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31 Scary Story Nights: October 7th “Cry of the Banshee”
Hello readers, and welcome back to 31 Scary Story Nights! It’s October 7th! We’re a whole week into the month of October. Tonight’s story hails from the the Emerald Isle. It’s called Cry of the Banshee.
The banshee is one of the most recognizable, and possibly misunderstood, creatures from Irish lore. The strange messengers of death come in every shape and size and can appear as everything from a beautiful young woman washing blood from clothes in a river to an aged Crone roaming the night. When Death is due to arrive in an Irish home, the Banshee can be heard wailing somewhere nearby.
There are hundreds of stories of the banshee, and this is just one. It’s time to turn down the lights, and read this terrifying tale of the Banshee.
***Writer’s Note: We here at iHorror are big proponents of responsible parenting. Some of the stories in this series may be too much for your little ones. Please read ahead and decide if your kids can handle this story! If not, find another story for tonight or simply come back to see us tomorrow. In other words, don’t blame me for your kids nightmares!***
Cry of the Banshee as retold by Waylon Jordan
Caitlin and her sister Maeve had been playing in the fields all day. They were especially close for sisters and could always be counted on to find mischief when left to their own devices. Today, they were playing hide and seek as the sun was lowering in the sky.
Caitlin knew that Maeve was hiding in the tall grass and she had dropped to her knees to creep up behind her. Maeve was only ten and Caitlin enjoyed taking whatever chance she had to scare he younger girl.
Out of the corner of her eye, Caitlin suddenly spied movement in the tall grass. She raised up a bit to see what was there and froze when she spotted an old Crone in a black hooded cloak slowly creeping through the field at a distance. It was then that she heard the faintest keening sound coming from the robed woman’s direction.
Caitlin’s heart was pounding. Could it be the banshee?
She sat there unable to move as she focused on the old woman when she began to realize that the sound was slowly getting louder and the Crone seemed to be moving in the direction of her sister and herself.
Finding her feet and her voice all at once, Caitlin sprang up from the grass.
“Maeve! Maeve, run home to mam! The banshee’s coming this way, and she’s surely up to no good!”
Maeve didn’t stop to question, for she knew from her sister’s voice that she spoke the truth. The younger sister took off like the crack of whip heading for home.
Caitlin wasn’t far behind her sister and she watched as the younger girl slipped through the barbed wire fence ahead. Unable to help herself, Caitlin looked back over her shoulder and screamed as she saw the Crone moving more quickly behind her and realized that keening wail was louder than ever.
Finally reaching the fence herself, Caitlin jumped over as the wail became a scream to curdle the blood! Caitlin felt a chill run down her spine as she felt a tug on the back of her dress.
She had gotten caught on the barbed wire and as she struggled to free herself a shadow suddenly loomed over her. The crone stood there staring at her for a long moment. Her white hair blew free in the wind and her gray skin seemed to crack along her face as her mouth opened to its fullest. The banshee pointed toward Caitlin’s home and screamed so loud the girl was certain she’d never hear again!
Caitlin ripped free of the barbed wire and ran for home as fast as she could. When the house came in sight, she saw the door open and waiting for her and she almost collapsed as she ran across the threshold and slammed the door behind her.
It was then that she saw a sight that would stay with her the rest of her life. Maeve stood in the kitchen door with tears in her eyes, and just beyond her baby sister, their mother lay dead on the floor…
Now, that was a story to remember. If you’re from a strong Irish family and hear a phantom keening wail in the night, prepare yourself, for death will surely follow the ululation of the Banshee!
Join us again tomorrow evening for another scary story, and if you missed last night’s story click here!
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Movies
The Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel Had an Interesting Location
Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s sequels to hit movies weren’t as linear as they are today. It was more like “let’s re-do the situation but in a different location.” Remember Speed 2, or National Lampoon’s European Vacation? Even Aliens, as good as it is, follows a lot of the plot points of the original; people stuck on a ship, an android, a little girl in peril instead of a cat. So it makes sense that one of the most popular supernatural comedies of all time, Beetlejuice would follow the same pattern.
In 1991 Tim Burton was interested in doing a sequel to his 1988 original, it was called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian:
“The Deetz family moves to Hawaii to develop a resort. Construction begins, and it’s quickly discovered that the hotel will be sitting on top of an ancient burial ground. Beetlejuice comes in to save the day.”
Burton liked the script but wanted some re-writes so he asked then-hot screenwriter Daniel Waters who had just got done contributing to Heathers. He passed on the opportunity so producer David Geffen offered it to Troop Beverly Hills scribe Pamela Norris to no avail.
Eventually, Warner Bros. asked Kevin Smith to punch up Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, he scoffed at the idea, saying, “Didn’t we say all we needed to say in the first Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?”
Nine years later the sequel was killed. The studio said Winona Ryder was now too old for the part and an entire re-cast needed to happen. But Burton never gave up, there were a lot of directions he wanted to take his characters, including a Disney crossover.
“We talked about lots of different things,” the director said in Entertainment Weekly. “That was early on when we were going, Beetlejuice and the Haunted Mansion, Beetlejuice Goes West, whatever. Lots of things came up.”
Fast-forward to 2011 when another script was pitched for a sequel. This time the writer of Burton’s Dark Shadows, Seth Grahame-Smith was hired and he wanted to make sure the story wasn’t a cash-grabbing remake or reboot. Four years later, in 2015, a script was approved with both Ryder and Keaton saying they would return to their respective roles. In 2017 that script was revamped and then eventually shelved in 2019.
During the time the sequel script was being tossed around in Hollywood, in 2016 an artist named Alex Murillo posted what looked like one-sheets for a Beetlejuice sequel. Although they were fabricated and had no affiliation with Warner Bros. people thought they were real.
Perhaps the virality of the artwork sparked interest in a Beetlejuice sequel once again, and finally, it was confirmed in 2022 Beetlejuice 2 had a green light from a script written by Wednesday writers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The star of that series Jenna Ortega signed on to the new movie with filming starting in 2023. It was also confirmed that Danny Elfman would return to do the score.
Burton and Keaton agreed that the new film titled Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice wouldn’t rely on CGI or other other forms of technology. They wanted the film to feel “handmade.” The film wrapped in November 2023.
It’s been over three decades to come up with a sequel to Beetlejuice. Hopefully, since they said aloha to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian there has been enough time and creativity to ensure Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will not only honor the characters, but fans of the original.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will open theatrically on September 6.
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News
Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel
Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.
According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.
Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.
As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:
“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “
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Movies
New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie
Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.
This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.
Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.
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