As much as I love all horror with reckless abandon, women in the genre often fall into clear-cut tropes: the whore, the virgin, the Final Girl. However, we’re starting to see women slip into more sophisticated and complex horror roles. Do yourself a favor and add these films to your watch list, and be in awe of some of horror’s best badass women.
Behold! The creepy cuteness born out of the mind of artist Ashley Love. Prepare for much gushing over her work.
I think the concept of cute nihilism is brilliant, and there’s an entire section of Ashley’s online store categorized as “Nihilism + Existential” with adorable designs and soul-crushing text that says what we’re all thinking—or maybe it’s just me?
I mean, just take a look at these cute nihilist stickers:
Every year, we invite our friends to dress up, share a meal, and of course, watch Thriller with silent respect and awe. Below are some photos of our friends’ amazing costumes, party details, and the coolest novelty chocolates you’ll ever see. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be counting down the days until next Halloween.
beautiful chocolates from The Truffle Cottage
Han and Chewie
Let’s be honest—you could pick any Buffy episode to watch this Halloween, and it would be a great decision. With witches, demons, vampires, and all kinds of other creatures that go bump in the night, Buffy is perfect for revisiting this time of year. That’s why I’ve compiled episodes that I think are particularly fitting for a Halloween viewing. With the exception of one, you’ll find I didn’t include the obvious Halloween specials because I think there are creepier episodes that better capture the Halloween spirit—ones well-seated in horror meta-commentary with brilliant visual storytelling. Here’s my list:
In season two, Buffy hits its stride, culminating in one of my favorite season finales of television. That’s not to say it didn’t keep some of the camp from season one. The premise of “Halloween” reminds me of something out of a Goosebumps novel or an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? After getting costumes from Ethan’s Costume Shop, the Scooby Gang and other citizens of Sunnydale transform into literal interpretations of their costumes. For someone who’s never watched Buffy, this is a pretty self-contained episode, perfect for a one-off Halloween viewing, but for lovers of the show, this is an introduction to Ethan Rayne, who seems like a throwaway character but ends up affecting the season arc and several seasons down the road. It’s the beginning of many long-term payoffs and complex narrative arcs that make Buffy a stand-out show.
Not that you need an excuse, but October is the perfect time to indulge your nostalgia and watch cheesy Halloween movies from your childhood. Even though they may not be as spine-chilling as when you were young, these classic Halloween movies will fill you with warm fuzzies—and I gotta say, I think they (mostly) hold up.
Short stories are the perfect vehicle for horror. Many full-length horror movies and long-form novels lose steam in the third act: things tend to slow down to allow for explanations and solutions. Usually, you can see how things will be wrapped up from a mile away, and sitting through the ending is just a matter of principle. Because Tales from the Darkside: The Movie is a compilation of three short stories, the pace never drags and the pieces avoid over-explanation and cliché endings. Despite the outdated claymation and over-the-top, bright red blood, the storytelling rivals the best of ’em.
Based on the novel by Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes combines all my favorite things: creepy carnies, stalwart library patrons, and on-the-nose names, such as “Mr. Dark” and “Jim Nightshade.” Throw in a classic battle of good versus evil and some “Monkey’s Paw” scenarios, and you’ve got a recipe for success. Despite its Disney status, this film has some solid imagery that still haunts me to this day.
With Halloween fast approaching, it’s time for False Positive‘s yearly treat for your eyeballs: 31 Days of Halloween! If you’re not familiar, False Positive is a horror webcomic anthology, showcasing short stories of the surreal, fantastic, and macabre. While reading, you might notice that the stories draw inspiration from cult classics, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Tales from the Darkside, and The Twilight Zone. In other words, False Positive stories will keep you on your toes– you’ll never be sure exactly how things will shake out. To get a taste for the site and the kind of horrific goodies it offers, I recommend starting at the beginning, with the first story updated on the site: “Concoction.” It’s sure to satisfy your Halloween story cravings.
Every day during the month of October, False Positive uploads a new horror-themed, pop-culture art piece that’s sure to inspire awe, terror, and perhaps outright giddiness. This is the fifth year in a row that False Positive has engaged in its annual celebration of October in all its glory, so if you haven’t seen the pieces from years past, it’s worth digging into the 31 Days of Halloween inventories and taking a look. Seeing False Positive‘s horror-themed art every year is one of my favorite parts of the season, and it always signals the official start of my favorite month, getting me into the Halloween spirit.
To whet your whistle, here are some examples of art pieces from past 31 Days of Halloween:
It’s finally October, and all my favorite things are now in season! I’ve had my Star Wars-themed Halloween costume ready to go since early September, and during my hunt, I found so many great fun, easy Star Wars costumes that I have to share with the world! It’s never been easier to grab cool Star Wars cosplay pieces that can make for a simple Halloween costume but become every day wardrobe staples.
The Wookiee
Chewbacca Hoodie- Hot Topic. $74.99
(Note: Hot Topic has online and in-store sales all the time, so watch out for those! )
Chewbacca shirt- HallowenCostumes.com. $14.99–$19.99
If you’re looking to make the coolest margarita mix of all time, you’ve come to the right place. Jeff’s mom is crazy about all things zombies, so we made some special homemade zombie-style margarita mixes for her birthday. We used fresh raspberries and limes to make two different kinds of mixes, and we added food coloring to maximize creepiness. Because they both turned out jaw-droppingly good, we thought we’d share the recipe, so you can make delicious margaritas (just add tequila) or virgin cocktails (just add soda).
Every October, we save up all our time and energy to expend on an all-out Halloween party. This year, we made taco soup, mini chimichangas, and cake pops. Plus, we ordered some crazy-awesome chocolates from The Truffle Cottage with homages to Ghostbusters, Scream, and Nightmare Before Christmas. We thought we’d share some of our decorations with you, along with a snapshot of our costumes. Happy Halloween!
(from The Truffle Cottage)
(plates , napkins, and bloody tablecloth from Target)
With my favorite holiday fast approaching, some of you may be scrambling to throw together an easy costume. Not everyone can obsessively plan out Halloween months in advance (like I do), and maybe you just want a clever costume for a Halloween party. Here are some easy costume options that can all be donned by women and gents alike.
1. Dr. Who
What You Need:
With a few easy-to-find and inexpensive items, you’re in business as Dr. Who. Think Geek even offers a Dr. Who quick costume set with a fez and bow tie. It doesn’t get any easier.
2. Shaun
What You Need:
Muss up your shirt and tie so you look nice and disheveled from running for your life. Don’t forget to put a red ink stain on the shirt pocket. Bonus points for adding a cricket bat to the ensemble.
Editor. Tetris master. Beatrix Kiddo cosplayer. Adjunct English instructor. Kid Robot collector. Whedon trivia queen.
Geek Appetite: Serving up geek goodies & good eats 