Terrortory and a Little Halloween Pumpkin Man

I found this cool lil Halloween Pumkin man on Etsy months ago and forgot he was in the closet. He's made himself at home here, and honestly, he scared T, and she doesn't want him running around the house. So, he's stuck in my office for the time being. I don't know that I'll be able to keep him cooped up during Halloweentober, however.

Really, it's not his fault, it's mine. I had her watch Terrortory with me, a local Maryland horror anthology, and Smiling Jack freaked her the hell out... Smiling Jack could be this guy's dad, the resemblance is uncanny. Smiling Jack is a dark, mirrored pumpkin pail candy bucket-headed supernatural killer in the woods.

Terrortory is a film set in a Bermuda-Triangle-like land of horrors in Western Maryland where monsters of all kinds will kill you, if you don't follow the rules. The rules become evident throughout the two films, while the sequel's plot is outright dependent on it. I found Terrortory I and II on Tubi (God bless Tubi, really) last year but didn't watch them, only added it to my list.

Then, a few weeks ago, I scrolled by it and a name was listed with whom I'm familiar. It turns out a friend from way back was a writer and director of the first film and producer of the sequel! I phoned him up and we got together. He gave me a copy of the DVD which I'm super grateful for. These films are fun horror anthologies, but I fell in love with Terrortory when I realized Dan Doran had helped put these together. That these films are local products is just the Reddi Whip on top.

Terrortory II is much more slick with less of the mistakes of the first film, both in terms of storytelling and production. The ending of the film is creepy AF and I sat there, surprised and smiling with the climax. The lore is expanded upon in the sequel, and it works really well.

The ending of TII is really FN cool. Spoilers: It is really dark and interesting, with the coven of the supernatural killers kneeling before a dark god of the Terrortory. The dark god (I don't know if he has a name) has a family hostage and provides the husband with a choice to either save his daughter or his wife. After some reluctance the husband's indecision bites him in the ass and the dark god makes the choice for him and reduces his wife to ... well watch it for yourself because it's too cool to spoil. It's dark and surprised me with how hard it went. It also described more of a certain character's part in the story.

Halloween night he will be out giving candy to trick-or-treaters. That is his day, what he was born for. You can find your own Halloween Pumpkin Man here and let him do all the work this Halloween so you can stay in and watch horror movies or bob for apples all night long.... Watch Terrortory 1 and 2, I think they are worthy Halloween flicks.

Sad Monday

The Ravens got their asses handed to them. I've been writing the film script all day, trying not to think too much about it. It's just a game, right? Well...

A Small History on Halloween in the States

Here's a link . This is a quick little read about Halloween and its development in the "New World". I've been a stanch believer that Halloween in America today is well and truly crafted here, though very much of traditions from the "Old World". But the conglomeration of the holiday is well and formed here in the States, from the carving of the first jack-o'-lanterns to trick or treating as a homegrown manifestation. A lot of these Halloween traditions were simultaneously developed up north with our Canadian cousins too, I'm sure. But with the bigger population Halloween became larger here in the States. And this story gives us some insight into the idea that while Halloween has some traditions that date back to pre-Christ times, what we celebrate here today in America is very much a melting pot of our own construction. This is important to me as this holiday is very much a part of the American experience and identity. If I have to say it aloud, I hav...

Jack-o'-lanterns in November!

Today most of America seems to have forgotten that the venerable jack-o'-lantern is not only an important symbol of Halloween, but also of Thanksgiving. As a kid this icon of Thanksgiving was a decoration you would see in people's yards throughout October and November; through most of autumn. Today you don't see it as much, with folks settling for simple uncarved pumpkins on the steps on the porch, or on bales of hay. I bring this up only because I'd like to see a return to the pumpkin-headed scarecrows staying around for more than one holiday. I'm keeping my jack-o'-lanterns out in the yard and on the porch until the day after Thanksgiving. It's time we keep the pumpkin-head scarecrow around all fall. This is a perfect way to repurpose your jacks into November, instead of letting them get tossed by some teenagers post-All Hollows Eve! However, there is something to be said for rotting jack-o'-lanterns after Halloween that just screams cool. Aging jacks ...

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