Halloween Countdown, Day 1

[eldritchhobbit]

Are you ready to get this party started? I am! Please join me for a month of daily posts as I celebrate the spirit of Halloween. This year I am aiming for variety in my posts -- creepy texts and photos, "this day in spooky history" features, rec lists, and more -- and I hope the mix is to your liking. If you know of anyone who would enjoy these posts, please pass along the word. Thank you very much!

Be sure to check out other blogs that likewise are celebrating Halloween all October long. The wonderful Countdown to Halloween 2013 is a clearinghouse site that links to this and other blogs with similar month-long post-a-thons.



Let's begin with a video to set the mood. The British Film Institute is currently celebrating "Gothic: The Dark Heart of Film," and this trailer is a work of art in its own right.

And speaking of Gothic, here's a quote from one of my favorite modern works to start our countdown properly.

“How do I know you'll keep your word?" asked Coraline.
"I swear it," said the other mother. "I swear it on my own mother's grave."
"Does she have a grave?" asked Coraline.
"Oh yes," said the other mother. "I put her in there myself. And when I found her trying to crawl out, I put her back.”
― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

Oh, I can't help myself. Just one more...

"We have eyes and we have nerveses
We have tails we have teeth
You'll all get what you deserveses
When we rise from underneath."
― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

Comments

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeeeee! I couldn't even make it through the trailer let alone see any of these films......welcome to October. 8-)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Eeeeee! \o/ Maybe you can cover your eyes and just enjoy the spooky music? ;) They did do a great job of making it creepy, didn't they?

Happy October! Today's "Day 2" post won't be quite as scary, I promise. :)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Happy October! I thought the trailer looked gorgeous - then realised I'd only got as far as the BFI name-check! The rest was good too... *g*

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Happy October to you, too! :)

LOL, it's a great trailer, isn't it? The same thing happened to me the first time I watched it: "Oooh, and there's MORE!"

[quietselkie.livejournal.com]

Fabulous trailer! Thanks for that. I'll be researching the films and nabbing a few to watch this month.

I hadn't thought about Coraline being a Gothic tale, but it meets all the criteria, doesn't it? Neat!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked the trailer! The BFI just put out a wonderful companion book (same title as the film-fest) that goes into the films in more depth. It's beautiful! I did the same thing you're talking about doing, identifying the clips on the trailer and adding the films I hadn't seen to my queue. It's going to be a fun-filled October!

You're right: Coraline does indeed meet all the criteria. Isn't that cool? For the last few years it's been the ending note of my Gothic class. I love Gaiman's work as a whole, but there's something about Coraline that's extra-special.

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Loved the trailer, great atmosphere!

Forgot how creepy Coraline was. Will have to dig out my copy and reread it.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yay! That it is indeed! Much love for your icon, BTW.

I'm so tickled that you liked the trailer!

Rereading Coraline is always a wonderful idea. :D

Happy October!

[splix.livejournal.com]

That trailer was fantastic! Many thanks.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm so delighted you liked it! I've watched it over and over again.

Thanks for commenting! And Happy October!

[witchcat07.livejournal.com]

Goody, I have been so looking forward to this. The trailer was spiffy, but did they really have to include Twilight in there? Happy October to you!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yay! And thank you!

LOL, yes, there should have been a "contains brief scenes of sparkly vampires" warning somewhere in there. It's a bit like grooving along to a bunch of wonderful alternative/acoustic songs back-to-back on the radio, and then all of a sudden there's Vanilla Ice. ;)

Happy October to you, too! I love your icon. <3

[agameofthree.livejournal.com]

Yay! It has begun. :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

YAY! :D Thanks for joining me! What a perfect icon. :D

[northwestmagpie.livejournal.com]

"We have eyes and we have nerveses
We have tails we have teeth
You'll all get what you deserveses
When we rise from underneath."

. . . okay, thaaaaaaaaaaat's creepy. :D

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

LOL! It always gets me.... *chills*

Great start Prof Amy

[rossart1.livejournal.com]

I got out my dvd of Coraline-Gaiman it is a must to watch this year. thanks R-Ross

Re: Great start Prof Amy

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm so glad you liked the start this year. Coraline is perfect Halloween viewing!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I loved the trailer—spooky! I recognized several of the films, but there were some I haven't seen. I'll have to figure out a way to get all the titles because I can barely read the credits at the end.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Isn't the trailer amazing? I'm glad you liked it, too.

The BFI just put out a wonderful companion book (same title as the film-fest) that goes into the films in more depth. It's beautiful! I just got it. I've been going through the trailer bit by bit, identifying the clips and adding the films I hadn't seen to my queue. If I can help you with the titles that go with any of the clips, just let me know! (I don't have them all identified yet, but the book's helping tremendously.)

A partial list on the trailer

[rossart1.livejournal.com]

BFI Vid Clips in order of appearance:
(This list is from you-tube) maybe more.

Night of the Demon (Tourneur, 1957)
Rebecca (Hitchcock, 1940)
The Innocents (Clayton, 1961)
The Woman in Black (Watkins, 2011)
The Devil's Backbone (Del Toro, 2001)
The Shining (Kubrick, 1980)
Queen of Spades (Dickinson, 1949)
The Woman in Black (Watkins, 2011)
The Innocents (Clayton, 1961)
Nosferatu (Herzog, 1979)
The Ghoul (Hunter, 1933)
The Mummy (Freund, 1932)
The Devil's Backbone (Del Toro, 2001)
Nosferatu (Murnau, 1922)
Dracula (Browning, 1931)
The Wicker Man (Hardy, 1973)
Being Human (Haynes, 2009)
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (Aldrich, 1962)
Phantom of the Opera (Julian, 1925)
La Belle e la Bête (Cocteau, 1946)
The Ghoul (Hunter, 1933)
The Mummy (Freund, 1932)
The Mummy (Fisher, 1959)
The Shining (Kubrick, 1980)
Frankenstein (Whale, 1931)
Dracula (Fisher, 1958)
Frankenstein (Whale, 1931)
Curse of the Cat People (Wise, 1944)
Frankenstein (Whale, 1931)
The Night of the Hunter (Laughton, 1955)
Nosferatu (Herzog, 1979)
Black Swan (Aronofsky, 2010)
Twilight (Hardwicke, 2008)
Rebecca (Hitchcock, 1940)
Gaslight (Dickinson, 1940)
The Woman in Black (Watkins, 2011)
Black Swan (Aronofsky, 2010)
Phantom of the Opera (Julian, 1925)
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (Aldrich, 1962)
The Innocents (Clayton, 1961)
American Werewolf in London (Landis, 1981)
The Night of the Hunter (Laughton, 1955)
The Devil's Backbone (Del Toro, 2001)
Haxan (Christensen, 1922)
Eyes Without a Face (Franju, 1959)
Night of the Demon (Tourneur, 1957)
Dracula (Fisher, 1958)
The Wicker Man (Hardy, 1973)
Twilight (Hardwicke, 2008)
The Wicker Man (Hardy, 1973)
Black Swan (Aronofsky, 2010)
Witchfinder General (Reeves, 1968)
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (Aldrich, 1962)
Nosferatu (Herzog, 1979)
Night of the Demon (Tourneur, 1957)
The Woman in Black (Watkins, 2011)

Re: A partial list on the trailer

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! Many, many thanks!

[poenari.livejournal.com]

I finally have the time to catch up on your first few days of October. OMG that video trailer is MY kind of Halloween. Thanks for sharing!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

My pleasure! I'm delighted that you loved it like I did. :D Happy October!