Category Archives: Television

Upcoming Halloween TV

October 14, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

One of my favorite things about this time of year is that it’s so very easy to find a Halloween-themed show or scary movie on TV any ol’ time. If you’re looking for what to watch, look no further. I did the research so you don’t have to miss any of your favorites.

TV Episodes/Movies

October 14

All-Star Halloween Spectacular (HGTV)

October 16

The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror XXVII” (Fox)

October 18

Brooklyn Nine-Nine “Halloween IV” (Fox)

October 19

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (ABC)

October 20

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again (live musical) (Fox)

October 23

Bob’s Burgers “Teen-A-Witch” (Fox)

The Walking Dead (season premier) (AMC)

October 25

The Middle “Halloween VIII: The Heckoning” (ABC)

American Housewife “Westport Zombies” (ABC)

Fresh Off the Boat “Louisween” (ABC)

The Real O’Neals “The Real Halloween” (ABC)

October 26

Modern Family “Halloween 4: The Revenge of Rod Skyhook” (ABC)

The Goldbergs “Stefan King” (ABC)

Speechless “H-A-L-HALLOWEEN” (ABC)

Black-ish “The Purge” (ABC)

Series/Events

American Horror Story: Roanoke: The much-anticipated 6th season of this crazy series premiered on September 14 on FX, and you can catch new episodes on Wednesday nights. Catch up on the FXNow app if you’re behind!

Scream Queens: Season 2 began on September 20 on Fox. New episodes can be watched each Tuesday night.

Halloween Wars: The first episode premiered October 2 on Food Network, but you can watch new episodes every Sunday through October 30.

Halloween Baking Championship: The first bake-off of the season premiered October 3 on Food Network. You can watch new episodes every Sunday through October 31.

AMC Fearfest: There will be over 60 different horror movies running from October 16 through October 31 on AMC.

13 Nights of Halloween: Watch fun movies each night on ABC Family from October 19 through October 31.

Looks like we all have quite a bit to keep us busy until the big night! Enjoy these glory days while you can. Before you know it, we’ll be inundated with Christmas music and sappy tv shows, and we’ll have to satisfy our horror cravings with Nightmare Before Christmas and Black Christmas. That’s not really a bad thing, but we definitely have more options this time of year.

Are there any shows coming up that I missed? Let me know in the comments or contact me through the contact page.

Television

American Horror Story: No More Waiting

September 14, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

Alright American Horror Story fans, the wait is over! Season 6 begins tonight, and all of the speculation over the theme can come to an end. Hallelujah!

If you’re a fan like me, I’m sure you’ve been experiencing the frustrating yet titillating impact of the many, MANY different teasers/commercials they’ve made for this season. Seriously. I just counted 30 on their Facebook page. Yes, some of them are compilations, but still, 30 is technically a buttload. Look it up.

Check them out here.

They’ve already said that not all the teasers are actually related to the theme of the season. There was even a sweepstakes people could enter to try to pick the correct teaser and win a Mercedes-Benz.

Don’t worry if you didn’t enter. I’m pretty sure they’ll be calling my name as the winner tonight.

I’ve read comments on Facebook and Reddit from people angry that the creators are messing with the fan base, but I think this marketing ploy has been pretty awesome. The teasers have been one crazy mindf*ck after another. So entertaining. I’m wondering how the actual show will measure up.

Here’s what we know so far:

We know Roanoke will play a part. Set photos with the word “Croatoan” carved into a tree have led some to believe, and prematurely claim, that the theme of the season is American Horror Story: Lost Colony. I don’t think this is true, but we know that this has already been a part of the AHS universe. Violet used the word in the Murder House season to banish a ghost after psychic Billie Dean told the story of Roanoke.
Lady Gaga is definitely in it. Like it or not (and for the record, I love it), she’s been confirmed as a cast member, and her newest song was featured in one of the latest teasers. I liked Gaga’s performance in Hotel, so I’m pretty happy she’s back.
There’s going to be different eras involved. The Roanoke set photos are obviously from way back when, but we’ve been told that the present day will also be seen.
TV Guide and Rotten Tomatoes might have accidentally given away the theme. Both have indicated that American Horror Story: The Mist will be the name this time around. Are they right?
The creators have given sneaky little hints that the show will have a lot to do with cults and children. Creepy kids? Maybe the little antichrist, Michael, from the first season will make an appearance. One of the teasers was very Rosemary’s Baby-ish, so I think it’s a big possibility.
The freaky hum prominent in some of the trailers is awesome. I just found out tonight that it’s a song from Kali Uchis named Sycamore Tree. I wonder if ‘Forest’ is the theme after all.
If Jessica Lange makes an appearance – even if it’s just a quick cameo – I will vomit from utter happiness.

I’m sure we won’t get all the answers to our questions tonight, but at least it’ll be a start. The anticipation has been killing me!!!

Scary Stories, Television, Throwbacks

Throwback: Are You Afraid of the Dark?

June 2, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, Snick on Nickolodeon was the highlight of my weekend (except for Tales from the Crypt). So many classic Nick shows. From Clarissa Explains It All to Ren & Stimpy, so many memories and so many laughs.

And, of course, there was this little gem.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? premiered on Nickelodeon in the early 90s and taught kids my age the art of the scary story. Stories were based on urban legends, supernatural beings, or fairy tales, and they always had a twist. They were like Tales from the Crypt or The Twilight Zone for a younger audience, except instead of the Cryptkeeper or Rod Serling, it had the Midnight Society, a group of kids who met at midnight around a campfire to tell scary stories. I always thought the Midnight Society was the coolest thing ever, and I wanted so badly to have a group like that of my own.

But whose parents are just going to let their 10-year-old out at midnight to hang around a campfire at a secret location in the woods? Not many.

There were so many awesome stories and characters. Some of my favorite episodes were:

The Tale of Laughing in the Dark: A kid visits a local carnival’s haunted house and steals the nose of Zeebo, an animatronic clown that turns out to be a little attached to his missing body part.
The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors: New neighbors arouse the suspicion of children in the house next door, who suspect they might be vampires.
The Tale of the Frozen Ghost: A kid and his babysitter visit his aunt’s house and encounter a spirit haunting the area. (To this day, I still utter a sad little “I’m cold” when I’m freezing. Watch it. You’ll know what I mean.)
The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner: A boy accidentally unleashes a comic book villain who terrorizes his town.
The Tale of the Dangerous Soup: A teen starts working in a restaurant and finds out their best-selling soup has an interesting ingredient.

I might just have to watch some of these again. They might be for a younger crowd, but I’ve never really grown up, so it’s okay.

Anyone out there have some favorite episodes they want to share? What are your favorite scary shows from your childhood?

Books, Scary Stories, Television

Frightmaster Lovecraft, Spinnin’ Terror

May 27, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

It’s Friday again, and if you’re looking for a way to start your weekend off with a fright, then I suggest you look into the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

Even if you haven’t read any of Lovecraft’s stories, you are still sure to have read, heard, or watched something that was influenced by him. Multiple musicians, directors, comic book artists, and authors (including the master of horror himself, Stephen King) have cited Lovecraft as a huge inspiration in their work.

And for all you Evil Dead fans (myself included), you know the Necronomicon? Yeah. He invented that. Respect.

Now, if you’re looking for light reading, this ain’t it. His stories boast some of the heaviest content I have ever read. Thinking about the size of the universe and your place in it can make you feel small, but Lovecraft’s descriptions of our place in the galaxy, the origins of our ancestors, and ancient inhabitants of our planet make you feel positively microscopic.

It’s not feel-good material is what I’m saying. It’s just good. Really good.

My favorites of his stories are “At the Mountains of Madness,” “Dreams in the Witch House,” “The Dunwich Horror,” “The Shunned House,” and, of course, “The Call of Cthulhu.”

It’s about this guy, but scarier.

I suggest you start with all of those and keep going.

Not much of a reader? No problem. Check out the following movies and TV episodes based on or influenced by his work:

Re-Animator (1985): This horror-comedy based on Lovecraft’s story “Herbert West – Re-Animator” is gory, disturbing, and hilarious.
Masters of Horror – “Dreams in the Witch House” (2005): The second episode of this awesome series (check it out if you haven’t already) is directly taken from the story of the same name. It’s dark and creepy, and it’s one of my favorites.
South Park – “Coon 2: Hindsight,” “Mysterion Rises,” & “Coon vs. Coon & Friends” (2010): Trouble begins in the first episode of this trilogy when DP drills too deep into the ocean floor and releases Cthulhu from the watery depths. Of course, Cartman is there to make friends. If you love to laugh, this will not disappoint.
The Thing (1982): Although it isn’t actually based on the story, this movie is reminiscent of “At the Mountains of Madness,” one of my all-time favorite Lovecraft stories. Antarctica? Check. Doom? Check. Gloom? Check. Creepy Alien Lifeforms? Check.

I believe I’ll take my own advice and re-read some of my favorite stories over this long weekend. What about you? Do you have any favorites? What Lovecraftian horrors give you the chills?

Television, Throwbacks

Throwback: Tales from the Crypt

May 5, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

Hello, Boils and Ghouls. For this edition of Throwback Thursday, I thought I’d talk about one of my favorite shows as a kid: Tales from the Crypt. I’d always stay up on Saturday nights to make sure I didn’t miss an episode. I still L-O-V-E this show. Let’s talk about why you should, too.

The Opening & Theme Song

From the very beginning, this show captured my attention. There aren’t many shows I watch that I make a point of also watching the opening sequence every single time (Game of Thrones and Black Sails now also hold that honor).

I’d hear the groan of the wrought iron gate and immediately snap to attention. I always wanted to visit that house as a kid – creepy decor, secret passageways, and it’s own basement crypt. What kid wouldn’t love that?

And can I just say how much I love the theme song? It’s actually been my ringtone for a few years now. Danny Elfman is one of my favorite composers. His music style is fun but still dark and perfectly set the tone of the show.

The Cryptkeeper

The man himself. The Ghostess with the Mostess. I loved this guy. Still do, really. He had just the right amounts of both fright and charm. Not many people – dead or alive – can get away with the amount of puns that he could, and he was a master of it. Sure, it was painful at times, but that was what made it so fun.

John Kassir’s voice work made Mr. Keeper an icon. If the new version of Tales from the Crypt actually gets on the air, I doubt the new host will even come close to measuring up.

The Effects

I’m a fan of gore, and this show had no shortage of it. Blood, guts, maggots – the special effects team brought it. So it wasn’t realistic. So what? So someone that just died wouldn’t have rotted that much already. So what?

So what?

The Guest Stars

This is what gives this show the greatest re-watch value. There were so many great guest stars. Catherine O’Hara, Demi Moore, Jeffrey Tambor, Steve Buscemi, Tom Hanks, Dan Aykroyd, Daniel Craig, and – my favorite – Tim Curry are just a few of the awesome stars that made an appearance on this show. It’s so fun to watch serious actors ham it up in these crazy stories.

The Stories

The show itself was based on the comic books by the same name, so there was no shortage of crazy content. Episodes ranged from the comical, like the living comic book in “Korman’s Kalamity,” to the downright terrifying, such as the horrifying haunted house in “Television Terror.”

There were no happy endings in the Tales from the Crypt world. I have such fond memories of Morty the “hand puppet” (Not the meat grinder!). Even when it almost works out for the main character, it doesn’t. There’s always the twist at the end.

Whoa. Maybe that’s why M. Night Shyamalan is rebooting it. He just can’t get away from the twists.

So glad I could SCARE up a few memories about one of my most FEAR-vorite shows. Now, I’m just DYING to watch my collection again.

Man, I’m really bad at that.

Books, Creepy Crafts, Halloween, List, Movie Reviews, Props, Scary Stories, Television

It Begins

April 8, 2016 thefrightowl Leave a comment

I am a horror fan. If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you are, too.

I started this blog because I love to write, and as the saying goes, write what you know. I love scary movies, scary books, creepy history, horror survival video games, urban legends, cryptozoology, haunted houses, creepy crafts, and – most importantly (to me anyway) – Halloween. I also collect anything with a skull on it and keep a skeleton in my backseat. No, it’s not a statement on the importance of wearing seatbelts. It just makes me smile. And it gives me someone to talk to when I’m driving alone.

So, basically, I live and breathe horror. It’s what I love. It’s what I know.

I plan on posting at least twice a week to start. But who knows? Mr. Muse could attack at any moment. My topics will include:

Movie Reviews: Um, yeah. It’s a horror blog. What did you expect?

Halloween: So I’m a little obsessed with Halloween. I plan for it all year long. I’ll review local haunted houses, Halloween merchandise, special events, and any other Halloween-related topics that might pop up.

Lists: I’m pretty OCD (self-diagnosed), so lists are one of my favorite things. What kinds of lists, you may ask? One day I might rank my favorite zombie movies and then post a list of my favorite creepy video game villains the next.

DIY Creepy Crafts: I love being creative, and because my love of all things horror-related is pretty severe, I do a lot of creepy little crafts. One of my biggest projects is a haunted dollhouse (that used to have its own blog – very short-lived). I’ll post updates and pictures of the dollhouse as well as Halloween projects I’m working on.

Other Topics: I’ll also discuss creepy history, scary websites, video games, books, cryptozoology, urban legends, etc… I get distracted easily, so I don’t want to limit myself to one subject.

I’m excited to get started. I hope you enjoy my blog!

The Fright Owl