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31 Scary Story Nights: October 31 “The Strange Story of Jack O’ Lantern”

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Well, readers, it seems we’ve finally made it to Halloween night.  We’ve had ghost stories and campfire stories and urban legends galore this month, and here it is, our final tale.  I wavered a lot but finally decided that tonight’s tale would be one of those special to Halloween itself.  It’s The Strange Story of Jack O’ Lantern and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do!

So, one last time, let’s dim the lights, gather around, and enjoy our last Scary Story Night of 2017.

***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!***

The Strange Story of Jack O’ Lantern as retold by Waylon Jordan

Stingy Jack was the laziest, drunkest, no good layabout in his entire village.  He was constantly playing practical jokes on his neighbors and more than one had caught him stealing pies from windowsills and eggs from their coops.  To Jack it was all good-natured fun, but more than one person had begun using his name as a curse.

One night as Jack stumbled from the pub, he came face to face with the Devil himself.

“Stingy Jack, your time has come.  Tonight you die and it’s hell for you!”

Jack never missed a beat.

“Sure and I’d love to go with you, Satan…can I call you Satan? But how can you take a man without allowing him one more drink?”

“Well, I suppose…,” the Devil replied watching Jack dig around in his pockets.  “What are you looking for?”

“I’ll be damned,” Jack said, throwing the Devil a wink.  “but it seems I’ve spent my last coin.  You wouldn’t happen to have some money would you?”

“I don’t make a habit of carrying money, no,” Satan boomed at Jack, obviously becoming impatient.

Jack began to wail and lament aloud about how he’d soon be leaving the earth without a final drink.  How would his fellow Irishmen respect him in the afterlife?  It went on for so long that the Devil finally interrupted.

“I have no coin, but I can change myself into a coin and after you use me to pay for your drink I’ll change back.”

“THAT, my good Satan, is an ideal proposition!” Jack exclaimed and clapped his hands as the Devil became a shiny silver coin on the ground.

Jack quickly snatched up the coin and dropped it into his pouch  which happened to be marked with a holy cross!

“I’ve got you now, Satan, old boy,” Jack cackled.  “And I’ll never let you out!”

Jack could feel the Devil kicking about inside his pouch and it made him cackle all the more.  Before long, he heard a tiny, though menacing voice from inside his pouch.

“Let me out of here, Jack, or so help me!”

“Let you out?  Why would I do that when you want to take me to hell?  I tell you what, Satan.  I’ll let you out of this pouch on one condition.  You guarantee that I’ll never be allowed into hell and I”ll set you free!”

The pouch ceased moving about and finally the voice from inside said, “Deal…”

With that, Jack turned the pouch over and tossed the coin to the ground.  Immediately, the Devil stood before him and grinned.  “You’ve no idea what you’ve done, Stingy Jack, but one day you will!”

With that, he was gone in a puff of smoke.

Ten years passed, and though Jack had meant to mend his ways, it never came to be.  One night he stumbled drunk from the pub as he had so many times before and was hit by a horse drawn cart, dying instantly.

In the blink of an eye, he stood before the Pearly Gates, and Saint Peter scoffed.

“You’ll never be allowed in here, Stingy Jack.  I’m afraid it’s hell for you.”

In a flash of light, Jack stood before the Gates of Hell.

“Well, well, well,” Satan laughed.  “Jack!  Finally dead?”

“That I am, Satan.  That I am!  And Heaven tossed me out on my own ear,” Jack smiled.

“That is a problem, Jack.  Heaven won’t have you and I gave my word you’d never enter these Gates.  I suppose it’s Limbo for you.”

“Limbo?”

“Aye, Jack, the great grey void.  A vast landscape of…nothing.”

It was the Devil’s turn to laugh as Jack suddenly realized what he’d done, turning and staring into the grey space of Limbo that touches the earth, but not enough for Jack to ever truly interact.  He would be cut off from everything he’d ever loved.

“Don’t fear, Jack, I’ve got a light for you,” Satan called and he scooped up a burning ember from the flames of Hell and tossed it to where Jack stood.  “The light will never die, Jack.  Not like you!”

And with that Satan, Hell, and all the rest disappeared.  Jack knew he couldn’t pick up that ember so he pulled up a large turnip and carved it out.  He scooped up the ember and carried his light forth into the grey.

They say to this day, on Halloween night, when the veil between our world and the land of the Dead is at its very thinnest you can spy poor old Jack still wandering in the darkness searching for other lost souls like him.  So carve your pumpkins and light them this evening so that Jack won’t feel quite so alone!

Well, that does it.  Another Halloween night in the books.  I hope you’ve enjoyed this series of stories and that you’ve shared them with your friends and families.  Who knows, next year, we might just turn up again for another 31 Scary Story Nights!  Happy Halloween!

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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