I think we know why we are here this week! So lets talk about some Slasher films for Halloween month! As always these aren't really in order... Basically I don't put things in order because I get sort of crazy w/ stuff like this and I don't think I would get to the actual writing portion finished in time for Wednesday :) Here goes!

1.) Psycho : Okay so if you are going to twist my arm about order this would definitely be at the top of any "slasher film" list. It basically started the genre before there was one for dudes who have mommy issues and stab people. And the beauty of this film is that its a true masterpiece! We can talk about the way the film is shot, the acting, Hitchcock's perfect execution of suspense and direction or how about the fact that it never shows anyone getting stabbed. ( like the knife actually going into the body) This film isn't gory for gores sake it all about using implied visual images to invoke a psychological reaction in the viewers own imagination. I was lucky enough to get to see this film on the big screen w/ some friends a few years ago, and it was so much more enjoyable to see it how it was meant to be seen! I hope that anyone reading this has seen this film, but if you haven't than it's your job to cross it off your horror list before the season is over!

2.) Halloween (original) : That's right kids there was a version from the 70's way before Rob Zombie made his version. I am not here to knock what he made, but it can't touch the original, written, directed and even scored by John Carpenter! The maniac stalks unsuspecting teens who are doing drugs and having sex idea became common place after this film! And the killer Michael Meyers has become a pop cultural icon! Who would have ever thought that Williams Shatner's face could be so scary! ( The mask Meyers wears is molded from William Shatners face for the kids who missed my hilarious joke) See it if you haven't... I just realized I don't own it, and I need to fix that!

3.) Hell Night : This stars scream queen Linda Blair (The Exorcist) and it definitely inspired films like Friday the 13th and more recently Hatchet. Basically, a deformed freak terrorizes a bunch of college pledges at an old creepy mansion, where they have to stay overnight in order to be accepted into their frat or sorority. It is a cool movie to watch because it is one of the first slasher films that starts to become super over top and silly. It is still pretty creepy though. Check it out!

4.) Texas Chainsaw Massacre ( original) : Okay, if Psycho is the father of the slasher film then Texas Chainsaw Massacre has to be the son! Both Psycho and "Chainsaw" were inspired by Ed Gein who murdered people and wore their skin and had crazy mommy issues! I feel like "Chainsaw" is a precursor to where the genre would later go w/ films like Halloween and Hell Night. The Film is actually scary as well, and used very little blood and gore. It is very psychological w/ the way it's shot and what the characters do. I am not saying there is no blood, but the way blood is used is very smart and forces us to use our imagination. This film builds a lot of tension before we finally find out what's going on, and when we do it is an invasion on the senses. It's loud, fast, quiet, creepy and finally a relief when it ends! It's a different kind of slasher film but definitely set the stage for movies that came later!

5.) Friday the 13th : This film is super violent and gory and becomes more about the spectacle of killing! It isn't a bad movie and the over all reason for the killings is interesting and flips from mommy issues to MOMMY's issues, which is cool! It is full of sex, drugs and murder and it pushed the slasher film into an extremely over the top and campy place! In many ways it made it more fun, especially as they started to make sequels which get crazier all the time! If anything you can see a young Kevin Bacon die painfully!

6.) A Nightmare of Elm Street: This film brought more a monster/ supernatural element into the slasher film. Sure, a maniac running around killing people on the streets and in homes is scary enough, but what if he could kill you in your dreams? Enter Freddy Krueger the sandman to kill all sandmen! He was once a man, but now he takes revenge on the children of the town who killed him. The original "Elm Street" films are pretty gory and campy, but they aren't joyless. They have some scare, but Freddy always has some sort of bad pun or one-liner that will give you a little chuckle... maybe even disturb you? It is definitely a fun film and like Friday the 13th there is no shortage sequels. 

7.) Hellraiser: Similar to A Nightmare on Elm Street there is a supernatural element to these films. But they very much fall into the slasher genre. These films are actually pretty disturbing and have this super dark and evil tone. Films that center around the idea of pleasure and pain creep me out. Basically, there is this "puzzle box" that summons these inter-dimensional demons called cenobites. They kill you in horrible ways and make you into one of them... it is a super cool film series, but extremely messed up! This one will probably scare you or at least gross you out.

8.) Scream: These are just great films! They have a good mix of scare and humor, and do an awesome job of satirizing the 80's slasher film. This film actually explains the rules of slasher movies and we get to watch as the kids in the film break every single one of them! Like many of the films that inspired Scream,  it has a female character who's the focus of the killers blood lust. By the time the film ends we are given smart explanations as to what's been going on and why! These are some of my favorite horror films... Period.

I think I will stay w/ the list of 8 again this week. These are all great films and most are pretty well known... There are a lot of others I didn't name like The Prowler Bloody Valentine (original), Prom Night, Hatchet, and Midnight Movie to name a few. I think that there is a reason many of the films I have named are so popular, and it's because over all they are good films that capture this time in cinema perfectly.  These films aren't for everyone so be warned! As always please feel free to share some films I didn't name or ones that you enjoy! Thanks always for reading!

It is once again Halloween month, which is my favorite holiday time of year... Sure, Christmas and Thanksgiving are great, but Halloween allows for more of an anything goes attitude as far as creativity is concerned. Normally, I make some sort of a costume which is normally overly intense and badass, and of course watch scary movies all month long. I think that more than any other genre of film the horror film has a long list of great films... and many are pretty special and unique. I like to start w/ films that would probably fall more into realm of horror classic and comedy... as always these are in no specific order, they are just great films.

1.) The Frankenstein Trilogy: Frankenstein isn't just a great horror film its a great film... In fact, I would say that it is a perfect film. It has everything you could ever want in a any horror film or film in general... Drama, excellent acting commitment, action, moral questions about life and death, obsession, crazy newfangled science, murders, misunderstood outcasts, and of course incredible cinematography and story telling! People hail Citizen Kane for its use of cinematography and lighting, but I don't think it would have been as well executed w/out Frankenstein to use as a reference point... After all, isn't Citizen Kane just a monster movie from a more human and less macabre angle. ( a discussion for another time) Anyway, Frankenstein creates a deep and layered character from a monster that grunts and lumbers around. He is really just a a giant baby w/ super size and strength, which is another genius element we don't really think about when we watch it. And another reason on top of countless that this film is so great!
Bride of Frankenstein is one of the best sequels ever made. It's great story telling and sets a creepy tone from the beginning when this time Mary Shelly herself explains to here friends just how her characters survived. The monster is back and this time he is given a lady. And the best part is that the women of his dreams (who is a monster too) even rejects him. The monster can't even be accepted by his own kind. These movies aren't just scary... they are really quite sad extremely easy to relate to. We all have felt like outcasts and have gone through life rejections. The problem w/ the monster is that he doesn't have tools to deal w/ it and instead destroys everything in his path. 
Son of Frankenstein is to me, a great end to a great trilogy of films. The monster even talks, and is controlled by Igor who is played by Bela Lugosi... What more could you ever ask for? On a personal note the first time I ever saw this movie was w/ my brother Kevin sitting in my dads office at work years ago... the best part of the story is that dad meant to get us Young Frankenstein to watch, but couldn't remember the name. We were pretty scared, but enjoyed the film nonetheless. 

2.) The Creature from the Black Lagoon Trilogy: This is another classic horror collection that explores interesting concepts about what makes a man and so on. And it plays on the fears of most people when swimming in open water... I mean what is down there? We don't, after all, really belong swimming in a black lagoons in sexy white swim suits in  the amazon do we? ( I look damn good in a one piece by the way) I personally think that seen is one of the greatest and most psychologically scary moments in film history, while remaining beautiful. I just love the way these films explore what we as humans do when we find something we don't understand... We bother it in its habitat, then we put it in a cage or in this case and aquarium, but then after is destroys everything in its path for two films we decide that it's okay to live in society w/ us. If you haven't watched all of these films you should because they are great! 

3.) Evil Dead Trilogy: That's right gimme some sugar baby... These films are some of my favorites to watch really anytime w/ in the season of Halloween. They are all good for different reasons, but what I love about these three films as a whole is that they grow and change. The first film is definitely funny and campy is spots but overall it is much darker than the sequels and somewhat disturbing.(tree rape) I think some of the stop motion and practical effects still look awesome and fun as well, but this film doesn't have the humor element as strongly as what Evil Dead 2 would become known for. Evil Dead 2 basically coined the term horror comedy, largely dude to Bruce Campbell's execution of the material. He is heroic, confused and good old fashioned slap-stick comedy, all at the same time. And by the time we get to Army of Darkness we find our pal Ash in the dark ages w/ knights and dead-ites to dispatch. This film takes the funny elements in Evil Dead 2 and creates an even funnier and lighter version of the original film. It also turns Ash in to a full blown hero icon. If you haven't seen these films you are missing out... there would be no Cabin in the Woods w/out Sam Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy, kids! 

4.) Monster Squad: Since we have been talking about some of the universal Monsters I have to add Monster Squad to a this list... This was probably my favorite light horror film when I was a kid. (probably even now) I was about the age of the kids in the film when it came out and I could watch this film and not have nightmares! It definitely is very cool and the effects and make up are some of my favorite ever on film, but is also has a cool story, and the kids represent different types of kids you knew growing up. It has a lot of adventure and some great one-liners, courtesy of Writers Fred Dekker and Shane Black, and it's just an overall enjoyable 80's horror comedy! I normally start off the Halloween season w/ this film!

5.) Night of the Creeps: This is another Fred Dekker film and another 80's Classic! It's part Zombie film and part sci-fi and it is worth your time if you have never seen it. It even has a hard boiled detective w/ no shortage of sassy one liners. It is actually playing on Netflix streaming this month as well, so you are in luck!

6.) Night of the Living Dead: This is a great movie! It is always creepy and always entertaining. In a world where Zombies are the thing to like, if you haven't seen the film that started it all... Shame on you! I hear Walking Dead this and Walking Dead that, (and it is great... especially the actually comic, kids) but there probably wouldn't even be a Walking Dead to obsess over if it wasn't for NOTLD! It is the original social commentary about society, using Zombies as a way to explore the human condition! It has one of the first strong black characters ever playing the hero/lead role in a film! Because would race really matter when the world ends and people are eating each other?? I hope that everyone who reads this has seen this film by now, but if you haven't... it's a must!

7.) The Lost Boy : This a a great modern day vampire film about brothers who move to a new town over run by some teen blood suckers! To me 80's horror is some of the best horror and this film delivers! It has intense teen romance, comic relief, a great young hero and evil teenage villains! (what's worse than a teenage boy I ask you?) I saw this film for the first time at my buddy Kevin's house in the third grade and it scared the hell out of me! But I loved to watch it when it was light out side :) Check it out if you haven't ever seen it... it has some great 80's teens in it as well! 

8.) Jaws: Like I said, these are classics and comedy. And for my money it doesn't get much more classic than Jaws... I know to some this film may not be scary, but to me it doesn't get any more!!! Water scares me to begin w/! And I am not talking about pools or the bath tub! I am talking about oceans, lakes and even rivers! You know, those things that that we know less about that the universe! To me there is nothing more horrifying than to be hanging out on a hot day in the ocean splashing and playing and living the good life... when a giant freaking MONSTER comes up and eats you in a very painful and violent way! But Jaws isn't just scary, it's also a great buddy movie w/ funny scenes and one-liners! As a film, I think its perfect! See the misconception w/ the horror film is that they are bad films or that they can't be a "good" film too. I am here to tell you that Jaws proves otherwise! It was also one of the first modern day blockbusters. Setting that stage for films like Star Wars and Indiana Jones! It is just a special film that you should watch right now! 

Well, that about does it for this week... I want to save some for next time :) These films you see before you are all classics at this point and several are quite funny. The horror film is a great film genre because almost anything can be scary! And it blends the feeling of being scared w/ the feeling of relief and laughter when you get through a tense scene! I think that many times we can even identify w/ the monsters in the films because we think about how we would act in a certain situation if all that bad stuff happened to us. Anyway, I hope you read through this list and get inspired for Halloween film viewing! Take care and stay scared this month! :)

So Yesterday I turned a year older and I started to think about all the years I have been lucky enough to be alive. I am by no means old... least I don't feel like it. I have been thinking about how every year people care enough to wish me a happy birthday and even have parties for me. Love is amazing. It comes in so many different forms and it overwhelms me at times. I have been loved and cared for in so many ways in my little life that I can't help but to feel just a little special... Like all of us should feel. We are living a gift... Anyway, I think a top five birthday list is in order but these aren't I any order.

1.) Basketball birthdays: When I was younger I loved playing sports... Especially basketball, and I was pretty good too. Anyway, I had several birthday parties when I was in middle school where a bunch of my best friends came over and we played ball all day, normally at my grandma's house. For whatever reason I always felt like I played the best on my birthday at my grandma's house! (or maybe my buddies just went easy on me... but I doubt it) These birthdays all sort of become one to me, and really they only lasted a few years. BUT they were super special to me. Thanks to Brent, Nick, BJ, Ryan, Jason, Mike(s), Kevin,  Matt and Brad for always giving me great competition and laughs during those years! 

2.) Dinner at mom/grandma's house: This happens every year, and I always love it. My brother is always there too! Anyway, they always make me one of my favorite meals... It could be hamburger patties w/ white gravy (Cause I'm a simple man) Steak and a baked potato, Tuna and noodles, a nice pork roast or something I haven't had in awhile that I forgot I love. See, my mom and grandma's food always tastes just a little better cause they put that little extra care in thinking up something they know I like! Then they cook it that way I grew up eating it and it always has the taste of home! That's a gift that few people can give you. Thanks to these two angels!

3.) Cedar Point w/ Dad: We did this as a trip for awhile, and sometimes it would be around my birthday! It was never really about going to the park and riding roller coasters... At least not for me. Most the time it would be Dad, Brad, Kevin and me or some times a friend like my buddy Aaron... But we always had fun talking about movies and comics on the drive up, at the park waiting line, at the hotel, and the drive home. One of the stories I will save for another time, but it involves my very patient younger brother and a very real seeming dream I had! Anyway, we had a great time playing this game where we'd all name as many films at we could that a certain actor was in. We'd pick all the obscure actors or remember weird small roles they were in... It was great fun for movie buffs. So thanks Dad those were great birthdays. 

4.) My 21st birthday: In my family the 21st birthday is a pretty cool tradition. We all stand in a circle and stab each other w/ out special birthday cake sporks... Wait, that was a dream I had after I passed out on my 21st :) Seriously though... we stand around in a circle and each person in the family shares a story or their thoughts about the the person turning 21. I remember feeling very loved and overwhelmed by what people remembered about me and what they had to say. That was a very special birthday for me. Thanks to all involved! Love you all.

5.) 30th: I couldn't have been more surprised! It had already been probably the greatest birthday ever! I can't go into detail... All I can say is that to this day it is one of the greatest days of my life. I was surrounded by people who love me and by all of the things that I love! Like I mentioned earlier I have been loved many ways in my life by so many people, but the fact that one person put the whole thing together and hid it from me for weeks still levels me. I will never forget that feeling and what it meant to me. Thanks Hali. Thanks for everything.

Thank you for reading and thank you to all... That's I have to say.