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The Haunted Traveler: Haunted London

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Even though it’s still technically summer, in my heart it’s fall. Halloween décor is out in some stores and I’m counting the days until I can get my pumpkin spice coffee/cereal/desserts/lip balm/perfume/toothpaste/deodorant…etc. This scorching weather isn’t doing anything for me and it’s cooking me alive in my all black everything. So, for these reasons taking Haunted Traveler from hot Brazil to soggy haunted London.

The history, the dreary weather, the cemeteries and castles, the spotted dick; it’s no surprise that haunted London is high on the travel list and boy do they have a lot to offer. I can’t include all the locations in even London alone so I’m picking my favorites and thanks to We Go Places, I can include the cost of getting into some of them.

Grab your tea, get cozy, and let’s dig in.

The Tower of London

Haunted London

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

One of haunted London’s most famous locations both historically and by tourists, this was once a royal palace built in 1066. It was a place of imprisonment and execution, the most famous of which was the beheading of Anne Boleyn, queen and wife to Henry VIII.

Her headless ghost is seen wandering the halls, holding her severed head beneath her arm.  Other members of royalty imprisoned and murdered in the castle are seen walking the halls and grounds. The tower can be toured for £22 for adults and £11 for kids ages 5-15.

Whitechapel/ Ten Bells Pub

Haunted London

Photographed by Marc Baker

This is not a building so much as a district in haunted London. If it sounds familiar, this is the stomping ground of Jack the Ripper, a notorious and never-caught serial killer in 1888. There are after dark walking tours of London’s East End where you can learn the bloody history of the area and spook yourself a bit. Tours are £10 per person.

While you’re in East End, stop by Ten Bells where two of the Rippers victims, Annie Chapman and Mary Jane Kelly, have connections. Annie had a drink there right before she was murdered. It’s said she still visits the pub and Mary Jane used to peddle sex outside and her body was found up the street. Patrons also feel gusts of wind, hear ghostly laughing and experience other poltergeist activity.

50 Berkley Square

Haunted London

Image courtesy of Secret Guides

This house built by William Kent in the 1700’s was named the “Most Haunted House in London” in the 1900’s by Peter Underwood’s book Haunted London. A woman is claimed to have committed suicide in the home and shows herself to guests as a brown mist and a sailor staying there died as a result of tripping as he ran from the house. Others have been committed to an asylum shortly after being there. The house is now home to a Maggs Bros. bookseller headquarters.

The Enfield Poltergeist/ 284 Green St

Haunted London

Still from investigation

This location was recently made famous again by The Conjuring 2. While I have my own opinions about that (The Warrens weren’t really involved. The investigation was done by Maurice Gross and Guy Lyon Playfair, who did NOT like the Warrens in the least. They showed up the last 3 days of a 180 day investigation and “took over” claiming they knew it was a demon even though the investigators thought otherwise.), the location is still creepy to say the least.

While speculation continues on what really happened here, the haunting of a young girl and poltergeist activity seen by police officers leave a compelling story.

The Spaniards Inn/ Hampstead Heath

Haunted London

Image courtesy of The Beauty of Travel

Built in 1585, this lovely pub rests on the edge of Hampstead Heath, a park that was mentioned all the way back to the year 986. A visiting spot for the likes of Dick Turpin, Keats, Byron and Bram stoker, many a literary masterpiece has been written from this place. Keats wrote “Ode to a Nightingale” in the garden and allegedly Stoker based Dracula on a ghost story about the pub.

Patrons report being tugged at and seeing the possible ghost of Dick Turpin (the Highwayman) and the ghost of one of the owners that died in a duel. If you’re near Hampstead Heath, stop in for a pint. Hampstead Heath itself is home to its own ghost sightings and long history. People hear ghostly footsteps and see a sad, young girl as well as other ghostly activity.

Don’t go away, there’s more haunted London on the next page!

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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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