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Haunted History: Where Halloween Comes From Part 3

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Halloween

Well, we’ve covered the ancient Celts and the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire.  We can continue on, now, with the evolution of All Hallow’s Eve.  You see, even the Christian holiday would run into problems over the course of the centuries.  Indeed, initially, they couldn’t even decide when to celebrate it.

We learned in the last article that Pope Gregory I had established All Hallows Eve, but it was having trouble taking hold in all parts of the empire.  Pope Boniface IV first name All Saints’ Day on May 13, 610 CE as a day of recognition for those who had died as martyrs for their faith without the official recognition of the church.  It was later in the seventh century that the holiday would be moved to November 1 by Pope Gregory III to follow up All Hallows Eve.  All Saints’ Day was, for a time, renamed Hallowmas.  All Hallows Eve became All Hallows Even which was shortened to Hallowe’en.

As the church continued to hammer down on the Celts with their bonfires and merriment, one positive thing that came about at this time was the cessation of sacrifice.  The Celts might not be convinced to put out the fire, but they stopped burning people and animals in the fire.  The Christians would only support a death penalty when it was sanctioned by the church.  It was also at this time, that the Christians finally put their back into their beliefs enough to convince the Celts that the need fires were there to keep the devil at bay rather than to honor the seasons.

Now, let’s add another celebration day to consider that would come to fall at the same time.  Though there is some debate as to when it came about, it is thought that in 988 CE All Souls’ Day was first celebrated by the Benedictine abbot Saint Odilo.  It was placed on November 2 as another day to pray for those who were stuck in Purgatory (apparently they needed a lot of days to pray for those poor folks).  We do know that it was in 1000 CE that Pope Sylvester II approved the celebration.

As time passed, the Christian church faced its first real break.  Though the Roman Empire was long gone, the Church and the Pope were, of course, still in power.  It was on Halloween in 1517 that Martin Luther initiated what would come to be known as the Protestant reformation.  The Protestants had even less use for the old pagan ways than the Catholic Church, but they still continued to hold autumnal festivals.  There was something about it that was so deeply ingrained that they simply continued to celebrate the end of harvesting season.  Perhaps, it was simply because they needed a break at the end of all that work.  Perhaps it was something that still called to them on a more basic level.

More time passed and the history of our holiday, along with the rest of history, gets very fuzzy through the dark ages, the Inquisition and the outbreak of witch trials all over the continent. This was the first time that witches became associated with Halloween.  Folk magick and other ritual practices sprang up among the people with the dissolution of the Druid caste.  Powerful healers and makers of charms were regularly sought out by the local villagers when in need.  Divination was an important part of their practice and they harnessed the mindset and power of Halloween and the thinning of the veil to foretell the future and communicate with the dead once more in secret.  And while most would seek the wise men and women out for help, they would also point fingers very quickly if the healing did not work and lay blame of evil on the failed healer.  It was a scary profession to say the least!

We do know that a rich oral history kept some of the traditions alive in the minds of the people even in the darkest hours of our history, and the reason we know this is that when the peoples of Europe began to move across the ocean to America, guess what began to creep up again?  Halloween survived the arduous journey and began to branch out into the different colonies, taking on new practices while holding to those from time immemorial.  But that…that’s for next time.

Well, we’ve almost reached the final leg of our journey.  I hope you’ve been enjoying this trip through the history of our favorite holiday.  Join me again next week as we trace Halloween from colonial to modern times in the United States!

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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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