Halloween IV on the Big Screen!

Last night, my wife and I were lucky enough to have

one of my favorite horror films show on a big screen!

Halloween IV: The Return of Michael Myers was screened in 35mm

at the Columbus Theatre in Providence, R.I.

thanks to The Arkham Film Society and Rock and Shock

to benefit the sCare Foundation.

Not only was Halloween IV screened, but we got to see a ton of old trailers

for classic films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Final Exam, Slumber Party Massacre

- as well as all the trailers for the Halloween films from Part 2 to 6!

On hand was Justin Beahm, who is the writer of You Can't Kill the Bogeyman, a short about the impact of Michael Myers and the Halloween films and who is currently writing what he calls "the definitive book on the Halloween franchise." I will be getting that book! He talked last night about the films, not just Part IV, but all of the movies and he answered questions, as well. It was interesting to hear him talk about something he obviously has a lot of love for. Very cool.

After Halloween IV and the trailers, there was a screening of a second film, Boo, from 2005. It was good to see this again, as I didn't recall my first viewing. After this film, its writer/director Anthony C. Ferrante was on hand to talk about the making of the film and answer questions from the audience. Interesting to hear him talk about the movie, which was his first film, and what he would do differently now. You might know him better as the director of Syfy's Sharknado.

It was a great night in a very old, beautiful theater.

Thanks to Joshua Thomas Gravel and the Arkham Film Society for this event.

I truly hope they do more in the future!

Here's one of the trailers that they showed last night,

for the 1981 film Final Exam,

one I have never seen but want to now so badly!

A Coincidental Ghost

Let me preface this piece: I do not believe in ghosts.

A few weeks ago, I was walking with a couple of dogs, Eva and Izzie, on a quiet New England road. Over a year ago, the older brother to these sisters was killed in a car accident. Diego had been a companion to the older sister, Eva, for about a year at the time of his death. Several months later, she was paired up with her younger sister, Izzie.

When we walk, I am always amazed at how these two dogs do almost everything in sync. If one catches some scent, the other quickly catches the same scent and both noses head in the same direction, sniffing the same trail. If they hear a noise, both heads turn toward it, simultaneously. If they spot a chipmunk or a bird, both dart after it. Simple, I know. But amazing to watch.

On the day I mentioned, Izzie was following the scent of something in the leaves. To my surprise, I noticed Eva had stopped behind me. I turned and saw her standing, staring across the street and into a neighbor's yard. My gaze followed hers.

In this yard stood a dog who could have been a twin to the older brother she lost. He was the same size and coloring as Diego. In fact, the resemblance was just astounding. He stood, watching her, watching us. He didn't run up to the edge of the property, barking and warning us away as most dogs do when we walk by. He merely stood, away from the street, watching us.

Eva stood watching him, as well. She didn't rush to the end of her leash. Her fur didn't go up along her back. She just stood there. Izzie paid no heed to this moment, continuing to sniff something out in the leaves.

Eventually, I prodded the dogs along and we continued on our walk. Almost instantaneously, the sisters were back in sync, walking as a pair, this strange dog forgotten.

We have walked this road for about a year now, and I had never seen this neighbor's dog before that day. And I have not seen this dog again in the days that have followed.

As I said at the beginning of this piece, I do not believe in ghosts or an after life, for dogs or humans alike.

But the strangeness of this moment, the way aspects of it were just amazingly coincidental and particular to our situation, show me why it is very easy for others to believe in such things as visits from beyond the grave.

All I can say is form your own opinion.

(If you want to read about Diego, read my previous post here.)

Happy Halloween!

The day has arrived! Here are some treats to enjoy!



Consult The Oracle or send some Zombie Mail!

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100 Greatest Horror Movie Quotes Of All Time

(thanks to No Room In Hell)

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Halloween Horror Classics Megamix

(from last Halloween)

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A cover of John Carpenter's “Halloween Theme”

(thanks to The Retroist)

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Click here for a spooky surprise!



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Remember, The Walking Dead premiers tonight on AMC!



Here's a guide to identifying symptoms of "Walker Disease"

Also, Zombie Shopping in an unexpected place.

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Hope you all have a scary, creepy, eerie Halloween!



And remember, it's Halloween...

Everyone's entitled to one good scare!