Thirty Days to Halloween, Day 13: Friday the 13th, A Halloween Classic

            Though it is not Friday today, it is the 13th of October, so I thought it fitting to make a post on Friday the 13th. There is a whole franchise of 12 slasher films, TV series, novels, comics, video games, and other merchandise. Camp Crystal Lake where Jason first drowned is the usual setting. Fans have created their own costumes, covered themselves with tattoos of Friday the 13tth artwork, and made Jason’s hockey mask one of the most recognizable horror images.

There are two books that could be valuable to hard-core horror fans: Making Friday the 13th: The Legend of Camp Blood and Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th

Here is a cool  trailer for the film!

A documentary was made entitled, His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th. This film has great information. You can watch the whole video HERE.

Thirty Days to Halloween, Day 12: The Witch of Endor

    If you are not familiar with I Samuel 28 in the Bible and the story of the Witch of Endor, Halloween is a good time to read it. I’m working on a detailed short story account of this rather strange event. Basically, the story is this: Things weren’t going well for Israel’s King Saul. David and his men were running for their lives and Saul and his army find themselves confronting a fierce and determined army of the Philistines. Saul literally trembles in fear.   He sought guidance from the Lord, but received no answer by dreams, by Urim, or from the prophets. So, he seeks help from a witch in the town of Endor. She was a necromancer (who could talk to the dead. He and two of his men disguise themselves and go to Endor and asks the witch to call up Samuel. Samuel’s ghost did indeed appear, the woman discovers Saul’s true identity. Saul seeks advice from the ghost of Samuel and is given the bad news: That the next day Saul and his sons would be with the dead Samuel. Here’s a short video that gives a short, but more detailed explanation of this passage.

Thirty Days to Halloween, Day 11: Classic Stories of Horror Everyone Should Read (Two of my Poe favorites)

               The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe:  I first discovered Poe at my Aunt Mildred’s house at the age of eleven. She lived in a little West Texas town called Knox City. The “Pit and the Pendulum” was included in one of those Reader Digest books that were a collection of stories and articles RD thought we should all read. I was sprawled out on the floor and read the story straight through with chills running up and down my spine. Published in 1842, the story is about the torments endured by a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition. Here is an excellent trailer video featuring Vincent Price from the movie made in 1961.

The “Tell-Tale Heart” was published in 1843 and it is a Poe story that I taught every year in ENGLISH 102. The story is a first-p[erson narrative from an unnamed and unreliable narrator (he is an insane, murderous caretaker) who tries to convince the reader of his logic and sanity. He definitely says some odd things. For example,  I asked how he could know the heart sounded like a watch wrapped in cotton unless he had tried it. I also tried to pantomime the murder as I read. Here’s a video based on the story that I’m sure you will enjoy.

Thirty Days to Halloween, Day 10: Two Short Horror Films

I enjoy these brief, moments of horror and suspense. I’m sure you will as well. Though many have expensive equipment.  If you are interested in making a short horror film yourself, you can learn how by visiting this SITE.

This film is called Whisper.

The second film is entitled Play Time.

The Hearse Song (The Worms Crawl In) – Harp Twins, Camille and Kennerly

This is a fun video for Halloween by the Harp Twins, Camille and Kennerly. You can learn more about them at their website HERE.  These beautiful identical twins have toured extensively at concerts and festivals, have several recordings,  and have millions of fans. The duo has also modeled and acted in movies, television, commercials, and theatre. Here is the featured song for this blog post. The obviously gifted twins hold Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do, do volunteer work, and have numerous other accomplishments and skills.

I do this song on my guitar for kids in my Halloween show. Speaking of worms, I recently viewed a short horror film where a woman gets revenge by secretly feeding him LIVE TAPEWORM EGGS.  Can you believe that these are actually for sale and that some people actually take them as a diet plan? Gross!

Thirty Days to Halloween, Day 8: Bodies in the Trinity:   A Story of La Llorona
by Rickey Pittman

The legend of La Llorona, the weeping woman is an ancient terrifying legend.  In a way, the legend is a cautionary tale, warning men of how their behavior and mistreatment of women can have serious consequences. It is a tale of how rejection and grief can rip at the heart and warp the mind, a tale of the pain women feel at the loss of children.  There are other lessons as well. A movie was made of the tale. I put the trailer at the end of the story I wrote for a horror contest.

BODIES IN THE TRINITY by Rickey Pittman

Evil is a true thing in Mexico.  It goes about on its own legs.  Maybe someday it will come to you. Maybe it already has—Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses

I AM LA LLARONA, AND I WEEP FOR MY CHILDREN. For centuries of nights I have wandered along the waters throughout Mexico. And yes, I walk along the banks of your Trinity River. I have strolled along your Turtle Creek, your Bachman Lake and the other waters. You are surprised to find me in your country? Do not be. No, in my lifetime, your land too was once a part of Mexico.

I am a Mexican ghost, born of a desert tragedy. On that dreadful night, when I realized my lover had abandoned us, I blew out the last candle I had lit for him and drowned my two little children, damning myself forever.  But as I was a whore in the eyes of all, what else could I have done?  I had given this man my virginity, my honor, my future. No one would help us—-not my parents, not the Holy Church, not the residents of our pueblo. I am forever lost now—in the night, in the madness, pain, hopelessness, grief, and loneliness.  Ay, mis hijos, ¿Donde Estan mis hijos?

    I don’t watch much TV, but I love movies, especially those that fit with my two favorite seasons–Halloween and Christmas.  My favorite children’s video for Halloween in The Book of Life, a computer-animated film that follows the adventures of a guitar-playing bullfighter, Manolo, on the Day of the Dead as he journeys into the worlds of the dead. The film as breathtaking animation and graphics, and is full of humor, music, and fun. Adults and children alike will enjoy this.  Here are the DVD cover and official trailer video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBw5YScs8iQ

The second video I would recommend for your Halloween celebrations is a video version of the play Dr. Faustus, written by Christopher Marlowe (first performed in 1604), the story of a doctor who became a necromancer and sold his soul to the Devil in return for knowledge and power. In the film version, Richard Burton stars as Faust and Elizabeth Taylor as Helen of Troy.  The play has several memorable and famous lines such as, “Is this the face that launched a thousand ships?” You can find more quotes HERE:  Here is a trailer for the film. Put it on your list of films to view!

Thirty Days to Halloween, Day 6. “Lobo Meets Red Riding Hood”

Here’s a little bit of horror for you redheads and lovers of redheads. I wrote this short story for a horror contest. It’s sort of a fractured fairy tale, similar to Decaprio’s Red Riding Hood. I placed a trailer video after the story.

“If you want trouble… find yourself a redhead.” – Unknown

I’ve always had a weakness for redheads. On a hiking trail on the Natchez Trace, I heard a runner’s footsteps and turned to see her coming my way.   I stopped and leaned against a hickory and lifted my canteen as if taking a drink.   She slowed her jog to a walk. “Hello,” she said.

“Hi, yourself.”

“Are you okay? You look a little out of breath and your face is red. As red as my hair.”   She slipped the scarlet hood of her cape back to reveal thick, dark red hair that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.

I took another drink of water. “I’m fine.” Liar! my thoughts shouted. She has stupefied you. I thought I’d take a chance. I corked the canteen and extended my hand. “My friends call me Lobo. And you are?”

“Scarlett.  I’m going to finish this trail. A little bit beyond that is my grandmother’s house. Want to walk with me? Grandmother always has a good meat pie ready for me.” She tightened the strap on her small backpack and slipped her arm into mine. “Please come with me. Grandmother loves company!”

“Sure.” As we resumed our hike, a thousand questions and thoughts buzzed through my mind.

“Guess how I got my name,” she said.

“Your parents loved Gone with the Wind?”

She snickered. “You’re funny. Obviously, I came out of my mother’s womb with red hair.”

“I like redheads,” I said.

“You’d be stupid not to. I like you too.”

I felt like howling.

As we walked, she told me all about redheads. “Did you know Scotland has the largest percentage of redheads, but the United States has the largest redhead population? The Greeks liked to say that we redheads are emotionally un-housebroken. They believed we turn into vampires when we die.”

She looked at me and grinned. I blinked because for a moment I thought I saw a jagged tooth.

She continued. “The Spanish Inquisition thought redheads were witches.” She sighed. “That may be partially true.”

“Aren’t there some famous redheads, like Lucille Ball?” I asked.

“Oh, yes. Many.”

We walked on past the trailhead and followed another path past a NO TRESSPASSING sign.  “There’s her house,” pointing to a small clapboard house.

When we reached it, we stepped up on the porch. She opened the door and stuck her head in. “Grandmother, I’m back! I’ve a friend with me too.” She took my hand and pulled me inside.

“Grandmother, this is Lobo.”

“Glad to meet you, ma’am.”

“Oh, Scarlett, I’m glad you have a polite boyfriend this time.” She looked at me. “This girl has such a hard time keeping a boy around. Won’t you sit down to eat? I just finished cooking this meat pie.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

She set a steaming piece down with a spoon. “Dig in, boy!”

I ate like a condemned man eating his last meal. I’ve never tasted a meat pie so good.  The grandmother and Scarlett had grown silent and sat as still as statues, looking at me. It felt really weird. Finally the grandmother moved over to her kitchen counter and rolled a pie filling that she pressed into a pie pan.

“Yep, you got a good one this time, Scarlett. I like him. He will taste real good. Make a fine meat pie. The cleaver’s on the shelf, dear. You know what to do.”

Thirty Days to Halloween: Day 5. A review of  In the Shadow of the Vampire: Reflections from the World of Anne Rice by Jana Marcus, with an Introduction by Katherine Ramsland.

One can certainly argue that Anne Rice made vampires popular through her Vampire Chronicles and movies based on her books. Her fans and disciples have created an actual subculture.  (Google says there are ten vampire bars in New Orleans, there are fan clubs, and vampire tours ). The back-cover description says this fascinating book offers interviews and a closeup view of her devotees and disciples with over 100 photographs from Rice’s Memnoch Ball in New Orleans. The book is rich with memorable quotes, too many to mention in this short review. This book will help you understand the world of Anne Rice and the world of those who live in the shadow of the vampire.

If you ever wondered how books and movies can affect people and how far they can go into the darkness, as one of the opening epigraphs says, “And in this Savage Garden, these innocent ones belonged in the vampire’s arms.”–Anne Rice, The Vampire Lestat.

When I first wrote my children’s picture book Rio Grande Valley ABC and began my intense studies of the Rio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico, I discovered the Day of the Dead. Here are two fine coffee-table books about the Day of the Dead filled with the origins, the history, personal stories, traditions, photographs, motifs, and crafts that are sure to make the Day of the Dead weekend come alive and give you plenty of ideas for decorations of your own home and altar.

The first book is Day of the Dead: A Passion for Life. It focuses on the celebration in the State of Michoacan. The text and photos are by Mary J. Andrade and the book is published by La Oferta Publishing Company.  The book illustrates that only in Mexico is Life honored through Death.

The second book is Day of the Dead: Art, inspiration, and Counter Culture by Ross Thorne and published by Flame Tree Publishing. David Lozeau provides a very interesting foreword. The artwork and photographs are amazing. The back cover features a beautiful quote by Frida Kahlo, “I hope the end is joyful and I hope never to return.”