#kid!fresh would be much chiller than the original

[phoenixryzing]

Little Bro

Fresuary Day Seven: Fresh meets his kid self

In an abandoned lot, two neon skeletons skated around doing various tricks. From a distance, they looked almost like father and son, or maybe two brothers who dressed alike. They laughed and talked casually as the breeze, looking to the world like the happiest people alive.

But of course that’s at a distance. Up close...

“Hey big bro mcman, how’d ya do the rad nasty trick again?” the smaller one asked.

“That widdle-waddle nightmare flip? Little buddy bro it ain’t so far out hard as you’re trying, you need to relax a little more little buddy,” the larger one replied. He skated over to the little guy and sat down on the board. “Show me what moves you got so far homeslice, then we’ll see. You’re pretty bright little bulb after all.” The skelly smiled, but it looked hollow, and even with the sunglasses one could sense a hard stare.  

“Shaw, I’m always cool big guy, I’m the chillest radtastic guy on the block. Nothin’ bothers me,” the little guy said, shrugging. When the big guy skated over, the little one stared a bit from behind his shades, watching him. Then he grinned broadly and said, “Hey, no problem my man, check out these moves.”

The little one zoomed off on his board, running through some tricks he’d already mastered, including the prerequisite double flip. Then he called, “Hey watch and tell me what’s up will ya bud?”, before attempting and failing the nightmare flip. He focused on the tricks, not responding to the other’s earlier comment. Better to just act cheery, non-threatening.

The slumped-over guy watched intently, cataloging what he saw. The little kid was good- really good. He had noticed the lack of comment but didn’t respond to it. When he saw the failed flip, he noticed the issue instantly. “Dude, you ain’t landed on nice and square on the spinny flippy board little guy. Ya gotta keep control of you feet, watch where they are, ya dig? Like this.” And he got up and demonstrated the flip, taking care to land properly himself.

The kid looked up when the other spoke, and slowly skated over towards him. Didn’t want to appear rude, ya know? He listened intently to the others’ words, and watched how he placed his feet with the flip. Suddenly it clicked. “Ah, your foot lands on the end- that totes makes sense now, thanks man, your rad.” He started to skate off and tried to the flip again. Even knowing what to do, he had issue landed perfect. Knowledge and skill were different after all. As he practiced, he carefully casually said, “Ya got really sick body control there big guys. I always try to stay safe and careful, no sense getting hurt after all, but sometimes I trip over my feet, ya dig?”

The expert had gone back to practicing tricks of his own, though he always kept an eyesocket on the little guy. “Always rad to help a little homeslice like my little man-” he stopped when the other his control comment. That was... a little too probing. 

Fresh kicked up his board and walked over to the smaller skeleton. “Hey bro,” he said, smile still on but voice not as much. “I never did catch your name.”

He was being obvious. But he had enough information now. Whatever this skeleton was... he looked, talked, and, acted almost exactly like himself. Almost being key. 

They were both emotionless, both calculating, both pretending. Fresh had noticed the little guy’s glances, and knew his looks had been noticed in return. They’d played cat-and-mouse for an hour now. But the little dude. Kept skating around. Like he knew every inch of the lot. He watched Fresh, but looked like he was comfortable. Wary, yes. But comfortable. In this place. In his own “skin.” Like he was a normal skeleton after all. 

Fresh wanted to know why.

The kid stopped skating, and stared at the bigger version of himself. He knew that they were the same. The way they spoke, the way they laughed, the way they flipped a skateboard. Almost like brothers. But the kid could sense something terribly wrong with the bigger skeleton. Almost like an aura of energy around him. Maybe it was his magic, not quite natural, not quite normal. Maybe it was the way he seemed to perfectly control his body, but led with his chest, not his head like most. 

The kid wanted to know what, exactly, made him not a skeleton. He could tell that much.

The kid shook his head and smiled. “Hey Brah, we’ve done this all afternoon. Enough games, huh? I need to head home.”

“...home.” 

“Ya brah, I got a radtastic family waitin’ for me. So I’m just going to mozy on along, ya get me? Don’t want to worry the folks, or rile up Error again.”

“...” Error. They had both mentioned that name before. It didn’t take long for the kid to realize he wasn't related to the ‘skeleton.’ It didn’t take Fresh long to realize he wasn’t just an acquaintance. But family? He would haven’t guessed that.

The pieces clicked. This place was an amorality, then. The kid- was just that. A amorality. Fresh chucked quickly, and thought, “Long as you’re just that kid.”

Outloud, he said, “Nah brah, worrying folks is totes unfresh, and we wouldn’t want to be that, right homeslice?”

Kid!Fresh smiled falsely, and replied, “Nah brah, we’re Fresh. The freshiest of the bunch, and that’s how it’ll stay. World needs more of us, hey?”

Fresh gave a jack-o-lantern smile in return. “Totally right little brah, we need to spread the freshness across the land. More like us, hey? But nothing beats the original amIright? Gotta set the road for the others ya know.”

Kid!Fresh shrugged, and said, “Hey, a few smiles, a few laughs; cause why be upset over nothin? Gonna spread those good vibes to all my peeps, teach them a happier way. But they gonna do themselves, you dig? ‘Sides. I’m just a kid. I ain’t an adult like you, to be all authority-like.”

Fresh chuckeled and shook his head, “Heh, well this big dude says to go run along home, little bro. You got a special place here, wouldn’t wanna wreck that for ya little dude.”

Their glares could cut concrete, if the shades didn’t block it. Kid!Fresh turned away first, saying, “Ya, this place is special. Some say I am,” he said, taking off his glasses to stare at Fresh, “but hey, being special? Ain’t so fun. Rather be a radical little dude, having fun and kicking out slick moves. Ya dig?”

Fresh started a bit when the other took the shades off. He expected what he saw, but he didn’t think the kid was that bold. He chuckled, then started laughing humorlessly for a minute. When he recovered, he said, “Ya dude, I feel ya. You’re a lucky little dude tho. But there’s only one true Fresh, and’s me.  Capisch?”

The kid just nodded, then started to skate off. He turned back slightly to Fresh, and called back. “You got some rad presence there dude. Don’t worry ‘bout dropping around, I’ll find ya. Maybe we can do some tricks then again.”

Fresh just gave a hard smile, and turned and walked away.

[adamwatchesmovies]

2017/10/01 - Adam Watches Movies’ Top 20

Before we dig in, I wanted to clarify a couple of things. This is my “Favorite Movies” list, not necessarily the ones I think are the best, but the ones I enjoy or cherish the most. There are so many to choose from that I expect this list to change significantly between now and the next time. My only rule was that I needed to have seen the film more than once. If there’s a title that you expect to see here, it’s likely because I’ve only viewed it that one time… or maybe I still haven’t watched it!

20. Seven Samurai (1954)

A recent addition to this list, I watched The Seven Samurai in order to get prepared for the 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven. I was blown away and wound up seeing it twice in a row. It may seem impulsive to include it, but it really made an impact on me.

19. 12 Angry Men (1957)

A lot of the pictures on this list could be categorized in the sci-fi, fantasy, or musical category. You will notice that a number of them also share a certain trait with 12 Angry Men in that they’re boiled down to their essence. There’s no fat to trim in this film. You don’t even find out a whole lot about the case the jurors are debating because you don’t need to. It’s all about that immediacy of what’s going on right there and then.

18. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

I vividly remember the first time I saw Singin’ in the Rain. A friend of mine invited me to see it with her in the theatre. I haven’t stopped thinking about Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds since. Like my #16 pick, it’s pure jubilation on-screen.

17. Beauty and the Beast (1946)

Similarly to the next film on my list, this version of the fairytale perfectly brings child-like wonder to life. I love the sets, the costumes, the black-and-white cinematography, the fact that it isn’t ashamed of being what it is. It never smirks or winks at the camera. Beauty and the Beast doesn’t need to; it enchants you from the very first frame. There are many other versions of this tale out there, but don’t overlook this one.

16. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

I literally just re-watched this musical last night. I’ve seen it many times and it never loses its charm. Everyone reading has probably seen this film, but have you REALLY seen it? I’m not talking about bits and pieces on TV with commercial breaks or fleeting glimpses between laundry being folded. To me, The Wizard of Oz isn’t just a movie, it’s a feeling that’s been captured and immortalized on film.

15. RoboCop (1987)

Dark, violent, funny and deceptively smart, this is much more than a story about a cyborg shooting criminals. The sequels weren’t kind to RoboCop and while the remake was ok, it isn’t on the same level as the original. It’s got great villains, many quotable lines, an iconic look and feel… so many of its scenes are permanently imprinted on my brain that this was an easy pick.

14. The Terminator (1984)

I remember the first time I watched The Terminator. I snuck downstairs while everyone else was asleep so that no one would know that I was viewing an R-Rated movie. That was the beginning. Over the years, I’ve flip-flopped between this first chapter in the series and its sequel. In fact, Terminator 2 was “my favorite movie” for a long time. Today, I’m giving my love to the one who started it all.

13. King Kong (1933)

One of my favorite things about this film is that it’s bigger than anyone working on it could’ve imagined. There’s a reason why we’re still talking about this movie today. I love the visuals, the storyline, and that ending; it’s unforgettable.

12. Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1965)

This could’ve been any number of Godzilla films. I could’ve put anything from the 1954 original to last year’s Shin Godzilla in this spot, but Monster Zero is the one I’m most nostalgic for, the giant monster film I used to watch the most as a kid. There are so many lines from this one that I know by heart and wish I could quote… but how often do you get to slip “The Monster is Zero” in a conversation?

11. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

The most recent film on this list and one of the greatest action films ever made. It’s also beautiful and features surprisingly well-developed characters. This movie goes for it, all the way. There’re no superficial aspects. It’s just blazing action all the way through. I saw it what… Five times in the theatre? and it just keeps getting better.

10. The Iron Giant (1999)

Another childhood favorite of mine, I had the pleasure of watching the Signature Edition on the big screen with some friends when it was re-released in 2015 and it reignited something in me. I’m also fairly certain that I saw this one in its original theatrical run in 1999. It’s got so much heart and so many laughs. I fall in love with every detail of this Brad Bird film every time I watch it.

9. Batman (1989)

Tim Burton’s Batman is not a faithful adaptation of the comic book character. The Joker’s origin is different, Batman’s methods of fighting crime are not consistent with what’s been printed on the page for decades now, the characters’ dynamics have been vastly altered… but there’s something about it that captures the spirit of the character nonetheless. It all builds towards that final, epic shot with Danny Elfman’s music in the background that tells you what this character is all about. You watch this movie and it brings you back to when it was first released. You understand why it was such a big deal. You don’t get that feeling from any run-of-the-mill movie.

8. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

My #2 movie is another horror film, and I love it for its historical value. It’s higher on my list, but it doesn’t frighten me like this low-budget chiller does. When I pop The Blair Witch Project into my player, I’m immediately filled with a sentiment of dread. I don’t want to put my back to the window, I don’t want to go to bed afterward. It’s a film like none other because it doesn’t even feel like a film, it’s real footage of something horrible that happened. It doesn’t matter that I know that isn’t the case, that I know how it ends. The impact never diminishes.

7. Ben-Hur (1959)

1957’s 3:10 to Yuma was in this spot until the last second when I remembered Ben-Hur. How could I forget the betrayal, the galleys, the chariot race, the delicate balance of themes, the tale of vengeance? This list was hard to make and I’m sorry 3:10. You’re great, I love you very much but when a film lasts 212 minutes and never feels long, it absolutely must be placed on the list.

6. X2: X-Men United (2003)

This is how you do a sequel right. I could’ve put several of the X-Men films on this list, but this is the one I’ve seen the most times. I love the way it builds upon what we’ve seen before and raises the stakes. 

5. Star Wars (1977)

Surprisingly, I don’t really have nostalgia for Star Wars. I saw the originals as a kid a couple of times and of course saw the prequels when they were released, but my love for it comes from an adult viewpoint. The way this first chapter takes familiar story elements and makes them feel fresh again, the characters, the iconic moments, the things it brought to cinema as a whole is what made me go back to it over and over. Over the years, It’s brought me back to that time that didn’t actually happen but feels like it does, that moment where I first saw the colorful aliens and laser battles and was blown away.

4. Fantasia (1940)

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen Fantasia. As a kid, I loved the Rite of Spring segment. As an adult, it’s the combination of music and visuals that gets me. This would be a great first movie to show to your children. I think it would spark their imagination in the way few films would.

3. The Little Mermaid (1989)

My favorite Disney animated film, at least today. This could’ve easily been Snow White and the Seven Dwarves or Beauty and the Beast on a different day. I remember the moment I truly fell in love with this one. It was in high school and suddenly, something clicked. As soon as I got home, I scoured the shelves for our VHS copy and watched it. My family couldn’t understand why I suddenly needed to view this animated musical, but I sat there and drank it all in. The colors, the details, the character designs, the songs, they all work so well together. Ariel and I both have a passion for collecting and a ferocious curiosity. Maybe that has something to do with why I relate to her so much.

2. Halloween (1978)

When I think I get tired of this film, I find something new to like about it. Like in 12 Angry Men, I love the simplicity of the story. You’re home, alone. There’s a man with a mask and a knife. He’s trying to get you. That’s all you need for a horror story. Even the killer isn’t fancy, it’s just a white face, but if you saw that mask starring at you through the window late at night, you’d wet yourself.

1. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

I’ve mentioned my love for the Universal Monsters before. I could’ve put some of the other films on this list; Dracula and its Spanish Counterpart, The Invisible Man or The Creature from the Black Lagoon but I don’t like any of them as much as I do Frankenstein. Since this one squeaks past it by just a hair, it’s only fitting that it takes the #1 spot. Will it stay there the next time I make this list? I can’t say for sure, but I’m excited to find out.

[fourteen--steps]

Thank you so much @headbuttingunicorn​ :D :D :D

I’m not 100% sure where my little guys originally came from but odds are good it was a feeder tank. The LFS if I’m being optimistic but probably like Petsmart. I rescued them from a bowl after about a week and a half dying in the lobby of my apartment building, they were definitely pretty sorry looking then :/

For the last year and a half or so the three survivors lived in this 50 g

Which technically could have sustained them for most of their lives (I think even by bare minimum standards a 65 would probably be necessary eventually for three fish), but it has weird dimensions (15x36x20″) and honestly?? They were just outgrowing it. They’re over 6 inches now at just a little over two years old. But I’ll talk about their care in here anyway because that’s where they’ve done most of their growing and living the majority of their life.

LOTS of filtration. I've had two Aquaclear 70s on this tank the whole time it’s been up, and for the last 4 months or so, a SunSun HW-304B canister as well. The AC’s are 300 gph (gallons per hour) each, and the SunSun is hOLY SHIT 525 gph oh my god how have I not noticed that.

(Weird story with that one??? I thought I ordered the 265 gph model, found I’d accidentally ordered the 370 gph model, and when the box arrived they had sent me this one which is oh my gooooodddddd 525 wat)

So I had around 600 (and then 1100 whooopps that’s maybe a little too much) total turnover per hour, or about 12x the volume of the tank. With goldfish I always recommend at least 10x, minimum. It really makes such a difference. Even if your water tests come up clear on water change day, the quicker you’re getting the ammonia and nitrite processed out of the water, the less stress the fish’s systems are under in the long run.

They're not expensive either! The Aquaclears are about $45 each online, and the canister is similar. Although sunsun being an Asian company their prices fluctuate a bit. 

I have a shit ton of pothos on my tank too, for nitrate munching purposes since my water comes out of the tap already at 10-20 ppm. I.... think it’s going to eat me someday o_O this is it with like four feet of trimming at least. 

And even with all that, water changes! I’ll admit I wasn’t always solid on my w/c schedule, my health is iffy at best and running on a 10 day schedule happened fairly often, although I DO NOT recommend that. To make up for it, I almost always do 60-90% changes. Contrary to popular belief, large water changes are not harmful to your fish or your cycle as long as you match the pH and temperature of the fresh water going in. I refill in chunks over the course of an hour or so to avoid shocking them, they pout during the process but as soon as I restart the filters they’re back to normal.

I recently, and I mean recently, as in last week, upgraded to a FRICKIN’ ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY GALLON TANK??? OMFUCKINGFUCK LOOK

I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND SO DO THEY :D 

Holy shit I’ve been fighting with the manufacturers over this thing for wEEKS IT’S FINALLY HERE. 72″x24″x20″ which is such a good shape for goldfish, much better than the standard 150 which is taller and thinner. Ahhh they’re so happy they just go nyoooooom nyooom from one end to the other, and I can add more friends!! Right now I have Remy, Lilac, Ludi, and little Ametrine in there. Plus Sumi in quarantine, but she’s really sick all of a sudden which is why this post took longer than I meant it too, sorry :( I don’t know what happened she just dropsied out of nowhere the other night. She was due to join the others in a week or two, but if she pulls through she’s getting an extended QT now to be sure she’s really healthy

And a skinny lil blind dude I picked up not long ago who may or may not live by himself depending on if I think he can hold his own with the others or not? He’s a spunky cutie but Very Tiny.

Anyway the tank is kind of a mess cause I just chucked every piece of spare decor I have in there to give them something to do, but I have some nice driftwood and just bought a ton of anubias and I’m gonna try actual planted this time!!!

Food food yum yum :) Variety is the spice of life. This pic is from a while ago, I’ve added more to this now probably

I use the Omega One and Thera A as daily staples, rotated with smatterings of the other pellets, as well as Repashy Soilent Green and some of my own homemade gel foods. I really wanna try Northfin pellets too, or AAP Paradigm when I get around to it. I do veggies a few times a week, I’ll buy a bunch of stuff fresh and then blanch and freeze it in baggies to feed over the next couple months. Zucchini, peas, bok choy, cauliflower, kale, spinach, collard greens, broccoli, watercress, etc etc. I usually have four or five at any given time. The frozen proteins I do once every week or two. I’m super allergic to bloodworms so those are a special treat I only feed with gloves :P but they get mysis or brine shrimp usually. 

It looks intimidating, but it’s not that difficult. I acquired this stuff bit by bit over the course of a year so you don’t have to go spend a ton of money at once. If I ever just happen to see something that looks fairly good quality for an okay price I’ll grab a small container to try out. Some I end up liking, some I don’t, but even the mediocre stuff I sometimes use as a junk treat, or as snail food. Like I wouldn’t use any of the foods here besides the Repashy, Omega One, Northfin, or NLS as staples. The Aqueon is okay-ish if you have no other option, but the Cobalt is too high in protein for daily feeding, and Hikari has gone so downhill in the last few years. I honestly wouldn’t even buy it, I just feel obligated to use up the bag I already have. Pick maybe two of those staple foods to keep on hand, rotate in veggies a few times a week, some frozen protein here and there and you’re set, don’t absolutely need anything else. Of course more is always better, if you can. 

And yes, sigh, dumb as bricks aren’t they? Picky too sometimes. Try a bunch of different vegetables, leafy greens are a good place to start, or zucchini. Boil them soft (you can just chuck it in a glass of conditioned water in the microwave for 2-5 minutes) and cut it into little bite sized pieces. If they don’t go for it right away, keep trying for a couple of days in a row. Eventually they’ll get hungry and warm up to it. Keep your plec occupied with something of his own to eat and feed the goldies at the other end of the tank to try and get them all a bit of something green to eat. 

Veggies high in carotenes are really good for enhancing color. So besides your obvious ones like carrot and sweet potato, that’s also going to be your dark leafy greens! If you can get your lil guys onto stuff like collard, spinach, chard, etc, that’ll definitely make a difference in their coloration :)

Gel foods are also a really good option for picky eaters. I’ve never heard of a goldfish that doesn’t like gel, seriously, they adore that shit. You can get premade mixes like Repashy, which you just mix up with some hot water and set in the fridge or freezer. Or you can make your own! Here’s some recipe ideas, or just google “goldfish gel food,” you can scale them waaaaay down if you want. I make pretty small batches that last a long time. And feel free to swap out ingredients too and experiment, or make up your own completely. Just stick to lean, low mercury seafood, and produce without too much sugar and you can mix and match as you please. The one in my freezer right now is mostly watercress and bok choy, a couple spoonfuls of NLS, some cloves of fresh garlic, spirulina, a few baby carrots, a bunch of gross string algae I scooped out of the snail tank, and a dash of paprika. The kids adore it.

Uhhhh let’s see, anything else? I treat with prazi once a year or so, preventative maintenance, like deworming your dog. Besides that I keep medicating to a minimum unless it’s really dire. Minor scrapes and bumps I leave be. Have pretty hard high pH water, usually around 8-8.2. No heater or chiller but the water temp stays low-mid 70s most of the time

I dunno, just plenty of love and attention! I redecorate their tank and make them little toys (try some sturdy nontoxic plastic beads threaded on fishing line, especially if you can find somewhere to wedge food in, enjoy the ensuing adorable) talk to them, draw on the glass...

I love them!!! So much!!!! I owe them my life many times over, that’s not an exaggeration at all. Seeing them in their new tank has really reminded me of how far they’ve come and how much they mean to me. I’m not always a perfect owner and there are times I fall down on their care, but they’re still fat and happy and I’m always trying to do better

[cemeterygatesmedia]

Top 30 Episodes from Are You Afraid of the Dark?

This is my definitive guide for the 90s kid’s horror anthology series Are you Afraid of the Dark? The Top 20 episodes are must-see TV. I ranked them based on creepiness, originality of material/transformation of source material, and rewatchability. There were 91 episodes over 7 seasons. There are only 5 episodes included from the 2 revival seasons. Episodes in the 3/5 tier range from an average episode from the original run of the series to an above average episode. An average episode from the final 2 seasons would rate 2/5 in this ranking system.

 5/5:

1.  Midnight Madness

-Dr. Vink is a creepy movie producer. The production of the silent film shown in the Rialto is the highlight of this episode. Vampires have never been done scarier in a kid’s show.

2.  Dark Music

-Andy discovers a monster in the basement of his new house. There is genuine suspense and the viewer is left wondering whether Andy will make it out of the basement alive.

3.  Old Man Corcoran

-Every time cemeteries appear in an episode they’re excellent backdrops to the action. Playing hide and seek in an overgrown cemetery at night was every weird little kid’s dream. Ghost story.

4.  Lonely Ghost

-Runs the gamut of haunted house tropes until it delivers its fresh twist. Probably the most believable haunted house in the series.

5.  Dead Man’s Float

-It might be derivative of “The Raft” from Creepshow 2, but it delivers with the same suspense, and the monster is really neat looking. Good use of Poltergeist-style backstory.

6.  Whispering Walls

-More of a fun house than a traditional haunted house story. The weirdness is off-the-charts with this one, but it’s one of the best chillers.

7.  Laughing in the Dark

-Haunted fun house. Excellent backstory and usage of a live carnival backdrop. Aron Tager at his finest, and he’s not even playing Dr. Vink in this one.

8.  Water Demons

-Best usage of zombies in the series. The suspense mechanic is too fresh, and I haven’t seen anything quite like it since this episode(released in 1994.)

9.  Bigfoot Ridge

-Three friends stranded in an abandoned cabin in the mountains during a snowstorm and they have to keep the lights on because of what creeps in the shadows.

10.  Watcher’s Woods

-Girls’ summer camp and a haunted woods Bermuda Triangle-trope. There is plenty to criticize about this episode, but the Watcher is one of those original monsters that make the episode. 

 4/5:

11.  Super Specs

-Sardo and his magic shop delivers in this episode about interdimensional conflict. Would likely be a 5/5 episode if not for the interdimensional beings playing basketball. Sinister ending. 

12.  Silent Servant

-Scarecrow stories are hard to do. Very similar to a Goosebumps story that was released a few months before the episode aired. Perhaps the most ‘adult’ use of dark magic.

13.  Dangerous Soup

-Weird play on the Vincent Price movie The Tingler. Of course, Dr. Vink makes a soup from fear extracted from the employees at his 5-star restaurant. 

14.  Crimson Clown

-This one probably shouldn’t be rated as highly as it is, as it almost feels derivative of the second half of “Laughing in the Dark.” A clown doll terrorizes a naughty little brat.   

15.  Sorcerer’s Apprentice

-Cult action in a high school based around a creepy wizard resurrection. Actor playing Goth: 11/10 on the overacting.

16.  Prom Queen

-Vanishing Hitchhiker urban legend retelling, set in a graveyard. There’s an awesome seance scene in a boat on the river.

17.  Hunted

-Expression of primal fear. There isn’t much to this episode but it sticks with you long after viewing, despite the hokey ‘debate’ over hunting itself that takes place.

18.  Apartment 214

-This one shouldn’t be creepy on repeated viewing, but for some reason it is. Haunted apartment that new girl in town investigates. Ghost Story.

19.  Dollmaker

-Intricate storytelling, not necessarily scary or even creepy unless you have a phobia of turning into a doll. It hits with the suspense and you’re not sure if the protagonist is going to make it home safely. The haunted house within the haunted house motif is neat.

20.  Vampire Town

-Enough intrigue, actual catacombs scenes, and coffins to make things interesting. Sinister endings are always a plus.

 3/5:

21.  Frozen Ghost

-The finest atmospheric piece the show has ever done. Everything about the story is cold, chilling. They make no bones about it; a little boy was murdered in a hollowed-out tree by a thief.

22.  Nightly Neighbors

-One of the few campy episodes that still delivers with a shocking moment or two. The mystery of whether or not the neighbors are actually vampires keeps you guessing. Strong Fright Night flavor.

23.  Hatching

-Not exactly a creepy location at the boarding school. End chase scene brings this episode to slightly above average. Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

24.  Highway 13

-Repetitive haunting, boys stuck in a time warp, forced to race against a crazed trucker over and over. Reminiscent of some of the best parts from Jeepers Creepers and Joy Ride.

25.  Reanimator

-Basically a retelling of Goosebumps Stay Out of the Basement. When the kids reanimate a bad guy from a grave in the cemetery the episode takes a nice turn. 

26.  Phone Police

-Strong urban legend flavoring. Every kid was worried about what might happen if they ever got caught making prank phone calls. However, the story is less interesting as an adult.

27.  Ghastly Grinner

-Ultimate camp here. Some good horror imagery, probably too schlocky at this point. Good for one viewing.

28.  Quicksilver

-Opening portals in a haunted house, seances, demon summoning etc. 

29.  Night Shift

-Empty hospital slowly overrun by vampires. They could have gone creepier, but held back. Final face off with vampire is fun.

30.  Dream Machine

-A number of scary story motifs rolled into one. This episode should make you laugh, but it’s not all that campy. A typewriter is discovered which makes dreams come true. One of the best episodes for repeated viewings.

Joe Sullivan is the author of numerous horror and fantasy books such as the illustrated collection: Corpse Cold: New American Folklore