Spend 2018 with Vincent Price

Hey folks! It's been a few weeks but I'm still here after an unplanned break. Don't worry, everything's fine here, just had a hard time getting back to the blog after vacation and then the holidays. You know how it is.

I got an email from Victoria Price (ok, I'm on her mailing list) with some exciting news! She's going to be producing a series of monthly videos where she talks about her dad and shares things like family photos. Having seen her speak twice (you can read about those events here and here), I'm pretty confident this something even casual Vincent Price fans will want to check out. Not only is Victoria a great speaker but her dad was a really amazing member of the human race.

I'll let her explain it all for you...

Over the years, so many of you have asked whether I can come speak about my dad in your hometown. This year, I finally have an answer for you.

I have created a way to bring you the photos, videos, and stories that I have shared all over the world  -- along with even more unpublished material. These are images, videos and ideas that you cannot see or hear anywhere else -- and they will stream straight to your computer, tablet or smartphone. You will get one 10-15 minute video presentation each month for 12 months, starting on January 27 and continuing through December 27, 2018.

Each month will be a different download, so be sure to sign up for the January installment, so that you don't miss a single month of these amazing insights into the life of Vincent Price -- family man, art lover, foodie, actor, world traveler, husband, father, horror icon, Yale graduate, and more!

To get a taste of what we will be offering, please see the video below.

To sign up now, please click HERE to join our monthly subscription and receive all 12 presentations. (You can cancel your subscription at any time!)

Everyone who signs up for this subscription series will also be eligible for some unique opportunities for events and products not available to anyone else! I am so excited about this series, and I want you to feel like you are getting an up-close-and-personal glimpse at Vincent Price that very few people will be able to get.

I hope you are as thrilled about this as we are. Please feel free to email me HERE with any questions you may have about the series. We look forward to sharing 2018 with you.

As ever, thank you SO much for all of the ways you continue to keep Vincent Price so close to your hearts.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!
 See you in 2018.
 All my best, Victoria​​​​​​​

Meeting Sandy Claws!

What better way to finish the 13 Days of Creepmas than meeting Sandy Claws himself, Jack Skellington? As I mentioned on the first day of Creepmas, my participation was limited this year due to visiting DisneyWorld. One of the nights I was there, I went to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and it was a ton of fun! There may be another post on that later but today's all about Jack.

Jack Skellington is maybe the single most popular character to meet at Disney. In addition to the movie fan base, Jack only makes appearances in the park during the Halloween and Christmas party events. The party "officially" started at 7 but Jack has been known to show up early. We lined up around 5:30 and there were already quite a few people in line.

If you're familiar with the Magic Kingdom, Jack's meeting area is in a gazebo in Liberty Square, just behind the Christmas shop. It was lit with spooky purple and green lights and the Nightmare soundtrack was playing. The gazebo was wonderfully decorated with black garland topped with Santa-hat wearing skulls.

Here's a better shot of the gazebo and decorations. You can see the skeletal tree on the left and a bunch of presents underneath it in black and white wrapping paper.

We waited a little over an hour from the time we got in line to meet Jack. Overall, not bad as I've heard the wait time just gets longer as the party goes on. Plus, we were done in time for the start of the party so we still had time to experience it all.

Note the Santa ornament on the tree

The first thing Jack noticed was my shirt (found at Target, btw!). "Is that me I see?", he asked delightedly. He continued to inspect the shirt excitedly calling out and pointing to the images of a pumpkin, black cat, and spider. He leaned into me and slyly asked, "Do you know what my secret is for wrapping presents? It's spiderwebs! They help keep the wrapping paper stuck on. And if you're lucky, you'll find a spider on top like a little bow. Then if you're hungry Christmas morning, you can pop it in your mouth for a little snack!"

Like any meet and greet, you have maybe two minutes with them but it was totally worth waiting in line for that experience. As we were leaving, I wished him a Haunted Holiday.

Merry Creepmas!

Be sure to visit all the Creepmas blogs by clicking below.

Holiday Horror Movies Ranked

Film School Rejects has ranked just about every holiday horror movie they could find, a whopping 79 of them! I haven't' heard of a lot of these so I have a feeling I'll be returning to this list for a few holiday seasons.

You can check out the full list at Film School Rejects. And just a fore warning, the site has some annoying ads that slide in from the side.

Be sure to visit all the Creepmas blogs by clicking below.

Chainsaws For Christmas

The Christmas Tree is an integral part of the holiday season so it only makes sense to bring chainsaws into it too, right?

First up is a tune by one of my absolutely favorite bands, Zombina and the Skeletones. It's titled, appropriately enough, Chainsaw for Christmas.

The Texas Chainsaw Mistletoe answers the question on everyone's mind: What happens when you put Leatherface into holiday classic films?

This Santa with a chainsaw prank may be a bit mean spirited but then I remember all the Christmas stuff getting put out before Halloween and it makes me smile.

Be sure to visit all the Creepmas blogs by clicking below.

Krampus Kollectibles

If you're a fan of the movie Krampus, then Entertainment Earth is going to be your new best friend! They have all sorts of goodies to deck your halls with Krampus spirit.

First are these two sets of Beezle-Baubles. These ornaments are 8" in diameter and are perfect for sprucing up your tree (get it?). At the time I'm writing this, Set 1 is temporarily out of stock and Set 2 is very close to joining them. But it's never too early to order for next year, or whenever you want to display them. Leave them up year round if you want, I don't judge.

Speaking of decorating your tree, wouldn't this lovely Cherub Tree Topper look great atop your tree? I think she'd need a couple extra lights right below her to highlight the claws and creepy face.

My favorite item would have to be this Dark Elf statue. He's 1:6 scale, standing just over 10" tall. He's got a single candy cane hanging from his belt, but that's only for the good little kids. The bone saw might be for the other kids.

Are ornaments and statues not your thing. Do you just want something to cuddle with on the cold winter nights? This Klaue Teddy Bear might be the thing for you! You can even peel back part of his scalp to pet his brain! What a good little bear.

See all the Creepmas celebrants by clicking below.

Brad McGinty Holiday Postcards

It just wouldn't be the horror-days without some crazy postcards by artist Brad McGinty!

 There's just not much to say about this one other than "Ew!" 

The phrase Festering Festivities also comes to mind.

There is so much to love about this one: the kids' faces, the milk and cookies in the center of the pentagram, and the fact that the points of the star are Christmas trees.

You can snatch these up in batches of 6, 12, or 21 at Glorpgum.com. You may not get them in time to use this year, but classics like this never go out of style!

See all the Creepmas celebrants by clicking below.

The First Day of Creepmas

Welcome to the first day of Creepmas 2017!

 While I am joining in the festivities this year, it will be in a limited capacity. As you're reading this, I'm at DisneyWorld! I just didn't have time to prepare enough posts while I'm away so there will only be a couple of new ones. But I will be keeping things going on the social media by with links to posts of Creepmas past.

If you stumbled in here and don't know what Creepmas is, click below.

Monthly Movie Recap - November 2017

Posting this a day early because December begins the 13 Days of Creepmas! Not a whole lot of movie watching last month but I suspect some of you saw at least one, if not two, of the flicks I took in.

Thor Ragnarok (2017)

I heard someone call this Asgardians of the Galaxy and that about sums it up perfectly! You've got your classic rock plus plenty of humor and action. Quite different from previous Thor movies but in the best way possible. If you're a comic fan and don't have a dopey grin on your face during the opening fight, you should probably walk out.

Cool: Limiting myself to a few choice picks: Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie, Korg (and Miek's sweet moves), the Thor/Hulk bromance, the synth score.

Lame: The Warriors Three get shafted. They need to figure out what to do with Loki, I prefer him when he's menacing.

Rating: 8/10

Justice League (2017)

Is it high cinema? No. Is it a fun popcorn movie that you shouldn't over analyze? Yes! Maybe it helps that I went in with low expectations but I had a good time with this. I say give it a chance if you're interested.

Cool: Flash was fun!

Lame: Some parts are like video game cutscenes, but I guess that's just Snyder. I can't remember how many shots I saw of upskirt/Wonder-butt. She deserves much better than that! Also, didn't need to see the Bat- or Super-bulges. My biggest gripe with this movie? Flash's horrible costume.

Rating: 6/10

Now Playing Podcast is doing the Hellraiser series as part of their Fall 2017 donation drive. Since I never got beyond the third one, I decided to start at the beginning. Yes, I'm going to make myself watch the entire series, for better or worse. I know we all know at least the basic premise of the movies but I wanted to post the trailers because sometimes it's fun to go back and watch trailers for movies you know.

*Hellraiser (1987, Netflix & Amazon)
Yep, still as freaky and creepy as I remember it being! Some of the effects work doesn't hold up well after 30 years but the Cenobites and Frank's skin suit are still amazing.

Rating: 6/10

*Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 (1988, Netflix & Amazon)
Like any good horror series, you want to know more about the main baddie. Watching Hellbound is like opening the box: you get what you want but it's definitely not in the way you hoped. This is a good example of "typical 80s horror" but not a great sequel. I couldn't help laughing every time the doctor Cenobite/monster thing came on screen.

Rating: 3/10

Bedeviled (2016, Netflix)

I'm starting to develop a taste for horror involving cell phones/social media. It's definitely not that any of the movies have been good, I'm just curious how they go about creating a story around modern tech. This one was a neat idea but like the actors, it does the minimum to get by. This has no business being rated R, the only way I knew characters were killed is that they stopped appearing in the movie.

Cool: There are a couple of genuinely creepy moments. I really like Mr Bedeviled, I think with a better movie, he could become a horror icon.

Lame: The kills mainly happen off screen.

Rating: 4/10

Month Total

 New: 3  Rewatch: 2

Year Total

 New: 56  Rewatch:7

Creepmas Time is Here!

What's this? What's this?

It's that time of year again where we turn to our patron Saint Skellington for all things wicked and wintry! Spread the word far and wide!

Creepmas is when we October Children take back a few days from December to balance out holiday decorations taking over Halloween shelf space. If you'd like to join our celebration, head over to Creepmas.com to sign up and snag your 2017 blogger badge! Not a blogger? You can join in by tagging your social posts with #Creepmas and/or #MakingCreepmas.

What's Making Creepmas you ask?

It's an image challenge for each of the 13 days of Creepmas. 

You can find more info about it at Creepmas.com.

Boo Halloween Special (1980)

Halloween may be gone but that doesn't mean you have to wait another year to celebrate it!

The Museum of Classic Chicago Television posted the below video to their YouTube page last week. This Canadian Halloween variety show/special was produced in 1980 and aired on WGN in 1982. And like any good variety show, a couple of celebrity guests drop by: Dionne Warwick and Rip Taylor.

It's just as weird and cheesy as you'd want anything from the 80s to be. Plus, there's a healthy does of nostalgia because all the commercials are intact. There's even a Foods International Coffees one with Lea Thompson.

But maybe my favorite part of this whole thing (aside from Rip Taylor because how can you not love Rip Taylor?) are the Star Wars knockoffs. Around the 25 minute mark, the scene moves to The Spook Easy, a monster bar that I guess in in the castle? Even monsters need a place to kick back, right?

It instantly made me think of the cantina from Star Wars. There's a band playing and the monsters look more like Star Wars aliens than creatures of the night. The band looks kinda sorta familiar which only solidifies the Star Wars connection.

And then there's these two bar patrons who are trying to pick each other up, only they're not sure what sex the other one is...awkward.

A big shout out to the Plaid Stallions Facebook page for bestowing this gem into my life.

Salem Halloween 2017

Well, it's November 1st which means it's time for the annual PHSAD - Post Halloween Season Affective Disorder. The good news is I've got some pics from Salem last night, thanks to my mom and wife. I can't exactly work anything in costume.

Also, Creative Salem has a TON of photos of people in costume round Salem and from the Halloween Ball at the Hawthorne Hotel. Absolutely worth checking them all out!

Nightmare was well represented this year.

There were also quite a few Beetlejuice costumes out there.

One of my favorites. Simple but looks great.

This homemade Gremlin is wild!

And an amazing homemade Alien.

This Gomez Addams should be dressed as John Cleese!

There were about 6 of these dinos traveling in a pack having a grand old time chasing each other and bumping into themselves.

It wasn't as crowded as previous years, but maybe that's because it was a Tuesday night. There was a huge police presence and some intersections were blockaded with school buses but I never really thought about it until seeing them. Sadly, these are the times we live in. But despite that, I'd say I had an above average night. No costume issues and plenty of people wanting to take pics with the Salem Creep made for a fun time!

There's more pics over on Flickr. 

I'm going to go enjoy the last day of my mini-vacation.

Monthly Movie Recap - October 2017

Happy Halloween!

Tossing this out in case you're looking for a flick or two to entertain you tonight. There are plenty of treats to pick through here, as well as a couple of tricks.

If you have Prime, I also recommend the series Lore which covers the real life strange and weird from history. It's very appropriate for Halloween viewing.

*The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Saw this last night at Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops playing the soundtrack live. Simply incredible! Boys and girls of every age came dressed in costume and there was trick or treating throughout the building.

Bloody Birthday (1981, Shudder)
First off, if you plan on watching this one, skip the trailer. It pretty much gives all the good parts away. It's kind of a fun flick because the killers are three 10 year olds, all born on the same day during an eclipse, suddenly becoming homicidal. I don't know if it's better or worse that the kids aren't even creepy looking. On the other hand, nearly everything about the movie is...not great.

Cool: What's not to love about murderous children? Topless (Just Say) Julie Brown
Lame: Some of the most awkward looking teen make out scenes ever. There is in fact, no blood, on the birthday...what the heck?

Rating: 5/10

The WNUF Halloween Special (2013, Shudder)
It took my eyes awhile to adjust to the 3rd gen VHS look of this. I totally get what they were going for and I love them for it but it's just a bit too long. Anyone that grew up in the 80s should see this at least once.

Rating: 6/10

Prom Night (1981, Amazon)
Pretty much a snooze fest for the first hour. It's about 66% teen drama, 33% slasher, and 1% Saturday Night Fever. If you could cut about half the movie out that's after the first 10 minutes and when the killer shows up, it would be better.

Cool: The victims give the killer a run for their money which almost never happens
Lame: I must not have been paying close enough attention because I wasn't sure exactly who the killer was when they were unmasked. Awkward.

Rating: 4/10

Tragedy Girls (2017)
I had the joy of seeing this at the New England premiere as part of SalemHorror's programming. This is a wickedly fun time! It's a little like Mean Girls/Heathers mixed with social media plus a swirl of Scream. It managed to keep me guessing how things would play out.

Cool: Great gore and fun kills
Lame: My biggest problem: Jack Quaid (the main dude) can't pull off high schooler.

Rating: 8/10, find screenings on the film's website and go see it!

Boys in the Tress (2016, Netflix)
The trailer makes this look like a very different film than it actually is. While that was disappointing in one way, it was a nice surprise as I discovered what the story would be. Can't really talk about it too much without giving away the good stuff.

Cool: Some wonderful Halloween shots; 90s soundtrack
Lame: Growing up can suck

Rating: 7/10

The Babysitter (2017, Netflix)
Of everything that you might watch from this list tonight, this is my Numero Uno pick. Once it gets rolling, it doesn't take it long to go over the top. The main characters are a treat to watch and are great together.

Cool: Some great kills
Lame: The ending might be a little too over the top but it is so right on the money for the movie

Rating: 8/10, definitely a good time!

Cult of Chucky (2017, Netflix)
No horror franchise should still be this entertaining by its seventh go round. Not only is it a solid slasher but it's damn gorgeous to look at.

Cool: Great kills and some weird stuff going on
Lame: If you're not up on the series lore, you might be a little lost

Rating: 7/10

Phantasm Ravager (2016, rented via Amazon)
This movie is like a band you thought was cool in the 80s that's looking to make a quick buck by pumping out the hits with minimum effort. Maybe it's because it's been awhile since I watched nay of these but I was hoping for it to go out with a bigger bang.

Cool/Lame: The "real world" stuff is more interesting than the fantastical horror stuff.
Lame: The 90s era video toaster effects

Rating:  4/10

Curse of the Headless Horseman (1972)
I picked up this Something Weird Video DVD years ago and finally remembered to watch it this year. I knew it wasn't going to be great but wow, this is a new level of terrible. Who sets a story about the Headless Horseman at an Old West tourist trap?

Rating: 2/10

Dude Bro Party Massacre 3 (2015, Amazon)
Didn't see the first two? That's okay, they don't exist but they'll catch you up anyway! I think most people will either find this ridiculously stupid or entertaining, and a few people will go with both. It's a send up of 80s slashers with gallons of blood.

Cool: Creative kills with plenty of gore. I actually like the killer's backstory, it's fun.
Lame: Drags a little in places because the jokes aren't enough to keep it interesting.

Rating: 5/10, probably better with a group

Month Total

 New: 10  Rewatch:1

Year Total

 New: 53  Rewatch:5

Salem's Bizarre Bazaar

Salem's tourist season starts ramping up in September and then goes all out starting with the annual Haunted Happenings parade. Every weekend in October, there is the Haunted Bizarre Bazaar which is a fantastic street fair with all sorts of vendors. The fair is held in the Essex Pedestrian Mall downtown.

My usual tradition is to visit on the first Saturday of October, which is when most of these were taken. I also generally get some hot cider but since temps were close to 70 this year, I skipped on that.

Being such unusually warm weather, there were a lot of people out.

There are all sorts of vendors set up along the Mall. Even the Salem PD have a booth selling shirts and patches to raise money.

Others sell "normal" tourist-y things like witch hats...

and some sell things you might find in a witch's cupboard.

Holy Crow art

As you might expect, there's no shortage of regular shops in downtown Salem that sell jewelry, stones, charms, and other magical things. One of the booths that really caught my eye had glass gourds.

I talked to the woman running the stand while I was taking photos. She told me all about the young guy, who is an MIT student, and the process of creating these works of art. I sort of wish I'd recorded everything she told me because it would be a fascinating post all on its own. The graphic ones, like the pumpkin and skeleton hands next to it, require a crazy amount of work which is why they are priced around $500!

There are also a lot of art vendors. When I went back last weekend, I got to meet/chat with Jeff Stones, author/artist behind 99 Stormtroopers Join the Empire. It's a really fun book, and it was great to talk Star Wars with him.

On Salem Common, there are plenty of food vendors and kiddie rides.

Also on the common is a trailer showing off the annual pumpkin decorating contest.

And even though it's only October 7th, quite a few people are dressed in costume!

The snowman was a lot of fun to watch. He mostly just stood still, waiting for the right time to scare someone that got too close to him. The zombie waitress actually works for a local business and was handing out pamphlets.

Speaking of handing out pamphlets..

This is "Jesus guy." He's sort of a local "celebrity" as we've seen him at different events over the past few decades. If nothing else, I have to admire his commitment.

It being Salem, the store fronts also get "dressed up" for October.

This one is from Witch City Consignment, which is right across the street from the Witch House, the only standing structure in Salem with direct ties to the Witch Trials.

Sadly, or maybe luckily for my wallet, the blow molds are not for sale.

This next one is a barber shop and I love it so much!

I picked up a few things which I normally don't do.
The first "thing" is a group of postcards by Maryann Piro.

Some of them are whimsical, some creepy. I think they have a real story book feel to them.
You can get a better look at them, and more, at Maryann's Etsy site.

The other thing is a little book called A Love Letter to October by Susan Farrington.

She has a really unique style using mixed media.

There's a lot more pics from Salem and the Bizarre Bazaar over on Flickr. If I'd put more planning into my posts, I would have split this up to show everything off. Oh well, it's almost Halloween!

Be sure to visit all the participating bloggers by clicking the link below!