Happy Halloween!
And to end the month of madness, the mother of all Halloween movies:
I hope everyone has a frighteningly wonderful Halloween!
Archive for Scary Monsters
Tim Burton
Oh Tim Burton, why did you have to go and marry the beautiful Helena Bonham Carter when you were obviously meant for me? Hell, I’d marry Helena Bonham Carter too if I had the opportunity!
Starting November 22, 2009 and running until April 26, 2010, you can see Tim Burton’s artwork and films at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
© Tim Burton. All rights reserved. Used without permission.
© Tim Burton. All rights reserved. Used without permission.
© Tim Burton. All rights reserved. Used without permission.
© Tim Burton. All rights reserved. Used without permission.
© Tim Burton. All rights reserved. Used without permission.
© Tim Burton. All rights reserved. Used without permission.
Remembering those funhouse thrills
This time of year haunted houses pop up all over the US. Are you even surprised to learn that I love haunted houses? When I was a kid there was an old abandoned house that some clever folks turned into a haunted house tour, complete with costumed lunatics jumping out from behind closed doors and grabbing you. When you exited the house a guy with a chainsaw would chase you through the woods. Pure joy!
When carnivals came to town I’d always have to go through the horror funhouses. They were always so tacky and certainly worth a laugh. I think a little part of me always tried to scare myself with the idea that maybe, just maybe there would be a true madman hidden inside that would actually kill people.
Of course the mother of all haunted houses is Disney’s Haunted Mansion:
This Haunted Mansion ride in Luna Park, Sydney, Australia scared the bejeezus out of Dawn Summers. Or maybe it was just that skeevy guy following us around inside the ride.
Things That Go Bump in the Night
October is the perfect time to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot apple cider. Here are some of my fav classic horror short stories/authors. I’ve provided links for you to read the works online but I’m a traditionalist and prefer the feel of crisp paper in my hands so I’ve also provided links to buy the books as well. Or visit your local library and check out the books for free.
Don’t forget to leave a light on when you go to bed…
Bela Lugosi’s Dead
undead undead undead
Ok, strange way to start a Happy Birthday post to my brother!
When we were kids, my brother and I loved watching the old horror classics on Saturday nights. We loved all of the Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney and Vincent Price flicks, even the Abbott and Costello Meet the Monster of the Week movies. So, Happy Birthday Joe – these monsters are for you!
Bela Lugosi in Dracula
Boris Karloff in Frankenstein
Lon Chaney, Jr in The Wolf Man
Boris Karloff in The Mummy
And my brother’s fav:
Max Schreck in Nosferatu
Fun in the Fifties
© 2009 Kristian Hammerstad. All rights reserved. Used without permission.
Check out the rest of the fun monsters from Kristian Hammerstad.
JtHM
One of my favourite comic/graphic novel series is Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Jhonen Vasquez. Mr. Vasquez, also the creator of Squee!, I Feel Sick, Fillerbunny, and Invader Zim, draws, or maybe spews is a better word, the black comedic horror-filled world of Johnny, a deranged serial killer.
I think we’ve all felt like Johnny at some point in our lives. Don’t even try to deny it.
View a full panel from Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.
View a full panel of Happy Noodle Boy, a comic within the comic.
You can follow Jhonen Vasquez on Twitter or read his blog.
All images © Jhonen Vasquez and used without permission.