AWW, I SAY.Staying power: I, my friends, am a browser. Put me in a room lined with shelves upon which there are hundreds of videos- some of which are horror!- and I will stay until I've read every damn spine in my search for...something. Who knows? I'm just browsing! There are so many places in LA to go it's staggering; there are still mom and pop movie rental stores that are liquidating their VHS and I can't tell you how excited I get when I stumble across a new one. Then there's Amoeba, a massive store where you can trade in your crap...which means the stock is constantly rotating. Which means it's not completely pointless to spend a long time- I mean a hmm...should've brought some trail mix because my blood sugar is getting low long time- in the VHS clearance aisle. I just love to look- I love the hunt and I always have hope I'm going to find something awesome tucked away somewhere, even if 9 times out of 10 I walk away empty handed. But hey, one time I found The Haunting of Julia for $1.99! That makes all my effort worth it!
Staying up: There's something about watching a horror movie late at night that makes the whole endeavor more naughty and more scary. Yeah, I know, that's probably in my head, but I don't care- I adore the idea of the late-night horror movie, the one you watch with all the lights turned off, the one that will keep you up until morning, cowering in fear. Maybe it's because my mom told me stories of sneaking out of bed to get her horror dose; maybe it's all those sleepovers I had in junior high, when Elena lived up the hill from Nick's Video and Nick's didn't care what we rented so long as it wasn't p0rn and we'd come home with a pizza and somethiing mind-bending like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and we'd stay up long after her family went to bed, stuffing our faces and getting scared out of our wits. I have no idea where I got the notion, but
Soft spots: There's a place in my heart that can only be filled by the mid-90s goodness that is...The Craft. Is it a great movie, or even a good movie? I have no idea...but it's awesome. My memories of it are tied to a prime example of a good night gone really fucking bad and I've loved it ever since. Surprisingly enough, it seems that most people have a fondness for The Craft, and finding a Fairuza Balk is fucking crazy isn't she and whatever happened to Robin Tunney and remember when Christine Taylor's hair fell out eww soulmate always fills me with glee. See, I saw it one fine night when I was hanging out with my pal Ara Jane. We went to this weird mall that had one good store: Media Play (RIP). However, the mall also had a roller rink, an arcade, and a movie theatre. Ara Jane and I played games, used the photo booth a lot, ate crappy food, and saw The Craft. Yay! Sweet night! After the movie we walked out to the parking lot and, after some puzzled silence, I said "Hmm. Didn't I park there?" as I pointed to an empty spot. Yeah...someone stole my fucking car out of the mall parking lot. It's a testament to The Craft's awesomeness that even after such a shitty end to the night, I still love it.
Trivia! The dude who wrote The Craft went to my high school. He named the school in the film (St Bernard's) after a nearby Catholic school and the film's douchebag Chris Hooker (Skeet Ulrich) is named after the captain/quarterback of our football team. Yay!
I'm really looking forward to The Strangers. Is it a remake/rip of the film Ils (Them)? Filmmakers insist it's not, though the plots are incredibly similar. I don't care. I sat in a massive, crowded hall at San Diego Comic-Con last year during a panel for the film and watching a clip actually made my heart race. It was tense, it was scary, and I was smitten. I've had the poster hanging on my wall for months. Almost a year will have passed by the time I finally get to see it. I'm ready! I can't wait! It's definitely one of those skip work and catch the first showing movies for me...you know, like Silent Hill. I don't care if it doesn't live up to the hype- the anticipation is almost the best part. I remember seeing this teaser:
and being practically beside myself. Lemme tell ya, that 45 seconds took forever to download on dial-up and I must have watched it 10,000 times. I went a little nuts with the Silent Hill stuff, I'll admit, but come on- how often does a movie come along that gets you that psyched? I only hope I'm that excited for the sequel when it appears on the scene.
It's the little things: I love the dance scene in Creepshow during the "Father's Day" segment. Ed Harris totally acts a foo' and the song is bitchin'. I love this line in Halloween: "Lindsay, Lester is barking again and getting on my nerves again!" and no matter how many times I've seen that film, Carpenter's score still gives me the willies. I love the scene early in The Brood- the one at gramma's house, where the unseen things are riffling through gramma's cupboards and you know something's going to happen and the tension builds and then the unseen things are no longer unseen and when you see them the first time, you're completely fucking blown away with terror. I love Tom Atkins. I can't explain exactly why- maybe because he was just in so damn many horror films that appeared during my formative years- but he is, undoubtedly, The Man. I gotta meet this guy someday.
I love the graveyard scene in the original Night of the Living Dead. I know what's going to happen, but it still makes me feel like I'm a terrified eight year old- and "They're coming to get you, Barbra" is one of the greatest lines to appear in any horror film in the history of ever. Don't tell anyone, but...it kinda scares me. Still. I love Virginia Madsen in Candyman. I love Mrs Kobritz's death scene in The Fog. I love The Rumplestiltskin Phenomenon. See, Rumplestiltskin is pretty much the worst movie ever. Somehow, though, if you talk about it enough with your friends, in your mind it becomes the best movie ever and you're struck with a fiery urge to watch it again right this very second. So you watch it and rmember how much it sucks...but then, as soon as it's over, you're talking about how great it was and you want to watch it...and so on, ad infinitum. Trust me, I speak from experience on this. Exhibit A: the car chase.As far as I can tell, the phenomenon is restricted to this one film, although I wish it would happen more often.
Well, that's enough from me for now. I have no idea what I've just written- I can't see for all the sparkly rainbows of love! Hopefully I'll be updating this post throughout the day. Hopefully you'll cast off your shackles of internet douchebaggery and tell us all about something you adore. Dude, I just admitted to Rumplestiltskin...come on, it can't be as bad as that!
JOIN IN LE FUN AND FEEL LE LOVE
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37 comments:
You gotta love The Craft . . . that scene when they are walking in slow motion and Robbin Tunney's boobs are just flying all over the place always maed me laugh.
Thank you for bring forth the love of "The Craft". I thought this was a secret I would have to take to my grave. It often come on Saturday afternoons while there is no one in the house but I and the dog. I don't even know how many times I've seen it now.
I would say that Death Bed: The Bed That Eats has the same effect as Rumplestiltskin. It's just bad and the story doesn't make any sense, but I'm compelled to watch it. It's as though the meaning of life is hidden in the movie if only I can understand why the artist's ghost is stuck in the wall.
Wow. Rumplestiltskin. Huh.
Rumplestiltskin is mostly a misery to watch. It really doesn't have that joyous awfulness that, say, Shark Attack 3 does. Never while watching it will you cry out about how awesomely bad it is- you'll shake your head, sigh, and get annoyed.
Long after you've watched it, though, talking about all those shitty aspects transforms them into being GREAT aspects, and you find yourself saying "Rumplestiltskin is the best movie EVER!"...so you watch it and it sucks. But then long after the fact, you talk about it and...
It's the weirdest thing.
So great, I'm with you on so many of those memories Stacie. I've been looking forward to your post all day. Happy Awesome day!
@dreamrot
I've always wanted to see Death Bed, but have never come across it.
@jay
You can find it on Netflix. You'll watch it and think 'that was awful...everyone should watch this'
I've found that *The Brood* is the perfect DVD to give friends that "want to borrow something scary".
Samantha Eggar is a freak in that film!
To me, The Craft is like the dirty, slutty misfit within that group of early-mid nineties bad girl flicks...Poison Ivy, Heathers, Foxfire, Single White Female...it fits in perfectly yet somehow stands apart. To honor Alyssa Milano's new Lifetime mini-series, I'm doing a marathon of her nineties bad girl awesomeness! So, Poison Ivy 2 and Fear, naturally, but Netflix also turned me onto a little something called Confessions of Sorority Girls! The title alone makes me suspect The Craft has some serious competition coming its way...
Look at you, improving the universe. Well done, Stacie.
Whooooah. What's going on here? I go and adopt a puppy and I miss out on this sweet party.
Let me see if I can whip a little something up for this shin dig. I believe there's an old bag of chips in the bread drawer and some Velveta in the fridge.
Nobody brings the positive like you, Stacie! I'd really like to hear what happened with your car.
AND, not to overdraw upon all this goodwill, but could you post a review of Silent Hill Origins?
Just finished it last night, and boy howdy! Never would have even known to check the shelves if you hadn't mentioned the PS2 port. That was one week very well spent, thanks to you Stacie!
There are so many places in LA to go it's staggering
I've staggered out of most of them.
Man, I'm thrilled there's so much love for The Craft....and so much love in general. I can't see for all the glitter and sparkles in my eyes!
I love Alyssa Milano. Just throwing that out there.
And sure, Spazmo, I'll write up a little sumpin sumpin. 'Tis a very good game. I was scared.
As to my car, it was actually found a few days later in a parking lot. I had to get a new ignition put in, and the fuckers broke off the contoller arm for my windshield wipers- they ripped out pretty much the whole steering column. I had to pay a few hundred bucks to get my car and get the ignition fixed, but I never had wipers again for the rest of the time I had the car, which...in hind sight is pretty goddamn stupid.
Rest in peace, Honda CRX. I still think of you often.
Oh! And they took all the CDs I had in the car, and my wallet, which I stupidly left under the seat.
WOW I WAS STUPID IN COLLEGE.
I LOOOOOVE the craft. It's such a guilty pleasure. And it's got a killer soundtrack. I actually re-watched it with a few friends yesterday.
I just posted my entry!
I'd be remiss if I didn't represent for all my fellow Nightmare On Elm Street fans out there!
It's up on my LiveJournal!
As soon as I saw the words, The Craft, my heart was filled with warmth and joy! I remember that night so clearly, and while I was horrified that your car was stolen, it was a night that I will never forget. It's funny, because I was out getting drunk and eating nachos with Chris tonight and exclaiming over how great you are and how I need to visit you soon. Very soon! So, if I promise to bring you baked goods, can I come hang out with you and watch ANTM and see bad movies and write haikus? Seriously, I'd even watch horror movies with you if it meant quality time with one of my favorite college friends of all time!
Wow, I saw, and enjoyed, The Craft in the theater as well. Thankfully my car was still there when I came out.
I’ve yet to make out a will, but I do have a list of people I have to freaking meet before I die, and #1 on the list is Mr. Atkins. And since you recently did a post on The Crazies, I must also mention that on said “meet before I die list” is Richard France.
“I’m a key man on the Trixie Team, a key man…I’m one of the DEVELOPERS of the goddamn thing!”
I’ve been to Evans City and very little has changed-sadly, I’ve also been to Braddock, where Martin was filmed, and it has gotten even worse.
Chuckwilson
Honda CRX! Wow, one of the cutest cars ever. My lowly '91 Civic recognized that as his superior.
Suddenly I feel as if I need to watch "The Craft" again. I haven't seen it in ages but I remember digging it when I was younger (you can tell I'm getting older now, I used the term "ages" seriously).
So by west coast standards I'm eeking this in just in time My non douchebaggery!. I kind of went a different direction. I kissed the ass of the entire Internet film blogging community, I called a few out by name even.
Man, The Craft should be my next Film Club selection! It's so rad.
Chuck! I've been to Braddock. I have this...thing for abandoned buildings and the such, and obviously the Pittsburgh area is chock full of empty factories. I read a book about the decline of the steel industry (Homestead) and Braddock was mentioned a lot so I checked it out. Wow. It's a ghost town. I had no idea Martin was filmed there! It was extremely depressing.
Ara Jane, just get here, baked goods or no baked goods! Wait...
HAIKU
You should come visit!
We will dine and laugh and watch
crap! Nachos sound good.
Stacie thank you for the link! Loved your post today!
Well, I don't have a blog! so can't put a link... we do have a horror film festival blog in the process here in sunny Nottingham - so will kick off instead mentioning the afternoon when a spotty, unloved teenager, sloped off to watch a double bill of My Bloody Valentine/The Funhouse. It was a really swelteringly hot day and I had read that both films were shit - I lived on Jersey, a tiny island used to banning films like these. I found myself almost entirely alone and glad that the cinema was cool and shaded from all daylight. I felt the way spotty teenagers want to - i wanted to be alone and I wanted to like films I was told were rubbish. It was one of the best afternoons of my life (still!). I adore The Funhouse, it's mix of knowingness, sleaze and sinister thrills, and My Bloody Valentine, though censored - was my first real experience of a proper slasher film. I loved it. And there was no one for me to tell about it as I had borrowed the money, sort of, to pay to see it, and I was supposed to be out, getting fresh air, not sitting around in my bedroom. mind you I was well old, really, nearly 18. not 15 or something, so maybe they had a point.
Well, since "The Seeker" was FINALLY released on R1 DVD yesterday, I spent last night making screencaps of Mitothin. Which leads me to my contribution, which was my fondness of hot bad guys. Not even the fact those FOX morons didn't put those deleted scenes on the disc could put a damper on that.
Crap. Ive totally flaked again. I planned a post, but then didnt deliver. Whats worse is I have done all the Film Club™ selects when directed, but havent doone write ups either. I suck.
Anyhoo, I wanted to express my love for Horror Spoof films. National Lampoons Class Reunion, Pandemonium, and Student Bodies.
Oh and Sat the 14th.
Stacie, that clip made me want to see Rumplestiltskin vs. the truck from Duel, or maybe the one from Maximum Overdrive. I've never actually seen "Rumplestiltskin" but now I have a feeling that eventually I'll have to.
Dreamrot, I'm right with you on "Death Bed: The Bed That Eats People." My frist reaction after watching it was something to the effect of "wha-huh?" Then I thought about it a little, and then I had the urge to convince everybody I knew to watch it.
Tom Atkins...genius. He is from my hometown, Pittsburgh--I work in a theater box office and one time he came to my window to pick up his tickets for a show here. Time and space bent for me, because I still envision him screaming into that telephone in "Halloween III"--and yet he's like, 75 years old now or something. I am sure he had no idea I was an adoring fan as he walked away with his envelope.
Sigh....
I loved the Craft when it first came out...witches and Neve Campbell, there wasn't much more I needed to enjoy a movie in those days. I recently saw it again, and well, let's just say it wasn't the same anymore...although I have to say Neve is still as cute as ever...
Congrats on the Blog-a-thon!
Speaking of retarded, and hopefully joy - i just got a copy of The Gate delivered to me - i haven't seen this film for years, and i am hoping that it plays out in my DVD player today as cool as it plays out in the horror memories in my head.
also -
Hooray for Phantom of the Paradise! the music, the mayhem, the Beef!!
yes.
Robin Tunney was in Hollywoodland... although I realize that doesn't really answer the question "whatever happened to Robin Tunney?"
This blog-a-thon was wicked cool. I have been in love with The Craft for ages.
Another guilty pleasures is Hell Night with Linda Blair. Not the greatest but it makes me think of all the times I watched scary movies in my basement with all the lights off when I was a kid.
Warm and fuzzy feeling abound.
Stacie, I believe Troll 2 also has the same effect as Rumplestiltskin. It gives you a heavy, sick feeling throughout, but it's just so effing funny that you have to appreciate its greatness and watch it again. In a similar vein, Slaughter High is, I feel, more along the lines of Shark Attack 3 and The Swarm, where its badness and hilarity just elevates you to euphoria and you're loving it the whole way. It is my very favorite bad movie of all time and stars my hetero crush Caroline Munro. I highly reccomend both Troll 2 and Slaughter High.
"The Craft"? i don't think so, "Little Witches" much better!
WENDY
I loved The Craft, love Melrose Place, love this blog. Funniest place I've been on the net in a long time. I'll keep coming back.
I dream of a jukebox filled with with Connie Francis.
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