Now Playing: Bloodletting

By Soft Vein.

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R.I.P.

Image by jenny markley.

Halloween Spirit

This past Halloween season, I was alerted by a few people that Spirit Halloween was selling a prop that resembled a scarecrow that I had featured on my blog...one that I had built for the film MR. JONES.  I took a look and definitely felt it was a rip-off.  The combination of weird long fingers, vintage dress, and an almost out-of-place doll head seemed too much to be a coincidence.  So I reached out to Spirit.  One of their lawyers responded telling me that he didn't see the similarity and that Spirit purchased the prop from another company.  He didn't tell me the name of the company, but I had already been informed by one of the folks who had initially alerted me that the company's name was Tekky Toys.  After a couple more emails from me, he simply stopped replying.  Their position was clear.  They just don't care.

I chose to sit on this and just move forward, as proving something like this legally is very difficult and very expensive.  Today I saw the below video from an artist on Instagram and wanted to share her familiar story, and my little experience.  

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Catacombs Of The Montresors

At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner. From the fourth the bones had been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some size. Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we perceived a still interior recess, in depth about four feet, in width three, in height six or seven. It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use within itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.

- Edgar Allan Poe

Image by Haydenville Haunter.

Cauldron Halloween Stake

I swear I haven't gone soft, but this looks really neat.  Imagine it in a garden...near some twisted sticks and branches, with some fake webs (click on the video at the link and ignore the dreadful music).

Lit Sinister Scarecrow

Such a neat design.  I really dig the Gammell/Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark vibe.  Love the glowing eyes.  

Seems to be a bunch on ebay (not cheap).

Trailer: Stopmotion

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Now Playing: Reborn

By Colin Stetson.

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Scarrie Halloween

A really neat video below (and I can't recall ever seeing a larger faux cemetery):

Artifact Pottery

Always cool designs here.

More works and a link to their shop here.

Fire And Brimstone

“If I can but reach that bridge,” thought Ichabod, “I am safe.” Just then he heard the black steed panting and blowing close behind him; he even fancied that he felt his hot breath. Another convulsive kick in the ribs, and old Gunpowder sprang upon the bridge; he thundered over the resounding planks; he gained the opposite side; and now Ichabod cast a look behind, to see if his pursuer should vanish, according to rule, in a flash of fire and brimstone.  

- Washington Irving

Image by Ray.

Winter Fear

Is it just winter
or is this worse.
Is this the year
when outer damp
obscures a deeper curse
that spring can’t fix,
when gears that
turn the earth
won’t shift the view,
when clouds won’t lift
though all the skies
go blue.

- Kay Ryan

Teaser: Longlegs

This man can do no wrong...

The latest film from Oz Perkins.

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Now Playing: 02 Ghosts I

By Nine Inch Nails.

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VAMPA: Vampire & Paranormal Museum

With a light snow falling, we headed to Doylestown, PA on Sunday to visit the VAMPA Museum.  Packed with beautiful handmade artifacts and dark artwork (most devoted to the art of vampire killing), we walked through each room with a sense of awe.  I had some fears it would feel a little cheesy or heavy-handed, but it was surprisingly tasteful.  The pieces are gorgeous.  You can instantly tell that the curation of this strange collection was to create a place of beauty and dark wonder.  

In their own words:

VAMPA strives to create an environment where psychological drama and spiritual conflict are given free reign for imagination. A place that stimulates learning and understanding on how the magical mystery of the supernatural, folklore, myth, and faith has influenced the world in sculpture, painting, furniture and objects of art throughout the ages.

We will be returning for sure.

Some photos below, but click HERE for a short video.

Hexeglaawe: Frick's Lock

Our latest expedition to explore Pennsylvania's forgotten places took us to the ghost town of Frick's Lock.  Located in Chester County, PA, it dates back to the 18th century when it was a thriving village thanks to the commercial traffic of the Schuylkill Canal.  By the 1880's, the railway systems dominated the networks of canals and the importance of Frick's Lock diminished.  The canals were ultimately abandoned and drained in the 1920's, and isolated farms remained.

In 1969, the Philadelphia Electric Company began building the Limerick Nuclear Power Station directly across the river from Frick's Lock.  The station went live in 1986 and conflicting accounts suggest that residents were either bought out and relocated or given a 48-hour notice forced evacuation.  The town was left completely abandoned...or so we were told.

Our urban exploration of the village revealed strange noises and a strong feeling of being observed.  As we made our way back to the car, we spotted a small clearing near one of the larger houses.  Standing in a field was a scarecrow.  Before getting a chance to investigate any closer, a large rock was thrown in our direction.  Our expedition was cut short, but not before we snapped a few photos.

The Invisible Man

My recommendations for horror movies are few and far between these years (for obvious reasons [most stink]).  The Invisible Man was one of those rare exceptions where you didn't get to the end and wonder what went wrong with the world.  Rare also was the fact that it was well-reviewed at the time of its release (something that didn't happen with one of my favorite modern horror films CANDYMAN [it didn't stink]).  

We watched this one at night a week ago and I still find myself thinking about it.  I'm posting the trailer below, but, like a lot of trailers, it reveals too much.  So I suppose I'm asking you to trust me (if you're bored and can't find anything to watch).

Click below...

Who Goes There?

It could have imitated a million life-forms on a million planets. It could change into any one of them at any time. Now, it wants life-forms on Earth.

- Excerpt from Blair's Journal

Image by Jason Taylor.

Now Playing: Tloque Nahuaque

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