“I took hold of that scourge -filled ship and crushed it between my limbs, hurtling it into the second sun, the red one that gave me strength. But I was too late." Terraformer
FEATURING GUEST
Kady Cross
My Favorite Ghost Movies
Welcome to the twenty-third session of
THE MODERN INK SOCIETY!
— A Light in the Attic
Introducing the talented Kady Cross,
My Favorite Ghost Movies
Before I jump in, I just want to thank Colleen for hosting me, and all of you who are participating. I hope you enjoy(ed) SISTERS OF BLOOD AND SPIRIT!
Since Halloween season is upon us (and now people won’t ask why I have spider decals all over my windows), I thought I’d talk about some of my favorite horror/ghost TV shows, movies and stories. I grew up in a house where ghosts were recognized as real, and not necessarily spooky. My mother loved a bit of creepy herself, and we used to watch shows about haunted places and famous ghosts together when I was younger. I think she’d approve of most of the items on this list, with the exception of Nightmare on Elm Street. I’m probably going to date myself with a few of these, but that’s okay. Let’s get started.
THE MONKEY’S PAW – We read this story in middle-grade, and it made an impression! Basically it’s a ‘be careful what you wish for’ plot. Mr. and Mrs. White find themselves in possession of a monkey’s paw that grants three wishes — but at a price. Mr. White’s wish for money results in his son’s death — and a pay-out of exactly the amount of funds he needs. The second wish, made reluctantly and out of love for his grieving wife, is for the return of his son. What happens when there’s a knock at the door? Read the story — it will creep you out!
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS – The late 70s through to the late 80s produced a plethora of ‘slasher’ flicks. They’re called slashers because there’s no real plot except for a highly-creative, deranged murderer slashing his/her way through the cast. I have enjoyed and despised many of these movies, but my favorite has to be the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, most notably, Dream Warriors. If you’re not familiar with Freddy Kruger, he was a child-killer who met his end when a vigilante mob burned him alive. He vowed revenge on their children, and he gets to them in their dreams. Patricia Arquette’s character in DW is attacked by Freddy (he slashes her wrists) and sent to a psych hospital because it’s called a suicide attempt. As if Freddy wasn’t scary enough, now he’s in an asylum?!?! My teenaged heart exploded at the idea. My favorite scene is the puppet dream (death of Philip). I’ve attached a jpg — purposely chosen so you don’t see a lot. I’m not here to gross you out or scar you for life.
JAWS – I hate this fish, but I love this fish. Watched this way too young and was forever leery of water afterward. Everyone told me the Bay of Fundy (where I grew up) was too cold for sharks. Guess what? Someone caught a Great White in my home town. Yeah, never swimming again.
SUPERNATURAL – I’ve watched this show since the first episode, and I’m still a fan of the Winchester brothers. Fun fact – when I pitched Sisters of Blood and Spirit to my editor, I called it “Supernatural meets Sweet Valley High.” There have been melodramatic episodes, funny episodes, and some that were pretty tense and creepy. One most notable episode, ‘The Benders’ from season 1. The villains aren’t supernatural, and they’re all the more terrifying for it. Maybe I find this all the more horrific because I grew up in a rural area. Or, maybe I’m just fascinated by monsters that look/are human. Regardless, it’s fricking creepy.
THE OTHERS – I love a good historical movie. Throw in some creepiness and I’m all over it. In this movie, Nicole Kidman plays a mother trying to protect her children while it seems sinister forces plot against her. It has a great plot twist that I loved, and a couple of moments that made me jump. It’s rich with atmosphere, and a very quiet horror that becomes more apparent by the end of the movie. Awesome.
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK – Guillermo del Toro scares me, but in a fabulous way. I’ve been a fan of his for a long time — like, before I knew who he was. His movies are beautiful to look at, so saturated in color, and dark. My dream movie would be something involving Tim Burton and del Toro, starring Johnny Depp and scored by Trent Reznor and Danny Elfman. I digress, though. DBAotD is another one of those gorgeous, somewhat quiet movies that really send a shiver down my spine. It’s all about a creepy, but beautiful old house, and tooth fairies. If you think fairies can’t be scary, you need to watch this movie. Fun fact — this movie was all the scarier for me because the little girl in it looks *so* much like my niece did at the same age. I was on the edge of my seat, filled with anxiety for the kid the entire movie because of the resemblance.
I could probably keep going, but I think that’s enough for now! I love a good scare. It’s a primal thing. Fear keeps us on our toes, drives us to act. It’s a protection mechanism from way back before we developed language. I think it’s best when shared with friends, which is why my husband and I are figuring out what haunts we want to visit this month, and gathering a crew to come with us.
So, what are YOUR favorite scary movies/TV/books? I’ve got a Sisters of Blood and Spirit prize pack for one random poster — and signed copies of Sisters of Blood and Spirit for four others.
A huge thanks to Kady for sharing some of her favorite scary stories/movies! I’ve never heard of The Monkey’s Paw and I think I’m going to have to check that out. If you’d like to learn more about Kady Cross you can check her out at www.alterkate.com/kady-cross/.
Also, don’t forget to join Kady and Colleen for a LIVE CHAT on GOODREADS on October 29th!
So everybody who wants to join us, go get your hands on this book. You can start leaving your questions right away (but don’t share spoilers just yet).
Also, remember that you don’t need to read the book to participate in the live chat. It’s a GREAT opportunity to get to know the authors and ask any questions you’d like!
For fun there will be a GIVEAWAY during the live chat!
~Till next time,
Linda Louise Lotti
This entry was posted in Featuring Authors, The Modern Ink Society, Uncategorized.
I’m Linda Louise, one of the bloggers on this website and Colleen’s little sister. I’m just a girl in her mid-thirties who feels thirteen when I play outside with my boys, fifteen when I sing my heart out listening to tunes while driving by myself, and sixty five when I go out past ten at night. I have a thing for junior mints, Mt. Dew, shrimp and kale (though not all at once) and I have a crush on Superman. I still get girlish butterflies when I read Twilight, cry when I read These is My Words, and smile from ear to ear when I read Anne of Green Gables. I have nightmares about aliens on a regular basis and I have a bad habit of midnight snacking. I love everything sports, except golf (although can that honestly be considered a sport??), and I hate anything that slithers, hisses, or stings. I have a problem with giggling at inappropriate moments and I sometimes wish life was a musical. I love science, hate math, love Dr. Seuss, and hate olives. My family is my world and my joys come from their happiness. I’ve learned I don’t know much about anything and I live for a good adventure, naps, cuddles, stories, exceptional food and The Shire.
Villains boldly claim Disneyland every year during Halloween. This year I took my family to enjoy the fog filled lagoon, tasty scary treats, and to trick or treat all around Disneyland dressed up in their Halloween costumes. In between the spooky rides we saw villains not normally seen during the day at Disneyland. Special event tickets only allow those who planned (paid) for this Halloween event into Disneyland and you have the whole park to run and hide from these evil characters, but beware of those devilish souls waiting to claim your dalmatian puppies, curse you into a never ending sleep, or wait for you in disguise with a perfectly poisoned red apple.
Halloween Treats
Speaking of apples, one of my favorite treats during the fall season in a caramel apple. There is no such thing as a plain caramel apple in October at Disneyland. I love watching as these special apples are created right in front of my eyes. The Maleficent apples were creative and the horns are made out of rice crispy treats. We bought chocolate covered marshmallows on a stick (sooo good!), the Mickey Mouse Bat cookie with little orange fangs, and the Minnie Mouse witch since the Maleficent apple departed with other souls wandering the park in need of refreshment. Look at all these Halloween treats!
Disneyland Decorations
As you wait in the lines you can feast on all the Fall decorations that Disney excels at. Check our the Death Star balloons, and how the castle turns into a creepy haunted castle.
Halloween Ride Make-Overs
Two rides in Disneyland get a make over for Halloween. Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion. My favorite was the Haunted Mansion and the restaurant right next to it was exactly the same, and even the invoices where as the theme, it’s a great idea to get a free invoice maker for a business like this !
Jack Skellington makes an annual appearance to take over the Haunted Mansion and change it like he tried to do with Christmas in his movie. I swear that during the ride when you get to the dining room scene it suddenly smelled of pumpkin spice. Yum!
One of my favorite parts of going to Disneyland which has been true since I was a little girl, wearing those wonderful matching family black and white striped t-shirts, is being able to live in the dreamworld of a beloved movie. Disney still makes this happen for me. I love feeling like a princess as I tour Sleeping Beauty’s castle, join the rebellion in Star Wars, and sail the ocean with the Pirates of the Caribbean as I pick out a favorite piece of treasure from the dead pirate captain’s loot. He looks long dead after all, and he won’t need that emerald adorned crown.
Costumes
Now we get to the real reason I’m writing this blog. The costumes were fantastic! You can probably tell that our family likes to dress up. We get that from our sweet mom who dreamed of being an actress.
Out of all the costumes I saw my favorite by far was a family dressed up like the family in the Brave movie. They had three little brothers with red died hair, the dad totally owned the fur shall he was wearing. The costumes of the mother and little Merida were so precious. I felt creepy wanting to take a picture, so I didn’t, but the little girls hair was long red and curly just like Merida’s. This picture doesn’t do justice to the little family I saw but you get the idea as you look at the little kilt adorned triplets. So freaking cute!!!
This is an annual event. I didn’t know this but with our Mickey’s Halloween Party tickets came a little reminder that those guests over the age of 9 may wear costumes. “Otherwise, costumes are not permitted at either theme park for Guests ages nine and older.” I’m guessing that’s because they don’t want those with really awesome costumes being mistaken for the actual characters Disney hires to meet little guests.
It was a Disney quality event and walking home to our room at Disney’s Grand Californian made the trips back and forth to the park so easy. Look at this wicked confection Halloween tree that was in the lobby. It made the lobby smell sweet.
We had the best room ever! Room #6001 on the concierge level. It was right by the food room where the kids walked over to get breakfast and every other meal every day, it was around the corner from the elevators, 15 steps away from the concierge staff where we rented movies every day (I introduced my kids to Goofy and they love him), and we watched the fireworks from our balcony every night.
I writing this blog while I nosh on the candy from the trick or treat part of the vacation…ooh a dark chocolate Kit Kat, score!
Now I’m off to adorn my old minivan with the sweet Cinderella antenna ball that I spoiled myself with.
Don’t forget to dress up in costumes, take pictures and add them to this blog so we can all enjoy the magic of this season.
Have you seen the Disney Villian make-up? Wet n Wild creates these little beauties.
This entry was posted in Travel.
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I'm Shara, a wife, mother, bargain shopper, and I love to critique everything from food to mascara. I'm a sister of Colleen who lives in the desert of Arizona. My favorite time of day is when I pretend my kids are asleep upstairs, and I can catch up on my favorite shows with my handsome husband. Once Upon a Time, Dr. Who, Mythbusters (husband's choice), Big Bang Theory, Sherlock, and Castle. I turned 40 but feel around 30ish, and wonder where the time has gone. I love new clothes, new make-up, new food, and anything new to try out and critique. It's not mean, I promise, I just really like to figure out how to make things better :-)