My Favourite Things is a monthly linkup hosted by Raisa and Eirene.
Despite being the best holiday ever invented, Halloween still isn’t that big of a deal where I live, and most people I know doesn’t really care about it. This year all the people who do care were busy with other things so I didn’t get to celebrate Halloween at all. *Insert sad panda face*
Since I had no party to go to, I ended up visiting my parents instead. Which isn’t a bad thing, it was nice. I’m at least 5 kg heavier now though, haha! What is it with parents and overfeeding? ;)
Anyway, there’s always next year.
And regardless of time of year, there are always horror movies and shows. :D I’m a big horror fan so for this month, in honour of Halloween, I’m naming some of my current favourites.
Movies: The Babadook
I stumbled upon this movie while browsing the “supernatural horror” section on Netflix. The title is more than a little silly, but the actual movie is not.
A woman is living alone with her son, but after reading a strange bedtime story they suddenly aren’t so alone anymore. A sinister entity seem to be moving in with them.
This movie is, to me, less about the actual monster/entity and more about the psychological effects of depression and grief. The mother’s sadness and exhaustion is so tangible I can feel it in my own heart.
The Babadook is incredibly creepy, smart, and well-made. It’s not a movie you lazily put on in the background while doing other things, it deserves your full attention.
I’m still getting goosebumps just thinking of the sound it made… *shudders*
Television: American Horror Story
The 4th season is FINALLY available on Netflix! :D
I know it’s on season 6 or something in more civilized parts of of the world, but I have only access to season 4 right now.
Every season of American Horror Story is a separate story from the others. The cast is more or less the same, but the characters and settings are always different.
First season takes place in a haunted house in modern day California.
Season 2 is about a mental institution in the 60’s.
Season 3 we’re back in the 2000’s but this time the focus is on a coven of witches.
The 4th season is called Freak Show and is about a, well, freak show located in Florida in the 50’s.
It’s an interesting format that I find really appealing. It works.
Overall the series is gory and disturbing, just as a good horror story should be. But it’s also very artistic, with creative and strangely beautiful settings and costumes. Come for the blood, stay for the decor, haha!
Television: Hemlock Grove
WARNING: the trailer is a bit gory. NSFW
I’ve blogged about this show before, and I still stand by everything I said then. Hemlock Grove is still as weird and haunting as it was in the beginning and I’m still in love with it.
The plot makes absolutely no sense, but that’s the beauty of it imo. I love that every single episode at least once makes me go “What the fuck is this? What the fuck am I watching?”
The 3d and final season is out on Netflix now and I’m about halfway through. While I’ll be sad when it’s over I respect that they have the decency to quit while it’s still good.
I watch a lot of horror, and my favourite sub-genre is supernatural horror. Of course. ;) I especially like ghost stories. For me it’s much more scary if the bad thing is an invisible, untouchable entity rather than if it’s a living monster or person.
How do you guys feel about horror movies/shows? Do you like them or is it not your thing? Do you have any favourites?
I’m on a group blog (The Midnight Society) and all the other bloggers on there have seen, and love, The Babadook but I still haven’t watched it. They also love It Follows, so you might want to check that out.
American Horror Story just started season 5 in the states, so you’re not that far behind the rest of the world at all :) What’s your favorite AHS season? I think mine is season 1, though I did really like a lot of Coven.
Lately, I’m watching Scream Queens. I love horror comedy best, so I’m a big fan of Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland and other such goodies.
That’s a shame that it’s not a big deal there and you couldn’t have a party with anyone that does celebrate it. When I was little it was never a thing in Australia, but now there are decorations all over the place.
Horror movies can be so great. :D
The Babadook was a pretty good movie. It’s not often that there is an Australian horror movie that is really well made, but that one was good. :D
That’s good that you like AHS. I didn’t discover it until Coven, and binge watched. :D Do you have a favourite series so far? :D
I have watched Hemlock Grove, but I might have a look at it! :D I just watched the first episode of Penny Dreadful and I liked that.
Supernatural horror is also great. Spooky and delicious and makes you scared haha.
I recently watched Unfriended, which made me a little nervous. The whole movie is shot like a computer screen with webcams, but I thought it was still well done!
I think it’s cool that a lot of TV shows are embracing the horror genre. Plus, there are always new horror films that are coming out which is wonderful. :D
Halloween is now a more mainstream thing where I live compared to when I was little. We never really celebrate it- unless you count those mini Halloween parties we had at my aunt and uncle’s place when I was a young kid. I’d never gone trick-or-treating my whole life too.
I’m a big “scaredy-cat” when it comes to all things horror. The closest thing I’ve watched and enjoyed is the 70s Carrie movie. XD
I’m curious about The Babadook though. I saw the trailer on YouTube a while back and I really like the illustrations they used for the book the kid had. The whole premise sparked my interest too, as well as seeing all the rave reviews. I’m a sucker for psychological plots. Is it very scaring or disturbing in any way? I still haven’t decided if I should push through with watching it.
I’m not so much into horror films and TV shows because they just don’t interest me. I end up being bored, heh. I do love supernatural themes though.