Spooky Little Girl

Did You Have Yourself a Spooky Little Xmas?

2011-12-28T16:23:00.000-08:00

Did you get anything Halloweenie for Christmas/Hanukkah/Festivus/whatever this year? I did, naturally. Here are a few of my spooky favorites:
A bottle of Elvira's very own "Macabrenet" wine! This was the perfect gift because I totally wanted it but probably would never have bought it for myself. Well, okay, I would buy it if I happened to see it at BevMo or something, but I never would've gone through the trouble of ordering this online. I am by no means a wine connoisseur, but I enjoyed this just as much as I've ever enjoyed any red wine, and I'm saving the bottle because it's awesome. Apparently some of the bottles have a red cork (instead of black), and if you send it in to Elvira she'll send you something in return. Sadly, mine did not have a red cork. :*( If anyone knows what the surprise is for finding a red cork, do share!

I also got this video game, Alan Wake. My relationship with video games is pretty uneven - like, most of the time I forget they even exist, and then occasionally I get obsessed with one for a few weeks on end and it's all I can think about. I'm also not that great at playing them, so I prefer ones that offer a cool immersive world yet are fairly easy to master, and this one totally fits the bill. I love the rustic, spooky lake setting and the Stephen King-ish beleaguered writer storyline. I am nursing a bit of a post-holiday cold so I spent about 3 hours playing this last night, while sipping my Macabrenet, I might add. (Are you supposed to drink wine when you have a head cold? Alcohol is basically medicine, right?)

I also got a lovely hardcover copy of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. So excited to read it, as soon as I finish plowing through the Lord of the Rings books (currently 100 pages in to The Two Towers). I'm already loving the cover art and the "found photos" that are scattered throughout the book. Has anyone read this? Thoughts?

Tell me about the spooky gifts you got (or gave) this year!

Honky Tonk Horror

2011-11-23T15:15:00.000-08:00

This year I'm thankful for the Black Belles. They sound sorta like a girlie version of the White Stripes and they look like super cool foxy witches. You might already be familiar with their song "What Can I Do?" as the theme song for Elvira's Movie Macabre. Get their debut record, you'll love it.

Review: Haunted Play Presents "DELUSION"

2011-10-29T16:53:00.000-07:00

It seems like every year, just as I'm starting to feel like I might be (gasp) a little burnt out on haunted houses, a new (or at least new-to-me) attraction comes along that restores my faith in Halloween and, you know, humanity as a whole. Quick recap of this phenomenon: 2008, Universal Halloween Horror Nights - I hadn't been in years and I was absolutely floored by how rad it was. 2009, L.A. Haunted Hayride's inaugural year - a totally unique experience for me, as it was my very first haunted hayride. 2010, Reign of Terror in Thousand Oaks - I couldn't believe the attention to detail and length of the maze. And what takes the creepy cake this year? A haunted house/theater hybrid known as Haunted Play presents "DELUSION."

Much has been made about one very specific aspect of Delusion's online FAQ:

Q: Will they touch me?
A: All haunted houses say their actors won’t touch you. That is NOT the case here.

This is basically the haunted house equivalent of the old Psycho trick of killing off the star of a horror movie well before the end of the film - it creates anticipation and makes the audience feel like all bets are off, and absolutely anything could happen. Well, rest assured that you probably will be touched if you attend Delusion, but it probably won't be as traumatic or violent as what you're imagining! (But really...who knows? Mwahaha.)

Yet my favorite aspect of this play/attraction isn't wondering whether or not the actors would touch me - it was being able to walk through such a fabulously creepy crumbling old mansion. Yes, the above photo is actually where Delusion takes place - an eerie, rundown, Haunted Mansion-esque estate. And the interior is even more deliciously spooky, with the kind of attention to detail that really makes a haunt.

Since Delusion was created by a Hollywood stuntman, you're probably expecting some cool stunts, right? Again, you won't be disappointed. The actors in this haunted play execute stunts more sophisticated than anything I've seen in a haunted house. When one of the "patients" (check out the website for the full Delusion backstory) laughs maniacally and then suddenly flies up out of view, it's like witnessing something out of The Exorcist in real life. Likewise when another character is dragged down the hall kicking and screaming by an unseen force. You expect these kinds of effects in movies, but not at a haunted house.

Another quality that sets Delusion apart is the fact that it forces you to become an active participant in the story. You will be asked to perform certain tasks, and your life (and the lives of your dozen or so companions) may hang in the balance. Oh, and wear comfortable shoes - you may be running from room to room in order to evade the ghouls!

Halloween is just two days away, but if you're looking for some last minute scares, I recommend trying to fit this one in. And if you miss out this year, go ahead and mark your calendar for October 2012 - I guarantee Haunted Play is going to be one to watch for many Halloweens to come.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

Review: Theatre 68 Haunted House

2011-10-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

As a Halloween fan in southern California, it's easy to get caught up in going to the same professional haunts year after year. They're always fun, but after a while they do start to get stale. The maze layouts, the props and set pieces, even the scare tactics all start to feel rather...predictable. And predictability is not conducive to terror. That's why it's so much fun to discover a smaller, more unassuming haunt; you have no idea what to expect, and suddenly you're vulnerable again! Like a virgin...scared for the very first time.

So yeah, it was indeed a "white wedding" for me when I visited Theatre 68's 6th annual haunted house in Hollywood last night. Located on a rather nondescript block of Sunset Blvd. - east of the Sunset Strip, west of Sunset Junction - across the street from a Food 4 Less and tucked in the back of a small strip mall, the theatre sure didn't look like much from the outside. But once you walk down a short hallway festooned with cobwebs, you'll find yourself in a lobby decorated with photographs and mug shots of famous serial killers, an appropriately unsettling choice of decor. The best part of this haunted house is probably the fact that you are only allowed to go through 2 at a time, so you'll be able to enjoy the atmosphere and relish in the fact that the monsters are working to scare you, and you alone.

There were so many unique touches to this haunted house. You begin by being escorted into a dark room where you watch an introductory news bulletin on TV about a serial killer who is loose in the area. After the broadcast is abruptly cut off, a frantic reporter runs into the room and tells you where to go next - and then the experience truly begins.

I have no idea how they crammed so much haunted house goodness into such a small space, but we were going upstairs, downstairs, into rooms that appeared to be dead ends (but weren't, thanks to a mysterious moving wall), through closets filled with clothes on hangers, and more. I loved the ghoulish glowing bride and the poor fellow who "lost his head," but all of the sets were very creative and different from anything you can expect to see at Knott's or Universal.

If you don't have a lot of cash to spend on a "pro" haunt, I definitely recommend Theatre 68: Tickets are only $12, and if you bring a canned good you'll get $1 off. (Food will be donated to local organizations that serve the homeless for Thanksgiving - and, of course, your admission will help fund a small local theater instead of merely lining the coffers of a corporate conglomerate.) Another benefit of visiting Theatre 68's haunt is the fact that it's open seven nights a week, so you can check it out anytime.

Theatre 68's haunted house proves that passion, ingenuity and genuine enthusiasm can still be found in the heart of Hollywood for under 20 bucks. It's a Halloween miracle!

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

Spooky Trip: San Diego's Whaley House

2011-10-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

Whaley House, long ago.

Whaley House, not so long ago.

The Whaley House, a rather unassuming brick structure located in charming Old Town San Diego, has a reputation that belies its unremarkable facade: It is commonly known as "the most haunted house in America." Now I'm not sure how, exactly, one can quantify the "haunted-ness" of a locale, but in any case, I had been eager to check it out for years. When I heard that the Whaley House was offering free admission for Museum Day, I knew it was my chance to offset the cost of the 4-hour round trip car ride down to San Diego and back, and Mr. Spooky and I seized the opportunity.

No, we didn't see or hear any ghosts - surely there were too many tourists (and too much daylight) for that. But you know that feeling you get in some older buildings or other places that are said to be haunted - that feeling like the air itself is oppressive, like you're slightly seasick even though you're standing on level ground, that sense that history is closing in around you? That uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach? Yeah, parts of the Whaley House definitely had that - something that I also felt the first time I set foot on the decks of the Queen Mary.

After exploring the house itself, we walked around Old Town San Diego, ate the most amazing fish tacos and sweet, chewy churros I'd ever had in my life, and finished off by taking a stroll by the eerily lovely Victorian homes in nearby Heritage Park. If you're in southern California and you're looking for a fun and affordable spooky day trip, a jaunt to the Whaley House is highly recommended.

Los Angeles Haunted Hayride 2011

2011-10-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

Ah, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. It may only be in its third year of existence, but the LAHH is easily one of my top 5 favorite Halloween activities. Back in 2009, the Hayride took place at a rather secluded ranch in Calabasas, and it had a deliciously Ray Bradbury-esque carnival-gone-weird vibe unlike anything else I had ever experienced at a commercial haunt. Last year, the Hayride was relocated to the old abandoned zoo in Griffith Park, a more easily accessible location for most of L.A., but one that was a little lacking in the original's rustic charm. While I still enjoyed myself in 2010, I did feel like the Hayride was too brief and the Hey! Maze (as it was then known) left much to be desired. Luckily, the LAHH is back and even better for 2011.

When I entered the Hayride grounds this year, the first thing I noticed was that the "haunted carnival" aspect had been scaled way back. In fact, it had been pared down to just a handful of booths: A food vendor selling cleverly-named refreshments (including candy apples, popcorn, hot dogs & other "fair food"), a fortune-teller, and a "gift shop" tent. There was also a sideshow and a couple of rides/attractions - a house of mirrors and the adorably macabre "scary-go-round."

One nice change this year is that you can walk through the house of mirrors or take a (backwards) spin on the scary-go-round at no additional charge, whereas in '09 and '10 you had to spring for tickets. Even though the carnival has been downsized for 2011, it still has that same magical autumn vibe that I love so much, and that sets the LAHH apart from its peers in the haunt world.

While we were waiting to board the ride, a number of characters in full costume came out to taunt the crowd, including some sort of black-feathered bird creature on stilts and the unfortunate bride pictured above (it's hard to tell in the picture, but that's actually a bloody fetus protruding from her belly). I loved how inventive the characters were - another unique aspect of the LAHH is that the actors seem to be given far more creative reign, and that makes for a more exciting, unpredictable and genuinely haunting experience.

The Hayride itself was not unlike its predecessors; those of you who went last year or the year before will recognize many favorite set pieces, including the "Angel of Death," the "I Scream Man" and the clown tent. There were also a few new pieces, including a creepy Christmas scene and - my favorite - three robotic masked farmers promising to "make you barbecue" as they inch closer and closer to the captive riders. And yes, the ride was longer than last year's - about 25 minutes total.

Another way in which the Hayride has improved over last year: The maze! It's actually fun and scary this year! Now dubbed "the In-Between" and included in the price of general admission, this maze is unique in a couple of ways. First, you're in the dark. I'm talking complete pitch blackness, with only a flickering lantern to guide your way. They also stagger the line so everyone goes through in groups of 2 or 4. (No safety in numbers!) When we went, one of the characters - an unwholesome, Charles Manson-looking fellow carrying what appeared to be a bloody pillowcase full of who-knows-what - actually accompanied our group through the maze. The smaller size of the Hayride when compared to behemoths like Knott's or Universal means that you can get that kind of one-on-one attention - who says customer service is dead?!

When all was said and done, Mr. Spooky and I only spent about an hour and 15 minutes at the Hayride, but it was time well spent. I can't think of any other Halloween attractions in or near Los Angeles that have quite the same anarchic, backwoods feel. And the spooky memories, of course, will linger long after you leave Griffith Park: "Close your eyes and take a picture," one of the clowns whispered in my ear as our tractor pulled away from their tent. "We'll be in your dreams..."

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

Ghoul Aid: The Drink of the Damned

2011-10-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

Guess what I found at the grocery store for a mere 20 cents a packet?

Scary Blackberry GHOUL-AID! The very seasonal refreshment about which Matt from X-Entertainment wrote,

"Nothing on the planet can empower a person with the Halloween spirit faster than 'Ghoul-Aid,' a special edition Kool-Aid meant to light up our taste-buds with the flames of Satan's tail. ...I swear, I think I got a hard-on."

So what if the list of ingredients indicates that it's mostly citric acid and salt? So what if I haven't had Kool-Aid since before the onset of puberty? This stuff is X-E approved and the Kool-Aid Man is dressed like Dracula! My expectations are SKY HIGH. OH YEAH!!!

GUEST REVIEW: Knott's Scary Farm 2011

2011-10-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

NOTE:
A visit to Knott's Scary Farm is one of my most beloved annual traditions. (You can read my review of last year's event here.) Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it out to the Haunt this year - but fear not! My dear friend Jill O'Lantern has graciously agreed to review Halloween Haunt 2011 for you! Enjoy.
xo
SLG

The tradition of the annual Knott’s Haunt has been thrown into uncertainty by the flashier haunt, Universal Horror Nights. If forced to choose a favorite, it’s a difficult decision. Knott’s Haunt lacks the high-quality mazes, but they make up for it in quantity. For 2011 they have 13 attractions, and seven live shows, plus all the roller coaster thrills you can stomach in one evening.

This year, I did the Boo-fet in addition to the Haunt. It’s $24 for an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner. The food is pretty good; they offer prime rib, roasted turkey, shrimp cocktail, Mrs. Knott’s fried chicken, lots of sides, snacks, and an enormous drink with free refills. Careful how you eat at the Boo-fet because there are roaming monsters ready to scare the mashed potatoes down your windpipe. Aside from the food, the real benefit to the Boo-fet is the chance to ride the bone-crushing Ghost Rider before sneaking in the park early while the regular-ticketed folks watch jealously from behind the rope.

After riding the Ghost Rider (on a full stomach...not recommended) we ran around the park like crazy, trying to hit as many mazes as possible before the crowds came in. My favorites, in order (spoiler alert):

Terror of London - I had the pleasure of walking through this maze alone, so the monsters were all out to get me. I was threatened in the pub, charmed by a murderer on the streets, and chased through a graveyard. It was the stuff of my favorite nightmares. My memory is not the best - I think the rainy London alleyways were new. It was so scary being harassed while walking through the rain. The bonus of London was the endless feeling. Each dark hallway had me convinced that the fun was over, but then a new section started with new scares. This was the most rewarding and fun maze of the evening. The dedicated actors inside really gave the theme life.

Virus Z - This was my favorite new offering last year, and it was just as good the second time around. The walk-through took us around a small town, hit suddenly by a zombie virus. Some of the make-up and costuming was great. After walking through his living room, Zombie Grandpa followed me around the maze. I can’t remember what he muttered at me, but it was unnerving and funny. The make-up on the girls in the diner was especially good.

Delirium - New for 2011. The execution of the theme of insanity and nightmares was vague, but this was a great new addition to Knott’s. I absolutely loved the psychedelic dream-turned-nightmare feel. The wall of glowing eyeballs, and the room filled with disgusting cockroaches stand out as the most striking elements.

Dia de Los Muertos 3D - This maze was light on the scares, but heavy on beauty and theme. I just enjoyed walking through it and gawking at the murals, costumes, and effects.

Fallout Shelter - The person who sold me 3D glasses explained that there was a third 3D maze that was not listed on the map. This was it. The 3D was a definite afterthought in this maze since certain elements were painted in blacklight-responsive colors but overall it was a standard maze. It was very long and there were some good props, so it was fun. The actors did a great job in this one - lots of creepy people walked near me, and because of their clothes, I couldn’t tell if they were mutants or other maze-walkers. I feel like the 3D glasses helped with the scares in this one because the glasses blocked my peripheral vision.

Endgames - This was new for 2011. I’m a huge fan of all things post-apocalypse battle, especially the Hunger Games, and Battle Royale. I liked the eerie live footage of other people walking through the maze, but I didn’t see any of the scare-actors doing anything other than banging the walls and yelling in my face. The theme was all over the place - were they post-apocalyptic barbarians, or were they steampunk? I hope next year the scare-actors will get better, more defined roles for this maze. (Watch what’s happening live inside Endgames here!)

The Slaughterhouse, Lockdown: The Asylum, and Doll Factory were all fun mazes but you probably remember them from past years. The Doll Factory is my favorite of the three, because I like all the women's creepy-but-pretty costumes, and walking through the shredded dollhouse curtains.

Invasion Beneath (The Calico Mine ride) - Despite my love for all things spider, the Curse of the Spider overlay was wearing thin. Invasion Beneath’s theme was described as an “invasion by unknown creatures through a large fissure in the Earth’s core. Military has just infiltrated the mountain.” Frankly, this new theme was baffling and incomplete. I somewhat understood that there was drilling or mining (there were spinning drill bits), but I’m not sure if I saw the unknown creatures or the Military action. There were several similar robot-looking figures standing ominously throughout the maze. That’s it. They stood there, and there were a few lasers (by a few, I mean two: red and green pinpoints of light in the darkness), but no explanation, action, or scares. Nothing about this was engaging, comprehensible, or scary. I really hope they put work into this for next year to give it some story - the monster invasion idea is great, and it could work well with the giant cavern.

I skipped Cornstalkers, Sleepy Hollow Mountain (the Log Ride), and the dreadful Uncle Bobo’s Big Top of the Bizarre. Sometimes roller coasters are scarier than nightmares.

Throughout the evening, I saw monsters working in groups to scare and entertain, and it genuinely seemed like they were enjoying themselves. Walking through the Carnevil area, I heard the familiar skidding sound of a monster coming straight toward me. I turned my head in alarm and saw a clown lying on his side, grabbing his knee, and crying out in pain. I froze - was it real? Right behind him, another clown ran up and blamed me for hurting his friend before kicking the downed clown in the knee. It was the best! I felt like I was in my own clown slapstick nightmare. This year more than ever, I felt like the monsters were really portraying characters, not just trying to scare.

Overall, the scare-actors are what make Knott's' Haunt fun. Knott’s doesn’t have the slick, movie-quality sets, costumes, and props that Universal has, but it does have a lot of really dedicated monster talent. Knott’s is always nearest and dearest to my spooky heart.

Read more from Ms. Jill O'Lantern on her blogs Magnets de los Muertos and Tart for Pumpkins!

Spooky Request: Dr. Druid's Haunted Seance - In Detail

2011-09-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of interest in Doctor Druid's Haunted Seance, the record that I posted about back in December. So for those of you who emailed me asking to see the sleeve/liner notes/seance instructions, here you go! Enjoy.

Back of the record blurb, written by Forrest J Ackerman.

Seance instructions!

Suggestions on the sleeve for "more seance fun."

Universal Halloween Horror Nights 2011 - Part II

2011-09-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

I was crazy excited to go to Halloween Horror Nights this year, not only because it means that the BEST TIME OF THE YEAR has arrived, but also because I missed last year's HHN thanks to one super bitchy ruptured appendix. (Yes, that's right - my appendix decided to burst halfway through October last year, and the subsequent two weeks that I was forced to spend recovering in bed put a serious damper on all of my 2010 Halloween plans.) I was particularly excited for this year because there are six mazes in addition to the Terror Tram - all of them new, apart from the Rob Zombie maze, which I obviously missed last time around. If your Halloween activity funds are limited and you have to choose between Universal's HHN (the hotshot upstart) and Knott's Scary Farm (the venerable haunt institution), it usually comes down to quality vs. quantity - do you prefer to have your pick of a dozen or more mazes at Knott's, or would you rather enjoy the crazy high quality of the makeup and sets at Universal? But with six mazes plus the tram and five scare zones, Universal is making a genuine effort to "up their game," as it were, even further.

In Part I of my coverage of HHN this year, I explored the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making each blood-spattered rotting corpse look just so. But we all know you really came here for one thing: To find out how everything looks in action. To that end, here are my thoughts on each maze, ranked in order from favorite to least favorite:

La Llorona: Villa De Almas Perdidas: For some reason that I can't figure out (apart from the obvious link that he is a Mexican movie star and La Llorona is a legendary Mexican ghost story), Diego Luna served as the creative consultant on this maze. Well, I no longer care why or how he was recruited - all I know is that he did an awesome job and that this was my favorite maze of the night! La Llorona is a story more sad than scary, in which a lovestruck woman drowns her children to please a man and then is cast aside by him, but the maze manages to squeeze every last drop of terror out of the premise. From the candlelit adobe church facade to the lake where the children were drowned (and their lifeless bodies still float, face-down and motionless), this maze has both understated ghostly scares and classic funhouse "JUMP OUT ATCHA!" moments. Loved it, and hope there's a movie in the works!
Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses: In 3D ZombieVision: While Knott's usually offers 2 or 3 3D mazes each year, this is the only one I've ever experienced at Universal. (By the way, THANK YOU, Universal, for offering 3D glasses free of charge! Loved not having to rummage around for that extra dollar. Seriously.) As always, I am a sucker for all things Rob Zombie, and therefore I totally enjoyed this walk through the twisted Technicolor world he created in his first directorial effort. The 3D was a nice touch, and the Captain Spaulding stand-in was particularly inspired. (But what was up with Otis's wig?!) This wasn't excruciatingly scary - although I did jump and scream during an encounter with Dr. Satan - but I loved every second of it.
The Thing: Assimilation: I'm going to confess something: I'm not that familiar with The Thing. I love John Carpenter, but somehow I managed to avoid this movie until just over a month ago. I actually really dug it, even though it's basically Alien in Antarctica, but I'm no lifelong fan, so my opinion is pretty unbiased. And let me tell you, this maze rules! This was the longest line of the night for us by far, but I have to say it was worth it in the end. The frigid, snowy setting and the claustrophobic unpleasantness of being stuck in a room with a giant, bloodthirsty, shape-shifting alien make for a great maze, and the creature itself was huge and scary and constantly popping out where you'd least expect it. You may want to tackle this one toward the beginning of the night to avoid those outrageous lines later on.
Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare: The second maze of the night (along with La Llorona) that's not, to my knowledge, based on a film. Instead, this one is "a terrifying trip through Alice Cooper's twisted mind." From what I can tell, Alice Cooper's fears include spiders, snakes, sexy nurses and his own face, because nearly every actor in this maze has been made up to look like Alice himself. The theme for this one wasn't as focused - basically, just nightmarish scenarios set to Alice Cooper's music - but it was still a lot of fun. Warning: You will probably get his songs stuck in your head after this. I've had "Welcome to My Nightmare" in mine for five days now. Gahhhh!
The Wolfman: The Curse of Talbot Hall: I loved this maze, but I had to put it near the bottom of the list simply because it's the maze that takes place inside of Universal's year-round House of Horrors, and any HHN fan will tell you that they don't change the House of Horrors too drastically for the Halloween season. Basically, they take their standard House of Horrors, with its regular props and layout - which, don't get me wrong, is super fun and well-done and open all year round to boot - and integrate a character by throwing in a few more vampires or evil Chucky dolls (or, in this case, Wolfmans - Wolfmen?) than usual. Still, seriously, the House of Horrors rules and so does the Wolfman! It's always nice to include a nod to one of the classic Universal monsters at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, for this maze we had the incredible good fortune of being behind a very skittish boy in his early teens. If you ever get the chance to go through a maze with a 13-year-old male who screams like Ned Flanders, don't pass it up!
Eli Roth's Hostel: Hunting Season: Sorry dudes - I skipped this one. It was a combination of very long lines, the fact that it was almost 1 AM and the fact that, you know...I just don't care for this sort of thing. At the makeup demonstration, John Murdy said that year after year, fans want their horror and their mazes to be "more and more extreme." I am not one of those fans, but if you are, I'm sure this maze will be right up your alley. [Fair Warning: Prepare to have a gun pointed in your face. My friend who did walk through the maze was quite disturbed by this, so I figured I would pass the word along.]

In addition to the mazes, there's also a brand new theme for the Terror Tram this year: Scream 4 Your Life. I dig the Scream movies, although I have yet to see the 4th installment (out on DVD next week!), and the Terror Tram is the most unique "maze" experience that Universal has to offer, but it was essentially the same as in years past. I'm not complaining - in fact, I don't think I'll ever get tired of walking past the Psycho house and interacting with "Norman Bates" in person, because I'm just that big of a Hitchcock geek - but it lacked the thrill it had for me in 2008 and 2009. It was also crazy crowded this year; it felt like the entire population of the San Fernando Valley was trudging slowly across the backlot while the monsters stood by, unsure of how to pace their scares with such a huge glut of people to contend with. Despite these minor quibbles, the Terror Tram is still an absolute must, especially if you've never been to HHN, or haven't been in a while.

The "Scare Zones" this year were pretty straightforward: Scream (i.e., Ghostface Killers with knives), Freakz, Klownz (with chainsaws), Reapers (with chainsaws) and Zombieville. I loved Zombieville, which recreates a town overrun by - you guessed it - the undead, and Freakz, which has that "dark carnival" vibe that I dig so much, the most.

Overall, Universal's Halloween Horror Nights continues to reign supreme when it comes to seasonal scares in southern California. HHN has the best mazes, the best makeup and the most talented actors. When it comes to scaring the shit out of people, they're still the ones to beat.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

Universal Halloween Horror Nights 2011 - Part I

2011-09-28T15:43:00.001-07:00

Halloween is here! Yeah, it's still September, but Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights opened for business last Friday, and that means the season is officially upon us. Before I get into my review of this year's offerings, I wanted to do a quick recap of the very cool fx makeup demonstration I was invited to attend at the beginning of September.

After a quick intro by HHN creative director John Murdy, we were ushered into a room filled with costumes, prosthetic devices, wigs, false teeth and several live actors being transformed into hideous ghouls by nimble-fingered makeup artists. It was fun to witness the painstaking process of turning otherwise pleasant and attractive people into terrifying creatures or extraordinarily unfortunate victims. All makeup is custom-created for Universal, which makes the work of the makeup artists absolutely invaluable. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day (photography credit goes to Mr. Spooky):

Eww! I believe both of these were for the Hostel maze.

Now this dude is definitely from the Hostel maze - a maze which features "props cast from Eli Roth's personal collection of original Hostel movie props."

Dr. Satan on the right, scary horse-faced lady in the middle. She made a couple of appearances in the La Llorona maze. Very creepy!

Everything is custom-made by hand, right down to the false teeth!

Poor Brain Surgery Jerry, getting prepped for the House of 1000 Corpses maze.

La Llorona in progress.

And finally, an actor being transformed into Alice Cooper for his "Welcome to My Nightmare" maze. P.S. I love the makeup artist's hair and glasses!

"But Spoooooky," I hear you pleading, "how were the mazes?!" Okay, seriously. Calm down. I'm getting to that...but not in this post. Horror fans love sequels, right? So stick around for Part II!

Season's Screamings

2011-09-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

Look what I made! I feel so crafty.

Last Chance to Catch Me in URBAN DEATH

2011-05-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

(Photo of Urban Death at the LA Weekly Theater Awards 2011; by Timothy Norris for LA Weekly)

Tomorrow night, Saturday May 28th, is your last chance to catch me performing in Urban Death at Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre! If you haven't already seen the show, you're missing out - and I say that as a horror fan, not as a member of the ensemble of said show.

"I thought it was dead, but grand guignol is alive and well. It just doesn't live in 19th Century Paris any more. It dwells in contemporary North Hollywood at Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre." - FEARnet review, June 2010

Join us this Saturday at 11 PM at ZJU, 4850 Lankershim Blvd. in the NoHo Arts District. Tickets are $15. Make phone reservations by calling 818 202 4120. And get there early - it WILL sell out!

Book Review: HALLOWEEN NATION by Lesley Pratt Bannatyne

2011-05-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

One of the most intriguing things about Halloween - at least in the grand scope of holidays - is the fact that there is no one way to going about celebrating it. Whereas everyone who celebrates Christmas has more or less the same plan for December 25th - big meal, gift exchange, tree with ornaments, etc. - October 31st can mean anything to any number of different people. You could go trick-or-treating, host a party, stay in and watch scary movies, attend a rite or ceremony, try to communicate with the dead, visit a haunted house, see a play, go to a concert, hit up a bar...the possibilities are limitless. Even the tone of the holiday is optional; whether your Halloween is sexy, gruesome, whimsical, terrifying or beautiful is entirely up to you. How you celebrate Halloween depends on the age in which you were born, the region in which you live, the kind of movies you watch, the genre of music you prefer to listen to, your childhood experiences with the holiday and, often, the nature of your most profound hopes and fears.

Another curious facet of Halloween is precisely how American the holiday really is; despite its reputation as a night for mainstream-taunting iconoclasm, the truth is that loving Halloween is practically patriotic. While Halloween (or some variation thereof) is celebrated in several other countries, it seems unlikely that any other place on earth has quite so many people who love the holiday quite so much. If you've ever wondered how the collective American psyche has shaped our modern celebration of Halloween, then Lesley Pratt Bannatyne's book Halloween Nation: Behind the Scenes of America's Fright Night is for you.

A 200-page examination of why we love Halloween peppered liberally with color photographs and illustrations, Halloween Nation attempts to answer that question without resorting to dense prose or subscribing to any one theory. Similar in tone to the works of Mary Roach (whose books Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife are cited as resources), Bannatyne makes the kind of sociological examination demanded by the subject matter fun and cheeky rather than heavy-handed and academic.

She begins by probing the origins of the modern Halloween celebration, albeit briefly, since this book is about Halloween now, not Halloween hundreds (or even thousands) of years ago. Then she dives right into the slimy guts of the subject matter, speculating about the enduring appeal of the holiday's most iconic symbols (ghosts, witches, pumpkins, zombies) and taking an entire chapter to deconstruct the etymology of the jack o' lantern. Ghost hunters, witches, zombie walk organizers and farmers that specialize in growing gargantuan pumpkins are all consulted for their Halloween expertise.

Next, Bannatyne looks at large-scale Halloween celebrations from inception to execution, including the Village Halloween Parade in NYC and HAuNTcon (the haunted attraction industry trade show), and finishes up by examining Halloween-year-round subcultures like goth and metal, as well as a look at how "trick-or-treat" (particularly the "trick" aspect) has grown and changed in recent years.

In the course of the book, Bannatyne visits people from all over the country with many different connections to Halloween, from professed mediums and Spiritualists in the town of Lily Dale, NY to horror burlesque performers to sophisticated pranksters at MIT. While the book never gets particularly in-depth about any one subject - personally, I could read an entire book about haunted houses, theme parks and yard haunts - it provides a fascinating overview and may introduce you to Halloween traditions you didn't even know existed. (I am now extremely sad to have missed out on the Los Angeles Cacophony Society's haunted houses...sigh.) A glimpse of how our favorite day as we know it could only have happened here (in America) and now (in the twenty-first century), Bannatyne's Halloween Nation is a worthy addition to any Halloween fan's library.

For more information, visit the author's website.

Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review.

Happy Halfway to Halloween

2011-04-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the best thing about Easter this year (apart from Cadbury Creme Eggs) is the fact that its arrival means that Halloween is only 6 months away. Yes, friends, at the end of this month we are officially at the halfway point! To celebrate, please enjoy this delightful seasonal video from FEARnet and Trick 'r Treat's Michael Dougherty.

P.S. Halloween Screme Eggs!? With green goo!? Be still my heart!

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)

2011-04-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

A profoundly strange and disorienting movie, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (a Czech movie filmed in 1969 - with government funding! - and released the following year) is a fever dream of sex, death, religion and the confusion that so often accompanies the onset of adolescence. Is it a straight-up horror movie? Not exactly. But if you're in the right frame of mind, the images from this film will certainly find their way into your nightmares.

Everything that happens in this movie is like something out of a bizarre fairy tale - we're talking classic Brothers Grimm here, not the cleaned up Disney versions. While the plot doesn't always "make sense" per se, I think the dreamy flow and jarring imagery accurately convey the horrors of being a 13-year-old girl. You're not quite ready to grow up, but your body has other ideas. Adult sexuality is foreign and intimidating at best, disgusting and threatening at worst. Every man you meet could be a potential predator. And in the middle of all this is Valerie, refusing to be a victim.

There are vampires, demons and a bit of witchcraft (or at least a burning at the stake), ladies who put fish down their dresses, magical earrings and menarche. Fun for the whole family it's not, but if you're down for a visual feast that will stay with you for longer than the 73-minute runtime, I encourage you to seek out a copy of Valerie and Her Week of Wonders.

Walking Among the Dead at Linda Vista Hospital

2011-03-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles, notorious for the vicious build/raze/build cycle that has cost the city so many of its precious historical landmarks, is not the most obvious place to look for a sprawling, abandoned and allegedly haunted hospital. But if you visit the Boyle Heights neighborhood near downtown L.A., you'll find just that in the guise of eerie, hulking Linda Vista Hospital. The building is, at this point, semi-famous; it's been featured on shows and movies (including the first season of Dexter), as well as a memorable episode of Ghost Adventures; you may remember Zak & Co. freaking out over the possibility of imminent gang wars. (LOLZ.)

Recently, the Boyle Heights Paranormal Project, a local paranormal research and investigation group that helps oversee the hospital and regularly organizes community events to allow the curious (and, perhaps, foolhardy) to sneak a peek inside, hosted an event called the "Walk Among the Dead." BHPP members lead groups on a flashlight tour of the hospital, with nefarious nurses and devilish doctors from the performance collective The Art of Bleeding lurking in the old hospital's morgue to add to the sinister, spooky vibe.

The end result was basically Halloween in March, a shivery treat for amateur ghost hunters, horror fans and Los Angeles preservationists alike. Here are some shots Mr. Spooky and I captured during our time at Linda Vista:

For more information on future events at Linda Vista, including BHPP's upcoming overnight investigation in mid-April, follow the Boyle Heights Paranormal Project page on Facebook.

Spooky Self-Promotion: Catch Me in URBAN DEATH

2011-03-15T16:50:00.001-07:00

Hello, spooky friends! I apologize for the relative dearth of posts lately, but I've been keeping busy (a strategy that works well for getting through those boring non-Halloween months). What have I been up to? Well, I am currently rehearsing for the next production of Urban Death at Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre in North Hollywood!

If you've never seen Urban Death (and I have, so trust me on this), you're in for a scary treat. The show is essentially a series of horrific vignettes, and the entire show is done with minimal dialogue. Instead, the mood is set via creepy original music and the physicality of the performers. If that sounds at all pretentious, it's not - instead, it's enthralling, disorienting and terrifying.

Since Urban Death is ZJU's signature show, there have been many different incarnations, but this latest version promises to be the scariest to date. Join me on Saturday, April 9th at 11 PM, or any Saturday night through the end of May, to get a taste of the best on-stage horror in Los Angeles. Hope to see you there!

The Hearse (1980)

2011-03-01T17:09:00.001-08:00

Such a strange and pointless movie! The plot is as follows: A woman who strongly resembles Cameron Diaz in Being John Malkovich but with slightly less extreme hair inherits a house in the country and decides to live in it; upon arrival, she discovers that the town is populated exclusively by male sex offenders and potential rapists who eye her lasciviously with varying degrees of both lust and disdain, barely concealed and in equal measure. Each scene is fraught with tension, as you repeatedly wonder whether you're about to learn that naive, trusting Jane just invited the wrong man into her house. There are vague mumblings about pacts with Satan and lovelorn ancestors, and a little girl with pigtails curtly informs Jane, "Your house is haunted and you're a ghost." I kept expecting something to happen that would begin to propel the plot forward, but instead the main character just trips around making questionable choices, and occasionally a creepy hearse driven by an even creepier driver appears and then disappears - making his rounds before he drops by Oliver Reed's place in Burnt Offerings, no doubt.

There's something to be said for the nostalgic, Vaseline-on-the-lens magic of any horror movie shot circa 1980, but there are other, better films from the era that you should check out before you take a spin in The Hearse.

Spit to See the Shine

2011-01-20T16:25:00.000-08:00

Babes in Toyland always had fantastic artwork for their albums and singles - photographs and paintings that were raw, disturbing, and occasionally tongue-in-cheek. They were never a blatantly horror-inspired band, but singer/guitarist Kat Bjelland's piercing yowls, coupled with her tattered babydoll appearance, gave their music an aura of menace that was repeatedly reinforced by their cover art.

(It is also worth noting that Kat - not Geddy Lee - is the reason I play a Rickenbacker myself.)

Artwork by Cindy Sherman

Robert Williams' "The Thing in the Hope Chest" was used by Babes for the cover of their 1994 compilation album Dystopia. If you're down with toddler jerky, you can buy a signed poster from the artist here!

Doctor Druid's Haunted Seance

2010-12-11T17:13:00.000-08:00

Check out this amazing record I found today at Record Surplus in West L.A.

NOTICE: This record is intended for entertainment purposes only; responsibility for any psychic phenomenon which may occur (either directly or indirectly) as a result of playing this record will not be assumed by the manufacturer.

Produced by Milt Larsen (founder of the Magic Castle) and featuring supernaturally salacious liner notes written by the late Forrest J Ackerman. Dr. Druid will "speak to you from the stereophonic tracks of this esoteric album and reveal the very information uppermost in your mind!" Also includes a guide to stunts that can help enhance the seance experience for your guests, including the Cemetery Serenade, the Wail of the Werewolf and the Danse Macabre. Almost too good to be true.

UPDATE: For a look at the back of the record and sleeve/liner notes, including the instructions to help "enhance" the experience, click here!

Better Late Than Never: Halloween Nailpolish

2010-11-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

So yeah, I missed the train when it comes to timely Halloween posts, but since I effectively lost 2+ weeks of my life, I'm giving myself a little leeway when it comes to late-October goodies. One topic I was meaning to post about before my appendix tried to kill me is Halloween nailpolish.

Little-known fact: I have a weird obsession with nailpolish. My nails aren't particularly long (I play bass, after all) and I don't really care about my cuticles or whatever, but dude...I love crazy nailpolish. I will drive all over town looking for a specific color - like, that kind of crazy. So of course I was super stoked on all of the cool Halloweenie polish that came out this year.

First, we have Del Sol's amazing Color-Changing Nail Polish in Trick-or-Treat. This polish is a super glittery pale orange indoors, but when you go outside and expose it to the sun's UV rays, it morphs into a super glittery dark purple (almost black). The change is dramatic and mesmerizing.

Trick-or-Treat indoors (light orange)

Trick-or-Treat outdoors (blackened purple)

These pictures don't really do it justice, but you can get a good idea of how magically amazing it is to watch your nail polish change colors before your very eyes. I got my bottle at Walgreen's for like $6, but they may have already taken them off the shelves. (If so, I'm sure you can order online.)
China Glaze offered 3 new colors for Halloween this year, as part of their Awakening (as in, from the dead) collection. From left to right: Mummy May I is a chunky purple glitter in a blackened purple base; Zombie Zest is a fine greenish gold glitter in a murky green base and Ick-A-Body is a stunning orange glitter in a blackened green base. I absolutely love Zombie Zest and Ick-A-Body - they're outrageously Halloweenie and easily have the best names of any nail polishes ever.
Finally, OPI offered four mini bottles of Halloween-appropriate shades with their Go Goth! gift set. The set includes Unripened (black with green glitter), Nevermore (black with blue/purple glitter), Sanguine (shimmering blood red) and Obscurity (matte black).

Anyone else grab any limited edition Halloween beauty items this year?

(Real Life) Hospital Horror

2010-11-02T16:21:00.001-07:00

In case you're wondering where I've been, I'm sorry to report that I spent my favorite time of the year - the last two weeks of October - in the hospital. (Well, technically it was one week in the hospital, and one week recuperating in bed as a nasty tube continued to drain pus from my body. Fun!) What was the source of my ailment? None other than a ruptured appendix - the same medical emergency that killed Houdini more than 80 years ago. Fortunately, I didn't die (which means I'm tougher than Houdini, right?), and I have the disgusting pictures to prove it! If you would like to see what a ruptured appendix looks like up close and personal, click here. (Warning: Gross.)

Unfortunately, my unplanned absence means the following: I have no idea who won the last Queen Mary Dark Harbor ticket giveaway. I wasn't able to give away tickets to the Reign of Terror in Thousand Oaks. I never wrote my review for the Heritage Haunt in Newhall, which I attended (and enjoyed) mere days before I was stricken with appendicitis. And I never made it out to the Forbidden Haunt in Sherman Oaks, the Theatre 68 Haunted House or the Dia de los Muertos celebration at Hollywood Forever, all of which I had planned to cover. And I didn't even get to dress up on the big day! OH WELL. On the flipside, I didn't die shivering from pain and clutching my abdomen on a hospital bed, so hurray for that!

After leaving the hospital, I consoled myself (read: tortured my already addled mind) while recuperating at home with viewings of Halloween II and The Exorcist III, both of which are set largely in hospitals.

I had seen Halloween II before, but never all in one sitting. (I'm kind of a purist/snob when it comes to Halloween sequels, my affinity for the Rob Zombie reimaginings notwithstanding.) While it doesn't approach the perfection of the original, and a lot of stupid people make a lot of stupid choices, it's decent...especially compared to later atrocities like, you know, Halloween 6 or Resurrection.

Jamie Lee's wig is pretty distracting, but I could relate to the panic of being stalked by a killer while still dazed, drugged and disoriented in the hospital. The Halloween decorations at the hospital where I was staying called this movie vividly to mind, especially in my Dilaudid haze.

Let's not forget about the particularly brutal hospital scenes in the 2009 version of H2. Seriously, Michael Myers, why do you have to be such a dick?

As for the third Exorcist film, I had actually never seen it before, although I knew it was supposed to be good. Two very kind friends lent it to me in the spirit of torturing myself psychologically with even more hospital-set horror.

I have to say I dug this movie, and it definitely has its share of disturbing scares. It felt a little long, and the ending was semi-preposterous, but it is, after all, a movie about demonic possession, so I can't get too uppity. They're allowed to go over the top.

There were 3 scenes in this movie that will stay with me for a very long time, and I was able to find images of all three online - enjoy!

OMG WTF MY HEART RATE IS UP NOW!

OH SHIT WHAT SHE'S ON THE CEILING!?!

CATATONICS ARE SO EASY TO POSSESS!!!

In conclusion, try to avoid rupturing your appendix. And if you must, wait until the Halloween season has passed! Learn from my mistakes, friends.

Oh, and Happy (belated) Halloween!

P.S. This was my 100th post.

You Make Me Feel Like a Ghost

2010-10-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

Here's a free Halloween treat from my band HEXHAM HEADS to you.

Last Minute GIVEAWAY: Win Tickets to Queen Mary's Dark Harbor for 10/17!

2010-10-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

Time for a last-minute giveaway from the generous ghouls over at the Queen Mary's Dark Harbor: You can win tickets to the Dark Harbor for THIS SUNDAY, October 17th! All you have to do is come up with a scary story (in 140 characters or less) that relates to the above photo and post it here. Oh, and don't forget to mention that SPOOKY LITTLE GIRL sent ya.

Winners will be chosen by the end of the day today and tickets will be good for this Sunday's event. Good luck!

GUEST REVIEW: Zombie Love: The Musical

2010-10-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

NOTE:
I'm proud to present my very first Spooky Little Guest Post! This review of Zombie Love, the latest October offering from a theater group known locally for its annual live staging of Night of the Living Dead (read my review of last year's production here), comes courtesy of Madame Magnet, the mastermind behind Magnets de los Muertos Halloween magnetic poetry. Enjoy!
xo
SLG

Zombie Love: The Musical

The Maverick Theater in Fullerton is always doing fun, strange, and entertaining new things. They’ve had a successful five-year run of Night of the Living Dead (my favorite show at the Maverick), and they aren’t afraid of bold moves like their recent adaptation of the Hobbit to a small stage.

This year they premiered a new musical, Zombie Love, adapted from a short student film of the same name. When I text messaged my friend to see if she wanted to go to a zombie musical, she responded Zombie musical? Like ‘Brains. Brains! Braaaiiiiiiiins!’? I’ll admit that I didn’t know what to expect from a musical zombie romance play, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The story focuses on Claudia (the girl who is in distress) and Dante (the boy who is a zombie) and their perilous journey toward love. The story invokes a little Cyrano de Bergerac since Dante pretends to be a human as he woos Claudia. Dante’s friends get in the way, and they mock him when they find out that not only does he feel bad about eating humans, he was, in his human life, a vegetarian.

The story is pretty straightforward, but the charm of Zombie Love is in the tongue-in-cheek humor, references to other musicals, and pop culture. It is funny and sweet, and the songs are good enough that I heard my musical-disliking date laughing at them. The idea of parodying a love story with zombies and then adding music is enough to win some points from me, so I was pleased that the execution exceeded my expectations. Don’t read this if you don’t like spoilers: some of the funnier gags were when they lampoon the Lion King’s Circle of Life, invoke a little West Side Story, and perform a bit of the Thriller dance.

The cast and show were both funny despite a few crackling sound problems. One character in particular, a blind, transsexual prostitute, helps Dante change his image. He was a particular stand out with his performance and appearance; he definitely stole the show.

If you like musicals, zombies, and taking a risk on a local performance of a movie you’ve never heard of, I think you’ll enjoy the hour-long show. Tickets are $10; the bar has beer, wine, soft drinks and candy for dirt-cheap prices. The staff is really accommodating, and the shows are always a bit twisted or strange.

Now that I’ve seen the stage adaptation, I want to see the movie. The DVD is also available at the Maverick if you’re curious like me. Zombie Love: The Musical runs Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30PM until October 30th; Tickets are $10.00/$5.00 with a Student ID.

-Madame Magnet

Madame Magnet writes over at blog.magnetsdelosmuertos.com, loves legitimate theater like Planet of the Apes: The Musical, and sells zombie poetry magnets.

Los Angeles Haunted Hayride 2010

2010-10-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

In 2009, my absolute favorite Halloween event was the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, then in its inaugural year. I had only seen haunted hayrides on TV, and the experience completely lived up to my expectations. (You can read my detailed review for CreepyLA if you're curious about what you missed out on last October.) I adored both the Hayride itself, which served up unexpected scares in a unique setting, as well as the whimsical feel of the Haunted Carnival, resplendent in orange and black in the rustic setting of the King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. While I loved the old setting, I was excited to hear that the Hayride had moved to the old zoo at Griffith Park - a space that, according to L.A. legend, is genuinely haunted. Not only would the drive be more manageable, but the locale seemed ripe for Halloween mayhem. So how did the LAHH fare in its 2010 incarnation?

The first thing I noticed while driving to the new location, which is near the old merry-go-round, is how much it feels like you're in the middle of nowhere when you're really just a stone's throw from downtown. The faux traffic signs along the way, warning motorists of "OPEN GRAVES" and "PARANORMAL ACTIVITY," helped set the mood before we even got out of the car. It's nice to have the Hayride in a more accessible location without sacrificing any of the secluded atmosphere that helps define its spookiness.

The Carnival of Souls, as it's now called, has expanded since 2009, incorporating more full-size carnival rides and a greater array of refreshments, as well as a rickety-looking Ferris wheel in front of which a "Traveling Wonder Show" promised to occur at regular intervals. The freakshow murals helped set a demented, creepy mood.

I did find myself a little less enchanted with the carnival portion of the event than I was last year, simply because it seemed less uniform in its execution. Not all of the tents were orange and black, and not all of the games were specifically Halloween-themed. Still, I like the fact that the Carnival of Souls really feels like some sort of ramshackle affair that rolls into town unbidden from origins unknown - a Twilight Zone episode come to life. (Oh, and the Hoffy hot dogs are delicious.)

Apart from the carnival and the hayride itself, there is only one other attraction to speak of: A Haunted Haymaze (or "Hey! Maze," as it so cleverly calls itself). I had high hopes for this hay maze, as the one complaint I had about the LAHH last year was that the price tag was a bit steep for a mere 15-20 minute hayride. The website describes this maze as a "towering house...of lurking mayhem," and all I can say about that is, umm...not quite. Compared to last year's hay maze, which was a very small affair, I appreciate their efforts to make the walls taller and the maze itself more disorienting, but there was only one scare, and no additional attempts (lighting, fog, etc.) to set a mood. Was the Haymaze a fun little diversion on an autumn night? Yes. Was it worth the $10 (!) it costs to enter? Unfortunately not.

Finally, it was time for the Hayride itself. I'm not sure whether we just got lucky last year, but I remember our tractor driver being part of the show - riling up the crowd, cracking jokes and generally adding to the party atmosphere. This year, we received a brief intro before departing, but our driver stayed silent. As we passed through the gates, the first "scare" we encountered was a staff member who appeared to be attempting to fix a fog machine - not quite the terror I was expecting. But a few minutes later, the ride began in earnest.

You'll see almost all of your favorites from last year (although the headless motorcycle rider is, sadly, missing), along with a few impressive new additions. My favorite was the massive Angel of Death set piece, and the way the old zoo's empty cages have been incorporated into the asylum scenes. The deserted playground/creepy children scene was another winner; I especially appreciate how the ghouls at the Hayride are allowed to move at their own pace rather than aggressively charging at you again and again. Note to haunt organizers everywhere: A little boy with a burlap sack on his head trudging slowly down the road towards you can be just as terrifying as a psycho charging with a chainsaw! Yet just as the Hayride seemed to be truly hitting its stride, it was all over - and rather suddenly at that. There was no big finish or definitive ending to the scares; they just sort of...tapered off.

I'm still a huge fan of the L.A. Haunted Hayride, and I think Los Angeles is lucky to finally have its own take on such an iconic October event. But I also think that this year's Hayride felt somewhat incomplete - like perhaps the organizers learned that they would be able to host the event at the Griffith Park location without much advance notice and had to scramble to make everything work in an unfamiliar setting. I also maintain that the LAHH should either lower ticket prices or (preferably) add a little something to enhance the value of the event for guests. A more involved walk-through maze (included in the ticket price) or just another 15 minutes or so added to the Hayride would work wonders. The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride has a great deal of promise, and I hope it will be back again - and better than ever - in October 2011.

The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride (running now through October 31st) takes place at Griffith Park's Old Zoo, 4730 Crystal Springs Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets are $25-30 general admission (hayride/carnival only), $35-40 for an all attractions pass (hayride/haymaze/carnival) and $50-60 for VIP admission (all attractions + front of the line). Group discounts are available and coupons can be found at Gelson's Supermarket and Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt. See the website for detailed information regarding specific dates and times.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

Haunt Preview: Reign of Terror (RoT) in Thousand Oaks

2010-10-12T17:13:00.000-07:00

It seems like every Halloween season there is one haunt that really surprises me with its utter awesomeness. A few years ago, it was Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. I hadn't been since I was a kid and I wasn't expecting the pure, unadulterated terror - of course, I now know that HHN is the gold standard when it comes to L.A. area haunted attractions. Last year, it was the L.A. Haunted Hayride. And this year, the honor goes to the Reign of Terror Haunted House in Thousand Oaks.

I've heard amazing things about this haunt, and was particularly intrigued by the fact that the RoT actually started out as an amateur yard haunt at owner Bruce Stanton's house. A couple of years ago, Bruce partnered with the city, and the RoT Haunted House is now presented in conjunction with the city of Thousand Oaks. The haunt runs on volunteer labor and, after costs have been covered, the proceeds from ticket sales go to local community groups.

This year, the Reign of Terror will take place in the Janss Marketplace, a rather nondescript suburban strip mall. As I parked, I wondered if this haunt was all that it was cracked up to be - but the moment we set foot inside, I was blown away.

The decor and attention to detail at the Reign of Terror are absolutely amazing - second to none, and I'm including Universal in this equation. Bruce and his team of volunteers have crammed every inch of the 6,000-square-foot maze with vintage furniture and old medical equipment, lovingly constructed set pieces and animatronic creatures, lighting and sound effects and more. Keep in mind that the RoT was still under construction when I visited, and that it was the middle of the day and there were no monsters in the maze - just a few workers eating their lunch and discussing plans - and yet it was still terrifying! I'm not kidding when I say that, on our little self-guided, lights-on tour, there were a few rooms that I actually hesitated to enter.

This year, the RoT actually features two mazes: The haunted house, and a subsequent visit to an insane asylum. Both feel exceptionally long and claustrophobic - qualities that any haunted house aficionado will tell you are essential when it comes to setting the mood for terror. But, as I said, the real beauty of this attraction lies in the impeccable detail work. You can tell that the team behind the Reign of Terror are committed to giving guests the best - i.e., scariest - experience possible, and that they will stop at nothing to make sure every last gruesome element is in its place.

Despite the fact that I haven't yet experienced the maze with all of its lighting, sound effects and actors in place, I'm still giving the Reign of Terror my highest recommendation. It's worth the drive to Thousand Oaks from L.A. proper - you will not be disappointed.

The RoT Haunted House is located at 197 N. Moorpark Rd. in Thousand Oaks, on the second floor of the Janss Marketplace (above Gold's Gym). It will be open for 9 nights in October: 15-16, 22-24 and 28-31. General admission is $13, and front of the line passes are $20. For $3 off the price of admission for everyone in your group, become a fan of the Reign of Terror on Facebook and print out this coupon.

Fright Fair ScreamPark at the Halloween Harvest Festival

2010-10-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Photo by Yvonne K. Kleiman

It's not something that I have an opportunity to talk about a lot here on Spooky Little Girl, as most of my reviews center specifically on horror movies and haunted attractions, but I really, really love me a good pumpkin patch. Not only are pumpkins themselves the most perfect fruit (vegetable?) imaginable - delicious, nutritious and absolutely adorable to boot! - but visiting a pumpkin patch is an activity so quintessentially autumnal that it simply can't happen at any other time of the year. As much as I love pumpkin patches, they're a little hard to come by in L.A., and when you do find them they tend to be rather small, understated affairs - which is part of why I was so thrilled to check out this particular event.

The Fright Fair ScreamPark that takes place as part of Pierce College's annual Halloween Harvest Festival out in Woodland Hills has the small town ambience of a classic pumpkin patch/harvest fest/Halloween carnival, and if you're looking to get away from the urban vibe of L.A. proper for a few hours, it's the perfect destination. There are rides, games, carnival foods, kids' crafts, farm-grown produce and lots and lots of pumpkins - not to mention 3 different mazes, each with its own distinct theme and feel. Here are my thoughts on each one:

The Factory of Nightmares: This somewhat rickety haunted house is what you wish the spook house at the county fair could be. You can tell it was put together by hand, but that doesn't diminish the feeling of terror when you first step inside the darkened antechamber to listen to the Haunted Mansion-esque introduction that welcomes you to the Factory. You are then escorted by your eager host into an elevator that will plunge you into the depths of your worst nightmares. The fx makeup and caliber of acting by the performers that populate the Factory - most of whom looked to be still in high school - are far better than what you might expect from the Fright Fair's rather modest exterior. (In fact, in all 3 mazes, I felt that the acting surpassed what you'll find at the larger commercial haunts.) Watch out for crazed lunatics, killer clowns and demonic cheerleaders as you wind your way through this very long - and at times genuinely disorienting, thanks to darkness, fog and strobe effects - maze.
Creatures of the Corn: If there's one thing that's even more difficult to come by than a great pumpkin patch in L.A., it's an actual corn maze. I'd never been in one before, so I was excited to take the plunge. A huge animatronic gargoyle guards over the entrance, but a living scarecrow (with a rather "corny" sense of humor) will guide you in safely. Once you're in, you're on your own. The stalks of corn reaching toward the sky on either side of you make it impossible to tell where you are - or how much further you have to go in the maze. Scarecrows, demented hillbillies and other creatures pop out at you periodically, taking advantage of the natural camouflage offered by the cornstalks. And, yes, there are chainsaw scares in this maze - in fact, when you first pull up to the Fair, the sounds of chainsaws revving and people screaming may be the first thing you hear. Like the Factory before it, this maze also felt quite long, and it offered a different experience than any of the mazes offered by the major haunts I've visited. Essentially, it's like the Cornstalkers maze at Knott's writ large.
Insane Reaction: I believe this maze is a new addition to the Fright Fair, and compared to the other two, it seems somewhat slight. However, Insane Reaction boasts one advantage over its fancier brethren: It's an actual maze, in the sense that you actually have to find your own way through. Basically just a labyrinth of metal bars arranged in a serpentine pattern, matters are further confused by periodic blasts of thick fog and some blood-spattered fellow wanderers - mental patients and murderous doctors alike - who will taunt and tease you as you try to find your way out. My time in Insane Reaction did teach me one rather valuable lesson: Turns out I'm terrible at finding my way out of mazes!

Of the three, I think Creatures of the Corn was my favorite, simply because it was a corn maze. If you've been in corn mazes before and the novelty has worn off, the Factory of Nightmares is probably your best bet. The Fright Fair offers variable pricing, which is great if you don't want to walk through all of the mazes: It's $12 for one maze, 2 for $20 or all 3 for $25 (plus an extra $10 if you want to cut to the front of the line).

While the Fright Fair ScreamPark doesn't offer the most over-the-top, high-octane gross-out scares, it is a great family-friendly option, and one that is unique to Los Angeles. Where else can you take the kids to pick out a pumpkin, munch on some kettle corn, purchase homemade jams...and end the night being chased by a maniac with a chainsaw?

The Fright Fair ScreamPark at the Pierce College Halloween Harvest Festival takes place now through October 31; see the official website for details on dates, times and pricing. The Festival is located at 20800 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA. Parking is free.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

THIS WEEKEND: See "The Haunted Castle" at a Haunted Castle

2010-10-08T18:07:00.000-07:00

Ghost Hunters of Urban Los Angeles and the EPFC Filmmobile are presenting a special FREE screening of F.W. Murnau's The Haunted Castle on Sunday, October 10th at 7:30 PM at a secret location to be disclosed tomorrow. (Hint: It will be at an actual haunted castle!)

They've already shown Haunted Honeymoon underneath the Hollywood sign, and every Sunday in October, GHOULA and EPFC will be screening a different haunting film in a different haunted location in Los Angeles. Visit the blog for more information on this and other upcoming screenings, or RSVP to the Facebook invite - and don't forget to check back within 24 hours of the screening to find out where you're going on Sunday!

UPDATE: The secret location for Sunday's screening has been announced! The Haunted Castle will be shown at Castle Park Mini-Golf in Sherman Oaks.

Update: Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts

2010-10-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let you know that, yes, Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts exist - this is real life! You can find them in the Halloween section at Target, right by the pumpkin patch sprinkles and Halloween Funfetti cake mixes. Skip the Choc-o-Lantern ones (cute, but nothing to write home about in the taste department) and fill your arms with these instead. They are, unsurprisingly, delicious. Hope they become an annual autumn fixture! Are you listening, Kellogg's?

So have you tried any other limited edition Halloween and/or pumpkin goodies yet this year? Do share!

Knott's Scary Farm 2010

2010-10-07T21:57:00.000-07:00

If you grew up in southern California (or you've lived here for any length of time), you're familiar with the venerable Halloween institution that is Knott's Scary Farm; it's a legend in the annals of of L.A. area haunted attractions. Every haunt tries to carve out its own niche, and there are two main factors that sets Knott's apart from the rest: It's the oldest. And the biggest.

In fact, this is the Haunt's 38th (!) year, and it boasts 13 different mazes, in addition to 3 scare zones and 7 shows. Compare that to the 5 mazes each at Universal and the Queen Mary and you're beginning to understand just how much Knott's overwhelms the competition in terms of quantity. But how do the mazes fare when it comes to creepy content? Here is my breakdown of each maze, ranked from best to worst:

Virus Z: There were only 3 new mazes this year, but 2 of them are at the very top of my list, with this awesome zombie maze claiming the top spot. The plot is simple: A mysterious virus has ravaged the '50s-era town of Pleasanton, and the infected have laid waste to everything in their path, from the diner to the tattoo parlor to the school playground. This was basically a zombie movie come to life, and everyone in our group agreed that this was one of the best of the night - and, in my opinion, the best take on the zombie theme that Knott's has ever done. Bravo!
Sleepy Hollow Mountain: Another brand new maze for 2010, this one isn't a walkthrough - it's the new Log Ride overlay, replacing the (very tired) Pyromaniax. I don't think I've seen such a masterful use of the Log Ride since Red Moon Massacre - and truthfully, I like this even better. The theming and decor are both fantastic. I loved the dozens of glowing jack o'lanterns suspended from the ceiling just before you make your ascent up the final hill before the watery plunge.
Labyrinth: A maze that seeks to enthrall and enchant rather than startle or disgust. Visitors find themselves in "the dark catacombs that lie beneath a ruined castle," where they'll encounter otherworldly creatures and demented aristocrats dressed like they're attending a masquerade gone horribly awry. Again, not the scariest maze, but very beautiful and different.
Cornstalkers: I've gathered that some Haunt visitors find this maze a little boring, but I personally love it. Nothing says "fall" quite like a corn maze complete with demonic scarecrows. This year, Cornstalkers ends in a barn that boasts a uniquely intimidating inhabitant. Nice touch!
Dia de los Muertos: Another favorite of mine, simply because the Mexican "Day of the Dead" isn't the most common theme for a maze, yet it totally works. I loved walking through the day-glo cemetery with its altars and offerings, and the 3D effects give it a surreal, dreamlike quality.
Terror of London: The Jack the Ripper maze! The fog machines are out in full effect here, and the costumes and settings are fantastic. From the streets of London and the gaudy bedrooms of a bordello to Highgate Cemetery and a mad doctor's laboratory, this really is a little piece of England right in the middle of Buena Park. A must-see for fans of classic monster movies.
The Doll Factory: I used to love this maze because it was such a cool original theme: The Marionette Murderer turns his victims into dolls. Unfortunately, after several years, that theme is beginning to feel a bit tired. If you've never seen it before, it's still awesome - but adding a few twists next year for Haunt regulars would be much appreciated.
Club Blood: I still prefer my vampire mazes to skew gothic, so it's time for my annual cry of, "Bring back Lore of the Vampyre!" But I have to admit that I had fun at Club Blood this year. It still boasts the single best gross-out sight gag in the park (vampire baby birth scene, anyone?) and there was a special thrill lurking in the shadows in the very last room that actually elicited a shriek from me and one of my friends.
Lockdown - The Asylum: Not to sound like one of those people who always complains about how the old mazes were better, but...the old Asylum maze was better. Remember when the Asylum had that room full of empty, blood-spattered hospital beds? Now THAT was chilling. Imagine Shutter Island, but with more gore. Lockdown leaves those subtle yet disturbing scares behind for a more aggressive, prison-break vibe that is less to my liking. I still enjoy this maze, but I prefer it in its former incarnation.
Fallout Shelter: This is the third new maze for 2010, and the least exciting of the three. It's kind of like Virus Z, but with zombies instead of mutants. Lots of vats oozing radioactive green goo. Sorta/kinda 3D, but not really. I don't have any specific complaints about this maze - it just wasn't the most memorable.
The Slaughterhouse: Perhaps we just happened to hit the Slaughterhouse at an off-point during the night (it was the last maze we visited before leaving the park), but it seemed severely underpopulated by monsters to me. And where was the chainsaw?! I always expect a chainsaw scare in the hillbilly/backwoods maze, and the Slaughterhouse didn't deliver this year! It still nails the dirty, unpleasant Texas Chain Saw Massacre meets Motel Hell vibe though.
Uncle Bobo's Big Top of the Bizarre: The final 3D maze. What can I say? I'm just not that big on scary clowns. For those who are (or who have never been to the Haunt), I'm sure this maze offers some perverse, demented thrills, but as for me, I keep wishing they would revamp the clowns - or do away with them entirely. I stand by the suggestion I made last year: Turn Uncle Bobo's Big Top into a scary carnival with freaks and sideshow performers in addition to murderous clowns, and it could be one of the best in the park! On the bright side, there was far less toilet humor than in years past, for which I am grateful.
Black Widow's Cavern: The Mine Ride overlay. This isn't at the bottom of the list for any specific shortcoming; I just feel like it squanders both the spider theme (remember the Kingdom of the Spiders walkthrough maze?) and the Mine Ride's scary potential (remember when the central room in the mine used to house a massive fire-breathing dragon instead of a big spider who just sits there listlessly?).

As for the scare zones, my favorite was Necropolis, which plays on steampunk/vampire imagery - in fact, I even preferred it to my usual favorite, the classic Ghost Town. I mean, there was a stilt walker! How can you beat that? And, unfortunately, I still feel like Carnevil isn't living up to its potential - just a few scattered clowns here and there and minimal additional reinforcement of the theme. I can't speak to the quality of the shows, because I haven't watched one - with the exception of the Hanging, which I tend to catch glimpses of while waiting in line - since the Haunt's Elvira days. (For the uninitiated, the Mistress of the Dark used to host a fabulously campy stage show at the Charles M. Schulz Theatre in the park.)

I'll conclude this review much the same way I concluded my assessment of the 2009 Haunt: If you've never been to the Haunt at Knott's - or you haven't gone in several years and you're totally unfamiliar with the mazes that comprise the first half of the above list - it's time to buy your ticket and hit the Scary Farm. As for the rest of us regulars, a visit to the Knott's Berry Farm Halloween Haunt is still a great time...but a bit more fresh blood would be fantastic for 2011.

Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween Haunt takes place now through the end of October; see the official website for details, including specific dates and times. Tickets are $33-56, and parking is $15-20.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

Old Town Haunt (Pasadena) 2010

2010-10-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

What if I told you that one of the very best haunts in southern California was in the bottom of a rather unassuming building in Old Town Pasadena - and that admission will cost you less than 20 bucks? It may sound implausible, but it's true: Forget theme parks and multi-maze affairs - Pasadena's Old Town Haunt has the most heart...and what a blackened, shriveled, evil heart it is!

I've been to quite a few haunted attractions in my day, from the venerable, time-tested Halloween institutions to the rickety yet spirited yard haunts, and - I'm not going to lie - I've loved them all to varying degrees. But I don't think I've ever been in a haunted house that took quite as many risks as the Old Town Haunt.

Fun as they may be, there is one major shortcoming when it comes to mainstream, amusement park-set haunts: They are entirely too safe. You never get truly lost in the mazes. You never think the monsters are actually going to hurt you. The darkness may be intimidating, but it's never absolute. Not so with the Old Town Haunt! This is, hands down, one of the best mazes I've ever experienced. In fact, it actually gave me nightmares. Yes, friends, it's true...I may be a Spooky Little Girl, but I'm also a giant weenie when it comes to mazes, and this one literally haunted my dreams.

From the outside, it's not much to look at - just a table and a couple of folding chairs where you'll buy your tickets, and a line in which you're forced to listen to the Haunt's few house rules (to wit: Don't punch the monsters in the face, and no chicken refunds). Housed in the bottom of the old bank building at the corner of Raymond and Colorado, the first thing you'll do after you walk inside is go downstairs. And it's dark down there. And you won't be alone.

But, fortunately, you'll be close to alone. If you've ever hated the pushy-pushy-shovey-shovey of going through a crowded maze with a bunch of annoying strangers, you'll love the fact that the Old Town Haunt staggers visitors, which makes the maze a much more intimate - and frightening - experience. The setting is incredible - the walls are made of stone, not painted plywood, you're underground, and it has the feel of an actual haunted building. In fact, the (presumably embellished?) backstory of the old bank building provides the groundwork for the Haunt's somewhat loose theme.

Yet this maze isn't about theme or even setting - it's about the close, personal attention you'll get from the monsters. You'll be taunted, tricked, misled and mocked. In the darkness, you'll hear them whispering and screaming. They'll force you onto your hands and knees into a pitch-black tunnel (note: an alternative route will be provided if you're unable to crawl), and just when you think you're almost done, you'll realize that you've been wandering in circles for the past five minutes. How can other haunts hope to compete with that level of commitment?

My boyfriend, who accompanies me to all of these events, is ready to declare this humble little maze the best he's ever experienced, hands down. I'm still holding out to see what the rest of October will bring, but one thing is certain: If you have the opportunity to visit the Old Town Haunt, do. You'll definitely get your money's worth...unless you're never heard from again.

The Old Town Haunt runs now through the end of October. Admission is $14 ($19 Fast Pass) or $16 ($21 Fast Pass) on Halloween weekend. Visit the official website for more information, including specific dates and times.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

Queen Mary's Dark Harbor - TICKET GIVEAWAY!

2010-10-05T15:56:00.000-07:00

If my review of the Queen Mary's Dark Harbor Halloween event has properly whetted your appetite for screams by the sea, then good - I've done my job! But don't worry, I won't leave you high and dry...you can enter to win FREE TICKETS to the Dark Harbor, and all you have to do is bust out your best Dorothy Parker and come up with a witty caption to the above photo. Tweet your funniest one-liners to @TheQueenMary on Twitter - and don't forget to include a link to this blog post so they know where you're coming from! (Hint: Use bit.ly to shorten URLs.)

Here's a step by step of how to enter to win your FREE tickets to the Queen Mary's Dark Harbor:

Come up with a funny caption for the above photo.
Post it on your Twitter account. The beginning of your Tweet should say @TheQueenMary.
Include a link to this blog post. (Use bit.ly so the URL doesn't take up too much space.)

EXAMPLE: "@TheQueenMary This cruise wasn't as relaxing as we thought it would be! http://bit.ly/bbrntV" (Okay, okay, not terribly witty...but you get the idea. And make sure your URL points to this specific post!)

Got it? Go! Your submissions must be sent in by 5 PM on Thursday, October 7th. Good luck!

The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor 2010

2010-10-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

The ship looms above you, silhouetted ominously against the autumn sky. A hellish maze of cargo containers topped with a tower that periodically spews flames into the air confuses and disorients you. You flee to the safety of the village, only to be cornered time and again by demons hungry for your flesh. Your only possible refuge is the ship - the Grey Ghost - and, once on board, you realize that there is no salvation to be had; there is only fire, water, disease and death. Welcome to the Queen Mary's Dark Harbor.

Your potential enjoyment of Long Beach's newest haunted attraction hinges on the following: Does the above description sound like an utter nightmare or a fun Friday night? If your answer is the latter, then you're bound to have a spooky good time at the Dark Harbor. Let me begin by saying that if you've never visited the Queen Mary, that's reason enough to buy your tickets now. The ship, with its Art Deco interiors and numerous ghost stories, is beautiful and eerie, and you'll have ample chance to explore once you're finished with the Halloween-specific mazes and attractions.

As mentioned, 2010 marks the very first incarnation of the Dark Harbor. There have been previous haunts on and around the Queen Mary (most recently known as the "Shipwreck" for Halloween), but this is their first attempt to create a completely immersive experience that incorporates everything this unique setting has to offer - not just the ship itself, but the harbor, village and even the massive dome that once housed the Spruce Goose. The Dark Harbor also seeks to set itself apart from other area haunts by creating an overarching storyline that links all of the mazes together, rather than simply throwing together a bunch of disparate Halloween tropes and calling it a night.

While I greatly admire this sentiment, it has to be said that some aspects of the Dark Harbor succeed better than others when it comes to sticking to themes. For instance, the three mazes onboard the ship address specific fears that many people have when it comes to sea travel, such as disease outbreaks, drowning and fire. Yet the whole "three she-demons" idea - while cool in theory - was a little hard to follow. (Basically, there is one demon who lords over the ship, one who commands the village and one who controls the ruined seaport as a whole.) How do these demons tie into the mazes themselves? I'm not entirely sure...but I have to say that momentary confusion did little to dim my enjoyment of the event as a whole. Here are my thoughts on each of the five individual mazes:

Village of the Damned: I absolutely adored the setting for this maze, which takes place in the little Tudor village near the ship. It had a very Old World feel, which reminded me of the classic Universal monster movies, and many twists and turns to keep you on your toes. There was a good combination of monsters jumping out at you and tortured souls telling you frantically to "turn back now!" Perhaps not the strongest thematically, but in terms of ambiance, a definite winner.
The Cage: This is the maze that takes place in the Spruce Goose dome, which truly must be seen to be believed in terms of size. (At several points during the maze, I thought to myself, "How are we not outside?!") The objective with the Cage was to scrap any attempts at theme and instead give visitors a more tactile and purely disorienting experience - think mirrors, optical illusions, colored lights and chain-link fences. Unfortunately, this was my least favorite maze of the night. However, I do think that this maze could be improved as the event continues to grow and the kinks are ironed out in the years to come. At this point, though, it simply left me wanting more - and eager to check out the next themed maze.
Containment: One of the three onboard mazes, Containment is populated by the diseased, the demented and the undead. As you snake your way through the ship, you'll encounter madness, mutilation and mayhem as people reach out to you from hospital beds and chase you in their wheelchairs. I enjoyed this maze, but of the three on the ship, I found it to be the least frightening.
Hellfire: Ah, now we're talking! When we attended on Friday, this maze - which imagines the deadly consequences of a fire on board the ship - was apparently a little too on point. While we were waiting in line, the fire alarms began to sound. At first we assumed it was all part of the show, but then we were evacuated from the area! I'm not sure whether there are supposed to be massive pyrotechnic effects in this maze - I got the impression that perhaps that was the case - but in any event, there weren't many flames by the time we went through. (I'm sure the special effects are back on track by now; after all, we went on opening night, so a few hiccups are to be expected.) Still, Hellfire was one of my favorites. If you have a fear of heights, as I do, there is a special thrill waiting for you near the end of the maze. Mwahaha.
Submerged: My favorite! I loved this maze. It was the last one we went through, and in my opinion, the best of the night. What could be scarier than a sinking ship? I loved the dank feel of walking through the bowels of the ship as animatronics and water effects simulated various scenes of aquatic torment. Submerged also holds a special place in my heart because it takes you through the first class swimming pool, an area which is rumored to be one of the most haunted parts of the ship. I've been to the Queen Mary several times, but never managed to get myself into the pool area until now, and the creepy payoff was well worth it. The ghostly projections on the bottom of the empty pool are a nice touch.

In addition to the mazes, there is a "scare zone" of sorts known as the Barricades, which is composed of the aforementioned cargo containers, stacked four stories high and topped with the Hell's Bells Tower that shoots flames 20 feet into the air. The Barricades compose an open maze of sorts, thick with fog and rife with monsters. Along the perimeter you'll find food and drinks, as well as the ghoulishly themed Night Mariner's Bar - watch for the unfortunate swimmer who attempted to cut his way out of the giant shark that consumed him - and a stage that presents nightly entertainment from local bands. The Dark Harbor even offers its own Halloween cocktail, a tasty red rum-based beverage called a Bloody Shipwreck.

The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor may not be the most sophisticated haunt in southern California just yet, but it's an excellent alternative for haunt enthusiasts who may be looking for a change from their standard Knott's/Universal October jaunt - and it's a deliciously spooky introduction to the ship itself. I predict that the Queen Mary will be providing serious competition for the Halloween big boys in no time.

The Dark Harbor takes place on weekends now through the end of October, from 7 PM to 12 midnight. Tickets are just $25 with a valid student ID, and during their "Sea Evil Savings Weekends" (Oct. 8-10 and 15-17) general admission will be lowered to $29. Parking is $10. For more information, visit the official website.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

Jack White Writes the Theme Song for Elvira's Movie Macabre

2010-09-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

Man, the hits just keep coming for the 2010 incarnation of Elvira's Movie Macabre: I just learned that Jack White - possibly my favorite modern-day musician - has written the theme song for the show! YES. For more information, read Elvira's interview with Fangoria. Remember, the show premieres on Saturday, September 25th on KDOC in the L.A. area.

UPDATE: The theme song isn't an original JW tune written expressly for the show - it's the catchy "What Can I Do?" from mysterious Jack White-produced girl group the Black Belles.

P.S. Not Elvira-related, but I'm just so excited that Kellogg's has created special limited edition Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts for the Halloween season! Is this real life?! (Psst: For more news about everyone's favorite fat orange gourd, go to Pumpkin Passion.)

Coming Soon: Night of the Living Dead at Hollywood Forever

2010-09-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

After years of clamoring by horror fans, the good people at Cinespia Cemetery Screenings are finally giving the public what they've been so anxiously awaiting: A zombie movie screening at Hollywood Forever. And not just any zombie movie! On Saturday, September 18th Cinespia will project George A. Romero's 1968 masterwork Night of the Living Dead - the grandaddy of all modern zombie movies - onto the side of a mausoleum in the dark of an autumn night. Tickets are $10, and guests are welcome to bring their own food/booze. Gates open at 6:30 with the movie starting at 8 PM, but given how crowded these screenings have become in recent years, coupled with the insane genius of showing a movie about the walking dead in a place where the dead have been laid to rest, means that you should probably start lining up...oh, right about now.

I Was a Teenage Werewolf

2010-09-01T01:09:00.000-07:00

I was a teenage werewolf
Braces on my fangs
I was a teenage werewolf
And no one even said thanks
And no one made me stop

I ran a two-minute mile
I had to blow my top
In the teen full moon
No one could make me stop
No one could make me stop

A teenage werewolf
A pair of little boys
A teenage girlfriend
Got a lot of scars
Somebody please make me stop
Ohhh please…

You know, I have puberty rights
And I have puberty wrongs
No one understood me
Oh, my teeth were so long
And no one made me stop

A Midwest monster
Of the highest grade
All my teachers thought
It was growing pains, oh no no
Somebody stop this pain, ohhh…

The Walking Dead: Coming Soon to AMC

2010-08-25T09:19:00.003-07:00

Love zombies? Tired of watching zombies in mere 2-hour increments? Wish you could get your zombie fix on a regular basis? Then you're going to love AMC's new series, The Walking Dead. Watch the trailer, and mark your calendar: The series premiere is on Sunday, October 31.

My Halloween (Interview)

2010-08-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Are you feeling the late August Halloween itch? Then head over to Zombo's Closet of Horror, where yours truly was interviewed for the latest installment in the "My Halloween" series, where bloggers, authors and other Halloween fans riff on what they love about their favorite night of the year.

My Halloween: Spooky Little Girl

Elvira: Still Putting the Boob Back in the Boob Tube

2010-08-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

I love Elvira. LOVE. Ever since I was a little girl, I thought she was the coolest; something about being really conventionally sexy (boobs!) yet dark, funny and totally self-aware really spoke to me then, and still does to this day. Plus, I still think being a horror hostess is the coolest job ever: You lounge on a velvet sofa and make lame jokes about movies. What's not to love?

People sometimes talk about Elvira like she's a relic of the '80s, but I don't think she ever went away. I mean, her show ended, but she made another movie, Elvira's Haunted Hills! She inspired a tangential Simpsons character, Booberella! C'mon!

I went to a 20th anniversary screening of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark a couple of years ago, and let me tell you, she still looks amazing in person. (Stay out of the sun and wear supportive bras, kids!) And her act is just as amusing as it ever was. Why is this relevant? Because - wait for it - Elvira's Movie Macabre is returning to TV this fall!

The show, which premieres on September 25 via THIS! Television and Trifecta Entertainment (check yer local listings), will feature 26 all-new episodes, each one showcasing a 2-hour horror film and Elvira's priceless introduction and commentary. Looks like the fall TV schedule just got a whole lot more...titillating. Watch the trailer here:

Freddy Krueger Returns to HHN at Universal

2010-08-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

A third maze was announced by the good people at Universal for this year's Halloween Horror Nights extravaganza - A Nightmare on Elm Street: Never Sleep Again. The good news: There was a NOES maze in 2008, and it was awesome. The bad news: This maze - which promises to be "an all-new horror maze experience" - is based on the 2010 remake rather than the classic Freddy we all know and love. Here's a brief synopsis, via Bloody-Disgusting:

"A Nightmare on Elm Street: Never Sleep Again," will bring guests back on a nightmare journey to the town of Springwood, the scene of Freddy Krueger's unspeakable crimes. They'll wind through the ominously twisting corridors of the Barham Day Care Center, glimpse ghastly scenes of carnage among the young people of Springwood and face the ultimate showdown with Freddy in his infamous boiler room lair.

Sounds cool, but I can't help feeling a little apprehensive about the remake connection. Of course, I haven't seen the 2010 NOES yet, and maybe I should be a little more open-minded; X-Entertainment, one of my favorite websites, declared it "not the worst thing ever." (So presumably it's better than the Friday the 13th and Texas Chainsaw remakes then? Haha...eh.) What were your thoughts on the latest incarnation of A Nightmare on Elm Street? And are you looking forward to being tormented by Freddy at Universal this fall?

SLG on the Evil Book of Face

2010-08-18T13:57:00.001-07:00

Just made a Facebook page for Spooky Little Girl! Despite my personal misgivings about the evils of social networking, I'm on it...and we all know you're on it too, so feel free to "like" the page for updates, news, links & more.

SPOOKY LITTLE GIRL on Facebook

Planning to Work in the Horror Industry? Win a $1,000 Scholarship!

2010-08-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

If you're heading back to school this fall - or you're already enrolled - and your dream is to work in the horror film industry after graduation, you could probably use a little help with financing your education. (I mean, who couldn't? The cost of tuition is truly...terrifying. *cymbal crash*) Fortunately, there is now a scholarship, courtesy of Star Costumes, that will be awarded to one lucky student who is aiming to work in our beloved horror medium.

Here are the details, courtesy of the Star Costumes Horror Scholarship page:

Star Costumes is awarding $1,000 to a student studying to work in the horror film industry.

Why a Horror Scholarship?

We love horror! We make our living selling scary costumes, makeup and masks, and we owe a lot of our success to the creative output of the horror industry. This scholarship is our way to give back, and to help the horror industry continue to terrify us in the years to come.

Currently, there are no other scholarships designed specifically for students planning to enter the horror industry. Our goal is provide assistance to help the brightest and most creative students meet their expenses and help launch their career in horror cinema.

Eligibility Requirements:

Horror Scholarship candidates must meet the following criteria:

A citizen of the U.S.;
with a 3.0 GPA;
18 years or older
who's currently studying full-time at a undergraduate or graduate post-secondary institution.
The student must be studying in a field designed to prepare them for work in the horror industry. This could include careers such as:
Makeup artist
Special effects artist
Costume designer
Set designer
Lighting designer
Film sound artist
VFX/CGI artist
Postproduction specialist
Film critic
Screenwriter
Cinematographer
Director
Application is Easy
Just fill out our application form online, along with an essay. The essay provides chance to distinguish yourself from other applicants, and should be in the range of about 300-400 words. Suggested topics include:
What sparked your interest in the horror industry.
Your accomplishments and goals as they relate to horror cinema and related fields.

Application Deadline
The deadline to submit your application is October 31st, 2010. The winner will be notified on November 5th, 2010. Winner will need to provide relevant transcripts to verify GPA and enrollment.
The Ideal Candidate
We're looking for someone who can demonstrate their creativity and passion for horror cinema and distinguish themselves from other potential applicants. The best way to achieve this is through a unique and interesting essay.

Remember, the deadline is Halloween - and you can enter by filling out a form and submitting your essay HERE. Good luck!

All-New Vampire Maze at Universal

2010-08-18T10:56:00.001-07:00

Even more Halloween Horror Nights scoop! Another maze has been announced - "Vampyre: Castle of the Undead." While the Universal mazes tend to stick to themes based on popular horror films, this maze will be based on an original concept. Are you looking forward to it or are you burned out on vamps this year?

Black Swan Trailer: Shades of Suspiria?

2010-08-18T10:52:00.001-07:00

Here is the official trailer for Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan. It looks creepy and beautiful.

Translucent Black Capes Back on the Rack

2010-08-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

Today is the 54th anniversary of Bela Lugosi's death. To pay him tribute, we made the short trek to his grave at the Holy Cross Cemetery, where he was laid to rest in his Dracula cape. Farewell, Bela. With all due respect to the silver screen's finest Frankenstein, you're still better than Boris Karloff.

TONIGHT: Was That the Boogeyman? 'Cropsey' on TV

2010-08-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

Urban legends, abandoned buildings, the boogeyman...if any of these topics are of interest to you - and I know they're certainly near and dear to my heart - you won't want to miss the premiere of the film Cropsey tonight on Investigation Discovery. Two documentray filmmakers set out to discover the truth behind the legend of Cropsey, a former mental patient who was said to haunt the tunnels beneath the (very creepy, very abandoned) Willowbrook State School in New York. On August 13, 1987 (twenty-three years ago today) the body of a 12-year-old girl was found on the grounds of the school. Was Cropsey to blame? Is the boogeyman real? Find out tonight...

THIS WEEKEND: Zombies & Chainsaw Massacres at the Aero

2010-08-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

There are some great double features coming up at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica and the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, courtesy of American Cinematheque's "Zombies, Chainsaw Massacres & Other Forms of Terror" series. It kicks off this Saturday, August 14 at the Aero, where they're screening a Tobe Hooper double feature of The Funhouse and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, featuring a Q&A with Hooper (moderated by Mick Garris) in between the films. Quick, someone go and ask him if he actually directed Poltergeist! I'm sure he never gets tired of that one.

And don't forget about "Drop Undead: Zombie Weekend," three days of arm-battling, eye-gouging, shark-wrestling fun:

Peter Jackson's Dead Alive and Cemetery Man on Friday, August 20 at the Egyptian
Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness on Saturday, August 21 at the Aero
Night of the Living Dead and Lucio Fulci's Zombie on Sunday, August 22 at the Egyptian

Lio = Best Comic Ever

2010-08-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

Haha, this is great. Especially because it looks like Frankenstein is shtupping the mummy in the first panel.

HAUNT UPDATES: La Llorona at Universal & More

2010-08-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

Another exciting update about Universal's Halloween Horror Nights: The legend of La Llorona will be coming to life at HHN this year! From the official press release:

According to the legend, a beautiful Mexican woman fell in love and married the most handsome man in the village. She bore two beautiful children, but her husband soon fell in love with another woman. Blinded by jealousy, the woman ran with her children to a river, where her faithless husband was courting his new love. Enraged, she threw her children into the river, where the current carried them away. When she realized what she had done, she threw herself into the river as well.

But the woman did not leave this Earth. Late at night, in the deep woods, or by a small creek, children can hear her weeping, searching in vain for her lost children. “La Llorona,(“the crying woman”) they call her, for she frequently wails “My children, where are my children?” Her frail, drenched body is a chilling sight; any child wandering alone is sure to be snatched as her newest victim.

At the 2010 Halloween Horror Nights event, La Llorona will stalk guests as they make their way through the Universal back lot as part of the all-new “Terror Tram” experience and she’ll also terrorize her own “Scare Zone,” hiding within the shadows of a gauntlet haunted by the ghosts of her dead victims.

The L.A. Haunted Hayride website has also gone live for 2010, with plenty of updates, including ticket information, creepy backstory and the exciting news that the accompanying Haunted Haymaze will be more along the lines of a Knott's/Universal fright maze this year, as opposed to last year when it was just...bales of hay. (Psst: I wrote the review for CreepyLA that the LAHH links to in their press section!)

And, finally, I love yard haunts (a.k.a. private haunts and/or house haunts), and the Valley has some great ones. So why have I never heard of Burbank's Rotten Apple 907 before!? This year's theme is "Nightmare Museum" - sounds promising, to say the least. What are your favorite house haunts in the L.A. area? If there are any more I should know about, do tell!

WITCH BALL at Zombie Joe's (Opens Friday the 13th)

2010-08-06T11:11:00.000-07:00

A new production is set to open at Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre in North Hollywood next weekend, on Friday the 13th: Witch Ball. Described as a "thrilling new adventure that follows a mysterious Witch Ball's two hundred year journey through time and space, collecting spirits, ghosts and demons along its perilous path." The play will be performed every Friday and Saturday at 8:30 PM through September 11th. For my money, ZJU puts on the best horror-themed stage productions in Los Angeles; check out their ongoing Urban Death series if you haven't already.

LA Haunted Hayride Moving to Griffith Park Zoo

2010-08-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride was one of my favorite haunted attractions in 2009, and I've been waiting patiently for updates on the 2010 incarnation. Today, my patience was rewarded! According to the LAHH Facebook page, the hayride will now take place at the old zoo in Griffith Park - a location that is rumored to actually be haunted. Here's the announcement:

We are proud to announce that The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride has moved to GRIFFITH PARK's OLD ZOO!!! In this NEW PHENOMENAL location, LAHH will be bigger and better than you can ever imagine. The Woods are darker, The Carnival is bigger, The Haunted Haymaze is heart stopping, and the HAUNTED PROPERTY...IS REAL!!!!

I'll miss the secluded feeling of the old location at the King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, but I'm excited to see how the new spot will add to the fright, and of course I'm thrilled that everything will be "bigger." (Let's just hope the prices don't go up!)

House of 1000 Corpses at Halloween Horror Nights!

2010-08-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

The first maze announcements for Universal Studios Hollywood's annual Halloween Horror Nights event are beginning to trickle out, and Rob Zombie fans should be pleased: There is going to be a House of 1000 Corpses maze...in 3D, no less. Looking forward to more news in the days and weeks to come!

Harry Potter and the Return of Hammer Horror

2010-07-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

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The LA Times featured an interview today with erstwhile Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who discussed a few of his upcoming roles. Among them was the lead in a film adaptation of Susan Hill's The Woman in Black, an atmospheric little ghost story that I read a few years ago and enjoyed. Most intriguing of all, however, is the fact that the film will be brought to you by none other than those purveyors of stylish British terror, Hammer Horror. Hammer, which is best known for its '60s-era Dracula films starring Christopher Lee, has been out of commission for nearly 30 years now, but apparently there are big plans to revive the name with a series of provocative and thoughtful horror films; in other words, no "torture porn." YAY. You can read the full interview at the link, but I've excerpted the relevant bits below:

As Radcliffe walks away from the last decade’s shining success of the British film community — the “Potter” movies were filmed in England by local crews and starred several generations of top British and Irish actors — he steps into a project that taps into an older and edgier part of U.K. cinema lore: “The Woman in Black” is being made under the banner of Hammer Film Productions, the most revered brand name in European horror, which is coming back from the grave after three decades without a feature-film release.

Radcliffe, a devoted student of the British stage and film, is eager to be part of the resurrection of Hammer. The studio dates back to 1937 but really began carving out its reputation with the release of “The Curse of Frankenstein” in 1957 and “Horror of Dracula” the following year.

“It does bring a smile to my face, and it’s an absolutely genuine smile,” Radcliffe said. “Hammer is the company that everybody wants to see succeed. It’s such a part of our film heritage. It was a massive producer of films in its heyday — they were really prolific, there were tons of them — and with actors like Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. It’s wonderful to see that company, that name, in a resurgence.”

That resurgence begins with the October release of the wintry vampire tale “Let Me In,” directed by Matt Reeves (“Cloverfield”) and starring Chloe Moretz (“Kick-Ass”) and Kodi Smit-McPhee ("The Road"). Hammer also recently wrapped production on “The Resident,” which stars two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (“Watchmen”) and was directed by Finnish filmmaker Antti Jokinen. In a bridge to the Hammer past, Lee also appears in the film.

Hammer Chief Executive Simon Oakes said some recent compass points for the reconstituted Hammer and its ethos might be "The Sixth Sense," “The Others,” “The Orphanage” and "Let the Right One In," the Swedish film that is being remade in English as “Let Me In.” He said that sets the horror-house apart from the shock-and-splatter “Saw” and “Hostel” crowd of today.

“We’d like to try to re-ennoble the horror film — it’s ‘smart’ horror, if you like, intelligent films that are not gore-nography, as I call it, and have good story lines that attract talent and are relevant to a modern audience,” Oakes said. “It’s a much-loved and revered brand, certainly in the U.K., but like many of these things, people have a nostalgic love affair with it and they’re not entirely sure why. There are some people who are not old enough to remember the films, and some are old enough but only remember the good ones and don’t remember the not-so-good ones.”

Spooky Previews: Black Swan + Guillermo del Toro's Haunted Mansion

2010-07-26T11:25:00.001-07:00

How much am I looking forward to Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis? The first time I heard about the film, it was described as a horror movie. Now, I'm hearing the word "thriller" tossed about, but sometimes "thriller" is just code for "horror movie that may actually be appealing to highbrow audiences," so I'm still excited. Perhaps it's because of Suspiria, but I feel like there's something intrinsically creepy about ballerinas. Plus, I love Portman's makeup in the above shot.

Also very excited to hear that Guillermo del Toro is planning to shoot an all-new Haunted Mansion film for Disney! I enjoyed the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but their last attempt at a live action HM film (the one with Eddie Murphy, slapstick comedy and lots of CG effects) was tremendously disappointing. I've been crossing my fingers that they would try again for a while now, since I adore the Haunted Mansion, and I think del Toro is just the guy for the job. I don't care whether or not it's family-friendly - I just want it to capture the fun, spooky spirit of the ride.

Ye Olde Hallowe'en Tyme

2010-07-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

Spotted in an antique store in Cambria over the weekend. Wish we could've taken them home with us!

I'm Back

2010-07-23T19:18:00.001-07:00

"What was the sinister secret of this unhuman creature who came BACK FROM THE DEAD?"

Did you miss me?

Wake the Dead on June 13th at the Aztec Hotel in Monrovia

2010-05-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

Ghost Hunters of Urban Los Angeles will be holding their monthly Spirits with Spirits meeting at the Aztec Hotel in Monrovia on June 13th. There will be tours of the haunted room, live music (courtesy of my band, Hexham Heads, and our friends in Future Ghost and Lost Lake) and more. There is no cover, and the show/meeting will be open to all, from seasoned paranormal investigators to die-hard skeptics. Join us!

Hexennacht

2010-04-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

In case you're not up on your pagan holidays, allow me to inform you that tonight, April 30, is Hexennacht, or "Hex Night." (Also known as Walpurgis Night; check out the Wikipedia entry for more information.) As the halfway point to Halloween, Hexennacht has a reputation as the second most haunted night of the year.

Feel free to celebrate by building a bonfire in order to ward off evil spirits and usher in the Queen of Spring...or you could join me, along with other members of the Boyle Heights Paranormal Project (find us on Facebook!), for a ghost hunt on the Queen Mary in Long Beach tonight at 9 PM. Whether you're a seasoned paranormal expert or a complete newbie, you can observe a basic EVP session and BHPP investigative techniques.

The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queen's Highway in Long Beach, CA.

"May Eve was Walpurgis Night, when hell's blackest evil roamed the earth and all the slaves of Satan gathered for nameless rites and deeds." - H.P. Lovecraft, 'The Dreams in the Witch House'

THIS WEEKEND: Ghostly meetups at the Linda Vista Hospital & the Old Spaghetti Factory

2010-03-12T12:13:00.000-08:00

Time to get your ghost on: This weekend in L.A., you'll have not one, but two opportunities to check out haunted locations with fellow supernatural enthusiasts.

Tonight, the Boyle Heights Paranormal Project is holding a meet & greet to celebrate their recent website launch at the notorious Linda Vista Hospital (which, as you may recall, was the subject of a Ghost Adventures episode). Tours of the facility will not be given, but visitors will be allowed inside of the hospital. The event will begin with coffee and pastries in the lobby at 9 PM, followed by a slide show and presentation in the chapel. The event is free and open to the public.

Tomorrow night brings yet another opportunity to frolic with the good people of GHOULA (Ghost Hunters of Urban Los Angeles), a local ghost hunting group of which I am a Vice President. This month's meeting will be held at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Duarte, which used to be a schoolhouse in the early 20th century, and has several ghost stories associated with the building. We will be meeting in the "Hide-Away Room" next to the bar at 8 PM. Again, the event is free and open to all.

Visit ghoula.org for more information on both events. Happy haunting!

TONIGHT: Rob Zombie directs 'CSI: Miami'

2010-03-01T19:30:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to tune in to CBS tonight at 10 PM to check out the all new Rob Zombie-directed episode of CSI: Miami. The episode, titled "L.A.," stars RZ favorites Malcolm McDowell, William Forsythe, Michael Madsen and - of course - Ms. Sheri Moon Zombie.

Regarding how he'll put his own spin on the popular crime show, Zombie told the NY Daily News, "In the opening scene, it'll seem obvious [that I was the director]. But I wasn't trying to disrespect the show by disregarding anything they've done. I wasn't trying to turn it into something different."

Having never seen an episode of CSI: Miami myself, I'm coming to this show with a completely fresh perspective. I'll let you know my thoughts after it airs!

An(other) Interview with Yours Truly

2010-02-07T17:20:00.001-08:00

My interview for Ms. Aleata Illusion's Gore Gore Dancer Movie Reviews site has just gone up, in honor of Women in Horror Recognition Month! Please read & enjoy on this beautiful Puppy Bowl Sunday...

Women In Horror-Melissa AKA SpookyLittleGirl

February is Women in Horror Recognition Month!

2010-02-03T01:32:00.001-08:00

In case you haven't already heard, February has been designated Women in Horror Recognition Month. As a woman in possession of both a lifelong love of the genre and strong feminist convictions, I have to admit that I'm giddy at the prospect. The mastermind behind the entire event is Ms. Hannah Neurotica, creator of Ax Wound: Gender & the Horror Genre. Here's a little excerpt from her WiH Manifesto:

Women are seen as a novelty item in horror. We are bloody babes and soon-to-be gut piles in peril. We are “horror chicks of the month”: almost every site dedicated to women in horror is about what they look like and how hot they are. I used to love the term “Scream Queen” but it no longer has any empowerment left. ...Women have to face body image issues all over the place in our culture, why must we also experience it in our favorite genre? Why do women have to be celebrated as strictly Tits & Ass & Blood. Why can’t we be recognized as “Scream Queens” who scream out with our artistic and creative abilities; qualities other then how we look. I mean, shit, a lot of Women love horror in very personal and passionate ways and are not wanting to be “Horror Babe of the Month.” We are writers, directors, producers, artists, eery musicians, creepy doll makers, FX artists. We are audience!

In honor of WiH Recognition Month, I plan to make sure women are featured prominently in all of my Spooky Little Girl posts for February. For more information, become a fan of the official Facebook page. In the meantime, here are a few of my favorite scary ladies...

Felissa Rose as Angela in 'Sleepaway Camp' (and, of course, Pamela Springsteen as Angela in the two subsequent 'Sleepaway Camp' films - both excellent performances, but it's hard to beat Felissa's Angela for sheer visual impact, am I right?)

Jill Banner as Virginia in 'Spider Baby'

The divinely creepy Karen Black in 'Trilogy of Terror' & 'Burnt Offerings'

Yvonne DeCarlo as Lily Munster

And, of course, my personal favorite...Elvira

TONIGHT: Spirits With Spirits at Miceli's Restaurant

2010-01-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

(Photo from Miceli's website)

If your New Year's goals include seeing a ghost (or simply swapping ghost stories), visiting some of L.A.'s most historic locations, or making new friends, then GHOULA may be just the group you've been looking for. The Ghost Hunters of Urban Los Angeles meet up on the 13th of every month at one of the city's many haunted locations to share stories and, in some cases, even do a little supernatural sleuthing. This month's meeting, which is open to everyone, takes place on Wednesday night (8pm to 12m) at Miceli's Restaurant in Hollywood. Miceli's has a resident ghost named Toni who loves to give people a playful jab in the ribs. From GHOULA.org:

SPECIAL NOTE: GHOULA has reserved what the restaurant refers to as "Toni's Section." (Toni is the resident ghost) So, come out for this unique evening of pizza and ghost stories, and more importantly, giving "Toni" the attention she craves.

THE DATE: January 13th, 2010 (Wednesday)
THE PLACE: Miceli's (1646 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood) map
THE TIME: 8pm to the witching hour

THE GHOST(S):

In 1927, the "Pig and Whistle" opened and was an instant success, exemplifying what we think of today as glamorous Hollywood. After a good run, serving the movie stars of the 1930's and 1940's, they finally closed in the 1950's. What does this have to do with Miceli's Restaurant? Although, in recent years, there has been an attempt to bring the "Pig and Whistle" back to its former glory, if one really wants to experience what it was like to step inside this fabled establishment of the past, all one has to do is walk around the corner, and step through the doors of another fabled establishment.

When the famous Hollywood hot spot was gutted to make room for another occupant (ironically the future home of a low grade pizza parlor), the Miceli family pulled all of the hand-carved booths, wall panels, and fixtures out of the dumpsters and fit them (sometimes haphazardly) into their popular pizza parlor.

However, this is not the only reason to visit this local landmark. Since 1949, Miceli's Restaurant (formerly Miceli's Pizza) has been serving great Italian food to the Hollywood community. They were the first pizza house in tinsel town, and remain the city's oldest Italian restaurant. Now, in it's sixth decade of business, it is no mystery why it is still as popular as ever. Miceli's is the kind of comfortable place that the "blue collar" folks rub elbows with high society. In the past, diners have been surprised by Presidents (Kennedy and Nixon) who have dropped in to enjoy a slice of their famous pizza. You just never know who will show up and sit in the booth next to yours.

However, if a ghost shows up, and sits in the booth next to yours, it can only be "Toni." Antoinette "Toni" Heines went to work at this landmark when it first opened, and she was working there when she died not too long ago, and it seems she is still there keeping an eye on things to this day. One employee told GHOULA that every time she used to walk by him, she would give him a playful poke in the ribs. Although she is no longer with us, he still feels the unmistakable poke from time to time. He feels that it is her way of reminding him that she is still there. He also recalled a time when, he was adjusting his tie in a mirror, when he saw (in the reflection) a door behind him slam shut when there was no one around.

In life, it seems she had a bad habit of accidentally dropping drinking glasses. Now, whenever a glass inexplicable slides off of a table or counter, it is blamed on Toni. When these "reminders" happen, the employee involved will go to the stained-glass portrait of her in "Toni's Section," and acknowledge her presence. The staff claims that this simple act, curtails the activity. Though, she is most active at the end of November, if no one remembers her birthday (the 19th) or her date of death (the 24th), her spirit seeks attention all year long. So, if you find yourself in Hollywood, craving a slice of pizza, why don't you visit her favorite haunt and say hello. The attention will make Toni very happy.

Fantastically Frightening Award

2010-01-11T22:15:00.000-08:00

I'm proud to announce that the Fantastically Frightening Award, courtesy of Erin at In It For The Kills, has just been bestowed upon this blog! Here's what she had to say about Spooky Little Girl:

She focuses on new movies that have the spirit of the golden age of horror. In her own words, "Let's hope that, in the next decade, filmmakers continue to look into the past in order to find the way forward." I can take a lesson from her because I tend to get stuck in a mentality that there are no good horror movies made after 1990, and that's just not true.

Thanks again, Erin!

Spooky List: Best Horror of the '00s

2010-01-07T23:20:00.000-08:00

Here we are, already one full week into 2010. I'm sure by now the glow of the holidays has faded, resolutions are teetering on the brink of destruction, and reading yet another "Best Of" list is the furthest thing from your mind. Still, the passing of 2009 marks the end of an interesting decade for the genre; consider the trends in horror that abounded in the first ten years of the twenty-first century.

This was the decade in which the term "torture porn" was coined, thanks to a little film called Saw (itself a rather unpalatable riff on Se7en) and its endless stream of sequels and ripoffs. There was also a virtually unrelenting flow of Blair Witch Project-influenced, self-consciously low-budget "handheld camera" flicks, and an absolute glut of remakes, both noteworthy and uninspired (with an unfortunate tendency to skew towards the latter). Still, despite everything, there were some moments of true genius - and, in any event, I think we can all agree that last decade blew the '90s out of the water, no?

Without further ado, here is the Spooky Little Girl list of the Best Horror Films of the '00s, in chronological order according to year of release.

EDITED TO CLARIFY: These films are listed in chronological order, starting with Ginger Snaps because it was released in the year 2000, not because it's my #1 pick for the best horror film of the decade! (In other words, I have not ranked my choices.)

1. Ginger Snaps (2000)
I always love it when horror films are able to take well-worn concepts and successfully put a new spin on them; in this movie, werewolf mythology is conflated with female puberty and menstruation...and it totally works. Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle, as weirdo sisters Brigitte and Ginger (nice pun in the title, there), do a fantastic job of bringing two outsider teen girls to life without making them Hot Topic cliches. Followed by two more films, a sequel and a prequel, both of which are far better than they have any right to be.

2. Session 9 (2001)
I adore anything that deals with haunted and/or abandoned places, and what could be more terrifying than an abandoned mental hospital? Bonus points for filming on location in the Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts! This movie has a great sense of creepy atmosphere, a nice dose of "Whodunit?" tension, and a tasty little twist at the end.

3. The Ring (2002)
This is one of those movies that became so successful - and was so frequently (and poorly) imitated - that it's become a bit shameful to admit to actually liking it. However, if you can put the hype aside, The Ring is actually a very effective modern day ghost story, and perhaps the best American remake of a Japanese horror film. (Yes, I think Sadako's body language was creepier than Samara's, but I prefer this version overall.) Naomi Watts gives an emotionally resonant performance, and who can say they didn't positively ess themselves when poor Amber Tamblyn's terrified, grotesque death face was revealed in flashback? Shudder!

4. May (2002)
Another movie that, like Ginger Snaps, plays with a classic horror trope; this time, it's the Frankenstein theme of creating a perfect human from, ahem, "scrap parts," as it were. Angela Bettis gives a heartbreaking performance as the title character, a lonely, confused young woman who just wants to love and be loved. I firmly believe that she deserved, at the very least, an Oscar nomination for this movie - and probably would have gotten one, if horror wasn't so thoroughly overlooked by Hollywood's heavyhitters. The final scene is frightening, bizarre, sweet and sad.

5. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Combining Romero-esque zombies with pop culture references and zesty British wit, Shaun gets my vote for the funniest horror-comedy of the decade. It's a treat for zombie nuts, but it's not too scary for regular folks, and it's absolutely hilarious, which makes it ideal for watching with a group. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are the best onscreen buddy team in recent memory. (See also: Spaced, Hot Fuzz.)

6. Dawn of the Dead (2004)
This Zack Snyder-directed remake of Romero's zombies-in-a-mall '70s classic manages the impossible: It turns pretty much everything that made the original great on its ear, and it still finds a way to win you over. This Dawn is fast-paced (running zombies!), gory, and over-the-top, and while I wouldn't say it eclipses the original, it's a little zombie masterpiece all its own.

7. The Devil's Rejects (2005)
As mentioned in my controversial review of his H2 sequel, I am a Rob Zombie fan - and, to my mind, this is the best movie he's directed to date. It has such a filthy, unwholesome vibe - a great movie to watch in the dog days of August. If you don't feel like you need to shower afterwards, you weren't paying attention. This may be a sequel of sorts to the also enjoyable (but cinematically inferior) House of 1000 Corpses, but it has a completely different tone that means even detractors of its predecessor should give this one a try. While I enjoyed his Halloween reimagining, Zombie's dusty, renegade redneck aesthetic would have been much better suited to a Texas Chainsaw retread. Probably the best (only?) movie to set a pivotal scene to "Free Bird," in all its nine minute glory.

8. Let the Right One In (2008)
I'm no vampire elitist - I'll pretty much take my bloodsuckers any way I can get 'em - but I have to admit that this stark, moody Swedish import is the best vampire film in recent memory. It's sad, scary, mysterious and poignant, and it leaves a number of questions unanswered, which means it will stay on your mind for days. My heart absolutely ached for Oskar, a shy, angry little boy on the cusp of adolescence, and Eli, the strange vampire he meets and befriends. If you like stories about unsettlingly intense and ambiguous friendships - Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures leaps to mind - this one is for you.

9. Trick 'r Treat (2008)
Yes, I wrote 2008, despite the fact that the above poster has a 2007 release date - and, in fact, most people probably didn't see this Halloweenie gem until it was released to DVD just last year. (I'm going with 2008 because that's the year that's listed on IMDb, so who am I to choose otherwise?) This Creepshow-esque anthology movie hung in Hollywood limbo for years, becoming a near-legendary source of frustration for horror fans until just a few months ago. Fortunately, it was worth the wait. A great October film, highlighting Halloween's creepy, impish spirit, with some gore and a few laughs sprinkled in for good measure. The cinematic equivalent of reaching your hand into a trick-or-treat bag full of candy; you never know what's coming next, but it's probably awesome.

10. The House of the Devil (2009)
Finally, my favorite horror movie of 2009 earns a spot on the list. I've never seen a contemporary horror movie do the early '80s throwback thing quite as flawlessly as Ti West pulls it off here. Everything, from the title sequence to the poster art to the casting of Margot Kidder-esque Jocelin Donahue as the lead is spot-on for the era he invokes. Does a great job of building suspense, and doesn't skimp on the payoff - and I love the final shot.

BONUS: Grindhouse (2007)
Actually a 2-for-1 double feature comprised of Robert Rodriguez's cheeky zombie B-movie Planet Terror and Quentin Tarantino's "tough girls vs. eye-patch-wearing psycho" exploitation homage Death Proof, I was conflicted about whether or not this actually counts as a "horror movie," thus my decision to leave it off of the list proper. Still, I couldn't overlook it altogether. Both halves of this double feature were enormously fun, and despite the fact that it took a beating at the box office, this was a movie that demanded to be seen in theaters for the full experience - including the hilarious and awesome faux trailers from Rob Zombie ("Werewolf Women of the SS"), Edgar Wright ("Don't") and Eli Roth ("Thanksgiving"), each of which was worthy of a feature-length film of its own. This tribute to the delicious cinematic trash of the '70s represents the best aspects of '00s horror, paying homage without crossing over into disrespect. Let's hope that, in the next decade, filmmakers continue to look into the past in order to find the way forward.

An Interview with Yours Truly

2009-12-22T12:33:00.001-08:00

Greetings, my spooky little readers! My apologies for being scarce as of late; I've been otherwise occupied, and truth be told, the holiday season isn't very conducive to creepiness. (I've barely even seen any Christmas-themed horror movies, so I can't really compile a list of seasonally appropriate flicks...although I do consider the Evil Dead trilogy to be "Christmas movies," but that's a topic for another post!) I look forward to bringing this blog back with a vengeance in 2010, so please don't remove me from your bookmarks just yet!

In any event, I did want to share a recent interview that the LA RECORD did with my band, Shiloe, regarding topics as varied as ghost hunting, the Beatles, and how to handle a zombie invasion. Follow the link to read all the gory details...

SHILOE: Don't Go in the Attic

You'll Come Home for the Holidays...In A Body Bag.

2009-11-26T10:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Turkey Day to my fellow Americans! (I don't actually eat turkey myself, but I'm definitely looking forward to gorging on scrumptious side dishes.) In honor of the holiday, please enjoy this faux trailer for the sickest, most twisted Thanksgiving-themed slasher flick never made...Eli Roth's Thanksgiving.

White meat, dark meat...all will be carved.

TONIGHT: Spirits With Spirits at La Golondrina Cafe

2009-11-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

It's Friday the 13th! Don't you want to celebrate by doing something a little more adventurous than spending the night with Jason Voorhees? Yeah? Then allow me to remind you that, on the 13th day of each month, LA's very own ghost hunting group meets at a haunted bar or restaurant in order to discuss the paranormal - and tonight is no exception. Join the GHOULA get-together at La Golondrina Cafe on historic Olvera Street for an evening that's sure to offer some intriguing insights into Los Angeles history...if not a few spirit sightings. (Unfortunately, a prior engagement means that I'll probably be a no show at this meeting, so have a margarita for me!)

Here are the details, from the GHOULA website:

Note: The management has agreed to allow our group into the (normally closed to the public) haunted area of this historic restaurant. So, come out and experience this rare opportunity to go inside one of the city's oldest buildings.

THE DATE: November 13th, 2009 (Friday the 13th!)
THE PLACE: La Golondrina Cafe
(17 West Olvera Street, Los Angeles) map
THE TIME: 7:00pm to 9:30pm (closing time)

THE GHOST(S):

In 1885, Guiseppi Covaccichi built his home and winery next to an alley that at the time was known as "Vine Street" (or sometimes "Wine Street"), because of all the other wineries in the immediate area. Despite this fact, that modest home is for some strange reason today known as the Pelanconi House (who was one of many in a string of former owners), and the dingy alley was also mysteriously renamed after one of the other families in the area to "Olvera Street." Although these reasons may have been lost to history, thankfully the house and street were not. This is largely due to a local activist, Mrs. Christine Sterling, who in the 1920's made it her mission to preserve the Alvila Adobe (the city's oldest adobe structure) and the Pelanconi house (the city's oldest brick structure) for future generations and to turn the decaying slums known as Olvera Street into "The Mexican Street of Yesterday in the City of Today." As part of her plan, she convinced a local businesswoman, Senora Consuelo de Bonza, to move her popular eatery into the old Pelanconi House (and the adjoining warehouse). After cleaning, renovating, and blessing ("to remove the evil spirits"), La Golondrina reopened its doors to the public in 1930. Not only is it the oldest business on Olvera Street today, but it also holds the distinction of being the first place in Los Angeles to serve "Mexican" food (as opposed to "Spanish").

Although Senora Consuelo de Bonza is no longer with us, her portrait still hangs in the dining room, and some say her spirit still remains as well. In addition to the sounds of disembodied footsteps trailing throughout the empty restaurant, witnesses have claimed to see a woman (sometimes described as young) dressed in a white gown floating up the stairs to the "third" floor (originally the second floor), as well as inside the private offices on that floor. Even though this apparition is generally believed to be Senora de Bonza, it is quite possible the ghost could be a member of one of the many families that resided in this home over the years, since these offices are where the house's bedrooms were once located. It is also worth mentioning that the canal (known as the "mother ditch") that brought water to this cluster of buildings and farms from the Los Angeles River ran very close to this house and would surely have been visible back then from one of the upstairs windows. Although, this waterway in many ways represented life to this community, sometimes it also represented death. It was not uncommon in our city's early (wild west) days for murdered bodies to be disposed of in that ditch, or for drunken souls to meet their accidental end there. Perhaps this "woman in white" is connected to a long ago unsolved murder (or accidental death), as a victim or one who mourns for a lover who met his demise in the dark muddy waters that rolled past this former haunted house.

Spooky Hiatus: NaNoWriMo

2009-11-11T22:22:00.000-08:00

So you may have noticed that things have been a bit quiet over here. But wait, I have an excuse! On a complete whim, I signed myself up for NaNoWriMo on Halloween - which means that I have to write a 50,000 word novel by the end of this month. Of course, I'm not planning to take a full-fledged break from this blog for the entire month of November, but if my posts are a bit scarce, keep in mind that I'm writing my brains out. To wit:

This is where I work. My typewriter looks so innocuous, does it not? And yes, I smoke Marlboro Reds. Doesn't everyone?

Of course, my manuscript gets a little repetitive at times, but I have to make that 50,000 word quota by midnight on November 30th! Give me a break!

Okay, at this point I am looking a little psychotically comatose, but it's all part of the process!

And yes, I fully expect to be doing this by the end of the month. Wish me luck!

Movie Review: THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL

2009-11-02T23:16:00.000-08:00

October has passed, and that can only mean one thing: If you're still reading this blog, you're no Johnny-come-lately to horror and Halloween; like me, you're a lifer. So while we can all bow our heads in a moment of silence for our dearly departed Halloween season, which is sure to rise again in a mere 363 days or so, I have good news for you: There is a fantastic new scary movie for you to seek out - and no, it's not Paranormal Activity, which I'm sure you've already seen (and formed your own opinions about). This one is somewhat more obscure, but - in my estimation - even more effective at generating those atmospheric, slow build scares. It's called The House of the Devil.

Last week, I read an article in the L.A. Times that described this film as the kind that "transforms the mundane into the macabre, and when...[it] finally takes a step into the supernatural, it comes as even more of a shock because of the muted atmosphere that precedes it." This is exactly how I like my scary movies: Long on atmosphere, short on cheap thrills, and painstakingly paced. From the very first frame, I had a feeling I would love it. To begin, it's set in the early 80s, but not in the spoofy, played-for-laffs way that most movies set in the 80s present the decade; no one is dressed like Pat Benatar or wearing garish neon colors. Instead, the colors are muted, the hair is softly feathered, and the jeans are high-waisted - in other words, authentic. The protagonist is a reserved, thoughtful college girl named Samantha, as portrayed by Jocelin Donahue, who calls to mind a young Margot Kidder far more than she evokes overly toned and styled modern-day starlets like Jessica Biel.

We learn that Samantha desperately wants to move out of her dorm and into an apartment of her own, but she doesn't have enough money for the first month's rent, and there are few available job prospects. Then she is presented with an intriguing opportunity to babysit for an eccentric couple in a sprawling Victorian mansion in the country. Despite her reservations about the creepiness of her employers and their shady bait-and-switch when it comes to the particulars of the job, Samantha accepts - and that's when the real fun begins.

If you're looking for an action-oriented horror flick, stay away from this one; about three quarters of the movie is spent entirely on building anticipation and heaping on the tension. When is the axe going to fall? When are the Satanic rituals going to start? What's with the lunar eclipse that everyone keeps mentioning?! From the opening credits to the lingering closing shot (and even the promotional posters that I found online!), everything about this movie is eerie, unsettling and meticulously true to the period without crossing the line into camp. If you fetishize late 70s/early 80s horror movies as much as I do, this is a must-see. Director Ti West knows his shit when it comes to the era - and I can say that this is easily my favorite new horror film of the year so far.

The House of the Devil is currently in theaters in limited release, in addition to being available for viewing OnDemand.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2009-10-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

It's here! The best holiday of the year is officially upon us. What are you planning to dress up as tonight? I have a white dress that has been liberally sprayed with blood and pair of vampire fangs that are calling my name...

Black cats and goblins
And broomsticks and ghosts,
Covens of witches with all of their hosts.
You may think they scare me,
You're probably right.
Black cats and goblins
On Halloween night.

TRICK OR TREAT!

TONIGHT: Ghost Adventures Live from the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

2009-10-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

It's Devil's Night, and if you don't already have plans to wreak havoc on the neighborhood, why not stay home and bro down with Zak, Nick and Aaron of Ghost Adventures? Their 7-hour live ghost hunt at West Virginia's haunted Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, which will be broadcast on the Travel Channel, starts tonight at 8 PM and runs until 3 AM. Even if nothing supernatural is captured on film, you can rest assured that, at the very least, the guys will get royally freaked out. Yay!

Spooky Self-Promotion: Win Tickets to See My Band at the Troubadour

2009-10-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

In addition to bringing you the latest on all things spooky, I also play bass, write lyrics (and, occasionally, sing) in a band called Shiloe. I think my favorite description of our sound to date came courtesy of a review in Big Takeover magazine, which likened us to "Sonic Youth throwing a punk rock through the windows of a goth club." What's not to like about that?!
This Sunday, November 1st, we are playing at the Troubadour in West Hollywood with Girl in a Coma and Black Gold, and guess what? You can win tickets! LAist is giving away a pair to one lucky individual who comments on the post and shares what they're planning to dress up as for Halloween. The contest ends at midnight on October 29th, so enter now. (And if you do go, say hi to me - and mention this blog - and I'll give you a free bonus gift!)

In honor of the holiday, Shiloe will be rocking a Dia de los Muertos theme for the night. And if you win, show up early! We go on at 8:30 PM. See you there.

Burbank's Backwoods Maze

2009-10-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

As previously stated in my post about the Halloween shenanigans taking place all over the greater Los Angeles area this week, the Backwoods Maze in Burbank is, without a doubt, the best private yard haunt I've ever encountered. L.A. has always been home to a wealth of spectacularly executed home haunts, from the venerable Hallowed Haunting Grounds to the whimsical Boney Island (both of which are now, sadly, defunct) to the eminently eerie House of Restless Spirits, which you can visit this year on October 30th and 31st. However, none of them have actually made me scream...until I visited the Backwoods Maze.

Located on a rather nondescript suburban street, the fun starts as soon as the front yard comes into view. You'll encounter an entire cemetery full of headstones paying homage to horror icons, from Regan (The Exorcist) to Edgar Allan Poe, as well as hulking, larger-than-life figures of Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, Chucky, the Creeper (from Jeepers Creepers), and so forth. Even the sign is amazing; unfortunately, my camera's battery died right after I captured the above shot of the graveyard scene, so you'll have to take my word for it (or, you know, visit their MySpace to check out a picture).

Once inside, you'll go through a maze that is absolutely on a par with anything you would find at Knott's or Universal - but better. Why? For two reasons: First of all, the Backwoods goes places that the big amusement parks wouldn't dare. At one point, the maze was so dark, so thick with fog, and so claustrophobic that we were literally walking into a wall over and over again simply because we couldn't figure out where to go - and there were no black-clothed ushers with flashlights there to lend a hand. And second, this is in someone's backyard. I really have no idea how they crammed so much detail and so many actors into such a small space, but they did it - and it really must be seen to be believed.

I don't want to spoil anyone's fun by saying too much, but I will say this: If you live in or near L.A. and you consider yourself a Halloween and/or horror fan, you must visit this maze. And keep in mind that, while the maze is free, they do accept donations - so bring along a little cash to toss into the donation bucket, because with this level of skill and commitment, they absolutely deserve it. The Backwoods Maze, which is located at 1912 N. Pepper St. in Burbank, will be operating October 29th, 30th and 31st from 6:30 until 10 PM (11 PM on Halloween night).

Halloween Time at Disneyland

2009-10-28T01:05:00.000-07:00

My birthday this year, which I celebrated at Disneyland thanks to their unprecedented "Free Entry on Your Birthday!" promotion, marked my first foray into Halloween Time at Disneyland. According to Disney, "Halloween Time" is very specific period of time - September 25th through November 1st, to be exact - so my mid-October birthday happened to fall right in the middle of the festivities.

First and foremost, I would like to commend Disney for finally giving the spookiest of holidays its proper due, which is no doubt attributable to the continued momentum of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. (If the clothing choices of tourists are any indication, Jack Skellington may well be eclipsing Mickey Mouse in terms of popularity.) Disneyland now does Halloween proper, trotting out a mouth-watering array of seasonal treats, decorating the front entrance and Main Street USA with pumpkins, allowing famous villains like Cruella De Vil and Maleficent to "take over" the park, and even altering a few of their most popular attractions.

The most notable ride overlay is the Haunted Mansion Holiday, which injects a little bit of the ghoulish glee of Nightmare Before Christmas straight into the macabre elegance of the classic Haunted Mansion. I still prefer my Mansion the old-fashioned way, but HMH is exceedingly well-done, and the eye to detail is as astounding as one would expect from Disney. This year, the park also unveiled a brand new seasonal look for Space Mountain, called Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy. Essentially, various images of a ghostly creature that kind of reminded me of the Mummy (Brendan Fraser version, not Boris Karloff) are projected onto the walls and ceiling of the ride at key points. Space Mountain always rules, and this was a fun addition, but it is nowhere near as immersive as the Haunted Mansion overlay.

In addition, there are some truly awesome Dia de los Muertos decorations in Frontierland, as well as a new fireworks show, "Halloween Screams." If you've ever wished that it was Zero (Jack Skellington's beloved ghost dog, of course!) flying around the castle instead of Tinkerbell (and who hasn't, am I right?!), then this is the show for you. All in all, Disneyland's Halloween Time is a fun contribution to the October madness that prevails at southern California's theme parks, but it's certainly not going to scare anyone - Disney seems content to leave that honor to their brethren in Buena Park and Universal City.

Letdown de los Muertos

2009-10-25T16:33:00.001-07:00

We may not have been able to get in to last night's Dia de los Muertos celebration at Hollywood Forever - or even find parking! - but at least our makeup looked great, right?

I'm still not sure exactly how early one has to get to the cemetery in order to land a parking spot and a place in line, but it's safe to say that it's earlier than 8 PM. Lesson learned!

THIS WEEKEND (and Next): Halloween Fun Galore

2009-10-24T18:14:00.000-07:00

There are so many spooky events going on this weekend in L.A. that resistance is futile - you're going to just have to resign yourself to not one, but two glorious weekends of Halloween fun. Here are my top picks for tonight, tomorrow and the week to come...
If you hurry, you can still catch the 8 PM showing of Robert Wise's 1963 haunted house masterpiece The Haunting, one of my favorite movies of all time, at the allegedly haunted Alex Theatre in Glendale. Psychic/medium and paranormal investigator Michael J. Kouri will appear before the film to discuss the haunted history of the Alex. The theatre is located at 216 North Brand Blvd. in Glendale, and tickets are $13.50.
Also tonight is the Hollywood Forever Cemetery's annual Dia de los Muertos celebration, which features ceremonial tributes, processions, decorated altars, live music, food, vendors, and thousands of costumed revelers. The celebration runs until 11 PM and costs $10 per person (free for children under 10). I am very excited to finally check this out for myself!
Tomorrow, stop by CreepyLA's Haunted Speakeasy, "a night of storytellers...[sharing] true tales of the supernatural." Click here for more information, including location and the secret password that's required for admission. The fun begins at 7 PM tomorrow night and costs $15 per person.
If you're looking for some extremely wallet-friendly fun, I highly recommend that you visit Burbank's own Backwoods Maze, which is hands down the best yard haunt I've ever experienced (review to follow shortly). The maze is located at 1912 N. Pepper St. in Burbank, and will be operating tonight and tomorrow night, as well as the 29th, 30th and 31st from 6:30 until 10 PM (11 PM on Halloween night). While the maze is free, donations are accepted, and you should absolutely throw in a few bucks, because the quality and commitment are astounding. Read CreepyLA's review here or visit their MySpace for more information. (Above photo taken from their MySpace.)
Another chance to check out the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, which was the site of a real life unsolved murder and is rumored to be haunted, occurs next week thanks to the first annual Wicked Literature Halloween Theatre Festival. The festival, which features dramatic readings of three chilling tales by the likes of Edgar Allan Poe and Washington Irving, takes place in various locales within the house and on the grounds of the mansion. The event runs October 27-31, and tickets are $45. Call 818-242-7910 for reservations.
Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre on Fairfax has all sorts of ghoulish seasonal offerings in store, but I particularly recommend TV Horror Host Night on Tuesday the 27th, which features a screening of the documentary American Scary, an examination of the rise and fall of the horror host phenomenon. The evening will be hosted by Mr. Lobo, and following the film there will be a surprise screening of a "rare" TV movie from the '70s. Tickets are $12 and the show begins at 8 PM.
The New Beverly Cinema at 7165 West Beverly Blvd. also has a host of horror goodies on their calendar for next week, with my favorite being the William Castle double feature on October 25 and 26. The bill includes Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story, a documentary about the passionately schlocky filmmaker, and the 1960 version of 13 Ghosts.
And, finally, on Halloween night itself, Cinespia will be screening John Carpenter's 1978 opus Halloween, which bears the distinction of being my #1 favorite film of all time, in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. If you missed your chance to catch a movie in the cemetery this summer, or you're simply looking for a fun activity for Halloween night, you could do a lot worse - but be warned, this event will be especially crowded (even for a cemetery screening), so get there early! Gates open at 5:30 PM and the movie begins at 7, and tickets are the usual $10 donation at the gate. Don't forget to bring snacks and boooooooze!

The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror XX

2009-10-23T13:09:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, a rare and wonderful event took place: The annual Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" Halloween special actually aired before Halloween! Elderly Simspsons fans like myself may recall a time when Fox would broadcast the special on or before Halloween - way back in the heady days of the '90s - but ever since 2000, we've had to wait until after the 31st to see what diabolical parodies the Simpsons had in store. But not this year! Woo hoo!

Although it didn't approach the unabashed brilliance of classic Treehouses of Horror, I still thought the twentieth (!) edition of the annual special was pretty entertaining, especially for a "new" Simpsons episode. The opening bit, with Dracula, the Wolfman, Frankenstein's monster and the Mummy crashing the Simpsons' Halloween party, was inspired, and the first two segments - a nod to Hitchcock starring Bart and Lisa and a 28 Days Later spoof - were similarly clever and funny. I thought the episode lost some momentum with the final segment, a loose reworking of Sweeney Todd featuring Marge, Homer and Moe - but, to be honest, I'm not even a fan of the actual Sweeney Todd. (I like the cannibalism/revenge stuff, but egads, the singing!)

At the moment, my favorite THOH bits are probably The Shining - oops, I'm sorry, The Shinning - and last year's Great Pumpkin parody, which I really liked after revisiting it on Sunday. What's your all-time favorite Treehouse of Horror segment?

Now She's the Spider and You're the Fly

2009-10-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

Looking for something new to add to your Halloween playlist? My band just recorded a brand new spooky song, called "Spider Baby." Listen to it on our MySpace...and watch out for those spiders.

My Haunted Hayride Review for CreepyLA

2009-10-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

Last night, I experienced what is, to my knowledge, L.A.'s first and only Haunted Hayride - and I loved it!

To read my in-depth review and see a few photos from the Haunted Carnival, follow the link to CreepyLA:

All Aboard the Fright Wagon! A review of the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride

Stage Review: Maverick Theater's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

2009-10-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

This may be a bit of sacrilege, since I consider myself something of an actress, but I've always have mixed feelings about live theater. On one hand, I think it's a lot of fun to do - when you're acting in front of a live audience, you get a certain immediate gratification (laughter, gasps, applause) that acting in films just can't offer. On the other hand, however, plays are sometimes not as much fun to watch as they are to be in. Let's be honest here! How many times have you been dragged to a play and found yourself wondering, a la The Simpsons, "This is better than a movie why?!"

Rest assured, the Maverick Theater's stage adaptation of the George A. Romero zombie classic Night of the Living Dead is NOT that kind of play.

An absolute joy for horror fans - or anyone looking for a good seasonal scare - from start to finish, the Maverick does a fantastic job of making the living dead come to life (pun intended) on stage. The less said about the details, the better; you'll want to go into this one sans spoilers. Even if you've seen the original NOTLD a million times, the Maverick will still manage to find ways to surprise and thrill you.

The cast, led by Scott Johnson as Ben, handle their roles capably, and Hannah Butcher (as Judy) certainly has an ear-piercing scream queen shriek that must be heard to be believed, but the real stars here are the zombies - a whole slew of them, in fantastic makeup and unafraid to get their hands dirty, so to speak. A word of advice: Make sure you show up early so you can...erm...relax and have a drink beforehand. Heh heh heh. Oh, and if you happen to be seated at the end of an aisle, watch out!

But whatever you do, make sure you get yourself down to Fullerton to check out this play. Maverick's Night of the Living Dead is likely to be the best time you'll have at the theater all month - and, quite possibly, all year.

The Maverick Theater is located at 110 E. Walnut Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832. Night of the Living Dead runs Fridays and Saturdays through November 1st, except for Halloween week, when it runs Tuesday (10/27) through Sunday (11/1). Shows start at 8:30 PM. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Maverick's online box office.

Creepy L.A. GIVEAWAY Winners!

2009-10-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

Interested in finding out who won the Creepy L.A./Magnets de los Muertos giveaway? The winners have been announced! Click the link below to read the winner's horror haiku - and learn why more than one entrant was awarded with a set of macabre magnetic poetry...then visit the MdlM website to order a set of your own in time for Halloween!

Magnets de los Muertos Giveaway Winners: Read Their Horror Haiku

Movie Recommendation: TRICK 'R TREAT

2009-10-09T02:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's hard to be a horror fan. Living, as we do, in the age of "torture porn" and uninspired remakes, it's easy to slip into nostalgia for the fright flicks of years gone by. Don't get me wrong - I do love me some gore. (I mean, I count Evil Dead 2 and Dead Alive among my favorite movies.) But a film has to have more going for it than gross-out scares and jarring "gotcha!" moments for me to fall in love. If you feel the same way, allow me to make a little recommendation: Pick up a copy of Trick 'r Treat.
After spending years in movie purgatory, Trick 'r Treat was finally released on DVD this past Tuesday, just in time for Halloween. I was lucky enough to catch a screening of this at last year's Screamfest, and I have to say it met and exceeded all of my expectations. First and foremost, TrT is a movie about Halloween. If it were simply set on October 31st, that would almost be enough, but it goes beyond that, using the holiday's mischievous, irreverent, spooky spirit as its central theme. Think about it - how many movies are there that are actually about Halloween? Precious few, particularly if you exclude children's classics like It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. This is a movie that was meant to be enjoyed with the lights low, a big bowl of Halloween candy nearby, and the smell of singed pumpkin flesh wafting through the air - perfect viewing for a chilly October night.
As if that weren't enough, TrT is also an anthology movie in the vein of Creepshow or Trilogy of Terror - a rare breed indeed in contemporary horror. Of the five intersecting story lines, my favorites are the group of teens investigating a local Halloween legend and the elderly curmudgeon tormented by a mysterious - and persistent - visitor. I'll say no more; just head to the store right now, grab the DVD, and get ready to start a brand new Halloween viewing tradition.