Once the party broke up, my wife and I watched Talk to Me. It’s about a group of teenagers obtaining an embalmed hand that lets you communicate with the dead (and, specifically, the damned). At first, they use it at parties and as a prop in Tik Tok videos, but as expected, things quickly get very out of hand (pun intended). Some of them end up violently possessed, and others obsessed with speaking to lost loved ones. It is pretty standard horror fare, but it is executed exceptionally well. More importantly, it’s just really, really scary, and it’s good to know that, even jaded horror fans like us can still be frightened from time to time. Highly recommended! (Available to rent or buy on Prime Video).
For our scary TV show this year, my wife and I watched Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher. It is a fun semi-anthology about an amoral, exceptionally wealthy family meeting its demise. Each episode is inspired by one of Edgar Allen Poe’s poems or short stories - all framed by “The Fall of the House of Usher” - with coy references to a few other Poe works. (The federal prosecutor investigating the family is named C.A. Dupin; the family’s lawyer is Gordon Pym; etc.) All of the characters, with a few exceptions, are despicable. Still, it’s fun to see them meet their grisly dooms, and the show is very well made, which is what I’d expect from a show written, directed, and produced by Mike Flanagan. (It also has a satisfying ending, which is something I did not expect based on my experience with his other series!) It’s not very scary, but very macabre, and perfect for this time of year. Recommended! (Streaming on Netflix)
Your Blood Runs Cold at the Sight of prfsnl gmr’s October Horror Movie List Spook-tacular!
Scream at prfsnl gmr’s Pre-Gaming Watchlist of Blood!
