The Thief of Always

Halloween is one day away, and it's a Saturday. That reminds me, I've yet to check David Lynch's weather report. I also didn't watch a horror movie or anything spooky last night. I'm kind of off my game, guys. Speaking of, I didn't watch a single football game last Sunday. Or Monday. Or Thursday. It was the Steelers' bye week, but still. I always watch football no matter how I'm feeling. That's another thing...about this Halloween...I kind of don't care about it much. It's not as though I haven't been trying to get into the spooky spirit. I've been watching horror movies and Halloween-related content nearly nightly and I've put together over 100 treat bags for the kids in anticipation of the big day. I've also put up some decorations, but not nearly as many as I normally would, and some only went up today. I usually decorate my place during the first week of October, but I guess things just don't feel so usual. And, you know what? I kind of don't care. I mean, so what? It's really not that serious. I'm also feeling run down and sick, which isn't ideal as I've had to reconfigure my plans, but it'll be fine. I'm still gonna marathon horror movies, eat tons of candy and carve more pumpkins tomorrow. Sounds alright to me. Actually, I might carve my last one tonight. I don't like the idea of watching the Steelers game with knife in hand.

​If you're carving pumpkins and planning on roasting pumpkin seeds, I highly recommend using Dinosaur Dracula's awesome recipe. It does not disappoint. I went a bit too ham with the cayenne, but other than that, the first batch was delicious.

Aside from movies, decorating and preparing a costume (I may or may not dress up, but my costume is ready to go) another thing I usually love doing is compiling a Halloween playlist. Well, guess what...it didn't happen this year. I'm on a roll, hey? I just remembered something funny about last year's Halloween playlist. Metallica's "Seek and Destroy" crept its way in there, and no matter how many times I tried to remove it, it kept reappearing. The song is fine. Not my favourite Metallica song, but it's alright and makes me think about hockey. In any case, it didn't belong on my Halloween playlist. It was all wrong, especially right at the end. Eventually I was able to get rid of it, but that shit was weird. I didn't realize that playlists could be highjacked. Did one of you do it? I want names. Anyway, rather than making a new Halloween playlist I put together a spooky season metal playlist called Something Wicked This Way Cums. I made an effort not to use any songs from previous Spotify Halloween-type playlists I've made. I probably did, though. Who am I kidding? I'll also share last year's Halloween playlist, The Hunt For Dead October, because why not? I apologize if Metallica creeps back on there, but if they do, I hope it's another song. Maybe "Creeping Death" or something. Gotta stay on brand at least.

On that note, I will now share a list of what I've watched during the month of October. I'm not going to say too much about most of them because I don't feel like it and also I've written about some of these films in the past, but I'll probably say a thing or two about some. I picked several first time watches as well as some that I haven't seen in ages. I hope you guys feel inspired to watch something from this list or just inspired to watch something spooky.

Oct 1: Creepshow: Season 3, episodes 1 and 2. Not into either one, really. Thankfully, the show gets better. The Stuff (1985), Suspiria (1977). Goblin's music always puts me in a trance. Such a beautiful film.
Oct 2: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) One of my favourite sequels, Ms. 45 (1981) This was a first time watch for me and oh my lord Jesus Christ was it good! I already knew the premise which is why I've been avoiding it. The rape scene(s). Ick, you guys. It was bad, but worth it if you can get through it. I was thoroughly impressed, start to finish. And that Halloween party scene is iconic. I say put it on your Halloween watch list, for sure. 

The magnificent Zoe Lund in Ms.45 (and likely next year's Halloween costume).

​Oct 3: Steelers vs Packers, Evil Dead II (1987), Black Sunday (1977) Classics all around. Too bad we lost.
Oct 4: Dig Two Graves (2014) This was terrible. Based on the description, I thought I would love it, but no.
Oct 5: Did I watch something? I dunno. I didn't write it down if I did.
Oct 6: Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988). Elvira forever! I've been in love with her since childhood.
Oct 7: Near Dark (1987) That bar scene is just everything. Never gets old.
Oct 8: Ma (2019) I actually found this one entertaining, maybe because it reminded me of when me and my friends would get older people to boot for us and hung around creeps just to get booze and drugs. The movie was pretty funny, and gross at times. Dumb at times, too, but whatever. The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1977). I was intrigued because I'm a little obsessed with the actual horrific murders that the film is based on, but it sucked. It shouldn't even be on the list because I turned it off after half an hour. I hated the narration so much that I couldn't bring myself to continue. I didn't used to turn off movies when I hated them, but now I do. *cough, cough, Fear Street* I'm too old to waste whatever time I've got left on something I'm not enjoying. Hmm...that's got me thinking about some other aspects of life. Okay, okay. Next up was The Hand (1981) I hadn't seen this one before and I thought it was great! Written and directed by Oliver Stone. Super fun effects and a wildly entertaining performance from Michael Caine. Knock Knock (2015). I did not like this film, but I LOVED Keanu Reeves in this film. The premise is so incredibly unbelievable and stupid, but I loved seeing Keanu step into a totally different kind of role. Plus, we get to see him bone.
Oct 9: Phantasm (1979). I love me some tall man. Suspiria (2018) Fantastic remake. Loved all the dancing. I wish we had that in the original. Music was gorgeous, too. Thom Yorke is amazing. 
Oct 10: The Guest (2014), Fright Night (1985) Halloween essentials. 
Oct 11: Night of the Demons (1988) Same. A must watch for the season.
Oct 12: Ghoul Log/Return of the Ghoul Log. I think I threw this on a few times when I didn't feel like committing to a movie or show. It's always fun to have on in the background. You can find it on Shudder.
Oct 13: Creepshow Episode 3. I really enjoyed this one. It felt like an old school Tales From The Crypt episode. Ain't nothin' wrong with that.
Oct 14: Child's Play (2018) So I finally checked this one out. It was something. I actually didn't hate it.
Oct 15: Halloween Kills (2021). It had great kills so the title was fitting. That's all I've got.
Oct 16: Creepshow Episode 4: Good stuff! 
Oct 17: I dunno. Something? Nothing?
Oct 18: The Haunting Hour: The Dead Body (2010) Luke from The Guest being bullied again. WNUF Halloween Special (2013). Shoutout to Jimmy George! This movie is such a fun watch for the spooky season. Anyone who grew up in the 80's will especially appreciate it. Great stuff.
Oct 19: Basket Case (1982) So messed up and so much fun.
Oct 20: The Haunting Hour: Fear Never Knocks (2011)
Oct 21: Child's Play (1988). Aw yeah. I'll never forget my mom having to call my friends' parents and say that we were renting this movie for my sleepover one year. Hah.
Oct 22: Dracula (1979). Frank Langella, you sexy beast. The Wicker Man (1973). I need to re-watch the remake with Nicolas Cage. It seems that I'm the only one who loves it. But I do, what can I say? Creepshow Episode 5. This one was pretty good.
Oct 23: The Dead Zone (1983) I haven't seen this in ages and, holy shit, Christopher Walken is sexy as HELL. I guess I was previously too young to appreciate his hotness back in the day, but I'm not too young for anything these days. Also, the movie is awesome. Nightbreed (1990). I had to watch some Clive Barker. I mean, I did steal my blog post title from one of his incredible books. Many seem to dislike this one, but I like it! It's no Hellraiser, but it's fun. Maybe a bit too long, but I watched the director's cut and I feel like it's a bit longer. But maybe not. 
Oct 24: Halloween (2018). I didn't mind this one as much as I did the upon the first watch, but it's just ok in my opinion.  Vampyres (1974). Hot naked lesbian vampires. If that's not enough to make you watch it, I don't know what else to say. Lost Highway (1997). 

​Lost Highway is the only movie I've seen multiple times in the theatre. I was so obsessed with this movie that I cut my own bangs super short immediately after returning from the theatre to make my hair look just like Patricia Arquette's. She is absolutely stunning. Everyone is hot in this movie. David Lynch has very good taste. I must say, though, Bill Pullman is one of my biggest crushes. He has been giving my lady boners since Spaceballs (1987). Along with Rick Moranis, obviously. In any case, Lost Highway is amazing and horny as hell, and has one of the best soundtracks of all time. I've said it before and I'll say it again, God bless Trent Reznor. He is the man. 
Oct 25: The Dead Don't Die (2019). I enjoyed this one, plus Tom Waits is in it. I'll watch him in anything.
Oct 26: Some episodes of The Haunting Hour. I didn't record which ones. I'm no good at this, as it turns out. 
Oct 27: The Evil (1978)
Oct 28: Only Lovers Left Alive (2013). I actually gave up on this one half way through. Not because I didn't think it was good, but because I was not in a great mood. I absolutely loved Anton Yelchin in it, but he was exceptional in everything. I look forward to giving this one another shot soon. 
Oct 29: Nada
Oct 30: That's today. So far I watched Creepshow: Episode 6 and enjoyed it quite a bit. I haven't settled on a movie lineup for the night, though I feel like The House of the Devil (2009) is fitting, since it's Devil's Night. Then maybe The Lost Boys (1987) as it's one of my go-to comfort films. 
Oct 31: Halloween (1978) will definitely go on during the day, and I'll probably watch Halloween II (1981) and will most definitely watch Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982). Trick 'r Treat (2007) will probably go on a little later in the evening, and who knows what else. Something scary, I'm sure. Or funny. Or both.

Alright, I'm done. Does anyone actually read this stuff? These lists? Meh, whatever. If not, it's at least a great way to keep track of what I've watched as the years go by. And they seem to be going by quickly. Soak it up, my spooky ones, and make it a season to dismember. And remember, things don't always go as planned. For example, the other day a creepy dude drove by slowly, staring at me like a loser, and I stared back thinking CRASH! CRASH! Nothing. Things don't always work out the way you think they ought to. It's fine. It's really not that serious. Nothing to lose your head over. Just do something that makes you happy. Something that makes you laugh. Something that makes you cry. Something that makes you hurl. That one's for you, Toni. ;)

In an effort to seek and destroy any possible bad juju (get well, Juju Smith-Shuster) I will end this post by sharing this Metallica song. Hey, I haven't had Metallica after me since the Napster days and I don't need them after me now. Consider this a truce. Oh, and I blame any typos on my glasses. This is my first day wearing glasses and so far I feel a little drunk. I'm not sure if that's normal, but I was told that my eyes will adjust. Ok, this is KR, signing out on this chilly Devil's Night.

Stay spooky, pals, and have a very happy Halloween!