#halloween school bus massacre

[phantongator]

Silly thing I made because I was bored. I hope somebody redraws this lol. Featuring all characters I like.

[nekkotheodd]

31 days of Horror - Anthology List: Day 24 - Trick r' Treat (2007)

Trick r' Treat is one of those movies that just instantly became a must watch for the spooky season. The movie just captures that magic of Halloween for me, makes my inner child giddy. I love how the segments all are related to each other in some form. Really i could just was poetic about it all day. Favorite segment is a toughie for me. I think I'll have to go with "Halloween School Bus Massacre". There is something so pleasing not just seeing the bullies get it but them being children really just made it better. Not that i dislike kids, i just appreciate movies that don't let children be automatically safe. Let's face it, some kids have it come.

[bloodyfinchesandgreenbirds]

Go follow me on tik tok <333

[aviculor]

I think there were things the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre did well.

It would be wrong to deride it for having political themes considering how much was loaded behind the original. But some of what they put in here didn’t feel...tactful, I guess? It’s like they were trying to fill out a bingo card, cramming in as many hot button topics as possible when they could have just made a streamlined, coherent statement on gentrification. “Try anything and you’re cancelled, bro”. Like, how is that supposed to be anything except cringeworthy?

Not a fan of the Asshole Redneck With A Heart Of Gold. But he does get credit for being a hero when push came to shove.

Not sure how it took Sally 50 years to find ol’ Bubba considering the Sawyer house was walking distance from her grandparents’ house. Seems like it’d be pretty simple to look up an address and a name. This is a massive thread that someone- anyone- even Sally herself- should have been able to pull immediately. Especially considering Sally settled into the area and lived there for decades. Which by the way really feels like they were trying to ride the coattails of Halloween 2018.

I haven’t actually sat down and watched any of the sequels or prequels so I can’t make too many educated statements on Bubba being turned into a Jason Voorhees clone. But some of what happens is a little silly. Not Choptop silly, but logistically-speaking. I pointed out a while ago that Leatherface is only a slasher villain insofar as he was the guy who did the dirty work in a family of cannibals who operated in the middle of nowhere. He was never Michael Myers with a different weapon. So here he is now with neither a support structure nor the capability to live independently. And it’s like...what’s happening now is something that cannot last. Him having a glorified temper tantrum over his foster mom dying isn’t exactly kickstarting a new Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. What, he’s going to squat in his old house like a feral animal now? He’s going to freeze in the winter or keel over from a preventable illness within a year. Which is without considering what will happen once Lila tells her story, corroborated by however many livestreams were taking place on that bus. The local police are dead. Higher-ranked authorities are coming.

As for things I liked...it was gross, it was bloody, it was well-made from a technical standpoint, and there were really good scenes of tension. And I guess that ending was supposed to be like an inversion of the original’s, so

So it’s supposed to be a triumphant moment when a school shooting survivor picks up a gun, huh?

What did happen to the rest of the Sawyers in this new continuity, anyway?

[magicalgirllove92]

What's Halloween franchise and Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise have in common... They're well-loved or hated by fans and their favorites were the evil Michael Myers and final girl heroine Laurie Strode played by the legendary actress Jamie Lee Curtis and arch rivals the evil Leatherface and his final girl heroine foe Sally Hardesty played by the late Marilyn Burns and Olwen Fouèrè in the Netflix movie. But the problem with the TCM franchise, unlike Halloween franchise... the sequels with the exception of the only good sequel and the real remake from 2003 starring actress and pop star and actor Justin Timberlake's wife Jessica Biel. It gone suck dogshit and the 9th sequel... it gets shittest. Young social media influencers led by an young annoying screaming banshee curly-haired whore brat and her big sister, the survivor of tragic school shooting went to fictional town of Bulgaria, Texas to address to bullshit toxic sjw social media situation where I hate anything crap, take actor Chris Pratt for example make stupid social media brats booing for and less school shootings. I know that I hate school shootings and loves Chris Pratt movies like Jurassic World for example but young social media influencers... They're stupid as fuck. But things where get interesting.... The good part is the bus scene where stupid social media brats and their smartphones try to cancel Leatherface... he is gonna butchering the hell of stupid social media hipster brats with cool gore with his chainsaw. The ending is unbelievable weird in a good way where annoying curly-haired screaming banshee runt's head got chopped off, leaving her sole surviving sister defeated as she's out of here safety and crying like a baby and Leatherface alive and kicking, wins by default. Special effects and gore is cool at all but the acting, writing and actors... They're all horrible and straight up bad and so was cringy quote. "Try anything and you're cancelled, bro." Ridiculous! Thank goodness, the fatty who canned Leatherface deserved to die in the fucked up shish-ka-bobed way in the bus first.. Frankly, I didn't see the post credits scene yet because I'm went back to my room and watch Simpsons reruns to wash the cringe horror away from me. If you guys looked for good horror, don't watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022 because I saw it yesterday and it sucked ass but you can watch the true one.. the 1974 horror classic or modern ones like soon-to-be A Quiet Place trilogy, Jordan Peele's modern classic Get Out and soon-to-be Halloween 2018 trilogy but if you like TCM 2022 then good for you because I can handle your opinion and if you hate TCM 2022 like I was... fine by me. Personally, I hate horror movies. Múy málo pecúlia! Very horrible movie!

Here's the score for Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022

Acting: 0/10

Writing: 0/10

Actors: 0/10

Special Effects: 5/10

Final score: F++++

Marilyn Burns, may she rest in peace and I'm glad she didn't see the cringeworthy trainwreck because she's asleep in her grave.

[brokehorrorfan]

Comic Review: Trick 'r Treat Omnibus

Trick 'r Treat is the definition of a cult classic. Despite sitting on the shelf for two years before being relegated to a straight-to-DVD release via Warner Bros. in 2009, its popularity has ballooned over the years. While the fantastic film and its fervent fanbase are the main catalysts for the success, some of the longevity has to be attributed to merchandising. Sam has achieved bona fide horror icon status; pop by your local Spirit Halloween to see him sharing shelfspace with - and often outselling - genre titans like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Jason Voorhees as well as Halloween staples such as Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

But that merchandising isn't new. Perhaps the earliest piece of Trick 'r Treat memorabilia was a comic book adaptation of the film. It was originally set for release as a four-issue miniseries in 2007 before the film was delayed; it was later released as a graphic novel in 2009. Sam later returned in Trick 'r Treat: Day of the Dead, an original anthology graphic novel that debuted in 2015. Legendary Comics has collected the two volumes in an omnibus, Trick 'r Treat: Sam's 10th Anniversary Collection. (It was originally supposed to drop last year, hence the misleading subtitle.)

Writer-director Michael Dougherty's Trick 'r Treat script is adapted into comic book form by Marc Andreyko (Manhunter, Batwoman). Echoing the setup of the film, the graphic novel is split into four parts. It works quite well in comic book format; in addition to characters being cleverly interwoven throughout, different artists bring their distinctive styles to each segment.

The first chapter, about a killer principal, features art by Mike Huddleston and colors by Jim Charalampidis; the second chapter, detailing the urban legend of the Halloween school bus massacre, features art by Grant Bond; the third chapter, concerning a pack of female werewolves, features art by Christopher Gugliotti; and the fourth chapter, in which Sam gets his bloody revenge, features art by Fiona Staples. Rob Leigh handles the lettering. Breehn Burns, Ragnar, and Dougherty provide chapter break art.

If Trick 'r Treat: Day of the Dead is the closest thing fans ever get to a proper sequel, they're in good hands. Dougherty contributed to the script with his Krampus collaborators Zach Shields and Todd Casey as well as Andreyko. It embraces the spirit of the original film, but each of its four segments take place in a different time and place. While Sam is the only recurring character, they’re unified by the ever-present theme of folklore.

It begins in 1640 Ireland with "Seed," with art by Fiona Staples and colors by Jose Villarrubia, about a benevolent witch and her magic seed. The story then goes to 1853 Illinois for "Corn Maiden," featuring hypnotic art by Stephen Byrne, which weaves Sam into Native American mythology. "Echoes" jumps to 1955 Los Angeles, where the frenetic but noir-esque art by Stuart Sayger and colors by Guy Major are befitting of the pulp detective story that dips into the surreal. Finally, "Monster Mash," with near-photorealistic artwork by Zid and colors by Zid and Riccardo Rullo, lives up to its title with an Amblin-esque story featuring a menagerie of creatures in the present day.

As added treats, the book begins with an introduction by Dougherty and closes with pin-up art and character sketches. Dougherty penned his message in September of 2019; a simpler time before the global pandemic. He discusses how his “little horror movie that could” became a Halloween tradition, much to his chagrin. Unfortunately, he notes that the long-gestured sequel “seems to be an ephemeral wish dream at this point.”

\While Sam may not return in film form any time soon, Trick 'r Treat: Sam's 10th Anniversary Collection serves as a fine continuation of his legacy. The hardcover omnibus has new cover art by Christopher Shy (whose work you may recognize from Mandy and Godzilla: King of the Monsters posters) in his unique, ethereal style. With 240 pages of spooky fun within, Sam and company will help make this year's Halloween feel a little more normal.

Trick 'r Treat: Sam's 10th Anniversary Collection is available now via Legendary Comics.

[srhunt]

Was someone going to tell me these adorable “Countdown to Halloween” ads featuring Sam existed or did I have to find out on my own*?

These ads were for FearNet’s 24 Hour Trick ‘r Treat Marathon that would happen on Halloween.

Y’know how there’s a 24 hour loop of A Christmas Story every year? Same thing.

These ads correspond to different holidays with Sam popping up to join in on the festivities as he waits for his favorite time of year.

There’s a Winter Holidays one where he helps a little girl build a snowman (using a real man as a base)

Reminds me of Trick ‘r Treat director Michael Dougherty’s other holiday horror film Krampus

an Easter one where Sam leaves chocolate bunnies with razor blades inside, Easter eggs with small fleshy creatures in them, and even a cooked Easter Bunny (and he’s still alive begging to be killed!)

(About sums up my feelings towards Zipper T. Rabbit -_-)

a Father’s Day one where a father sets up a mannequin family, but after he starts crying over his missing family, Sam comes in and asks to play catch with him (with his shrunken head baseball)

And there’s a Back to School one where Sam gets ready for school, but after the other kids at the bus stop start laughing at him, we jump cut to Sam standing alone with his sack way larger and the kids missing.

(I actually saw a gif set for this ad and thought it was in the movie during the School Bus Massacre flashback, which I realized was not the case after rewatching the movie)

These ads are creepy, hilarious and adorable and I love them

Then again, I love anything with Sam in it

There’s a few other ones (4 ads that repeat the 4 Rules of Halloween, and one the day after Halloween where, I think, Sam has rotted and seeds sink into the ground to grow a new Sam? Idk)

I found all of these ads on YouTube, so if you need more Sam in your life, go look them up.

[shesclearlya3]

In Case You Don’t Live Forever P.5

epilogue

pairing: Xavier Plympton x Reader

word count: 1,516

warnings: fluff, cuteness, slightly sad, references of smut/murder, a little cheesy not gonna lie, canon(?)

not entirely proof-read. *title inspired by Ben Platt’s song*

part 1 part 2 part 3

June 2019

"KEEP UP! Don't need any of you getting lost, now!"

You could hear Montana in front of the group of children following her to their hiking trail. There were seventeen kids in this group, all of them packed with water bottles, sunscreen, and some with cellphones as they saw the beautiful valleys of California. They talked and laughed excitedly when someone tripped up, and from having a good time.

Xavier held your hand as you followed them, making sure nobody strayed too far from the path. He was wearing designer sunglasses, smiling at everything and anyone when they asked where he got them.

"I know a guy," he'd say. 

Camp Redwood was currently in its fifth successful year. One of the siblings from the 1970 massacre decided to open it up, tearing down most of the original cabins and replacing them with nicer, updated ones. His family was full of successful architects, and they wanted to make something good come out of all the tragedy.

People were very skeptical when the news broke in 2013 that the camp was undergoing repairs and construction. The ones who were old enough to remember everything became the harshest critics. When the camp finally opened the next Summer, the number of kids barely filled a school bus. 

Yet, the six of you were there, offering your services as counselors.

After the first year, more and more kids came. It seemed that the Camp Redwood curse was finally broken, and now the children had sleepaway camp eight weeks during the Summer. In the offseason, it was open to entire families, and every Halloween, there was a haunted house, much to your amusement.

Most of the kids had come back year after year until they were not allowed to go back once they were sixteen. It was hard, growing attached to a kid who would soon be too old to come back. 

Finally, they demolished the original kitchen, much to Xavier's relief.

He never went into much detail about what went down that night, and you never pushed him. When Bertie made an appearance, he spent time with her. You'd explore, or read the limited selection of books, or rest. The others liked to spend time with you, you found a good relationship with Ray and Chet over the years. Montana stopped her killing ways once the year 2000 rolled around. 

Once you officially joined their group, Xavier came clean.

You weren't really shocked at Montana's behavior, and Xavier didn't pretend he was innocent, neither. He didn't mind capturing intruders who raided the camp, playing the "lost boy" to gather their trust, before giving them to Montana. He was angry and vengeful what had happened to him, to Bertie, and temporarily being cooked up.

When you died, that's when he killed people.

It wasn't something he was ever proud of. Your death only brought another slew of people who wanted to test their luck, taking pictures and defacing the property, like it wasn't where you and the others lived their final moments. He stabbed people, slashed their throats, even strangling ones who were particularly feisty. 

Finally, Ray was able to get to him, once again explaining this wouldn't be what you wanted. You still hadn't appeared to any of them, you were in limbo, and it pissed Xavier off. Honestly, none you had figured out why certain people came back, and others didn't. Plympton and Duke both should be happy their malicious spirits didn't pay them a visit. 

You and Xavier liked to say your relationship was going on thirty-four years, at least to your group. There was no way in hell you'd say that to outsiders, they'd think you two were crazy. 

Xavier liked to touch you, kiss your hair, neck, lips, he was a man of affection. The kids would giggle and tease him if they caught you two, and Xavier would only roll his eyes and pretend it didn't bother him, giving them smart-ass replies. It was safe to say Xavier was the favorite. 

You hadn't realized they stopped walking, bumping into Xavier's arm. He laughed, reaching down to pinch your butt. "Earth to y/n, you alright in there?" 

"I'm fine, just thinking," you sighed, leaning your head against him. The kids had begged Montana to stop, as you reached the highest point of the hills. It was a fantastic sight to you, seeing kids see nature for the first time. 

"It's our favorite time of the year. Cheer up, buttercup," Xavier said, speaking loudly just to spite the children. A small group of them turned, wrinkling their noses and saying "eeeewww," 

"Y/n and Xavier sitting in a tree," one kid, Adam, started to sing.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" the rest chimed in, causing you to throw your head back and laugh. Montana grinned from the front. Xavier pouted.

"Oh yeah? Well, you guys sounded horrible, thank god we don't have a choir." Xavier said, already starting a rivalry, and the day had barely begun. 

"How about we continue, Montana?" you chirped, trying not to cackle. Some of Xavier's favorite kids stuck their tongues at him, before everybody shuffled forward, more giggles in the air as a kid already tripped. 

"You are so rude to these kids," you teased him, linking your hands together again. 

"They can handle it, they love me," he mumbled, leaning down to kiss your head. 

-

One of your favorite spots to be with Xavier was on the docks. You were still too high up to place your feet in the water, though. It was lovely sitting there, basking in the moonlight with the love of your life. He held your intertwined hands in his lap, this time leaning his head against you. His blonde hair tickled your nose.

"Xavier?" you whispered.

"y/n?" he replied.

"Do you remember when we said I love you for the first time, together?"

Xavier laughed, "Babe, I remember that day like it was yesterday. What's going on, you've been inside your head all day." he gently squeezed your hand, sitting up. His blue eyes found yours quickly. 

You smiled at his name for you, placing your other hand on top of your connected ones. "I just think about it a lot. You said it took us dying to finally confess our feelings, how long did you... love me?" you asked shyly. 

You knew it was random, bringing this up over thirty-years after it happened. You were just dying to know.

"It was the night you picked me up from Blake's house, remember him?" he asked. You nodded, knowing you wouldn't forget that piece of shit any time soon. "I remember waking up, scared because I didn't know where I was. I had a horrible trip, I didn't want my life to get that bad, you know?" Xavier coughed, trying to hide his discomfort. You squeezed his hand. 

"... He just promised me all of these good things, all of this money that I could use to finally pay off my bills, get us out of our first shitty apartment-"

You frowned, "Xavier-"

"Shh," he said, giving you a gentle smile, "I just... When you picked me up, crying because you didn't know where I was the entire night, smacking me around because you were hurt so badly." he sniffed. "That's when I understood nobody would love me as much as you do."

You had tears in your eyes as you leaned into him, pressing a kiss to his bare shoulder. "I'm sorry for uh, smacking you around," you giggled through your tears. 

"I deserved it, y/n!" he said, cupping your cheeks in his hand before pressing a loud, sloppy kiss to your lips. You were taken by surprise, until-

"EWWWWWWW!" 

You broke away from him, turning to see a small group of kids with flashlights, gawking at the two of you. Xavier smirked, waving at them. 

"That's what you get for eavesdropping!" he called after them after they scurried away, their lights bobbing around in the dark. 

"You just love torturing them, don't you?" you laughed. 

"It's the second-best part of my day,"

"And the first?" you asked, leaning closer to him. Your lips brushed together, feeling the heat bubbling between you and between your legs. 

"In the kitchen with Bertie-" he began, laughing at the surprised look on your face. You went to give him a playful smack, but Xavier disappeared. You looked around, hoping none of the kids had seen that.

"Xavier!" you giggled quietly, trying to hide it. 

"y/n," you heard in your ear, causing you to jump and scream loudly.

"DON'T DO THAT!" you said through your laughter, feeling his arms wrap around you from behind. Xavier helped you up, pressing another kiss to your lips. 

"I'll show you the best part of my day," he mumbled, trailing small kisses from the corner of your lips to your jawline. "Let's hope the others don't take a shower any time soon." 

You and Xavier took off towards the showers, laughing the entire way. 

"I love you more than you'll ever wrap your head around, Xavier Plympton,"

----- THAT’S THE END!

Thank you so much to all of you who supported and loved this story as much as I did. I never thought it would get the attention it received, it was heart-wrenching in so many ways, but I needed this story to be told. The next multi-chapter story will be of Foreign Exchange!Michael. If you want to be on that taglist, let me know!  -----

taglist: @thexmancometh​ @the-walking-daryl​ @trichy-knitts​ @shydragonrider​ @thefandomzoneisdangerous​ @lemonwhiskers​  @jetblackpayne​ @langdonsvcrd​ @okoktrinity22​ @uwonman​ @stefanmikaleson1864​ @sevenwonderwitch​ @rubbrninja

[horror-heks]

Happy October!!!!

October 30....

Trick 'r Treat

It's Halloween Eve!!! The perfect night to prepare and review the rules of Halloween and what better way of doing so than watching Trick 'r Treat. From 2007, Trick 'r Treat is an anthology horror film set in the fictionalized town of Warren Valley, Ohio on Halloween night.

One of my favourite things about Trick 'r Treat is the nonlinear narrative it's told in. The characters all cross paths in some manner, but at the center of all the stories is Sam. Sam is an odd, but adorable trick or treater that only wants to enforce the rules of Halloween.

The various plots in Trick 'r Treat are gory, fun, and disturbing.

The urban legend of the Halloween School Bus Massacre was particularly disturbing to me, but the call back to it later in the film is really great.

It's a fun and creepy film and for past few years has become a Halloween favourite and must watch.

It also has one of my top favourite werewolf transformation scenes in a movie.

The effects and make-up are fantastic and way less cgi than seen in horror films today. All around Trick 'r Treat is a great movie to watch for that Halloween spirit.

[halloweendailynews]

'Trick 'r Treat' Devil Mask Joins School Bus Massacre Collection in 2022

Spirit Halloween continues to unveil all of their new product releases that will be arriving in stores this year and are already available to order online, including new items and returning favorites in the officially licensed Trick ‘r Treat 2022 Halloween collection, but so far, the most exciting has to be the new Devil face mask, the fifth addition in the School Bus Massacre mask…

[wahbegan]

Hey i never noticed before now could be a coincidence cause i think Brian Cox’s face actually has those marks but it looks like Mr. Krieg in Trick ‘r Treat has scars that look like the wounds the bus driver got in The Halloween School Bus Massacre that’s a neat lil clue

[sharktoraptor]

Anyway here’s my timeline of the killers real world origins as supported by the lore and cool history factoids. Spent way too much time on this but if you’re into the lore it might be a cool read.

I’ll go from “oldest” to "youngest”, so Evan’s first.

(Note: dates are based off of when the Entity would have “recruited” them. Time doesn’t really exist in the Entity’s realm, so it probably doesn’t actually matter when they were taken vs. what order they showed up in the Nightmare.)

Evan MacMillan: ca. 1850

Alright, so first off I don’t believe the wiki that Evan is American- MacMillan is a super Scottish name and Archie also sounds English to me, so I’ve placed him from the UK. Huge iron productions in the UK, like the MacMillan Estate, didn’t really take off until partway through the Industrial Revolution (mid 19th century), once there were better means of production and more consumables were being made of forged iron. There’s not really any specific place that I think he’s based off of, so I ballparked it, but this makes the most sense to me considering the lack of safety regulations (probably) in his backstory and the general state of technology in the MacMillan Estate realm.

Lisa Sherwood: ca. Late 19th century?

Lisa has the fewest clues in her backstory as to her time period. She’s based on a wendigo but is implied to come from the equivalent of Louisiana (the wiki lists her as African American, so I’m inclined to think that the wendigo inspiration is mostly from the cannibalism rather than her actual origins). There’s no real world event that I can find that would have inspired a cannibal tribe in Louisiana, so most of what I have to go off of is the fact that the commercial paddle steamer was invented in 1807, and the Pale Rose is said to have been there for some time before the events of Lisa’s backstory.

Anna: ca. 1918

The end of Anna’s backstory references the German invasion of Russia during WWI. She seems to have been actively hunting throughout the war but afterwards reportedly disappeared when soldiers stopped wandering through her forest and providing her with prey. I imagine that when she got bored the Entity took over in that regard.

Max: ca. 1946

The background description of the Coldwind Farm realm says that the Thompsons disappeared in 1946. We don’t know how long Max was living at the farm and killing people and animals, but it couldn’t have been more than a few years at most before the Entity picked him up. I’m hesitant to give 1946 as the concrete year because we just don’t know for certain.

Herman: ca. 1950s/1960s

Herman’s backstory is a reference to the CIA’s MK ULTRA project, which was a series of experiments from around 1950-1970 involving interrogation and mind control. They were highly questionable both ethically and legally.

Leatherface: 1973

One of two definitive years on this list. I’ve never seen Texas Chain Saw Massacre, but apparently the original is meant to have taken place in 1973. According to his backstory, the Entity plucked him right out of the end of the movie, where he is left swinging his chainsaw around in crazed circles.

Sally: ca. 1970s/1980s

First of all, I really like (parts of) this theory that Sally and Nea were taken around the same time, based on the connections in their backstories and their shared DLC. This made it a bit easier to narrow down a time frame, since I was able to use Nea’s backstory as well. Electrotherapy more or less phased out in the 1970s, so I used that as a cap, and the method was pioneered around 1940. With Nea’s background: modern skateboards also came around in the 1940s, but skate parks (which are explicitly mentioned in her lore) weren’t really a thing until the 70s. So... I guess she was kind of a pioneer in her field.

Myers: ca. 1980s

The DbD lore doesn’t actually say when Myers was taken in relation to the Halloween movies. Since it only seems to reference the original two, I’m running off the assumption that the Entity snagged him and Laurie sometime shortly after 1978, but like Max there’s not enough evidence to say it was immediately following the events of that year.

Philip: ca. 1980s

I first placed Philip based off of the design of the school bus in Autohaven Wreckers, which was a lot of unnecessary research about school bus history when the easier and more precise thing was all in the names. Ojomo is a very common Nigerian surname. We know from his backstory that Philip immigrated to the US in search of work and a new start, and it turns out that Nigerian emigration to the US took a spike in the mid 80s for economic reasons. Around this time (in the 70s) the Russian mafia was also at its most threatening in the US. I think it’s pretty reasonable to say that Mr. Azarov was definitely Russian mafia. (By the way, the first school buses were horse-drawn carriages called kid hacks. And they’re yellow to be most visible in the times of day that they drive. I have to do something with this knowledge.)

Freddy: 2010

The only other definitive year. Apparently the 2010 remake (which this Freddy and Quentin are based from) literally just takes place in 2010, which I suppose makes sense what with Freddy being an ageless dream demon and all. I’ve never seen Nightmare on Elm Street and certainly not the remake, but it seems from Freddy’s DbD lore that, like Leatherface, he transitioned straight from the movie to the Nightmare.

So yep. If anyone has any ideas about Lisa lemme know, but I’m pretty confident about the rest of these.

[creepykingdom]

All the Misfits (of This is Halloween)

The Cackling Craig shares a touching tale from the Trick ‘R Treat scarezone at Halloween Horror Nights 27 at Universal Studios Orlando!

Words: The Cackling Craig, Pictures: James H. Carter II

Aloha adventurers,

The trick or treaters were dead: to begin with.

Forgive the literary flourish, I could not help myself, but it is also important to note for the story to follow.  My little tale concerns three things primarily: a theme park guest, the Trick ‘R Treat scarezone at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando, and a bunch of actors playing dead trick or treaters.  Those familiar with the movie Trick ‘R Treat will not need much further context, but the less familiar will definitely want to read the next paragraph about The School Bus Massacre scene in the movie to fully appreciate my reminiscence.

For those not in the know, Trick ‘R Treat is a horror anthology feature that takes place over the course of one Halloween evening.  Within in the movie, there is one tale that concerns a group of trick or treaters who meet their end on a fateful school bus ride.  The demise of these children is made tragic not just by the fact that they are young kids, but also because they are all mentally handicapped in some fashion.  To further twist the knife, the film makes it clear that the people of the town paid someone to drive the school bus off a cliff because the townspeople no longer wanted to deal with these kids anymore.

Heavy stuff, I know, but hold on a minute because I promise that I am getting to the bright side.

Obviously these same characters were destined to make an appearance in the Trick ‘R Treat scarezone because they proved to be a major, iconic part of the feature.  While some of the actors chose to scare, others just wandered about providing a creepy ambiance.  Then, one evening, I saw one of the most moving moments I have ever encountered within a scarezone.

As I wandered through the fog of this scarezone, I saw a few of the trick or treaters gathered around a guest, taking pictures, and giving the person high fives.  In a way I was a bit surprised to see this happening as it was dark outside and the actors tended to pause for pictures during the daylight hours only because the camera flashes blinded them at night.  Then, as the mist dissipated for a moment, I was able to take in the fact that the girl they were paying so much attention to was not only wheelchair bound, but also had down syndrome.  

The look of pure joy on that girl’s face is something that I will not soon forget.  I will admit, knowing the story behind these characters and seeing them provide such caring interactions with this one girl made me quite misty eyed.  In general, I know that Halloween is not seen as a heartwarming time of year, but occasionally something like this happens that makes abundantly clear the strength of this holiday that allows us all to pretend.

Fond farewells,

-The Cackling Craig

[brokehorrorfan]

Best New Horror Movies on Netflix: Summer 2017

I know there's an overwhelming amount of horror movies to sift through on Netflix, so I've decided to take out some of the legwork by compiling a list of the season's best new genre titles on Netflix's instant streaming service.

Please feel free to leave a comment with any I may have missed and share your thoughts on any of the films you watch. You can also peruse past installments of Best New Horror Moves on Netflix for more suggestions.

1. Clown

Before Spider-Man: Homecoming swings into theaters, watch director Jon Watts' feature debut. Beginning as a faux-trailer that went viral, Clown was essentially willed into existence with the aid of genre favorite Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever) as a producer. Andy Powers (Oz) stars as a dad who comes across an old clown costume to wear to his son's birthday party, only to find that he physically cannot remove it. He then develops an insatiable hunger for children, soon learning that he must sacrifice five kids in order to remove the suit. Laura Allen (The 4400) plays his wife, while Peter Stormare (Fargo) provides the ancient, demonic history of clowns. Not your typical killer clown movie, Clown combines classic monster movie motifs, body horror elements, supernatural undertones, and gallows humor into one coulrophobic package. Read my full review of the film here.

2. Beyond the Gates

Beyond the Gates was clearly made by horror fans for fellow fans. The 80-minute romp can best be described as Jumanji meets The Beyond. Estranged brothers Gordon (Graham Skipper, Almost Human) and John (Chase Williamson, John Dies at the End), along with Gordon’s girlfriend, Margot (Brea Grant, Halloween II), find and play an old VCR game. They must obey the tape’s host (Barbara Crampton, Re-Animator) in order to solve the mystery of their father's disappearance. It's slightly hindered by a limited budget - the set-up is slow and the ending is a tad anticlimactic - but it's so spirited along the way that the faults barely register. First-time director Jackson Stewart taps into the VHS nostalgia to create a film that would feel perfectly at home on a mom-and-pop video store shelf in the late '80s. Read my full review of the film here.

3. The Eyes of My Mother

The Eyes of My Mother is too pensive for horror fans look for typical blood and scares, but those who appreciate arthouse fare are likely to get wrapped up in its unsettling tone. Writer/director Nicolas Pesce makes an impact with his debut, utilizing stark black-and-white photography to explore a character study illustrating the repercussions of murder. The story is told in three chapters, which each one showing a significant familial moment in a woman's life that shapes her into the disturbed individual she ultimately becomes. It’s a slow burn, even at a mere 76 minutess, but every moment is spent ruminating in its dark tone.

4. Backcountry

Backcountry is based on a true story of a black bear attack. The predator doesn't show up until two thirds of the way through the film; the rest of the time is spent developing the relationship between Alex (Jeff Roop) and Jenn (Missy Peregrym, Reaper), who embark on what's supposed to be a romantic and relaxing weekend hike through the woods. Tensions first rise upon the introduction of an Irish backpacker (Eric Balfour, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), then again when the couple gets lost in the dizzying forest. It finally takes the form of a suspenseful survival thriller when the ferocious bear begins attacking their campsite. The investment in character development is worthwhile, as it causes the viewer to care about them, thereby making the final act even more harrowing. Real bears were used during production, adding to the ripe intensity.

5. Dig Two Graves

The first act of Dig Two Graves could be mistaken for a coming-of-age drama - not only thematically but also stylistically - as a young girl (Samantha Isler, Captain Fantastic) from a podunk town attempts to reconcile with her brother's death. Things really heat up when a trio of creepy men tell her they can bring him back to life... but someone else has to take his place. The story is structured in an interesting way, sprinkling in flashbacks that contextualize the actions taking place in the present. Isler delivers a brilliant performance, as does Ted Levine (The Silence of the Lambs), who plays her grandfather, the town's sheriff.

6. XX

XX is a horror anthology made up of four segments written and directed by females, each one strong and unique. “The Box” by Jovanka Vuckovic adapts a Jack Ketchum short story about a boy who's forever changed upon seeing the contents of a mysterious box. “The Birthday Party” by Annie Clark (better known as musician St. Vincent) is a darkly comic tale about a woman who finds her husband dead on the day of her daughter's birthday party. “Don’t Fall” by Roxanne Benjamin (Southbound) turns a serene hike into a blood-thirsty creature feature. “Her Only Living Son” by Karyn Kusama (The Invitation) finds a mother learning a deep, dark secret about her son. There's not much of a through line outside of them all being female-led (3/4 of which are maternal roles), though neat stop-motion animation wraps around the tales. Several familiar faces populate the cast, including Melanie Lynskey (Heavenly Creatures), Natalie Brown (The Strain), and Mike Doyle (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit). It's no secret that we need more female voices in film, and XX is a potent declaration that's impossible to ignore.

7. Stake Land II: The Stakelander

Despite a terrible title that could be mistaken for a joke, Stake Land II: The Stakelander is a sequel to Stake Land, Jim Mickle's impressive 2010 vampire film (which you should watch first; it's also on Netflix). Mickle resigns to executive producer, but his co-writer, Nick Damici, returns to pen the script. Damici also reprises his role as Mister, reuniting with Connor Paolo as Martin. The vampire slaying duo embark on a journey across a Mad Max 2-style post-apocalyptic wasteland infested with ferocious vampires, which resemble zombies more than your traditional bloodsuckers. As is often the case, it's the other humans that prove to be the real threat. Like its predecessor, the film finds a rare balance between drama and intensity. It's not as effective as the original, but fans won't be disappointed by the follow-up.

8. Tag

Tag (also known as Riaru onigokko) is not for everyone, but it's too gleefully weird not to warrant a recommendation. Written and directed by Sion Sono (Suicide Club), the Japanese film opens with a bus full of school girls getting sliced in half in one fell swoop. It only gets stranger from there as the infinite possibilities of multiple universes are explored. One girl survives each time, continually awakening in different realities after watching all her friends get killed in gory fashions - including a teacher mowing down her class with a mini-gun. I thought it might be adapted from a manga, as it has that bizarre, fantastical feel to it, but it's instead based on a novel. It's dreamlike and absurd but not without heart.

9. The Windmill

The Windmill (formerly known as The Windmill Massacre) is a slasher film from the Netherlands, although it's (mostly) in English. It follows a guided bus tour of Holland that breaks down near a mysterious windmill. One by one, the passengers are picked off by a cool-looking killer armed with a scythe. With glossy production value and a dark tone, it feels more like a throwback to late '90s slashers rather than the golden age of the '80s - but there's still some solid gore and practical effects. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but the film offers a slightly more involved plot than the average slasher, including flawed characters and supernatural elements. It's also gleefully mean-spirited to the very end.

10. Man Vs.

As you may have guessed from the name, Man Vs. uses a survival reality show as the framing device for a creature feature. Doug (Chris Diamantopoulos, Silicon Valley) is the survival expert/host, filming himself in the Canadian wilderness - only to learn that he's not alone. It would have been cheaper to make a found footage film, but it's more effect as a traditional movie - though there are some shots from Doug's gear. The set-up is a bit slow, however you may learn some survival tips along the way. The story essentially becomes Survivorman vs. Predator in the final act. Unfortunately, the CGI creature is Syfy-level bad, preventing the big reveal from having much impact, but Diamantopoulos delivers a solid performance nonetheless.

11. Abattoir

Abattoir is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II-IV, Repo! The Genetic Opera), based on the same named graphic novel he created. It follows a real estate journalist (Jessica Lowndes, 90210) and a detective (Joe Anderson, The Crazies) as they investigate a series of houses in which tragedies occurred having the offending rooms torn out. They end up in a Twin Peaks-esque town where a local (Lin Shaye, Insidious) tells them of Jebediah Crone (Dayton Callie, Sons of Anarchy), an enigmatic reverend attempting to build a gateway to pure evil. Although set in the present, the picture is an unabashed love letter to film noirs of the 1940s and ‘50s. While the execution of the fascinating concept is lacking, Bousman manages to create a wonderfully imaginative neo-noir universe rife with spooky atmosphere. Read my full review here.

Bonus: The Keepers

If you were among the throngs of viewers morbidly captivated by Making a Murderer, The Keepers will be your new true crime fix. The Netflix original documentary series is every bit as compelling and frustrating as Making a Murderer, but the heinous crimes are even more stomach churning. The story revolves around an unsolved murder case of 26-year-old nun in 1969 and her then-students who have teamed up decades later to try to get to the truth. There appears to be a cover up that involves sexual abuse at the hands of a priest. The show consists of seven hour-long episodes. It probably could have been shaved down to five, but it's structured in such a way that make you want to keep binge watching.

Bonus: Riverdale: Season 1

Riverdale is like Twin Peaks meets Pretty Little Liars by way of Archie Comics. It reinvents the classic Archie characters for a modern audience with an interesting murder/mystery plot. I'm admittedly beyond the key demographic for the trashy teen drama that ensues, but the first season is fun enough, albeit inconsistent, to hook me. Several of the younger actors deliver great performances, given the heavy-handed material, but it's even more fun to see the parents played by '90s stars like Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210), Mädchen Amick (Twin Peaks), Robin Givens (Head of the Class), and Skeet Ulrich (Scream). If you enjoy MTV's Scream, you'll likely get a kick out of this one as well.

[nightmareonfilmstreet]

[Watch This] All of the Halloween TV Episodes Available on Netflix US!

New Post has been published on https://nofspodcast.com/watch-halloween-tv-episodes-available-netflix-us/

[Watch This] All of the Halloween TV Episodes Available on Netflix US!

Are you ready to become a couch potato for the rest of October? Get ready, because there  are hours of hidden Halloween goodies to be found on Netflix! Reddit user BixmanJ took the painstaking effort of rounding up EVERY. SINGLE. HALLOWEEN. EPISODE. Keep in mind, this list only applies to U.S. users, so us international Netflixians may not have the same content.

On to the list!

That 70’s Show Halloween Special

Halloween Episodes Leaving Netflix on October 1

30 Rock – “Stone Mountain” Sn 4, Ep 3 Bernie Mac Show, The – “Night of Terror” Sn 5, Ep 6 Malcolm in the Middle – “Halloween Approximately” Sn 2, Ep 2 — “Halloween” Sn 7, Ep 4 My Name is Earl – “Little Bad Voodoo Brother” Sn 4, Ep 8 One Tree Hill – “”An Attempt to Tip the Scales” Sn 3, Ep 4 — “Not Afraid” Sn 8, Ep 6

Halloween Episodes Leaving Netflix on October 19

Cleveland Show, The – “It’s the Great Pancake, Cleveland Brown” Sn 2, Ep 4 — “Nightmare on Grace Street” Sn 3, Ep 3 — “Escape from Goochland” Sn 4, Ep 1

Halloween Episodes Leaving Netflix on October 21

Bones –  “The Resurrection in the Remains” Sn 11, Ep 5

Halloween Episodes Leaving Netflix on October 27

Louie – “Halloween; Ellie” Sn 2, Ep 10

Halloween Episodes Leaving Netflix on October 29

Family Guy – “Petergeist” Sn 4, Ep 26 — “Halloween on Spooner Street” Sn 9, Ep 4 — “Peternormal Activity ” Sn 14, Ep 4

Goosebumps Halloween episode, The Haunted Mask

Available For All Of October

13 Reasons Why – “Tape 2, Side B” Sn 1, Ep 4 90210 – “Unmasked” Sn 2, Ep 7 About A Boy – “About a Will-O-Ween” Sn 2, Ep 3 Agatha Christie’s Poirot – “Hallowe’en Party” Sn 12, Ep 2 Andy Griffith Show, The – “The Haunted House” Sn 4, Ep 2 Animaniacs –  “Draculee, Draculaa / Phranken-Runt” Sn 1, Ep 29 — “Scare Happy Slappy / Witch One / MacBeth” Sn 1, Ep 62 Baby Daddy – “Strip or Treat” Sn 4, Ep 1 Blue Bloods – “Nightmares” Sn 3, Ep 7 Carrie Diaries, The – “Fright Night” Sn 1, Ep 4 Charmed – “All Halliwell’s Eve” Sn 3, Ep 4 Cheers – “Fairy Tales Can Come True” Sn 3, Ep 4 — “Bar Wars V: The Final Judgement” Sn 10 , Ep 7 Clifford the Big Red Dog – “Come Back, Mac/Boo” Sn 1, Ep 11 Comedy Bang! Bang – “Pee Wee Herman Wears a Halloween Costume” Sn 2, Ep 12 — “Wayne Coyne Wears a Halloween Costume” Sn 3, Ep 13 — “Robert Kirkman Wears a Tan Blazer and Red Suit Pants” Sn 4, Ep 34 — “Gillian Jacobs Wears a Gray Checkered Suit and a Red Bow Tie” Sn 5, Ep 12 Criminal Minds – “About Face” Sn 3, Ep 6 — “Devil’s Night” Sn 6, Ep 6 — “The Good Earth” Sn 8, Ep 5 — “In the Blood” Sn 9, Ep 6 — “Boxed In” Sn 10, Ep, 5 CSI Miami – “Hell Night” Sn 3, Ep 6 — “Curse Of The Coffin” Sn 5, Ep 6 Dexter – “Let’s Give the Boy a Hand” Sn 1, Ep 4 Dick Van Dyke Show, The –  “The Ghost of A. Chantz” Sn 4, Ep 2 Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 – “Love and Monsters” Sn 2, Ep 2 F is for Family – “‘F’ Is for Halloween” Sn 1, Ep 4 Fuller House – “Curse of Tanner Manor” Sn 2, Ep 4 Frasier –  “Halloween” Sn 5, Ep 3 — “Room Full of Heroes” Sn 9, Ep 6 — “Tales from the Crypt” Sn 10, Ep 5 Freaks and Geeks – “Tricks and Treats” Sn 1, Ep 3 Friends – “The One with the Halloween Party” Sn 8, Ep 6 Gilmore Girls – “Twenty-One Is the Loneliest Number ” Sn 6, Ep 7 Girl Meets World –  “Girl Meets World of Terror” Sn 1, Ep 11 — “Girl Meets World of Terror 2” Sn 2, Ep 18 — “Girl Meets World of Terror 3” Sn 3, Ep 17 Glee – “The Rocky Horror Glee Show” Sn 2, Ep 5 Goosebumps –  “Attack of the Jack-O’-Lanterns” Sn 2, Ep 15 — “The Haunted Mask” Sn 5, Ep 1-2 — “The Haunted Mask II” Sn 5, Ep 7-8 Gossip Girl – “The Handmaiden’s Tale” Sn 1, Ep 6 — “How to Succeed in Bassness” Sn 3, Ep 7 Grey’s Anatomy – “Haunt You Every Day” Sn 4, Ep 5 — “Thriller” Sn 10, Ep 7 Hart of Dixie – “Walkin’ After Midnight” Sn 2, Ep 5 — “Help Me Make It Through the Night” Sn 3, Ep 4 Hawaii Five-0 – “Ka Iwi Kapu (Sacred Bones)” Sn 2, Ep 7 — “Mohai (Offering)” Sn 3, Ep 5 — “Kupouli ‘la (Broken)” Sn 4, Ep 6 — “Ho’oma’ike (Unmasked)” Sn 5, Ep 6 — “Na Pilikua Nui (Monsters)” Sn 6, Ep 6 — “Ka hale ho’okauweli (House of Horrors)” Sn 7, Ep 6 Heartland – “The Haunting of Hanley Barn” Sn 3, Ep 4 Highway to Heaven – “I Was a Middle-Aged Werewolf” Sn 4, Ep 8 How I Met Your Mother – “Slutty Pumpkin” Sn 1, Ep 6 — “Canning Randy” Sn 6, Ep 7 — “The Slutty Pumpkin Returns” Sn 7 Ep 8 It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – “Who Got Dee Pregnant?” Sn 6, Ep 7 — “The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre” Sn 8, Ep 3 Johnny Test – “The Johnny Who Saved Halloween” Sn 6, Ep 12 Last Man Standing – “Last Halloween Standing” Sn 1, Ep 4 — “Haunted House” Sn 3, Ep 5 — “School Merger” Sn 4, Ep 5 — “Halloween” Sn 5, Ep 6 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – “Glasgowman’s Wrath” Sn 16, Ep 6 Liv and Maddie – “Kang-A-Rooney” Sn 1, Ep 5 — “Helgaween-A-Rooney” Sn 2, Ep 3 — “Haunt-A-Rooney” Sn 3, Ep 4 — “Scare-A-Rooney” Sn 4, Ep 3 Magic School Bus, The – “in the Haunted House” Sn 1 Ep 8 — “Going Batty” Sn 2, Ep 9 Midsomer Murders –  “The Magician’s Nephew” Sn 11, Ep 5 My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: “Luna Eclipsed” Sn 2, Ep 4 — “Scare Master” Sn 5, Ep 15 NCIS – “Witch Hunt” Sn 4, Ep 6 — “Murder 2.0” Sn 6, Ep 6 — “Oil and Water” Sn 11, Ep 6 New Girl – “Halloween” Sn 2, Ep 6 — “Keaton” Sn 3, Ep 6 Office, The – “Halloween” Sn 2, Ep 5 — “Employee Transfer” Sn 5, Ep 6 — “Costume Contest” Sn 7, Ep 6 Once Upon a Time – “The Doctor” Sn 2, Ep 5 Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: “A Berry Scary Night” Sn 1, Ep 21 — “The Shadow of the Were-Pac” Sn 2, Ep 12 Parks and Recreation – “Greg Pikitis” Sn 2, Ep 7 — “Meet ‘n’ Greet” Sn 4, Ep 5 — “Halloween Surprise” Sn 5, Ep 5 — “Recall Vote” Sn 6, Ep 7 Party of Five – “Personal Demons” Sn 3, Ep 7 — “A Mid-Semester’s Night Dream” Sn 5, Ep 4 — “Wrestling Demons” Sn 6, Ep 4 Phineas and Ferb – “One Good Scare Ought to Do It!” Sn 1, Ep 9 — “The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein!” Sn 1, Ep 22 — “That’s the Spirit/The Curse of Candace” Sn 3, Ep 12 — “Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror” Sn 4, Ep 13 — “Druselsteinoween/Face Your Fear” Sn 4, Ep 15 — “Night of the Living Pharmacists” Sn 4, Ep 28-29 Power Rangers (Mighty Morphin) –  “Life’s a Masquerade” Sn 1, Ep 25 — “Trick or Treat” Sn 1, Ep 54 — “Zedd’s Monster Mash” Sn 2, Ep 21 Power Rangers (Zeo) – “It Came from Angel Grove” Sn 1, Ep 23 Power Rangers (Samurai) – “Party Monsters” (Halloween Special) — “Trickster Treat” (Halloween Special) Power Rangers (Megaforce) – “Raising Spirits” (Halloween Special) Power Rangers (Dino Charge) – “The Ghostest with the Mostest” Sn 1, Ep 21 Power Rangers (Dino Super Charge) – “Trick or Trial” Sn 1, Ep 21 Pretty Little Liars – “The First Secret” Sn 2, Ep 13 — “This Is a Dark Ride” Sn 3, Ep 13 — “Grave New World” Sn 4, Ep 13 — “We Love You to Death” Sn 5, Ep 13 Raising Hope – “Happy Halloween” Sn 1, Ep 5 — “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Me What to Do” Sn 3, Ep 5 R. L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour – “Pumpkinhead” Sn 2, Ep 5 Royal Pains – “Dawn of the Med” Sn 4, Ep 4 Scream – “The Dance” Sn 1, Ep 9 — “Finale: Halloween / Halloween II” Sn 2, Ep 13 Star Trek (Original Series) – “Catspaw” Sn 2, Ep 7 Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, The –  “Count Koopula” Sn 1, Ep 14 — “Koopenstein” Sn 1, Ep 34 Supernatural –  “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester” Sn 4, Ep 7 That ’70s Show – “Halloween” Sn 2, Ep 5 — “Too Old to Trick or Treat, Too Young to Die” Sn 3, Ep 4 Trailer Park Boys – “Halloween 1977” Sn 6, Ep 5 Twilight Zone, The – “The Howling Man” Sn 2, Ep 5 Vampire Diaries, The – “Haunted ” Sn 1, Ep 7

Halloween Special of The Office

Horror/Supernatural-Themed Shows

American Horror Story Bates Motel Big Bad Beetleborgs Black Mirror Crazyhead Cult From Dusk Till Dawn iZombie My Babysitter’s a Vampire Lost Girl Penny Dreadful Salem Santa Clarita Diet Slasher Stranger Things Twin Peaks Van Helsing Walking Dead, The Worst Witch, The Wynonna Earp Z Nation

[kansascityhappenings]

Ghost tours and other lore in the Kansas City area and beyond

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ghosts, ghouls, spooks and more — if you want to find something to make you rethink your surroundings, a ghost tour is only a few steps away.

Kansas City established on June 1, 1850 is full of lore and tales about the paranormal. The city took part in the Civil War on October 23, 1864 in the Battle of Westport, with Union soldiers having victory over the Confederacy. Kansas City has a long history with gangsters, political upheaval, the Victorian era, trains, a strong immigrant base, and a sharp rise in wealth for the Midwest. Not far from here are equally as bizarre of places from the haunted hotels in Eureka Springs, Arkansas; the Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph; and legends about the indigenous peoples who lived here before European settlers took over the land.

Whether these tales are just for fun or have some grounding in science or history, people have claimed to see spooks. People have said orphan ghosts wander at Belvoir Winery, that Civil War soldiers loom at historic houses, and other apparitions roam about the Kansas City metro — often repeating their last moments.

History of ghost lore and science’s inquiry

Wikipedia. Engraving of the Hammersmith Ghost in Kirby’s Wonderful and Scientific Museum, a magazine published in 1804

In folklore, a ghost is the spirit or soul of a dead person or animal that appears among the living. The overwhelming consensus in science is that ghosts don’t exist, and the event being witnessed has some real world explanation.

Ghost lore has existed across the globe for millenniums. Scientific explanations for these events have risen over the past couple of centuries with the age of reason and enlightenment.

The physician John Ferriar wrote “An Essay Towards a Theory of Apparitions” in 1813. He found that sightings of ghosts were the result of optical illusions. Later the French physician Alexandre Jacques François Brière de Boismont published “On Hallucinations: Or, the Rational History of Apparitions, Dreams, Ecstasy, Magnetism, and Somnambulism” in 1845. The French physician argued sightings of ghosts were mere hallucinations.

Jumping forward to a more modern age, Benjamin Radford from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and author of the 2017 book “Investigating Ghosts: The Scientific Search for Spirits” argued that “ghost hunting is the world’s most popular paranormal pursuit” but ghost hunters are far lacking in a clear definition of what is a ghost and proof of its existence. Radford called it “all speculation and guesswork.” He writes that it would be “useful and important to distinguish between types of spirits and apparitions. Until then, it’s merely a parlor game distracting amateur ghost hunters from the task at hand.”

Several academic studies have found that experiences of a haunting are tied to environmental factors, lighting levels, and slight changes in air we might not notice.

There is also the “Stone Tape” theory. It argues if something has enough energy it could end up being recorded into the surroundings, like rock or particularly limestone. This capturing would be similar to how moments are captured in film and then played back.

Popular Kansas City ghosts and sightings

The Belvoir Winery in Liberty was a sweeping lodge in the 1890s. It had several buildings associated with it on a 170-acre plot along Missouri Highway 291.

The Belvoir opened up a nine-room bed and breakfast on the third floor of the main building. Some guests have reported coming across strange unwanted presences and then promptly leaving. If you need a good creepy movie about orphans, check out The Orphanage, a 2007 Spanish film by J.A. Bayona, Guillermo del Toro worked as a producer.

2. Hartman Hardware in Shawnee has also given people goosebumps. The hardware store had a paranormal investigation team come in — one associated with Ghost Stories of Kansas, after the group decided to start a tour of downtown Shawnee. That space was once used as a lodge hall where dances were held.

Aside from Hartman Hardware, within a two-block radius there are stories of a bar lady who likes to cross through the hall of a former salon, a ghost who would mysteriously ring the doorbell of a photo studio, the lingering scent of cigars in a smoke-free business, and sounds of chairs going up and down in the closed old theater.

On another historic note, there are legends about the Quantrill’s Raiders. They’re most well-known for burning Lawrence to the ground during the Bleeding Kansas period leading up to the Civil War; they did a dry run in Old Shawnee.

3. Hanging out at the Muehlbach Hotel is a ghost known as “The Blue Lady.” Described as a blonde in her early 30’s, she wears a 1920s-style blue dress with her hair tucked up into a wide-brimmed hat. Some have speculated that she is the ghost of an actress who once played at the Gayety Theater next door, and she is searching the Muehlebach for a lost lover. Her description sounds an awful lot like Daisy Buchanan from the popular Great Gatsby novel.

4. Longview Farm in Lee’s Summit was built between 1912 and 1914. Loula Long Combs is said to have treated stray dogs with kindness and spent much of her time with her favorite horse, Revelation. Loula died in 1971 at the age of 90. Students at the nearby Longview Community College have reported hearing ghostly hooves on pavement, and catching glimpses of an unknown woman on horseback.

5. Father Henry David Jardine is said to have unfinished business clearing his name. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church is one of the oldest congregations in town — dating back to 1857, before the Civil War. The father helped organize the parish from 1879 to 1886. He also founded two schools and had a hand in the creation of the hospital that would become St. Luke’s. Father Jardine’s death in St. Louis was ruled out as a suicide. He was not buried in a consecrated ground until he was officially exonerated 35 years later. Today eerie noises heard at the church are attributed to Father Jardine, who some say is trying to tell the truth about his death.

6. A Halloween masquerade ball meant to celebrate the night and lavish up with some treats resulted in the horrific deaths of two coal shovelers. It happened in 1910, and according to the legend, a phantom clanking of pipes is heard at The Elms Hotel & Spa around 1:30a.m. — the exact time of the historic blaze.

Frank Nash | FBI Records

7. One of the most horrific moments in Kansas City history has led to a plethora of lore and speculation. The Kansas City Massacre at the Union Station happened on June 17, 1933. The shootout and murder of four law enforcement officers rocked the country. A gang led by Vernon Miller meant to free Frank “Jelly” Nash, but things didn’t go as planned: Nash was killed in the gunfire. Nash had a long history in crime from murders to bank robberies. Some say his body was shattered, but his spirit still roams the station.

85 years into the present, local lore looms about Nash’s ghost. Some say the ghost repeats his last stretch through the station on his way to the lawmen’s car. Some say he is searching for answers as to what went wrong when the gang members went looking for him. People have reported hearing footsteps in the Union Station but not seeing a single person. Maybe the tormented soul still wishes he could be in the bank robbing business.

Charles Arthur Floyd, better known as Pretty Boy Floyd | FBI Records

8. Following the Kansas City Massacre, Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd, one of the gang members involved in the botched shootout, returned to the Armor Hills home of his girlfriend, where he planned his escape. He hid there for a short time before hiding in various spots in the U.S. The house at 6612 Edgevale now has a ghostly reputation, with doors that refuse to stay closed, lights that flicker, and things that go bump in the night in both the attic and the basement.

9. A more recent ghost legend, the Kemper Arena is said to be haunted by the late WWE wrestler, Owen Hart. He died there in 1999. He fell from the ceiling while attempting a stunt. His ghost has been reported to be seen wearing a blue blazer, looking down the top of the arena.

Ghost tours

If you’re looking for a nearby ghost tour, here is a list. If ghosts are not really your thing, many of these tours also have historical highlights.

Kansas City Ghost Tours: The ghost tour begins at Fat Matt’s Vortex Bar, located at 411 N. 6th Street on historic Strawberry Hill. Fat Cat is said to be haunted. It used to house a funeral home and the crematorium is still in the basement. You’ll learn about the history of downtown KCK and visit several haunted locations including a cemetery, a high school, an abandoned church, a Memorial Hall, a fire station, and a theater among many other  businesses. You’ll get out at two locations, including Kaw Point. People are encouraged to bring cameras.

Haunted Ghost Tours in Independence: Visitors will tour the 1859 Jail and Marshal’s Home to learn about the history of the building and some of the haunts there. Part of the tour is in a covered wagon which takes guests around the Historic Independence Square. Guests will be told several ghost stories at the square. The tour takes approximately two hours. The Haunted Ghost Tours benefit the Jackson County Historical Society.

Wikipedia. Portrait of Mark Twain by Mathew Brady, February 1871

Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tours: Includes a bus tour and cemetery walk for those interested in the ghosts of Hannibal. The city is winery-driven and close to St. Louis. The 90 minute driving tour goes  through the historic district. Part of the tour looks at Mark Twain’s childhood and ghost sightings on Main Street. Search the graves of slaves and Civil War soldiers with a paranormal investigation of Old Baptist Cemetery. Tours daily from April through October at 7:00p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Hannibal History Museum. Kids 10 and under are $7.50 while adults are $15.

Missouri State Penitentiary — Jefferson City: A two hour walking history tour as well as a separate ghost tour at the prison. Guests are encouraged to bring a flashlight and camera. Minimum age of guests is 14. There is also a three hour guided ghost hunt where visitors can engage in a paranormal investigation with detection equipment. The prison was opened in 1836 and held a number of famous prisoners including the assassin of Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1967, Time Magazine called it the bloodiest 47 acres in America. It was closed in 2004.

Pythian Castle Ghost Tour — Springfield, MO Tour lasts an hour and a half and includes brief history. Photos allowed. $17.04 (includes tax & fee) when purchased online. Tour must have a minimum of 8 to run. The Pythian Home of Missouri, also known as Pythian Castle, was built in 1913 by the Knights of Pythias and later owned by the U.S. Military. It is now privately owned and open to the public by appointment. German and Italian prisoners-of-war were assigned here during World War II for medical treatment and as laborers.

Wikipedia. Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, circa 1886

Cresent Hotel Ghost Tour — Eureka Springs, AR: Rumored to be the most haunted hotel in the United States. The Crescent Hotel & Spa is perched high above the Victorian village of Eureka Springs, which is recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It hosts a regular ghost tour that goes down into the no-longer-in-use morgue. Norman G. Baker used the hotel promoting a cure for cancer in the 1930s. The quack doctor’s methods didn’t work.

Basin Hotel — Eureka Springs, AR: At the hotel, the Basin Park Ghost Tour  covers the history of gang activity there and explores how to do a paranormal investigation.  The tour gives exclusive access to the rooftop of the hotel and a view of the underground cave where bootleg liquor was stored.

Wikipedia. Image of the Spooklight taken by photographers in the early 1900s.

The Spooklight — Joplin, MO: Also called the Hornet Spooklight, Hollis Light, and Joplin Spook Light. It is a light that appears in a small area known locally as the “Devil’s Promenade” on the border between southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma, west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri.

Even though it is named after a small, unincorporated community in Missouri from which it is most commonly reached, the light is usually visible from inside the Oklahoma border looking to the west. The Spooklight is described as a single ball of light or a tight grouping of lights that is said to appear in the area regularly, usually at night. Several legends exist that attempt to describe the origin of the Spooklight. One of the more popular legends involves the ghosts of two young Native American lovers who are searching restlessly for each other.

Ghost Stories at Mid-Continent Public Library branches around the KC metro:

Mon, Oct 15 at 6:30 pm at Riverside Branch Mon, Oct 22 at 6:30 pm at Grandview Branch Mon, Oct 29 at 6:30 pm at Oak Grove Branch Sat, Nov 3 at 11:00 am at Weston Branch

Beginning Paranormal Research for Teens: Register at any Mid-Continent Public Library branch or online.

Ghost Freakers Ball 2018:

October 27 at the Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland in Kansas City, MO.

If you are interested in learning more about the paranormal around Kansas City, check out this website with the Kansas City paranormal investigators.

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2018/10/14/ghost-tours-and-other-lore-in-the-kansas-city-area-and-beyond/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2018/10/14/ghost-tours-and-other-lore-in-the-kansas-city-area-and-beyond/