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Horror Haunts To Prepare You For The Halloween Season

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It’s that time of year again folks! From cobwebs to mummies, to witches galore, to monsters and vampires, the endless haunts has us screaming for more!

The Halloween season signifies so many things. Fall, the cold tingling in the air, the beautiful colors changing almost seemingly overnight. But most importantly, television brings back familiar favorites and possible future favorites.

From Disney to FX to FOX, the theme of Halloween and the spook factor comes at us with lightning speed. Perhaps one of the best enjoyed nights are those spent in front of a fireplace with a big bucket of popcorn indulging in our favorite scary movie.

With the thought of what might be lurking outside in the dark….

These types of movies come with a plethora of themes: cute, spooky, horrifying……downright ridiculous. But you can bet that there is always something on during the Fall season to tickle your scary bone.

HOCUS POCUS 

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Courtesy Of Disney

It is rare to see this movie appear during the year other than Halloween time. But every time the Sanderson sisters bless the screen, the inner child in all of us stays glued giggling with glee. It is hard to fathom that the “horror-comedy” film was first released by Disney 21 years ago! The film pays homage to the witches of Salem with a modern day twist [well, 21 years ago]. Initially considered “lackluster” by a few mean critics, Hocus Pocus has spawned its own cult following and will be showing frequently in the weeks to come!

 TRICK R’ TREAT

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Trick R’ Treat

What horror fan truly doesn’t love a good ol’ anthology series? Trick R’ Treat was realeased in 2007 and introduced us to a pint-sized villian name Sam. Sam isn’t your average trick or treater, donning tattered orange pajamas and a burlap sack over his head, we only realize what Sam truly is when we reach the end of the film. The film is unfolded in various pieces that all have the same common denominator- Sam. As the stories evolve, we meet werewolves, an old man that truly hates Halloween and a bus full of kids who meet an untimely fate one Halloween night. Trick R’ Treat is definitely a great film to watch to get you in the Halloween spirit, and fans will be pleased to know that the sequel is currently in production.

DEAD SILENCE 

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Dead Silence

When this film first came out, it was met with mixed reviews. But how can you deny that the background of Mary Shaw is truly terrifying in its own right? Dead Silence plays homage to ventriloquists. In this creepy film, a man loses his wife in a horrendous murder and in order to find out why she was killed, he needs to visit his past, something he has been running from, and uncover a deep, dark family secret.

Dead Silence is brought to you by the same individuals that created the Saw franchise as well as The Conjuring and the upcoming film Annabelle. The film is available on Netflix instant and if watched late at night when home alone,  it just might change how you perceive the film….

BEETLEJUICE

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Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice

A haunt wouldn’t be a haunt if you didn’t have some haunting!  It has been nearly 26 years since Michael Keaton stepped onto the scene as a grotesque bio-exorcist ghost of sorts who is hired on by a newly deceased couple to help them get rid of the current occupants of their home. What makes this movie truly unique is the fact that is directed by Tim Burton, who has an uncanny eye for recreating the dead in ways we could never imagine. The feel good movie has an interesting theme as well as a plethora of interesting characters, both alive and dead.
On a side note, who remembers Beetlejuice, the cartoon that aired on Saturday mornings?
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SCREAM 

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Wes Craven’s Scream

A Halloween would not be complete without a teenage slasher. This Wes Craven-directed franchise series eventually brought in 3 other films of the same name that revolved around the Woodsboro murders. Interesting concept is that Scream is actually partially based on the Gainesville Ripper, Daniel Harold Rolling , who murdered 5 students in Florida. Rolling committed his murders in a more horrific manner and had even decapitated his victims. His killing spree inspired Kevin Williamson to pen Scream which became an instant hit.

TOURIST TRAP

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Tourist Trap

Back when horror films were really grand without the special effects of CGI and fancy story lines, there were the low budget B films that used the creepy characters and the unknown to attract their horror fans. The film first appeared in repeated showings on cable television in the 80’s, brining the flick more unique fans as it aired over the years.

Tourist Trap is a cult classic amongst those that are fan’s of the 70’s horror and brings the element of telekinesis and moving and talking mannequins to really bring in the scare factor.

SCARY MOVIE 

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Scary Movie

Wrapping up this list is perhaps the most scariest of all, The Wayans Brothers parody of all horror, Scary Movie. Encompassing Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, the slap stick comedy which is deemed a comedy-horror, makes fun of the stereotypical events that occur in horror movies along with the usual fare of unsuspecting victims and most controllable situations.

What are some of your favorite flicks to watch during the witching season?

Creature Feature Poster by Byron Winton

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The Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel Had an Interesting Location

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beetlejuice in Hawaii Movie

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 MansionBeetlejuice 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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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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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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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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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.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

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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