Dead Box

BREAKING NEWS! Midnight Syndicate's "The Dead Matter" was picked up by RedBox on October 23rd and is now available there for a limited time!

This is a really exciting development for an independently distributed film! The movie is also now available through Amazon and iTunes as well. Midnight Syndicate has a complete list of these at www.thedeadmatter.com/buydvd.htm.

Do you part supporting indie horror and spread the word!

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN!

Happy Halloween...




...and an explanation. In September I started a new job which has gobbled up my time like a child gobbles up candy on Halloween night. We still had our annual Halloween party, and I am still putting on a show out in the graveyard tonight - but just barely. These events have been forces of will. I'm hoping that by this time next year, I will have the everyday duties of this new job mastered, allowing me more time to do the things I love on the best day of the year - and more time to blog about it!

P.S. Looks to be a beautiful day...and night...in the Northstar State tonight. 49 degrees for the high temperature - no rain - no snow - no wind. You can't ask for much more than that! Be safe...have fun...and don't blow out the jack-o-lanterns!

TVTV...Televised?

You can help make this a reality!

Click: http://www.transylvania-tv.com/the-latest-news-from-tvtv/

Still Standing

Drive-In Theatre
Originally uploaded by Gulliver16

Best thing about this ancient ozoner in Ontario, Canada? It's still open for business!

Old School

Wow. You simply must check out Wisconsin (and world) artist Mike Hoffman's website (careful viewing at work...) Channeling all the great monster and fantasy artists of our youth, Mr. Hoffman's work is gorgeously campy for all the right reasons!

www.mikehoffman.com

Autumn Approaches

Scarecrow
Originally uploaded by Nigel Lomas

Day by day, degree by degree.

Dark Star

Some early John Carpenter. Before there was ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK or THEY LIVE (or even Dan O'Bannon's ALIEN), there was... DARK STAR!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Star_%28film%29

Sleepy Hollow

Oh yes - we most definitely took this trail. Saw no signs of a spectral Hessian Trooper, but it was worth the hike anyway. Taken at White Pines Forest State Park in Illinois (near Haddonfield, if memory serves).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Pines_State_Park

European Poe

To all Poe fans across the pond: MODERN POE is now available via Amazon Europe, for the low price of £6.43 (GBP) or €7.26 (EUR)! For those in the US of A, you can still pick it up for the insanely reasonable price of $8.99 at: https://www.createspace.com/3610670

Spirit Halloween

Look what's coming to town! Not sure if this is any different than the usual 'Halloween Store' that we've always had here in the past - but I'm definitely looking forward to browsing through the aisles!

Axe Grinder

Now that Destini Beard's interpretation of Midnight Syndicate's music has been released (A Time Forgotten), I decided to check out what the musical duo has coming up next. Lo and behold before I could grind my axe, I get an e-mail from Ed Douglas giving me just that! Here's what he had to say:

"We just finished the score to the grindhouse thriller, "Bunyan" (www.bunyanmovie.com). From the title you can probably figure that this is a classic "beer and pizza" movie and it is. It's a lot of fun. Creating the score was really cool as it required us to explore lot of sides that people have never heard come from Midnight Syndicate. We'll be releasing a soundtrack CD along with the movie. The producers plan to premiere it later this year, I'll keep you informed."

Sounds gravy. Can't wait to check this one out and give a spin to the accompanying soundtrack!

Hidden Pines

Day 239/365 - Sunset at the Drive In
Originally uploaded by Great Beyond

Discovered an old drive-in theater just down the road from the log cabin we stayed at last weekend. Hidden behind the pine trees, the rusted back-side of the screen was just peaking through the tops of a row of mighty tree tops, causing me to exclaim in disbelief: "Is that a drive-in?" as we were driving by.

Later I walked down the road (and admittedly ignored the No Trespassing signs) to check it out. A cozy little ozoner, I have pictures of what's left of the Pines Drive-In Theatre in Dixon, IL that I'll try to get up soon.

Count Down

71 days 'til Halloween, Halloween, Halloween! 71 days 'til Halloween... Silver Shamrock!

Starts Friday

Horror's Least

Spooky Houses
Originally uploaded by sheiladeeisme

XXIX. Ghosts.

One need not be a chamber to be haunted,
One need not be a house;
The brain has corridors surpassing
Material place.

Far safer, of a midnight meeting
External ghost,
Than an interior confronting
That whiter host.

Far safer through an Abbey gallop,
The stones achase,
Than, moonless, one's own self encounter
In lonesome place.

Ourself, behind ourself concealed,
Should startle most;
Assassin, hid in our apartment,
Be horror's least.

The prudent carries a revolver,
He bolts the door,
O'erlooking a superior spectre
More near.

-- Emily Dickinson

Prometheus HISHE

Gone Camping

Just got back from a long weekend camping. I had absolutely zero internet access - and it was wonderful! Sometimes it pays to completely disconnect from the world wide web for awhile and connect back into Mother Earth. The weather was gorgeous and the smell of Fall was in the air (a bit early, but the leaves had that distinct scent that is unmistakable!)

My apologies for no updates while I was gone - Destini Beard's new album with Midnight Syndicate got some extra promotion for a few days! Glad to be back - however, I must warn that another expedition to Camp Crystal Lake is planned for the very near future, so we might have another gap in posts...

Signed Copy

The big day is finally here! Get your signed copy today!

http://www.edbeardjr.com/store/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/91/products_id/608

Vocalist Destini Beard releases A Time Forgotten CD featuring music of Midnight Syndicate

August 7, 2012 (Cleveland, OH) – Vocalist Destini Beard has released A TIME FORGOTTEN, her first full-length album and followup to 2010’s successful THE DARK MASQUERADE EP. As with her previous release, the album showcases Destini’s lyrics and haunting, alluring vocal performances and arrangements blended with music from gothic horror music pioneers Midnight Syndicate.

The theme of the album surrounds a once-thriving Victorian hotel which suffers a tragic fire and is now haunted by it’s past residents as well as a malevolent spirit that holds dominion over all of them. The story goes on to tell of a young woman who is called from the spirit world to the hotel to reunite with her departed true love only to discover the dark secrets that lie behind the rooms’ walls.
"Sonically, we wanted the CD to be reminiscent of a short musical, with multiple layers of harmonies and counter melodies on each song,” said Destini. “The recording process took much longer than THE DARK MASQUERADE but I feel the end product was worth every bit of it. I was especially pleased with how the musical variety works hand in hand with the lyrics to pull you further along on the adventure."

The final special offering on this album, is the debut presentation of an original piece composed and performed by Destini Beard entitled MY LAST GOODBYE. The album also features an eight panel fold out, with all of the lyrics for the listener to read along with and fully immerse themselves into the storyline. The cover art has been created by fantasy illustrator Ed Beard Jr, and captures the essence of the lead character and the mysterious Victorian hotel.

The CD is available now on Midnight Syndicate and Destini Beard’s websites, Amazon.com, and CDBaby. It will be available digitally on iTunes and Amazon MP3 on September 11, 2012.

Extra Ordinary

Brains. BRAINS!

I would totally love to be walking down the street in the big city and come across this horrific, brain-munching nightmare. Oh yeah! Brains!

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/see-zombies-invade-manhattan-in--walking-dead--viral-video.html

It's Coming

It's coming! One of the creepiest shows on television - the new season of SyFy's Paranormal Witness begins on Wednesday, August 8th! Featuring terrific production values, this is one of the few reenactment programs that I actually enjoy (and a blessed relief from the glut of night vision/what-was/that? investigative shows out there).

www.syfy.com/paranormalwitness

Undertaker's Horse

Phantom
Originally uploaded by St Clements

The eldest son bestrides him,
And the pretty daughter rides him,
And I meet him oft o' mornings on the Course;
And there kindles in my bosom
An emotion chill and gruesome
As I canter past the Undertaker's Horse.

Neither shies he nor is restive,
But a hideously suggestive
Trot, professional and placid, he affects;
And the cadence of his hoof-beats
To my mind this grim reproof beats: --
"Mend your pace, my friend, I'm coming. Who's the next?"

--from "The Undertaker's Horse," Rudyard Kipling

Album Art

From Destini Beard's Facebook page:

"Here's the announcement!!! Here is the album cover by my dad artist Ed Beard Jr for my new album "A Time Forgotten"!! The album will be available August 7th through my website www.destinibeard.com. Also ordering through the website gets you a signed Cd!!!"

Such an amazing album cover - Ed Beard, jr. really is a legend - his talent with an airbrush equals that of his daughter's amazing voice. For those of us who are old enough to have grown up with actual vinyl albums, and endlessly studied and appreciated them back in the day, Mr. Beard most definitely represents a time forgotten! Well done sir!

Can't wait to hear the cd, Destini!

Something Squatchy

In November of 1978, the family became aware of noises coming from outside the children’s window. Three children shared the room, and the 6 month old’s crib was nearest the window. The sounds were mimicking the baby’s cooing. The sounds would come at night and last for about 30 minutes at a time. The older children (ages 3 and 4) would see a dark brown furry head in the window and would run to the parents crying “a boogie man was outside.” The parents thought the children were imagining things as they would not hear or see anything. This went on for many months, and the children would end up sleeping with the parents when they heard or saw things at the window.

In the summer of 1979, the mother went out to feed the dogs their dinner scraps. When she went outside, stepped off the porch and came face to face with a large, hair covered, bipedal man. Frightened for her life, she ran inside to her husband. He grabbed a gun, and shooting blindly through the wooden wall he fired at where the creature was standing. (To this day, the bullet hole is still in the wall.) The entire house immediately was permeated with a smell that is described as “strong septic,” and “dead animal” smell. Although no blood was found, the father thought he had hit the creature and it ran into the woods.

The next night, a smaller creature returned to the house after midnight. The mother heard grunting outside her window. The creature was clearly agitated as it picked up welding tanks (90 lbs.) that were stored on the property and threw them at the house. The family watched from the window. The police were called and found only the scattered tanks when they arrived.

The family was so frightened they called relatives for several nights to come guard the house. Some walked the perimeter, one was on the roof. All had guns. One night, the uncle on the roof noticed movement behind the father, and shouted, “Behind you!” At the same time, the father backed up to what he thought was a tree, only to have it move. Both ran in different directions, the father toward the house and the creature towards the woods but not before slamming into the hood of the car. It left three large dents on the jeep. Again, the police were called and found nothing. The family is of Cherokee heritage, they called a Blackfoot chief’s wife over to do a ritual to protect them. Things calmed down after that but from time to time over several years other things were noted...

To read more: http://www.bfro.net/GDB/show_report.asp?id=32435

Skyfall Spot

As a lifelong Bond fan, I'm excited for Daniel Craig to finally get his proper 007 movie with all the proper elements in place.

Halloween Party

How I would love to go to a Halloween party like this - and that's just the kid's table!

From the Skip To My Lou blog - see more party pics here:

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/10/26/halloween-party-decorations/

Time Forgotten

A short note from Destini Beard with regard to her upcoming collaborative album with Midnight Syndicate. Can't wait for this one to finally be released - I absolutely adored THE DARK MASQUERADE!

The tracks and files have been sent for the new album "A Time Forgotten" and will be released in a few weeks! Twelve tracks with the awesome music of Midnight Syndicate along with a really cool dance mix by Pat Berdyz and a track composed and written by me it's going to be awesome I can't wait for you all to hear it! And thank you to my dad Ed Beard Jr for an amazing album cover! The cd will be available on my website can't wait for you guys to hear it! Thank you all so much for your support with my music!

The cd will be available on my website www.destinibeard.com

Bathroom Break

Remember the bathroom scene from that really crappy (pun intended) Stephen King adaptation DREAMCATCHER? Yeah, that's how I feel right now. Urggghhhh...

To cheer myself up, I read this spot-on review of the film over here:

mygeekblasphemy.com

Double Digits

99 days 'till Halloween, Halloween, Halloween! 99 days 'till Halloween...SILVER SHAMROCK!

I always know every summer, when the Lazy Susan's bloom, that the clock really starts ticking on the Halloween prop building. I think most home haunters would agree that the pressure slowly starts to build each year once you hit the double digit mark on the countdown to the big day. This is where you really start to get serious and buckle down on those props you've been slowly tinkering with and get them finished!

To the average person this idea seems ludicrous. It's only July 24th! You're thinking about Halloween already? they chortle with wide eyes rolling. To which I say: It's July 24th! Only 99 days left! Time's running out!

Got Brains?

A fun little pic I dug up from the crypt - this is me on Halloween night two years ago...

Knight Rises

My immediate reaction upon seeing THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (and this is in no way intended to be a complete, thorough review): Bleak, violent, intense, over-long - I liked it - didn't love it. At least not in the way I did THE DARK KNIGHT a few years back. To be fair, THE DARK KNIGHT was just about as perfect of a superhero film as you could get, so it was a tall order for director Christopher Nolan to top it. Still, I was hoping for a film just as good, and this one didn't quite match up, and I had way more fun at THE AVENGERS (which pains this DC fan to say).

There were so many 'little things' that kept bothering me. Like: why did Selina Kyle wear the mask again? Everyone knew who she was, so there was no point, really, in disguising her identity. And why did Dr. Crane (aka The Scarecrow) NOT wear his mask? I would have loved to see him go looney tunes pulling on his mask as he passed down judgement on Gotham's finest. Not to mention the role of Dep. Comm. Foley (played by Mathew Modine), who seemed unnecessary and bogged down the plot. Plus the resolution of Bane's character seemed anti-climactic. For essentially BEING the movie, his coda seemed like a major let-down for this bat-fan.

When it was all said and done, this is what I kept thinking about the dark knight as we approached the explosive finale:

"Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!"

Sure, my opinion will probably soften, particularly when I see it in Imax. I'm a lifelong, die-hard Batman fan - so I really want to love this entry in Nolan's trilogy - but it may take repeated viewings for me to truly 'get it.'

P.S. The trailer for next year's MAN OF STEEL put a genuine lump in my throat. Loved it!

Vintage Goodness

Old Fashioned Red Candy Apple Recipe (circa 1929)

Two cups granulated sugar, one-half cup light corn syrup, one-quarter cup water, red coloring, one-half teaspoon cinnamon flavoring, twelve red apples, twelve wooden skewers.

Cook the granulated sugar, corn syrup, and water in a small saucepan, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Continue cooking without stirring until the syrup is brittle when tested in cold water. During the cooking, any sugar crystals thrown on the sides of the pan should be carefully washed down with a wet cloth. Remove the syrup from the heat and set at once over hot water. Add coloring and flavoring and mix well.

Insert the skewers, which can be purchased from the butcher, in the blossom end of the apples. Hold each apple by the skewer and plunge into the hot syrup. Draw it out quickly and twirl it until the syrup is spread smoothly over the apple.

Place apples with the skewer end down in a wire cake rack, which has been placed over a large bowl, so that the apple does not touch anything while hardening. These apples should be made the day they will be used.

http://www.homemade-dessert-recipes.com/candy-apple-recipe.html

Wicked Grin

Had a day off from work yesterday and had a creative impulse. This is the result - an impromptu finger-painting to hang above my workshop table. Made with acrylic paint on a quarter-inch sheet of plywood, this was done in about an hour. The shape of the pumpkin shows up better in person - it's a very deep orange/black that disappears as the workshop grows dark (and the eyes and mouth are painted with glo-paint so they light up at night).

The face was borrowed from here:

http://ericfreitas.deviantart.com/art/Jack-o-lantern-2-184798515

Hallowed Ground

Old Graveyard
Originally uploaded by MalachyC

Located in Algona, Iowa, there is a graveyard just north of the town. In this graveyard, there is a smaller one that is fenced off towards the rear. Back in the 1800s when Gypsy wagon trains would pass through the town, they would come across this graveyard. If there was a gypsy who was dying from illness, they would bury this person alive right at the spot because they were unable to stop. There was also no hallowed ground to bury the gypsy in since they were on the move. To this day, the people of the town firmly believe that the graveyard is haunted, and if someone dares to venture beyond the small fenced in graveyard in the back, they will be cursed forever from the spirits of the gypsies.

Random Geekery

Okay - some random thoughts from a certified HALLOWEEN movie franchise geek. I love these movies (well, John Carpenter's original through HALLOWEEN 4 - with a soft spot for part 6), and often have completely random thoughts about the greatness of the early entries and how the later ones could have been improved upon. Here's one example of a random thought I had the other day:

This is actually a long running observation that I've had for many years now, related to the opening scene of the original 1981 version of HALLOWEEN II. You'll recall that film started with the oldie tune "Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes (a song referenced again in HALLOWEEN H20.) Similarly, every time I hear the 1964 tune "A Summer Song" by Chad & Jeremy I always think now that's a song that should be used in a HALLOWEEN movie! Read the lyrics with Laurie Strode and Michael Myers in mind, giving the beautiful lyrics a slightly sinister undertone, and decide for yourself...

They say that all good things must end some day
Autumn leaves must fall
But don't you know that it hurts me so
To say goodbye to you
Wish you didn't have to go
No no no no

And when the rain
Beats against my window pane
I'll think of summer days again
And dream of you

They say that all good things must end some day
Autumn leaves must fall
But don't you know that it hurts me so
To say goodbye to you
Wish you didn't have to go
No no no no

And when the rain
Beats against my window pane
I'll think of summer days again
And dream of you
And dream of you


Rob Zombie made a habit of recycling oldie standards in his craptacular HALLOWEEN movies, alas, this one wasn't one of them - but I would have loved to hear this in HALLOWEEN H20 as it seems to fit the vibe of that film perfectly (but as we know, that film had its own recycled soundtrack).

To listen, click below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D2XD341xHo

Frankenstein vs. Bride

SD Comic Con 2012: Rob Zombie on ‘The Lords of Salem’ and Manson

“I’m really excited about Lords of Salem. I was looking at it today, because we’re just finishing the sound design and the sound mix and all that stuff. It’s a really different movie. Because the last couple of movies I’ve made have been these very handheld, rough, and physically violent sort of films. This isn’t like that at all. It’s a very slow-paced, psychological, specifically composed sort of movie. It’s almost the exact opposite of what I’ve done before. So I’m really excited to get it out to see what people think. It’s not what they expect it to be.

“It starts in 1697 in Salem, Massachusetts. The basic idea is that back then, when the witch trials were going on, obviously there were innocent people being killed as witches. But there was a group of people who were not so innocent, but were murdered and put to death. They, before they died, put a curse on Salem, which is now coming true in modern times. Most of the movie takes place in modern-day Salem. I’m trying not to spoil things…

“That’s the problem with things like this – you always have to explain it. But I’m trying to keep something secret so when people see it they don’t go, ‘Oh yeah, I knew all that.’ Because when there are no surprises it kind of ruins it.”

As for his tour with Marilyn Manson, Zombie said, “It’s probably not unlike when I did the tour with Alice Cooper. What I like about these tours is that it’s a co-headlining tour, so both acts do the full show and their full set. Nobody has to sacrifice anything. Alice and I are good friends and it was one of the most fun tours I ever did. But of course there’s gonna be this fun rivalry, because nobody wants somebody else to upstage them. So that’s fun, and I assume it will be more of the same with that.”

If Alice Cooper’s collaboration with Zombie was a case of “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man,” how would Zombie describe his tour with Manson?

“’Frankenstein versus the Bride of Frakenstein’?” he laughed. “Because Marilyn is a girl’s name…”

“No,” he added, “I can’t wait to do it. It seems like one of those tours that’s so obvious, like we would have done it before. But we haven’t… I’m kind of glad we haven’t, because there are still exciting things to do. It’s gonna be good, because we’re going to do it here and in Europe, and it will go for a while.”

“So I hope we get along,” he laughed again, “because there are a lot of shows!”

– Joseph McCabe, FearNet

http://www.fearnet.com/

They Live

"Outside the limit of our sight, feeding off us, perched on top of us, from birth to death, are our owners! Our owners! They have us. They control us! They are our masters! Wake up! They're all about you! All around you!"

--Preacher, THEY LIVE (1988)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/

Expendables 2

This looks like so much fun.

Silver Shamrock

111 days 'till Halloween, Halloween, Halloween...

Superior 71

Drove past this beauty on the way home from South Dakota. We had actually taken a wrong turn and cruised by completely by accident. Just outside of Superior, IA, it was hours until showtime - and we had another three hours (on top of the six we just drove) ahead of us - so we couldn't hang around for a double-bill. Still, took the time to wander around a bit and check out the lay of the land.

A beautiful little drive-in - I'd love to go back some day! For those in the area, I encourage you to support this gem and spend generously at their concession stand!

http://www.superior71drivein.com/

Stay Tuned

Survived a week long log cabin vacation deep in the woods of South Dakota. Thought I'd take this time to announce that major changes can be expected at both the Hallowzing site and Drive-In of the Dead - hopefully before the year is out. You may have noticed that both sites have basically been inactive for the past few months, and there has been some politics involved in that that I'm hoping to sort out so that both sites can be regularly updated. Thanks for your patience!

Stay tuned...

Old Scratch

Tom lifted up his eyes and beheld a great black man, seated directly opposite him on the stump of a tree. He was exceedingly surprised, having neither seen nor heard any one approach, and he was still more perplexed on observing, as well as the gathering gloom would permit, that the stranger was neither negro nor Indian. It is true, he was dressed in a rude, half Indian garb, and had a red belt or sash swathed round his body, but his face was neither black nor copper colour, but swarthy and dingy and begrimed with soot, as if he had been accustomed to toil among fires and forges. He had a shock of coarse black hair, that stood out from his head in all directions; and bore an axe on his shoulder.

He scowled for a moment at Tom with a pair of great red eyes. "What are you doing in my grounds?" said the black man, with a hoarse growling voice. "Your grounds?" said Tom, with a sneer; "no more your grounds than mine: they belong to Deacon Peabody." "Deacon Peabody be d——d," said the stranger, "as I flatter myself he will be, if he does not look more to his own sins and less to his neighbour's. Look yonder, and see how Deacon Peabody is faring."

Tom looked in the direction that the stranger pointed, and beheld one of the great trees, fair and flourishing without, but rotten at the core, and saw that it had been nearly hewn through, so that the first high wind was likely to below it down. On the bark of the tree was scored the name of Deacon Peabody. He now looked round and found most of the tall trees marked with the name of some great men of the colony, and all more or less scored by the axe. The one on which he had been seated, and which had evidently just been hewn down, bore the name of Crowninshield; and he recollected a mighty rich man of that name, who made a vulgar display of wealth, which it was whispered he had acquired by buccaneering.

"He's just ready for burning!" said the black man, with a growl of triumph. "You see I am likely to have a good stock of firewood for winter."

"But what right have you," said Tom, "to cut down Deacon Peabody's timber?"

"The right of prior claim," said the other. "This woodland belonged to me long before one of your white faced race put foot upon the soil."

"And pray, who are you, if I may be so bold?" said Tom.

"Oh, I go by various names. I am the Wild Huntsman in some countries; the Black Miner in others. In this neighbourhood I am known by the name of the Black Woodsman. I am he to whom the red men devoted this spot, and now and then roasted a white man by way of sweet smelling sacrifice. Since the red men have been exterminated by you white savages, I amuse myself by presiding at the persecutions of quakers and Anabaptists; I am the great patron and prompter of slave dealers, and the grand master of the Salem witches."

"The upshot of all which is, that, if I mistake not," said Tom, sturdily, "you are he commonly called Old Scratch."

excerpt from

--THE DEVIL AND TOM WALKER by Washington Irving

Secret Tape

Spooky Santa Monica pier at night
Originally uploaded by Scrunchleface

CALVIN: I got to get home and get to bed or get some nerve pills or see the doctor or something. I can't stand it. I'm about to go half crazy.

CHARLIE: I tell you, when we're through, I'll get you something to settle you down so you can get some damn sleep.

CALVIN: I can't sleep yet like it is. I'm just damn near crazy.

CHARLIE: Well, Calvin, when they brought you out-when they brought me out of that thing, goddamn it I like to never in hell got you straightened out.

CALVIN: (voice rising) My damn arms, my arms, I remember they just froze up and I couldn't move. Just like I stepped on a damn rattlesnake."

CHARLIE: (sighing) They didn't do me that way.

Now both men were talking as if to themselves.

CALVIN: I passed out. I expect I never passed out in my whole life.

CHARLIE: I've never seen nothin' like that before in my life. You can't make people believe-

CALVIN: I don't want to keep sittin' here. I want to see a doctor-

CHARLIE: They better wake up and start believin'... they better start believin'.

CALVIN: You see how that damn door come right up?

CHARLIE: I don't know how it opened, son. I don't know.

CALVIN: It just laid up and just like that those son' bitches-just like that they come out.

CHARLIE: I know. You can't believe it. You can't make people believe it-

CALVIN: I paralyzed right then. I couldn't move-

CHARLIE: They won't believe it. They gonna believe it one of these days. Might be too late. I knew all along they was people from other worlds up there. I knew all along. I never thought it would happen to me.

CALVIN: You know yourself I don't drink

CHARLIE: I know that, son. When I get to the house I'm gonna get me another drink, make me sleep. Look, what we sittin' around for. I gotta go tell Blanche... what we waitin' for?

CALVIN (panicky): I gotta go to the house. I'm gettin' sick. I gotta get out of here.

Then Charlie got up and left the room, and Calvin was alone.

CALVIN: It's hard to believe... Oh God, it's awful... I know there's a God up there...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascagoula_Abduction

Haunt Panel

This is very cool and worth checking out if you're a home haunter like me or just dig those houses on Halloween night that go 'all out.' The latest episode of the Big Scary Show features a panel interview with Midnight Syndicate's Edward Douglas and fellow haunt music composers Virgil Franklin and Jerry "Haunt Rocker" Vayne. They talk about how they got their start in the biz, haunt music as art form, and various experiences over the years. (Panel interview starts at 34 minutes.)

http://www.bigscaryshow.com/

Blazing Jack

Jack on fire
Originally uploaded by Kellie Megnin

This year, after the trick-or-treaters are gone and the props are stored away, I'm remembering to blaze a few jack-'o-lanterns.

Terror Vortex

Here's the teaser trailer for the upcoming film from our good friend, Christian Ackerman. We loved his first effort, WISCONSIN PROJECT X, and TERROR VORTEX is looking like it has upped the horror ante with its sleek production values!

DESTINI BEARD INTERVIEW!

Production and Post-Production for Destini Beard's 'A Time Forgotten,' the full-length followup CD to 'The Dark Masquerade' is complete. According to our friends at Midnight Syndicate, the new disc promises an immersive blend of Destini's haunting vocals and classic Midnight Syndicate tracks that together form an entirely new listening experience.

After the 2010 mini collaboration between malevolent music maestros Midnight Syndicate and the positively enchanting Destini Beard, I had high hopes that a full length pairing of these great talents would result in a full length release. Well, looks like I’m getting my wish, as Destini Beard, Gavin Goszka, and Edward Douglas have recently announced ‘A Time Forgotten,’ tentatively scheduled for release at the end of this month. To celebrate the occasion, we sat down with Destini to talk about the recording process of ‘A Time Forgotten,’ fan conventions and life on the road, and what it’s like being Destini Beard.

HALLOWZING: Hi Destini! Thanks for taking the time to chat – it’s such a privilege to talk with you again. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you today?

DESTINI BEARD: "Hello! Thank you so much for interviewing me. It’s an honor and I am so excited to be talking to you again! I think the best thing that has happened today is realizing that soon I will be releasing my full length album! Every day I get more and more excited for the release!"

HZ: After the success of ‘The Dark Masquerade,’ did you instantly know a full length collaboration with Midnight Syndicate would happen, or was this something that evolved over time?

DB: "The initial response for ‘The Dark Masquerade’ was more than I could have ever imagined! It was amazing to hear how people enjoyed it and started to ask about a follow up! We talked back in January of 2011 and both Ed and Gavin were very happy with the response to the first Cd and agreed to sign up for a full length album, so from that point I immediately started creating a storyline and writing lyrics."

HZ: Tell us about the recording process for ‘A Time Forgotten.’ How was it different from ‘The Dark Masquerade?’

DB: "The recording process definitely took more time for ‘A Time Forgotten’. The idea for this Cd is to be reminiscent to a short musical. Each song has at least three layers of harmony and counter melodies, so it’s almost like each song has its own adventure that goes along with the overall storyline. The vocal arrangements are much more involved than ‘The Dark Masquerade’, and with ‘A Time Forgotten’, you get a range of everything from opera to new age and it even touches upon a soundtrack movie type feeling."

HZ: What’s it like collaborating with Ed Douglas and Gavin Goszka? Do you work with them directly, or is your teaming more long distance – sharing your files digitally?

DB: "It’s such a wonderful experience being able to work with Ed and Gavin! It’s so neat putting a new twist on their music. I enjoy being able to take their original idea and combine it with my own lyrics to give the song a whole new meaning! We do work over email and phone. Basically I’ll go into my local recording studio, Green Valley Recording, and then I’ll send the tracks to Ed and Gavin for the final mastering and mixing."

HZ: Will we be hearing familiar compositions from Midnight Syndicate’s past on the new album? Did you have a say in what tracks were selected?

DB: "Yes, all the songs on this album are from their classic albums like: ‘13th Hour’ ‘Vampyre’ and ‘Gates of Delirium’. I chose all the songs, which took a long time to decide because I love all of them!"

HZ: You have an incredibly dedicated fan-base. Tell us a little about life on the convention circuit – and what it’s like meeting your fans face to face.

DB: "It’s such a blessing to have obtained such an amazing fan base! I am extremely fortunate to be working with my dad in the convention circuit, as well as the renaissance faire circuit. I have been able to meet and make new fans at every show! My dad will always play my music in his booth and will tell everyone that comes in to check out my work, which I am so fortunate for. Life on the convention and faire circuit is absolutely fantastic I get to go to different places and meet new people every year. I had a lot of people this past year approach me saying how much they loved the Cd and can’t wait for the next one, and it’s the best feeling in the world. I’m able to connect with fans on a personal level, so I make friendships and get such wonderful support for my career!"

HZ: Will fans be able to see you perform live this year?

DB: "I will be performing songs from the new album at ‘Con on the Cob’ in Hudson Ohio this October. They can find out more about the convention at: www.cononthecob.com. I will also be looking into different performance venues as I travel, which I will update on my website www.destinibeard.com."

HZ: Thanks for taking the time to chat, Destini – you have an amazing gift that deserves sharing. It’s always a pleasure to help share your magic.

DB: "Thank you again so much for taking the time to interview me again! Its great knowing there are people out there that are so excited to support and promote artists and musicians! Thank you so much again for supporting my music!"


To all home haunters and lovers of Halloween - I encourage you to check out Destini's work, and that of Midnight Syndicate! To learn more about 'A Time Forgotten' and stay up to date on its release, visit: www.midnightsyndicate.com

Prometheus Bound

Going today. Review to follow.

http://www.prometheus-movie.com/

Campfire Tale

STATE: Florida

COUNTY: Columbia County

LOCATION DETAILS: A major two-lane heading south probably southwest of Live Oak, FL.

NEAREST TOWN: Live Oak

NEAREST ROAD: Sorry, I do not remember

OBSERVED: About twelve years ago we were on a very remote and desolate stretch of highway, southeast of Live Oak, Florida, headed south. It was about 1:15 AM. There were four of us in an older model Monte Carlo pulling a Coleman travel trailer loaded with cave diving gear, (probably weighing in around eight-hundred pounds gross). A Tennessee State Trooper was driving and I was shotgun. The two men in the back were asleep. Suddenly, right out of nowhere, (with only our headlights for illumination), a tall, huge “black form” rushed from the right edge of the roadway and came toward us, (in a perpendicular path as if to cross the highway). It was so quick that the driver had no reaction time whatsoever!

While the car missed this erect, but stooped, huge black form the trailer obviously got it. The trailer sounded as if it had exploded and I saw, in the glow of our brake lights, that the entire trailer became airborne and went about as high as the roof of the car! “What did we hit?” was the question yelled by the sleepy owner. The other sleepy passenger yelled, “What the hell?” The trooper calmly looked over at me and in an astounded voice asked, “What the hell was that? Did you see that?” I replied quietly, “I saw that and I have no idea what that was!” The owner asked from the back seat, “Was it a bear? I’ll bet it was a bear!” The trooper, in total agreement with me replied, “I don’t think so. It was too big!”

Well, all the while we had been braking to a stop. We all got out, checked out the trailer, checked the passenger side of the car, looked for a corpse, looked for blood, looked for hair, but found nothing at all! The best I remember we even turned around and drove back past the point of impact but saw nothing!

It will be passed off as a bear, (I am certain), but I do not believe a bear could possibly be that big, move that fast, or suffer that kind of impact without being injured. (Just my opinion) I have never thought about this being a bigfoot until a year or so ago and then it all sort of began coming together for me. (Whatever it was, it was huge, black, fast and one tough son-of-a-gun!)

Read more: http://www.bfro.net

Bedtime Story

Came across this on deviantart. Click to see more.

Stellar.

Corril Slayer

Do you remember those awesome classic, side-scrolling, shoot-em-up arcade games of the 90s? Love Castlevania? Game designer, Eric Ruth has made a career of developing games made in that same fun, retro style. His latest, Corril Slayer follows the adventures of a dual magnum-toting, “I see dead people” hero Sam Asherton as he battles legions of the dead to the sounds of Midnight Syndicate!

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Eric Ruth Presents CORRIL SLAYER, an Original PC Horror Game

March 6, 2012, Baltimore, MD -- Pure Bang Games is excited to announce the release of Corril Slayer, a downloadable PC game created by demake expert and Team Fortress Arcade creator Eric Ruth. Corril Slayer is a 2D platformer video game inspired by classic retro action games such as Mega Man and Castlevania.

A botched lobotomy leaves Sam Asherton with the ability to see ghosts and he soon realizes that not all of the ghosts are friendly. Armed with dual Magnums, players take control of Sam as he adventures through creepy landscapes, battles the undead, and hunts down the Internet's most infamous monsters.

Set in a mysterious and haunting world crafted by expert pixel artist and game designer, Eric Ruth, Corril Slayer's moody and creepy scenes turn even darker and more eerie with an imaginative soundtrack from the renowned horror music outfit, Midnight Syndicate. Players can switch between the real world and the ghost world to uncover power-ups and clues to defeat bosses such as the mysterious Slender Man, a creature who stalks children. Corril Slayer takes players back to the 8-bit golden age of fun and excitement.

Corril Slayer is currently available for download for $2.99 at http://www.corrilslayer.com

Blood Rites

Just wanted to give a shout-out to an indie production company that has its severed head on straight: UNFILTERED ENTERTAINMENT. These folks are serious about making quality independent features (you may recall they joined Drive-In of the Dead's ZombiNation after their excellent WAKE THE WITCH), and their latest, BLOOD RITES, is no exception. Look for a review of the film at the Drive-In in the coming weeks - and while you wait, check them out on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blood-Rites-2012/210787642339831?sk=app_190322544333196

Shriek, Skull!

Another discard treasure from the local library. Found this beauty sitting alone and dejected on the freebie rack, cast aside from all the other reject tomes nearby. I have no idea what the story is about - other than a skull that shrieks - and can not attest to the quality of the writing, but the cover art by Dick Smolinski is creepily cool.

Head Shop

This past winter I picked up a foam pumpkin from Michael's at 90% off and decided the time had come to give our scarecrow, Jack, a new head. He's switched between two different heads for the past ten years, but this third version is by far the creepiest and most extreme. While work on the head is not quite finished, here's a little sneak preview of what you can expect to see come October...

Chair Crow

Cropped corn field
Originally uploaded by OakHead

Imagine driving down a lonely country road and seeing this...

A Time Forgotten

An update from our friends at Midnight Syndicate:

"Production and Post-Production for Destini Beard's A Time Forgotten, the full-length followup CD to Dark Masquerade is complete. The new disc promises an immersive blend of Destini's haunting vocals and classic Midnight Syndicate tracks that together form an entirely new listening experience. A late June release date is anticipated. More details coming soon."

Really looking forward to this one. Can't wait to hear what Midnight Syndicate and the incredibly talented Ms. Beard have come up with for this full-length release! If you haven't heard their first collaboration, I urge you to check it out here:

http://www.midnightsyndicate.com

In Memorium

Sad beyond measure. Fair thee well, Mr. B.

Something wonderful this way comes...

1920 - 2012

http://www.raybradbury.com