to do one single thing.
But for some reason I had the desire to declare my listlessness. The only thing to hold any appeal (besides staring off into space) was to try to put words to this feeling. Barring the emotions in response to traumatic, tragic, or life-altering events, I think that is the worst feeling in the world. I'm not even talking about the kind of absence of interest that comes with depressive episodes. I had no idea what to do and no energy to do it, but my brain was upset about this because somewhere inside I wanted to do all those things and hated the other parts of me that were refusing to cooperate.
It does not help that there is a great deal of pressure from inside myself for this weekend to "fix" the stresses of the past couple of weeks. The past week in particular seemed to be permeated with negativity on an environmental scale, as if the wind and weather were infusing it into everyone and everything around me. And most of all into me. I have a visceral understanding of the word "miasma" after driving in the fog we had mid-week. Which is kind of exciting and deeply satisfying to someone who loves to actually feel words. But it was overwhelming the weekend with a great deal of expectation that having some time away from the driving and the weather and the work-related annoyances so that I could do the things I REALLY wanted to do would make it all better.
Which is not an unfair expectation, because the weekends often do just that. Except when they don't. And this one hasn't accomplished that to the degree I had hoped. But, writing this all out has accomplished EXACTLY what it could have: I am ready to get out of this chair and go do things. I feel relieved of the burden of ennui and am ready to get things done.
But today I have to write because I don't feel like doing anything. I was going to make cookies, muffins, stuffed jalapenos, some beef recipe, and a mushroom-egg pie thing today AND I was going to go to Lowe's, fix the toilet, replace the upstairs litterbox area, and change the bed linens. Maybe even do a load of laundry. But I don't feel like doing any of it now. I don't feel like reading, crocheting, watching a movie, or even sleeping. I don't want to do one single thing.
But for some reason I had the desire to declare my listlessness. The only thing to hold any appeal (besides staring off into space) was to try to put words to this feeling. Barring the emotions in response to traumatic, tragic, or life-altering events, I think that is the worst feeling in the world. I'm not even talking about the kind of absence of interest that comes with depressive episodes. I had no idea what to do and no energy to do it, but my brain was upset about this because somewhere inside I wanted to do all those things and hated the other parts of me that were refusing to cooperate.
It does not help that there is a great deal of pressure from inside myself for this weekend to "fix" the stresses of the past couple of weeks. The past week in particular seemed to be permeated with negativity on an environmental scale, as if the wind and weather were infusing it into everyone and everything around me. And most of all into me. I have a visceral understanding of the word "miasma" after driving in the fog we had mid-week. Which is kind of exciting and deeply satisfying to someone who loves to actually feel words. But it was overwhelming the weekend with a great deal of expectation that having some time away from the driving and the weather and the work-related annoyances so that I could do the things I REALLY wanted to do would make it all better.
Which is not an unfair expectation, because the weekends often do just that. Except when they don't. And this one hasn't accomplished that to the degree I had hoped. But, writing this all out has accomplished EXACTLY what it could have: I am ready to get out of this chair and go do things. I feel relieved of the burden of ennui and am ready to get things done.
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