Third ten ….. end of the first half …. 10/16

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We’ll start with the werewolf flix again.

Wolf Waxwork was the first of these that were on both my list and the fanbase. This was second. blends psychological tension with classic werewolf thrills, elevated by Jack Nicholson’s captivating performance. The film’s mix of horror and drama, combined with its dark humor, makes it a refreshing take on the genre that still stands out today
Trick ‘r Treat masterfully intertwines multiple Halloween tales with dark humor and chilling twists. Its clever storytelling and memorable characters make it a standout in the horror anthology genre, celebrating the spooky season with style.
Wolf Blood. 1924 Considered by many to be the FIRST werewolf movie. It has an interesting concept but lacks the bite it needs to truly stand out. The pacing is slow, and the narrative feels dated, though its historical significance is notable
I Was a Teenage Werewolf a cult classic that perfectly captures the eerie charm of 1950s horror. With a captivating performance by Michael Landon, it’s a nostalgic blend of thrills and teen angst
Werewolves Within another previously unseen. a quirky mix of comedy and horror but struggles to find a consistent tone. While entertaining in parts, it doesn’t quite deliver a memorable experience. DOES include Milana Vayntrub however!
Back to the “regular” list.
Cannibal Apocalypse has its moments of gritty tension and action but lacks the bite to fully stand out. It’s more of a curiosity than a must-see horror experience. First time. Doesn’t need to be a second.
Shaun of the Dead brilliantly blends comedy and horror, delivering laugh-out-loud moments alongside genuine scares. With clever writing, sharp satire, and a cast led by Simon Pegg at their best, it’s a zombie film that redefines the genre while keeping its heart firmly in place. Likely to have earned a “permanent” spot.
Burial Ground Typical European offering. delivers on gore and shock value but lacks substance in plot and character development. While the practical effects are suitably gruesome, the dialogue and acting often feel stiff and awkward. It’s a cult classic for some, but overall, it’s more odd than engaging.
The Conjuring masterfully blends suspense, atmosphere, and classic horror elements, delivering a chilling experience that lingers long after the credits roll. With strong performances and expertly crafted scares, it stands as a modern supernatural thriller that both frightens and captivates in equal measure. A must-watch and a strong start to a strong franchise.
The Whip and the Body Another typical Europen period piece. Suffers from a sluggish pace and lackluster performances, failing to deliver the tension and chills its premise promises. Despite the gothic atmosphere and visuals, the film’s plot feels underdeveloped, and its scares lack impact, making it a disappointing entry in horror cinema. But hey: Christoper Lee, Dahlia Lavi and some whipping scenes.

Halloween second ten – 10/12

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let’s lead off with the Werewolf features:

Dog Soldiers has solid potential but is held back by clunky dialogue, weak character development, and effects that struggle to deliver convincing thrills.
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (2010). Mistake. I MEANT to watch the 1973 version. THIS version falls flat with predictable plot twists, cheesy dialogue, and lackluster special effects, making it more cringe than creature feature. Remind me not to do werewolf movies again – this was a new one. Guessing I’ve seen most of what’s watchable.
The Midnight Hour. Another new one. A fun blast of the 80’s cast stumbles with its mix of horror and camp, failing to deliver real scares or laughs. It’s more dated cheese than Halloween classic.
Speaking of dated cheese, have you figured out I’m using chatgpt to speed up these snippets?
The Beast Must Die (1974) Third movie by that title offers an intriguing premise and a fun ‘whodunit’ twist, but its pacing drags and the effects leave much to be desired.
Ginger Snaps Great concept. Well acted. but ultimately uneven and suffers from pacing issues.
Now on to our regular features.
The House with Laughing Windows. Darned near impossible to find. Meager Giallo effort. chilling atmosphere and unsettling moments but more confusing than frightening or weird.
My other “experiment” this year was with including sci-fi on the list. Kinda done with that.
Predator is an action-packed classic that masterfully blends sci-fi and suspense. With intense pacing, memorable characters, and a terrifying villain, it’s a must-watch for action fans.
Murder Party quirky humor and a unique premise, but its low-budget feel and uneven pacing keep it from being a truly engaging horror-comedy. Read that before? This director IS developing though. He’s worth watching. previously unseen
Lisa and the Devil Telly Savalas in the early sucker days pre-Kojak. Typical Italian horror. visually striking with surreal elements, but its confusing plot and slow pacing make it more of an artistic curiosity than a captivating horror film. previously unseen.
Back to the sci-fi beat. The Thing 1982. incredible practical effects and a tense atmosphere, but its slow buildup and bleak tone might not resonate with everyone. Like me.
And I’m thinking I ditch the “unwatched” next year, or at LEAST leave them out of the write-up.

The field of 12, 10/11

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Four undefeateds who have played an actual schedule: Oregon, Penn State, Miami of Florida and Iowa State

Four undefeateds who have NOT … yet: Texas, Ohio State, Indiana, Army!

And four one-loss teams, tough schedule: Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Notre Dame.

Who gets hosed? A bunch of one-loss teams in the SEC. ALL of which will change this weekend. IF tOSU can beat the Ducks then they’ll replace them in that top group and the Ducks move to the third. Same for a Texas win over Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout. Indiana has an open date and if Army beats UAB they STILL won’t have a schedule. BYU hoping to back in as well.

The first ten

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Gonna be a long month and I can’t believe it’s the 8th already. Here’s the drill: 31 horror movies – my favorites, FlickChart user favorites, and up to a dozen I’ve never seen before. Plus the same for “werewolf” movies. Plus another dozen or so that are household faves. This is the first batch – five WW movies and five standard fare.

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night. Superman vs New Orleans. feels like a half-hearted mix of supernatural clichés, cheesy humor, and underwhelming action. Fun in parts, but ultimately forgettable. 5/10 (new)
Cry of the Werewolf delivers classic horror thrills with eerie atmosphere and intriguing twists. A vintage gem for fans of old-school creature features 7/10
Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf struggles with a disjointed plot and lackluster scares, failing to merge its classic elements into a compelling horror experience 1/10 (new)
Waxwork campy horror flick that entertains with its quirky premise and 80s vibe. Zach Galligan gives it charm, but the uneven pacing and cheesy effects hold it back. 6/10
Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf misses the mark with a weak plot and forced humor. Too much Wacky Racers. Not enough charming fun. 1/10 (new)
The House on the Edge of the Park some unsettling moments but lacks depth. Its shock value overshadows any real suspense, making it more uncomfortable than engaging. 7/10 (new)
Ready or Not a wickedly fun thrill ride, blending horror and dark humor with style. Samara Weaving shines in a game of survival that’s clever and unpredictable. Will likely make the list again. 9/10
Just Before Dawn 1981 moments of suspense and eerie atmosphere, but it’s bogged down by a slow pace and predictable plot, lacking the punch of true slasher classics. strong female without being a Mary Sue. 7/10 probably too high. (new)
Beau Is Afraid swings for the fences with its surreal storytelling, but its overindulgent pace and ambiguous plot might leave you more puzzled than entertained 6/10. (new). Doesn’t need to be rewatched.
The Golem First franchise. Masterpiece of silent cinema, blending expressionist visuals with a captivating story. Its exploration of creation and monstrosity still resonates, making it a timeless classic. 9/10.
The House with Laughing Windows should be next but I cannot find it (for free.) Maybe next year.

It’s the MOST Wonderful Time in the World!

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Halloween. Most of you regs know my annual routine. THIS year I’m featuring Werewolf movies. Not excited about it but we’ll see how it goes. There are LOTS of links to “Best” lists.

Kindertrauma is always good for an off-beat nod. Only one of these I haven’t seen is Big Bad Wolf. Not on the list this year either. Wer is good as was Wolf of Snow Hollow. Hard Rock Nighmare didn’t “qualify.

Flickchart did a couple lists. One ranking best “Wolf Man” movies. and in “article” form which only deals with the Universal series.

Enjoy the month. Party responsibly.

My fandom is lagging

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Twelve team playoff. NIL money. Transfer portal. Guys who played for 2-3 schools. Really difficult to get excited. Allegedly this is perhaps the best tOSU team in the history of ever but I’m not on board yet. They have yet to play a true D1 team. Cannot REMEMBER the last time they opened with three games of this low a caliber. And Sparty isn’t that much better. So here’s what the mess looks like currently.

Undefeated teams that have played actual opponents: Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Oregon

Undefeated teams with cupcake schedules: Ohio State, Ole’ Miss, Tennessee, the State University of Florida at Coral Gables.

There’s eight. Notre Dame’s loss to Northern Illinois is disqualifying. Utah and Iowa State are for real. BYU needs a quality win. And Indiana is about to be swamped in conference play. USC has played a tough schedule. I’d list it as #5 with Kent State as the toughest schedule in the country.

My Roughriders are having a tough years. Graduating a couple all-state offensive stars will do that to a small school. .500 not out of the question but 4-6 more likely. And my Polar Bears are ROARING, but we’ll find out if they’re for real on 10/26 vs the current #4 team in the country.

Yeah, I know what I said

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But my D&D table didn’t play this week so I’m feeling like I need to vomit a few thoughts out into the world.

My Saints are marching. The Buckeye’s have look VERY impressive against non D1 competition. And my old HS will be hard pressed to go .500 after a few top 8 in the state finishes

Unlike K Harris DID pass the bar on the first try. State AND Federal. Then tutored the woman who was #1 in my class because she ALSO failed the Federal bar first time around. She’s retired and overlooking Diamond Head these days, so she did OK.

Running has been meh. July was GREAT. August was backsliding. September has held steady. All numbers still pretty good, all in all.

Mom has turned 90 in a GLORIOUS evening. Subbing is going … OK. Pretty sure when I turn 70 I’ll be back to spot play a few days a week and VERY selective. Interestingly there are now THREE RoughRiders at HTHS!

May be back next week with more scrawl, written purely for my own edification.

Hiatus

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Feeling the ennui. In a rut. Not wanting to write or even aggregate anything these days. Don’t feel like writing about school or football or anything else. And nobody’s reading this anyway. So I’m gonna take some REAL time off. I may pop in on occasion to give a running update or an observation on something so I can say I was right way before it happened.

Have nice lives.

Three days down

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And quite a few to go. Observations. I miss last year’s seniors. Had them from 7th grade on. This years? Will have had all four years of HS, so there’s that. A good bunch overall. Sr and Jr classes are over 160 each. Soph and Frosh are closer to 300. That’s NOT a typo. Not enough lockers. Or library space. Or auditorium space for “all school” assemblies. Anything that can’t go on forever won’t. I attended a competing school back in the 70’s and remember how devastating it was for the district when the AFB was closed. They went from classes of almost 150 to under 100. I a heartbeat. Now they’re going the other way. What a difference 50 years makes.

A few policy changes. Only 3 minutes between classes. It’s doable for most but to get from the music rooms to Social Studies can be tough. Several mobile teachers having issues as well. We’ve run on weird schedules this week for multiple reasons. Get to be “normal” starting on Monday, with our first new early release day on Wednesday. Sharply limited phone usage. Seems to be going OK so far but I’m guessing there will be problems by September. Limited hall passes seems to be having the desired effect. Few students in the halls (many habitually) and fewer congregations in the RR. I’m guessing that in coming weeks the students will get better at coordinating the congregating but time will tell. And finally – hats are allowed. Mostly seeing doo-rags and a few ball caps. No issues. But the BIGGEST “unintended consequence (?)” from that? No hoods. Which HAD been a problem and a never ending source of aggravation. In 2-3 months as the weather cools down we’ll see if that holds.

A handful of new faculty and staff at the HS and they all seem reasonably competent and capable so far, putting them several jumps ahead of many of the folks they replaced.

So far so good. And we’ll hope it continues.