Me in front of gram's house. Halloween about 1986ish. 

(Note: Her melted wax scarecrow on the door. I'm happy to say I inherited all of her holiday melted wax decorations.)

My parents got divorced when I was 5 years old. At that point, my mom and I moved in with my gram. I lived with gram until my mom got remarried, but that didn't happen until I was 14. My gram's house played a big role in my life. I grew up living there. It was a small house in the city of Buffalo ~ the Kaisertown area ~ where a bunch of Polish people migrated, it was off a main street across from a park. The house had been added on to several times, and I think it was built at the turn of the century. I was told it originally had an outhouse. The bedrooms could only fit a bed and one dresser, there was no basement, and the attic was an attic, filled with boxes and mainly used for storage. The house was heated by a furnace in the center of the dining room. I grew up thinking anyone that had a finished attic or basement was rich. When I dream of a house, it's usually gram's. 

Attic stairs with trap door.

Attic, now mostly empty.

I loved her oven, and if I could have taken it with me, I would have.

My gram lived there until the end. She died 14 years ago and the house went to my mom. My mom didn't want it, but she also didn't sell it. She couldn't bring herself to clean it out. Everything about it had sentimental value. I tried to help her move things out, but she'd end up crying, and I'd end up getting mad because we didn't make any progress. 

This past year, the roof on my gram's vacant house started leaking. I reiterated to my mom, “You NEED to sell this house.” She sold it and closed on it last month. All through November and December I was helping her clean it out. That took up a ton of my time, but I'm glad the burden of the house is gone for her.

Thank you for sticking with me through my tough times and following along. In addition to My Life is Chaos Parts 1, 2, and 3, I was exhausted like never before, and went to the doctor to get a bunch of tests done. I tested positive for Sjogrens Syndrome in December. It makes sense because a couple years ago my elbow swelled up to the point I couldn't bend it. Remember that fun time?! I was given Rheumatoid Arthritis meds, and the swelling went away. Sjogrens is an autoimmune disease. The most famous person to have it is Venus Willams. Mainly my symptoms are severe dry eye, fatigue, and arthritis. I know what you're thinking, “Julie Ann, you're a young babe, how can this be?!” I'm really 86, don't I look good? But seriously, let me give you some advice....don't get old.

I like reading Young Adult books because they are usually short. I don't have a lot of time to commit to reading, but I want to continue to read new things. Lately I've taken up an interest in reading about witches. I picked up The Hollow Girl by Hillary Monahan from the library. It came out last year. It's the first book in a long time that I stayed up to read because I wanted to find out what happens to the characters.

Without giving much away, it's a satisfying revenge tale about a girl named Bethan that is an apprentice to a healer in a clan of Welsh Romanies. She leads a very modest lifestyle until one day she and her friend from town are assaulted by a group of boys from her clan. Only then does she learn how powerful her blood magic skills are. Parts of the book can be uncomfortable to read, but the author does include an introduction with a warning. Although it's set in a different time, her thoughts and fears are significant to things happening in the world today. In the end it's about relationships, priorities, and what you are willing to do for others. I highly recommend it and I think it would make an amazing horror movie.

Bonus: There's a seven foot tall scarecrow that plays an important role in the book. And if you've been following my blog, you know how much I love scarecrows.

Let me tell you something...clowns are not my cup of tea. I don't hate them, but I never really liked them either. I always feel like they are hiding something. So naturally, going to see The Terrifier, a movie about a predatory and demonic silent clown at my favorite haunt, The Screening Room sounded like fun! Andrew (my hubs) and I met a few friends out. I warned them beforehand that I laugh at inappropriate things and to my surprise they do too! Yay! I have friends that share my same sense of gory humor!

The Terrifier was again brought to The Screening Room by the Buffalo, NY contingent of Dread Central. (You can read my review of The Lodgers movie that they brought to Buffalo here.) I'm happy that there's a venue and audience to support limited release underground horror movies in my city. I can't wait too see what movie will be next!

What I didn't know is that Art the Clown ~ potential horror icon ~  has been in other movies ~ news to me! This sinister madman, had his debut in two short films, the 9th Circle (2008) and The Terrifier (2011) and his first full length feature is All Hallow's Eve (2013) ~ a Halloween slasher anthology. (I'll have to check that out, knowing my love of Halloween movies.) There was an All Hallows Eve 2 (2015), but no Art the Clown *insert sad clown face* Who needs to see that one if there's no creepy clown?!

***SPOILERS AHEAD...SORT OF***

The movie starts out with an interview from the faceless massacre survivor. Ok, so this tells us there is a "final girl", but she's much more erratic than any final girl we've seen before. I won't tell you why.

Now we backtrack to Halloween night when two girls, Tara and Dawn, are leaving a bar drunk, so they stop for pizza. Art the Clown begins to follow them in his passively creepy and mime-like way with his garbage bag arsenal slung over his shoulder. He gets kicked out of the pizzeria, slashes the tires on the girls car, and kills the workers at the pizza joint. Tara calls her sister, Victoria, for a ride, but in the meantime Tara has to pee and goes into the building they are stuck parked in front of to find a bathroom. The building is vacant because it's being bombed for rats...except it's not vacant, there's a loony woman living in the basement that talks to a baby doll and Art makes a killing room within it's walls.

Eventually Dawn, Tara, Victoria, Exterminator 1 & 2, and baby doll lady are locked in this building and victims of Art the Clown. There is plenty of gore, most of it is shown close up and bloody. There's one kill that's pretty brutal, and I've seen it written about as "misogynistic", but I think Art does it because he's a deranged psycho. You'll know it when you see it. Maybe that's why his name is Art, his kills are done ART-fully. (Bahahaha pun intended.) The ending has a tiny plot twist. I won't tell you who the lone survivor is or what happens to Art.

Some things I didn't like, is that you can tell it was filmed in parts, so the acting fluctuates throughout. Also if you are going to hit a psycho over the head in self defense, don't just hit him once, keep hitting him, don't wait for him to get up, attack him when he's down, and if possible always chop their heads off. Phew, ok that's the final girl in me talking. Sorry I got sidetracked...now the bonuses...

A couple things I really enjoyed about The Terrifier are the two main gals are dressed for Halloween, one is a "Sexy" skeleton and she could be a double for young Neve Campbell, and one is a "Sexy" SCARECROW! You can read about my love of scarecrows here. Hell, maybe someday I'll be a Sexy Scarecrow for Halloween!

Next there's a real life kitty in the movie. He's friends with the loony lady that talks to a doll, and he doesn't die! Yay! A cat in a movie that doesn't die. (It's becoming a rare occurrence. I wrote about it in my The Shape of Water review.) In the end credits you'll find out his name is Scorsese. Adorbs!
 
The music paired nicely with the scenes, built on the suspense, and added to the atmosphere, especially when the main character is a silent clown! You can buy the soundtrack that was scored by Marilyn Manson guitarist Paul Wiley here.

Art's pantomime reminds me of The Gentlemen from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His exaggerated blackened smile is the same too. My love for Buffy is strong, so it was the first thing I noticed.

Art the Clown & a scalpel.

The Gentlemen & a scalpel.

Art the Clown is NO Pennywise or Twisty, if anything he gives off some Silence of the Lambs and Jigsaw vibes.  I actually laughed more at this movie than any comedy I've seen and really that's what clowns are supposed to do, make you laugh! In my mind he makes me LIKE CLOWNS EVEN MORE. There I said it. You betcha there will likely be a sequel. I give it four and a half out of five clown horn honks (say that fast).

Here's the trailer...

I'm sitting back on July 4th, thinking about other holidays like Halloween and I realized this year marks the 10th anniversary of one of my favorite Halloween movies, Trick 'r Treat (not to be confused with Trick or Treat the heavy metal horror movie from 1986.)

Trick 'r Treat NOT Trick or Treat.

Trick 'r Treat is an anthology film that really pays tribute to Halloween ~ the holiday as we celebrate it today. This is important because some anthologies have segments by different directors that can seem out of place or wedged into a story and don't fit quite right. Trick 'r Treat weaves five story lines together on Halloween night in a small town, there's even a plot twist in the middle. The thread that runs through all the stories is a character named Sam ~ short for Samhain ~ but pronounced as it's spelled, not the traditional way. He's small, like a child, in orange foot-y PJs with a giant round burlap mask/ head, button eyes, sometimes carries a burlap sack, and is known for loving candy and his pumpkin sucker. Seems harmless, right? Kinda reminiscent of a scarecrow, right? Well under his disguise lies a demonic pumpkin that upholds the traditions of Halloween night! He punishes you for doing Halloween wrong. Can you blame him? Halloween is important and should be shown the respect it deserves. (At least, that's how I feel.)

Sam.

Some things to remember for Halloween or Sam will get you:
1. Keep your jack 'o lantern lit, don't blow it out.
2. Give out candy to trick or treaters.
3. Wear a costume.
4. Check your candy.

Michael Dougherty is the writer, producer, and director of Trick 'r Treat ~ one of the only movies he has worked as all three ~ and before the movie came out, there was a cartoon short called Seasons Greetings with Sam. It's pretty cool. With a great story, and antagonist, Trick 'r Treat gained a cult following and even spawned a graphic novel! It's been rumored by Dougherty that there would be a sequel, possibly even a trilogy, but I think that's still a rumor.

Here's part of the cartoon short Season's Greetings.

Trick 'r Treat graphic novel.

One of the reasons I was originally attracted to this movie is because I have a love of trick or treaters. The idea of kiddos getting dressed up and being something/ someone else, and a neighborhood welcoming strangers in and giving them treats is just so nice. Call me naive, but I really love making up treat bags and seeing all the costumes. I hope that trick or treating sticks around for many years to come, none of this trunk or treat crap. I admit it does have a place, but trunk or treat on different weekends leading up to Halloween, NOT on Halloween night.

I also LOVE scarecrows and feel that they aren't represented enough in horror. Some kids grow up with a stuffed teddy bear or a dolly that they take everywhere with them, well (no surprise) I had a stuffed scarecrow. His name was Scarecrow and he scared away any bad things, and I snuggled with him at night. This might explain why I'm a weirdo. Sure you can find bats, Frankenstein's monster, witches, and ~ more recently moons and ouija boards ~ everywhere BUT bring back the scarecrows! (End rants.)

Here's my buddy Scarecrow.

As side note, I've ordered my first Creeper Crate which I'm sure you'll see me unboxing at the end of July. July's theme is the Slasher Box, but I'm excited to say that October's theme is Trick 'r Treat! I'm so glad other people appreciate this movie as much as I do! Sam keeps the traditions of Halloween alive! Well not really "alive" but...just watch the movie.

Here's the trailer...