Halloween Horror Marathon 2013: "I don't understand...WHAT'S out there, Rachel!?!?" - Is it too soon to use "Re-Bloodening" again...?

*Note*-- As a lead-in to my annual October marathon, I am re-presenting my "journey" up to this point as I hunt for as many horror movies I can watch in a single month for the 4th consecutive year...

So, here we are in the lovely month of October yet again. That, of course, means a revisit to everyone's favorite genre: Horror. I know, I know...It's not really everyone's favorite, but it is the one I hear most often referred to as someone's favorite. But why is that? I think it's because the horror genre is such a far-reaching form of narrative that's ultimately about "what happens to people." And that can be revealing in so many ways...as well as make it ripe for conversation.

So, why am I doing this...?

I dunno. I forgot. Wasn't I supposed to write a retrospective on Scream...?

The rules are simple! And yeah, I am definitely keeping the added rule from last year if I can help it...

• No Prior knowledge of the movie
• No investigation into the movie
• I have to have never seen it OR not seen it recently enough to form an opinion
• And finally...Once the credits start (or I pass the 1:30 min. mark), there is NO TURNING BACK...
• No David DeCoteau movies

Well then, let's get started! Full disclosure: I watched the first movie on this list a couple of nights early. I had no choice though since Netflix was yanking it on the 1st, but I did plan to watch it first months in advance. And that movie is...

Halloween Horror Marathon 2012: "Don't come any closer!!"

*Note*-- As a lead-in to my annual October marathon, I am re-presenting my "journey" up to this point as I hunt for as many horror movies I can watch in a single month for the 4th consecutive year...

It's down to the wire! I'm sure at this point that last year's record will go unbroken for now, but there are still a few more days left in the month. And frankly, I've got no reason to stop now...even after watching Frogs. I miss the days of Blood Monkey...

• No Prior knowledge of the movie
• No investigation into the movie
• I have to have never seen it OR not seen it recently enough to form an opinion
• Once the credits start (or I pass the 1:30 min. mark), there is NO TURNING BACK...
• And no David DeCoteau movies!

Let's see how deep the rabbit hole goes this time...

Halloween Horror Marathon 2012: "Why are You Doing This...?"

*Note*-- As a lead-in to my annual October marathon, I am re-presenting my "journey" up to this point as I hunt for as many horror movies I can watch in a single month for the 4th consecutive year...

If I keep this up, I think I'm gonna start titling each one of these blogs a cliched line from the horror genre that needs to never be written or uttered again. I cannot tell you the number of times I've heard a marginally talented actress pose that same question to some husky dude in overalls, flannel, or a jumpsuit. It's kind of a pet peeve now because one thing I know for sure is that there is no worthwhile answer to that question in the first place (nevermind the fact that it rarely even gets a response - making the exchange pointless). A window into the mind of the monster ruins the mystique, and the unknown is what fuels horror. And if Rob Zombie understood that, his movies wouldn't suck. I'm getting sidetracked...

The month of October continues, and so too does the marathon. For this round, I'm gonna pack in as many movies as I can find on Netflix alone with the word "zombie" in the title. I'm betting I'll hit at least 20, but there's only one way to find out. In any case, the same rules apply...

• No Prior knowledge of the movie
• No investigation into the movie
• I have to have never seen it OR not seen it recently enough to form an opinion
• Once the credits start (or I pass the 1:30 min. mark), there is NO TURNING BACK...
• And no David DeCoteau movies!

Let's get started. I've got a lot of arguments in bunkers/basements to get through...

Halloween Horror Marathon 2012: It BEGINS AGAIN!!!

*Note*-- As a lead-in to my annual October marathon, I am re-presenting my "journey" up to this point as I hunt for as many horror movies I can watch in a single month for the 4th consecutive year...

It's that time o' year again, and by comparison I'm actually behind by a few days. Nonetheless, let the horror movie marathon begin!!! Last go'round, I made it to 107 movies in a single month. This year, I hope to exceed that number but I'm not deluded. I know what that entails, so clearly my lowered standards are about to make a "triumphant" return. The rules are as simple as ever...

• No Prior knowledge of the movie
• No investigation into the movie
• I have to have never seen it OR not seen it recently enough to form an opinion
• And finally...Once the credits start (or I pass the 1:30 min. mark), there is NO TURNING BACK...

This year, I have only ONE additional rule...

• No David DeCoteau movies...Don't ask. If you don't know, just don't...

What will follow are immediate responses, overviews, and/or mini reviews of the movies I watch for the purpose of keeping track of things as well as expressing my feelings on what I just saw as succinctly as possible. With that said, here...we...go!

Halloween Horror Marathon 2011: Night of the Blood House of Skulls in the Mouth of Hell of the Dead II: The Re-Bloodening

*Note*-- As a lead-in to my annual October marathon this year, I am re-presenting my "journey" up to this point as I hunt for as many horror movies I can watch in a single month for the 4th consecutive year...

It's down to the wire, and I've put more time into this than I have making a costume. But what can I say, really? This is, honestly, far more fun than it should be and I'm starting to think that 100 movies is attainable. It's also just as informative as I thought it would be because I love observing cliches. The best way to upend expectation is to know what's expected. Plus, seeing this many horror movies is enough of a confidence boost to make me believe I could make my own. Or, at least steer one in the right direction...which is to say, as far away from anything resembling John Boorman's film of Exorcist II: The Heretic as possible.

So, let's get into it. My rules are still simple:

• No prior knowledge
• No investigation into a title
• Never seen it or haven't seen it recently enough to form an opinion
• Once the opening credits start (or the equivalent amount of time has passed), there's no turning back...

I just realized the best part of this is no one knows what applies to what but me...

Halloween Horror Marathon 2011: "You guys...This isn't funny."

*Note*-- As a lead-in to my annual October marathon this year, I am re-presenting my "journey" up to this point as I hunt for as many horror movies I can watch in a single month for the 4th consecutive year...

So, at some point in the middle of Maniac!, I stared deep into the craggy face of Joe Spinell and a thought flashed into my head. Can I watch 100 horror movies in one month? I think the answer is "yes." This is a completely reachable goal with the stipulations I've already set for myself...

• No prior knowledge
• No investigation into a title
• Never seen it, or haven't seen it recently enough to form an opinion
• Once the movie's opening credits start (or the equivalent amount of time), there is no turning back...

Obviously, standards of selection just took a punch in the dick. I haven't found the movie to break me yet, but the month isn't over yet...

Halloween Horror Marathon 2011: It Began on The 6th of October...

*Note*-- As a lead-in to my annual October marathon this year, I am re-presenting my "journey" up to this point as I hunt for as many horror movies I can watch in a single month for the 4th consecutive year...

Horror movies don't tend to get much attention throughout the year. You may see the occasional release in the summer or the odd December release in theaters, but generally speaking, it seems as though the genre is ignored until October rolls around. I can't lie. I'm a little guilty of this too. It's not that I don't pay attention to horror movies at all, but they definitely take a backseat to other genre indulgences. That's why I think of October as an "appreciation month." It also doesn't hurt that it's the one time in the year when you don't have to work so hard to convince most people to watch a horror movie.

I have a completely unfounded theory. I think that a greater understanding and appreciation of film as a narrative medium begins with horror. Beat changes, pacing, characterization, setting, lighting, the use of sound and music -- Every major element of a narrative film is essential to an effective horror film, and more exposure gives the viewer a better grasp of what makes a movie work. This isn't a thesis, so don't expect a defense or anything. I'm just saying that I can see what clicks and what doesn't, and I owe that to watching a metric shit-ton of movies with the words "Dead," "Blood," and/or "Night" in the title. That's why (aside from Halloween) I love October. Through this self-imposed focus on a single genre, I learn and that's the most important thing anyone can do in life. Sure, it might seem like a shallow and superfluous venture. But like everything else, the experience is what you make of it...

This experience in particular teaches you the value of a change of pants.