Favourite Worst Nightmares: The Exorcist

The Exorcist is certainly one of my favorite movies. 

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhh. 

Have a good weekend. 

Horror History: Alfred Hitchcock

Good evening.  Today's blog post concerns one of the most influential directors of all time, Alfred Hitchcock.

Perhaps you have heard of him

Hitchcock is the director of over 50 films including Rebecca, Rope, and the horror classic, Psycho.  He also hosted (and directed several episodes of) the popular television show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents.  At the height of his popularity, his name appeared on books, magazines and even comics.

Psycho is probably Hitchcock's most popular film.  The original premiered in 1960 and starred Anthony Perkins with Janet Leigh. Nothing at the time rivaled the horror that the film induced in audiences.  Psycho inspired many (terrible) sequels and was remade in 1998 by Gus Van Sant.   The above shower scene is one of the most memorable in all of cinema history. It is difficult to peacefully enjoy a shower again after you watch it, especially a shower in a cheap motel.

Another of Hitchcock's most prolific films is The Birds based on a short story by Daphne Du Maurier.  The film revolves around an island town plagued by killer birds.  The Birds was also very popular at the time it was released and still has a large cult following today.  Hitchock's signature style is displayed very well in the movie, notably in a scene where a young woman is trapped in a glass phone booth. The director deftly displays the young actress' fear as she is attacked by the birds, leaving the viewer to feel like a helpless voyeur, subject to her demise. 

My personal favorite Alfred Hitchcock film is Vertigo.  The movie was released in 1958 and stars Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak.  I like the mystery in this film that is slowly unraveled.  I am a fan of Alfred Hitchcock Presents for the same reason. Who doesn't enjoy a good mystery? The direction and acting in this film are also unparalleled, in my opinion.

Check out more information about Alfred Hitchcock in the links below.

Happy Halloween, everybody.

Recommended links:

Alfred Hitchcock Wikipedia article

Alfred Hitchcock IMDB article

Alfred Hitchcock on Biography.com

Favourite Worst Nightmares II: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

When I was a in my teens, VH1 used to marathon The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Halloween.  The movie is a combination of science fiction, horror, and musical camp. I quickly fell in love and it remains one of my favorite movies to this day. 

Needless to say, my dad was thrilled

The movie features Tim Curry as Dr. Frank N. Furter, a sweet transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania.  He and his minions, Magenta and Rif-Raf, have set up a base on Earth that attracts the attention of two lost travelers and their professor.  The movie features Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and Meatloaf in supporting roles. 

One of my favorite parts of the movie are the songs.  From the opening number, to the Time Warp, through the finale, the music is awesome.  The movie is also terrifically quotable which is evidenced in midnight viewings throughout the years which feature audience participation. At midnight shows, that are particularly popular around Halloween, viewers bring props and yell perfectly timed jibes at the screen all while singing along!

Some of my favorite quotes from the movie, which I have contemplated getting tattooed on my person, are:

'Whatever happened to Fay Wray? / That delicate satin-draped frame / As it clung to her thigh / How I started to cry / 'Cause I wanted to be dressed just the same.'

'Give yourself over to absolute pleasure / Swim the warm waters of sins of the flesh / Erotic nightmare beyond any measure / and sensual daydreams to treasure forever / Can't you just see it?'

'Don't Dream it, Be it.'

'It's not easy having a good time. Even smiling makes my face ache.'

'Toucha-toucha-toucha-touch me! I wanna feel dirty!'

You can find more information in the links below.

Happy Halloween, everybody. 

Recommended links:

Wikipedia article on Rocky Horror

Rocky Horror on IMDB

Official fan site

La Porte de l'Enfer

 

Rodin's La Porte de l'Enfer 

Rodin's The Gates of Hell or, La Porte de l'Enfer, is one of my favorite pieces of art by the French sculptor. In keeping with my theme from yesterday's post, I thought I would make it the subject of today's blog.  

You are probably most familiar with Rodin's The Thinker, pictured above. You will notice that this figure is also featured on La Porte de l'Enfer, just above the crease in the door.  The entire work was inspired by Dante's Inferno, and many speculate that the Thinker is representative of Adam contemplating a fallen world.  

The sculpture was commissioned by the Directorate of Fine Arts in 1880. Rodin would continue to work on and off on this project for 37 years, until his death in 1917. The above picture of La Porte is from my personal collection. I took it in Paris at the Musée de Rodin a couple of years ago. I like to think that the old lady is waiting for the gate to open! 

Lilith

John Collier's Lilith

Lilith is a figure in Jewish mythology who is generally thought to be the mother of a class of female demons. The first occurrence of the name is in Isaiah 34:14,  and depictions appear on bowls and amulets from the 6th century C.E. onward. 

It is thought that Lilith was Adam's first wife, who was created at the same time and from the same earth as Adam. This contrasts with Eve, who was created from one of Adam's ribs. This legend was particularly developed during the Middle Ages.  In 13th century writings, for example, Lilith left Adam after she refused to become subservient to him and then would not return to the Garden of Eden after she mated with the archangel Samael.  

The resulting Lilith legend is still commonly used as source material in modern Western culture, literature, fantasy, and horror (recently in the HBO show, True Blood.)

Halloween Horror Nights

I'm a big fan of haunted houses. I spent the day reading Hell House by Richard Matheson, the guy who wrote I Am Legend.  It was pretty good.

I'm not going to be posting a post on a topic over the next few days while I visit Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando. Stay tuned for pics from the trip! 

Happy Halloween, everybody. 

Lights Out, Everybody!

I'll admit, when I first stumbled upon Lights Out Radio, I wasn't expecting to be scared. After all, the radio drama was produced in the 1930s. How scary could it be?

Wow, was I wrong...

 

Despite its age, Lights Out is terrifying and very well produced. The show was broadcast between 1934 and 1947 and was created by Wyllis Cooper and Arch Oboler. It featured many famous actors at the time including Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Leslie Nielson.  The plays featured sound effects that highlighted horror elements like terrible stabbings, heavy breathing, and even people turning inside out!

 

 

One of my favorite episodes is called Dreams and features legendary actor Boris Karloff.  The story revolves around a man who doesn't start dreaming until he reaches middle age.  When he begins to dream, he quickly becomes plagued by a figure that urges him to 'Kill...kill...KILL!' The voice acting is terrific and Karloff does a wonderful job.  He is also featured in other Lights Out episodes including a horrifying tale titled The Cat Wife.

Other episodes of note include: The Dark-- featuring a mysterious black fog that turns people inside out, Murder House-- a story based on the slayings of real-life serial killer H.H. Holmes, and The Little People which features Bela Lugosi as a modern day witch doctor.  Check them all out and more in the links below. 

Happy Halloween, everybody. 

Recommended links:

Wikipedia article on Lights Out

Internet archive which includes FREE mp3 files of all episodes

YouTube channel dedicated to Lights Out and other similar radio shows