Pandemic Post: Some Fun Things To Keep You Occupied

Since we’re all still likely to be stuck at home for awhile, I thought I would share some of the more entertaining things that I’ve been enjoying during the pandemic.

Surprisingly Fun

First up are two movies that star their writers and directors.

The Wolf of Snow Hollow – I have had this movie on my “to be watched” list for awhile, and finally got to it the other night. It definitely made me laugh a lot more than I had expected! If you love black comedy, you will definitely want to check this one out. Jim Cummings stars as Officer John Marshall and he is struggling. He’s a recovering alcoholic who has some issues with his ex-wife, and his father – the Sheriff – is having health issues that he wants to keep under wraps while still trying to do his job. On top of all of this, there are some horrific killings going on in town. The cast also includes the late Robert Forster and Riki Lindhome in some truly wonderful supporting roles.

Scare Me – Additionally surprising and fun (and with black comedic elements) was this release from Shudder starring Josh Ruben. Essentially a one room setting, the story revolves around a struggling writer who has rented a cabin to spend time working on his werewolf novel. While out for a run, he meets Fanny, a well-known published author. They end up spending the evening telling each other scary stories, and things take a turn for the unexpected. I liked this one enough that I actually ended up watching it twice!

Movies to Make You Say “Holy Cow!” Out Loud

These are all movies that have been around for awhile, but they are definitely worth checking out for their craziness:

From a Whisper to a Scream – I was a bit thrown off when I watched this one because I was expecting something similar to many of the other Vincent Price movies I’ve seen (for example, the Edgar Allen Poe ones). This one is a collection of four tales told by the historian of a creepy town to a visiting reporter. The first 30 minutes of this movie is absolutely nuts.
Mausoleum – This is a possession movie that follows a young girl into adulthood. After her mother dies, she is strangely attracted to a mausoleum in the cemetery. Later, as an adult, the possession starts to take hold and it is definitely memorable.
Possession – This movie featuring a very young Sam Neill presents as a marriage in trouble story. However, there is a lot more going on here than a simple affair, and things get very strange very quickly. Not for the faint of heart, the best I can describe this one is what you might come up with if Bergman, Fulci, and Lynch got together to make a movie and had Argento provide some notes on the script. This one if tough to find, but if you’re a foreign horror fan you will definitely not be let down.

For Your Listening Pleasure

I’ve been taking a lot more walks lately, since the gym is not in the picture for me, and one of my favorite things to do is put on a horror podcast while I get in some fresh air. Here are a few of my favorites:

Shock Waves – RIP to one of the best horror podcasts out there, and I readily admit to shedding a few tears over its recent demise. However, the good news is that there are a few years of posts here for you to catch up on, and they are all a ton of fun. Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast tool. There are hours of interesting conversation and interviews here to keep you entertained.
The Faculty of Horror – Hosted by Andrea Subissati (Executive Editor of Rue Morgue magazine) and Alexandra West (author of many critical horror books and articles), these are some of my favorite ladies to listen to. They approach horror from a slightly more academic angle, and you will hear some great horror focused criticism and historical information on this podcast.
Deep Cuts w/ Elric Kane and Rebekah McKendry – Two of the former hosts from Shock Waves have banded together to provide their own spin on the more academic side of horror. (You can find this on most podcast tools, and may also find it listed under the titles Colors of the Dark or Nightmare University.) This podcast has a Patreon page that I would encourage you to support, as you get some great extras like reading lists (a bonus for my fellow horror nerds!).