Saturday, April 23, 2011

Happy Easter from Sam of Trick r Treat


 You know Easter is actually my second favorite holiday right after Halloween, of course, many don't seem to realize that the two holidays have more in common than people realize. I can find a few reasons on how these holidays are similar and thanks to our little friend Sam from Trick r' Treat I have a reason to do so.

1. Sugar High children are Abound

Easter is the day when children wake their sleepy heads from bed and tip down stairs to see a basket filled with sugary goodness. There is no other holiday besides Halloween where children have access to the fantastical amount of candies and sweets. Now, some would point out that children have to earn the candy on Halloween, while Easter it's all a free hand out; this is not entirely true because these days, kids have to have to work for their candy by doing easter egg hunts. There is even a stronger connection between the holidays as night time flashlight Easter egg hunts become more and more popular, making candy gathering a night time activity.

2. The Celebration of the Dead
Halloween is a time where one takes the time to celebrate and remember death. Easter is the time when Christianity takes the time to celebrate and remember that their savior died and rose from the grave in zombie or vampire style. Either, way both holidays have to deal with the celebration of death in some form.

3.Animal Mascots
Quite a few holidays have only one animal mascot like Christmas or Thanksgiving. (Heck,some holidays have only one mascot, regardless.) Halloween and Easter seem to both have a plethora of animal mascots, its just one holiday has mascots that have been deemed cuddlier. Which is better? Bunnies,duckies,chicks,and butterflies or bats,cats,rats, and spiders?

4.Pagen Roots
From those who have seen Halloween, the holiday originated from a pagen holiday known as Samahain, which had to do with the end of Summer and had its links to remembering the dead. Easter takes its roots from the possible celebrations and feasts that were held in honor for the Great Mother Godess of the Saxons, Eostre. (That bunny laying eggs is actually a representation on fertility and isn't just some creepy holiday mascot.)

5. Acceptable to Wear a Bunnysuit
Easter is the only other day in the year, where one can dress up in a bunnysuit and not look like a complete lunatic. If you walked down the street any other day you would get pulled over by the cops,but on Easter and Halloween it is suddenly acceptable.

And yes we are half way through the year to Halloween. (By the way these comparisons are meant to be humorous and should not be taken  seriously.)

-Horrorwood Doll

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Barnes and Nobel's Leatherbound Classics

    If you are like me and have a life ambition of creating a fantastical library filled with beautiful books, then you'll love the Barnes and Nobel's Leatherbound Classics Collection. Surprisingly, horror literature seems to be a huge staple of their collection, which means that now you can own that edition of Dracula that will make your friends,family, and neighbors envious because they are stuck with some crappy paperback version.


 Originally, each book of their collection was a compilation if an artist's work. For example one book might have the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe or the most notable works of an author like Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles.

    I can not praise the overall look of these books enough. They are simply gorgeous with their specially designed cover,gilded pages, and ribbon bookmarks. These books are not just pretty, they're well made as well. I can tell you from personal experience that these books were built to last and are so well made that you'll most likely be able to pass it down for future generations.

 The only drawback to these books is that they can be pretty hefty, especially if the book happens to be three books in one.  You can pick up each book up for around $20 or so, which is a phenomenal price considering the quality you are getting. The books are often on sale, especially during the holiday season or you can purchase one of the bundles or the boxed sets for a fraction of the price. It aslso seems that new books are added every so often so be sure to check out the Barnes and Nobel website or the nearest store location ever so often.

Just recently, Barnes and Noble came out with single leatherbound novels, which you can purchase for around $14.

You can view and purchase the rest of the leatherbound collection on the Barnes and Nobel website. If you want to see more beautifuly crafted books, check out the Penguin's Hardcover Classics Collection. They are just as good visually, but the overall value and quality of the books just don't seem to match up to B&N's classics. Each book is around $20 and unlike Leatherbound Collection being a compilation of works, the Penguin classics are divided up to a single novel.

-Horrorwood Doll


Saturday, April 16, 2011

Monster High Wave 3 Preview

      It has come to my attention that the majority of viewings of this blog is due to a Monster High post I did awhile back. At this point that post has had 3,804 views and it's probably all due to one bloody image. Oh, well I suppose it could be worse, there are signs that people actually look at the content of my blog. :D


I suppose that if this blog is mostly known for one little post then I guess there is no harm in giving the buggers a little more of what they want. Today, we will be taking a quick peak at what Mattel has in store for The Monster High franchise this summer. 

Basic Line:

*Abbey Bominable (Daughter of the Abominable Snowman)

*Spectra Vondergeist (Daughter of the ghost)
*Clawd Wolf (Son of the wolfman and brother of Clawdeen.) (Could also only be available in the gift pack)

 As of right now Spectra Von Hauntington's doll is the only one to be seen. Oh boy, does she resemble Bombshell Hell. (The other contributor on this blog.) I know you guys have no idea what she looks like, but trust me if she would dye her hair purple again the resemblance would almost be uncanny. People have pointed out that no writing can be seen on her diary and the theory is that you need her little animal friend (possibly a ferret) to read it.

(Edit)

 A crappy pic of Abbey Bominable. She is adorable,but not as adorable as Spectra Von Hauntington though.


Dawn of the Dance
  • Lagoona Blue
  • Ghoulia Yelps
  • Deuce Gorgon
 
 The rest of the Monster High cast was felling left out when it came to the dancing scene. It looks like this summer we will be seeing Ghoulia, Lagoona, and Deuce on store shelves. It also looks like each doll will come with a nifty little dance CD, with the Monster High Fright Song on it, most likely. It's surprising that Draculaura doesn't make an appearance during the summer. Maybe, they want to do an exclusive Draculaura and Clawd Wolf couple pack for the next comic con?

Plushies(No pics as of yet. -tear-)
  • Ghoulia Yelps
  • Abbey Bominable
  • Spectra Vondergeist
 
Draculaura and Clawd Wolf Gift Pack

 Looks like Clawd and Laura hookup and do they not make an adorable little couple. Box caption "A forbidden romance blooms under a full moon." The whole forbidden romance angle has been really popular since the whole Twilight craze, even though the whole forbidden romance thing has been around much longer than that. (I mean the whole plot of Underworld:Rise of the Lycans is between a forbidden romance between a werewolf and a vampire.) Not much else to say here,but these two will probably fly off the shelves quicker than the Cleo de Nile and Deuce Gorgon set.

Classroom Doll Assortment

  • Frankie Stein
  • Ghoulia Yelps
  • Blue Lagoona

 Home Ick:
 Mad Science
Physical Deadication

School's Out Assortment
  • Frankie Stein
  • Clawdeen Wolf
  • Cleo de Nile




Dead Tired Doll Assortment



Ghoulia comes with bloody popcorn.


Fashion Gift Set
The giftset comes with gift for their fried Clawdeen. How cute. ^_^

Playsets

  • Clawdeen Wolf's Bed

    (No ide why her midriff is showing.)
  • Lagoona Blue's Hydration Station


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is talk of there being a Phantom inspired doll called Operetta. I am terribly excited by this because Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera is my second favorite of the Universal Studio's monsters. It is apparent that Mattel is running out of ideas, when it comes to new dolls. What else could they do? They are limited to doing the more traditional monsters because I doubt that parents would be overjoyed seeing their 8-year-old daughter playing with a Fred Kruger inspired doll.

I wonder what other dolls they will make in the future? Bigfoot?, Witch? Spider Baby? or perhaps an Alien? Those bastards have become quite popular a of late.
    -Horrorwood Doll

    Friday, April 15, 2011

    The Scream Post with Trivia

         Today Scream 4  makes its debut in theaters. It's interesting to see how much horror has changed in this past decade or so. The original Scream was a break through when it came to horror films because for the first time the characters in the film were aware of the rules of horror. Sense the first Scream horror films have become much more self aware, seven-year-olds still dress up as Ghost Face(Even though many don't know what movie he is from.) and the rules of horror films have certainly changed. It was time for a sequel  that would put Scream back on the map again. After all  Scream was one of the most innovative and scariest films of its time. Today's post is a quick look back at the original Scream in honor of it making its way back to theaters.

    The opening scene in the original Scream has become iconic and faced what seems like hundreds of parodies  right after its release. Lets face it, the original opening is pretty freakin scary, unlike the face-palm opening of Scream 2.

    You can of course watch the first Scream on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA3fv9ND8bc


    Random Scream Trivia:

    *Drew Barrymore was originally cast in the lead role of Sidney Prescott, but her schedule changed unexpectedly and she wasn't able to film the whole movie. It was her idea to take the role of Casey Becker, a less time-consuming but ultimately iconic role.

    *Dewey Riley wasn't intended to live through the first movie. In the script, Dewey didn't survive his injuries. Wes Craven also filmed an alternate ending where Dewey survived, and when test audiences said they liked Arquette's performance the movie was re-edited and Dewey lived to appear in all four scream films.

    *Kevin Williamson's script for the first film was originally titled "Scary Movie," and it wasn't until late in the shooting that executive producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein insisted on changing the title to "Scream."

    The scary voice on the phone that taunts the victims before they're attacked is done by Roger L. Jackson. The same guy who does the voice of Mojo Jojo from the Power Puff Girls.

    *From the beginning Wes Craven had Jackson on the set to actually talk to the actors over the phone. In order to heighten the realism the actor's were never allowed to see Jackson face to face.

    *He nearly turned down the option to direct the hit Scream (1996/I) because the first scene with Drew Barrymore reminded him too vividly of the climax sequence of The Last House on the Left (1972), his first film.

    *To keep Drew Barrymore looking scared and crying, director Wes Craven kept telling her real life stories about animal cruelty.
    *The infamous Ghost Face Mask was found by Wes Craven  in a store while location-scouting in California.

    * In the first Scream when the killer smashes his head through a window and Casey hits him in the face with the phone, Wes Craven is actually wearing the costume and was really hit in the face.

    *The use of caller ID increased more than threefold after the release of this film.
    *The killer was based on a Florida serial killer, the "Gainesville Ripper."
     * Wes Craven makes a cameo in the film as janitor called Fred who is dressed in a similar manner as Fred Kruger from A Nightmare on Elm St.


    Sources:  http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/collections/gallery/3346/#photo0

    -Horrorwood Doll


    Tuesday, April 12, 2011

    The Woman in Black (2011)

         Just a few months after the final Harry Potter installment, Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter) is set to make a debut in a horror film called "The Woman in Black.". The film is set to be released in the UK on October 28th. (No word as of yet on if and when it will be released in the U.S) The film seems to be a remake of the 1989 made for TV film as well as a movie adaption to the book that was written by Susan Hill. You can now watch the teaser trailer, which is posted below.



    "A young lawyer travels to a remote village to organize a recently deceased client's papers, where he discovers the ghost of a scorned woman set on vengeance."-Synopsis of the film.

    The synopsis is a bit vague as well as the trailer, but it looks promising. I am curious to  see if this film will start off Daniel Radcliff's career as an actor that is known besides his role as "The boy who lived".

    If you wish to see the 1989 television film, you can catch it on youtube here.   (I have yet to watch it myself,but one I get the chance. I will most likely post a review of it on here.)

    You can purchase the book that inspired both film on Amazon here. You can most likely find it at your local library as well.





    Note: For a horror blog there has definitely been a lack of horror film review material. I apologize. I'm trying to make a horror review system that will separate us from other horror blogs. Also to note the real world seems to keep me rather busy, but you will begin to see more horror film material either this or next month.

    -Horrorwood Doll

    Saturday, April 9, 2011

    The Only Ghost I Ever Saw


    The only Ghost I ever saw
    By Emily Dickinson


    The only Ghost I ever saw
    Was dressed in Mechlin -  so -
    He wore no sandal on his foot -
    And stepped like flakes of snow -

    His Gait - was soundless, like the Bird -
    But rapid - like the Roe -
    His fashions, quaint, Mosaic -
    Or haply, Mistletoe -

    His conversation - seldom -
    His laughter, like the Breeze -
    That dies away in Dimples
    Among the pensive Trees -

    Our interview - was transient -
    Of me, himself was shy --
    And God forbid I look behind -
    Since that appalling Day!

    Thursday, April 7, 2011

    Shag' s Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Artwork

         Disney's Haunted Mansion has been around for quite awhile now. It's hard to believe that the ride is over 40 years old now, since the ride itself just seem so timeless. (Of course that might be because it's always getting updates.) In 2009 The Haunted Mansion had its 40th anniversary and in honor of the big birthday Disney got the popular artist SHAG (Josh Agle) to create a series of images of The Haunted Mansion in his style. (and like I said in my Black Widow Bride game review, I would do a post on SHAG's Haunted Mansion artwork.) The big event took place on August 9th in Disneyland with the original artwork selling from $6,000 to $16,000.



     Of course Disney being the merchandise marketing machines they are couldn't resist putting all the artwork on a range of merchandise. You can check out and see all the merchandise that was available for the event here.


    Unfortunately, the majority of the merchandise that was available for the event has sky rocketed,but check out Ebay and you might find a great deal.

    There was a Mickey Mouse Haunted Mansion SHAG hat.













                         Hurry back, hurry back........don't forget to bring your DEATH certificate!!

    -Horrorwood Doll
    (P.S. I'm making it my priority to be there for the Haunted Mansion' 50th birthday.)

    The Delightfully Chilling Children's Books of Denna Molinaro

         I am not ashamed to admit that I'm a fan of children books. I just find their simple stories and illustrations to be delightful. More often than not writer's get the idea to make horrific little books for children and because children seem to have fascination with getting scared they always seem to leave an impact. Deena Molinaro writes and illustrates children books as a hobby and currently has them all on her website for your viewing pleasure. If you have a little squishy (cute child) in your life or just like demented little childrens tales check it out. http://www.deannamolinaro.com/Stuff_That_I_Made/Books/BookTitles.html (If you plan on reading these to your own child, I suggest you read them before hand. Some of these tales might be to grim for some children.)


          My favorites That Story about the Rabbit and As an Alligator (Even though it's not strictly horror) If you really like her books check out her online shop and purchase one of her books. http://www.deannamolinaro.com/GeneralStore.html

    -Horrorwood Doll

    Friday, April 1, 2011

    Mainstream Horror films for 2011

    Horror season is upon us. The majority of horror films come during the spring and summer, with usually one horror film during October. (Yeah, I don't get it either.) Let's take a look at what the upcoming year holds for us when it comes to Hollywood Horror.

    Holy crap Hollywood, What is it with you and evil children? I'll be honest the film doesn't look to bad and seems to be what " A Haunting in Connecticut" should have been. The film has some promising attributes like the fact that the makers if the two most popular franchises of the past decade are involved. It does seem to follow the typical "My house is haunted,but I'm to much of a dumbass to get the hell out" type of film, even if it's the kid that is haunted. It could be good or ir could be bad, but it will most likely be mediocre.


    It's interesting to see how horror films have changed in the past decade. Let's face it horror is a genre that is always evolving and I'm curious to see what the next decade will bring. I can say that actually like the first Scream when it came to terms with the whole rules of horror film. I think Screm 4 won't be as good as the original,but it will be better than Scream 2 and Scream 3.

    Upcoming Mainstream Horror Films for 2011

    -Dylan Dog:Dead of Night (April 29) (Looks kind of bad and not in so bad it's good kind of way. The movie also didn't get the memo that Aliens are the new werewolves,zombies, and vampires.)
    -Priest (May 13, Fiday the 13) (Based on a Tokyopop manga. It looks nice,but that's about it.)
    -Super 8 (June 2) (I actually have no idea if this will fit into the horror genre,but the looks pretty cool.)
    -Cowboys and Aliens (July 29) (Again,not sure if it's horror,but it is a spectacular throwback to the type of plot that would be in 1950s B-movies, but this time it has a huge budget like Grindhouse.)
    -The Darkest Hour (August 5) (Looks to be pretty scary. Aliens seem to be the new horror trend.)
    -Don't be Afraid of the Dark (August 13) (Already made a post on this and well I gave out the incorrect date of its release. The film is sure to be fantastic and will probably be the best horror film of the year.)
    -Fright Night (August 19) (Brought to you by the wonderful world of Disney, with the Tenth Doctor as Peter Vincent.)
    -Final Destination 5 (August 29)  ( There are far too many of these films.)
    -Paranormal Activity 3(October 21) (Yep, # 2 made money. Lets make another one.)
    -Piranha 3DD (November 23) (No idea what that extra D is for.)

    Aliens= The new werewolves,zombie, and vampire.

    I have no idea what is with the new Alien trend. Maybe it's because of Avatar or Doctor Who.(Doubtful) People are probably just tired of vamps,werewolves, and zombies. Anyways, this years horror list is just kind of average. A few sequels, a few bad films, one or two really great films, and the rest are just mediocre. At least this years remake is not one of the greats like Halloween or Nightmare on Elm Street.

    -Horrorwood Doll
    

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