Halloween Countdown, Day 4

[eldritchhobbit]

LINK OF THE DAY: Today's link is a truly spooky fan video made by Dustin from the 1934 Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi film The Black Cat and set the to the wonderfully chilling song "The New Zero" by Rasputina. Watch this to be reminded that Halloween doesn't get any better than Karloff and Lugosi in all of their fiendish, black and white glory.

LITERATURE OF THE DAY: The creepy hits just keep on coming! "Count Magnus" by M.R. James (1862-1936) was another story that H.P. Lovecraft named one of literature's eeriest reads. I hope you enjoy it!

Excerpt from "Count Magnus" by M.R. James:
"Can you tell me," he said, "anything about Chorazin?"

The deacon seemed startled, but readily reminded him how that village had once been denounced.

"To be sure," said Mr. Wraxall, "it is, I suppose, quite a ruin now?"

"So I expect," replied the deacon. "I have heard some of our old priests say that Antichrist is to be born there; and there are tales -"

"Ah! What tales are those?" Mr. Wraxall put in.

"Tales, I was going to say, which I have forgotten," said the deacon; and soon after that he said good night.

Read the complete story.

Comments

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you like Jack! I'm wearing it today, in fact. We have great taste, don't we? ;)

[vivien]

Ooh, interesting vid.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it, too!

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Those are great - thanks!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome!

[cyloran.livejournal.com]

OMG, I love Karloff and Lugosi. (Especially Karloff, but together? Fab!)

Now I've gotta pull out my Val Lewton DVDs so I can watch The Body Snatcher to get in a nice Halloweeny mood.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I love Karloff, too. And now you're inspiring me to dig out my copy of Val Lewton's Cat People!

[vyrdolak.livejournal.com]

An excellent juxtaposition of story selection and video, since Hjalmar Poelzig was patterned after Alastair Crowley, who claimed to have undertaken the Black Pilgrimage himself.

[vyrdolak.livejournal.com]

This is the article I was thinking of, although it was a disciple of Crowley who made his obeisance to the Prince of the Powers of the (Lower) Air:
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pardos/ArticleTwo.html


Mr. Karswell in MRJ's Casting the Runes was also based on Crowley.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! Thanks for the article. :)

Now I want to reread Casting the Runes...

[tuilelindowen.livejournal.com]

Oh WOW, I love the video link. That is super cool. I really enjoyed it. Today was sort of dark, gloomy, and misty. We got out our fall and Halloween decorations from the garage. This has put me in the mooood. Thanks for inviting me to "whisper in the dark." Love it.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, too, and it put you in the Halloween mood! I thought it was great fun. Happy decorating!

[semielliptical]

Oh, The Black Cat! Cool vid, thanks for pointing it out.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome! I'm so glad you liked it, too.