The Disappearance of Willie Bingham

You could say that this is Kuriositas’ offering for Halloween as it certainly has the horror quotient but very cleverly done (even though if you are squeamish at all you will wince on any number of occasions).  Prisoner Willie Bingham has committed a terrible crime and the authorities decide to use him as a pilot for a particularly gruesome kind of punishment.  Written and directed by Matt Richards, this will have you on the edge of your seat.  Scalpels out!

Halloween Safety Educational Film from 1977

This is a rather sweet educational film about the dangers of trick or treating at Halloween. Although it is only 46 years old it does sometimes seem to present an entirely different world to our own. It was rediscovered by Jason Willis who appears in the film himself at 5:26. You can read more about this rediscovery on his blog.

There is some groovy seventies background music but what is most interesting for me here are the costumes that are worn by the kids.  They are almost all home made (in fact in one scene we see mom taking up the hem of the little witch's skirt.  I just wonder how many kids are going to be wearing home made costumes as the trick or treat tonight!

Monster Date

Those crazy kids over at the Vancouver Film School are the modern day equivalents of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.  The big difference, though, is that instead of putting on a show, these guys create a very funny and hugely enjoyable video for Halloween.  This has absolutely nothing to do with their degree work, it was just something that they felt like doing.  And what an awesome job they make of it!

The concept is quite simple and straightforward (which is why perhaps it makes this such blissful viewing).  Harkening back to the video dating fad of the 1980s this piece features a series of lonely hearted monsters in search of the special one.  Most varieties of monsters are represented, from vampires to zombies and there is even an appearance by a genie.  There are quite a number of great one liners, but for me, the genie has just about the best line - " I'm not looking for a girl who's just interested in rubbing my lamp".

The monsters here are fairly reminiscent - in terms of makeup and character - to the types we used to see in Buffy - and the whole thing is produced with wit and panache.  If this is what the students at the VFS make in their spare time, one can only wonder what amazing films they come up with for their degree projects.

Is this a tribute or a pastiche?  Who can really tell and to be frank, who cares?  It is great stuff, especially coming up to Halloween.  The fun doesn't stop there either.  The makers are inviting responses over at their YouTube channel. If you have the desire, you can create your own response (you have to be in full fancy dress) and submit it there.

Dalek Pumpkin

Just because we have never seen one before. Just because the maker of this particular Halloween pumpkin really knows his Kaled anatomy (post mutation of course and tucked inside its new shell) and... just because we thought you would love it!

The carrot is an unusual eye-piece - and the whisker is just what you might expect.  Plus - what is that sticking outside? Are the Daleks tracking down Timelords through their ability to hide from the rest of the universe?

Whoever made this - we salute you!

Image Credit Flickr User Oskay

Treated

It wouldn’t really be Halloween without a short movie following a kid dressed as the devil as he goes around on his annual trick or treat mission.

Yet this year he may get more than he bargained for!

This very short short was written and directed by Matteo Bernardini who shoots shorts, documentaries and music videos while training for features.

One word of advice. Watch this very, very closely. Blink and you may miss it!

Things That Go Bump in the Night

Tommy SpaSe And The Alchemists are a seven piece band from Los Angeles (well, this is the earth bound city they call home, at least) and they have a little Halloween treat for you. And it's a blast.

Producing what they refer to as WhimZicaL, HigHEneRgY, TheAtRicaL, KoZmiC, VauDeVilliaN Rock, I find it very hard to disagree with that description - in fact it is a way perfect to describe their sound. To find out more about the band, head for their website.

I have to admit that I had not heard of the band before I had seen this promo and to be honest, I love them!  I will be checking out the rest of their catalogue.  In the meantime, this video certainly demands more than one view - as Tommy and the band navigate the netherworld, spirits stir, the forest churns and if you blink you feel that you have missed something.

This awesome video is directed by the extremely talented Micah Chambers-Goldberg, otherwise known as MicahMonkey.  As well as directing music videos he is gaining a reputation for himself as an illustrator and painter.

The combination of Tommy SpaSe And The Alchemists' music with the directorial flair of MicahMonkey lead to quite a ghoulish music video for Halloween!

Hey! A Dog isn't just for Christmas - it's for Halloween Too!

Over at the Ark in Space they are getting in to the Halloween mood too. It seems (and quite rightly so) that a dog isn't just for Christmas - it's for Halloween too.

So, they have brought together a very funny compilation of pictures of lots of dogs dressed up in Halloween costumes.  Now, before people jump up and say that it is people being cruel to animals, let me just say one thing.  All the dogs I have ever had (three in total over my life, which doesn't make me an expert, but!) had the opportunity to dress up over their life times.

For the most part they were quite willing because of all the additional attention it garnered them.  When, on the rare occasion, they did not like what they were going to have to wear, believe me it was off their backs before I could turn round!  Make your own minds up anyway - take a look at this cool collection of Halloween pooches.

Image Credit Flickr User istolethetv

Movies Starring Movies: Horror Movie Special

Halloween is finally upon us and who doesn’t like a scary movie on this night, of all nights? This has something of a twist, however.

The guys at Portal Party have taken a load of DVD covers and made them the actors in their horror homage. Will the heroine escape or will tonight turn into a blood soaked nightmare for one very unlucky movie?

Spooktacular: An Animated Alphabet

Here comes Halloween and for some reason, people seem to get a little lost for words let alone letters at this time of year. Consonants seem to go out of the window to be replaced by elongated vowel sounds uttered at ear-drum shattering volume and strangled-cat pitch. So, take a trip through a spooktacular alphabet created by motion designer Adam Osgood to remind you that all 26 letters are still available for use even on Halloween.

The Colors of Evil

Vivian is not a happy girl.  She is put upon bullied at school by one of the prettier girls and badly wants revenge.  Another horror movie trope is put in place and our expectations are raised! Good job, then, that Vivian has Devil Summoning for Kids among her books at home.  Unfortunately, the devil that she summons isn’t quite what she was expecting.  However, if this animated short by Alyse Miller and Phillip Simon, teaches us – patience is a virtue. Oh, and possibly never judge a book by it cover too.

The Colors of Evil was created by the pair as part of the Computer Animation Program at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida. It’s a stunning job (who would guess this was a student film?) and bodes very well for what we might expect from Miller and Simon in the future.

All You Need is Love

You will find most of the scariest movie monsters and villains in this video mashup, all strung together by whoispablo. From the Gremlins, Aliens, and Predators to the more down to earth monsters like Norman Bates, they are all here. 

Holding this feast of the frightening together is All You Need is Love by The Beatles.  Somewhere in here, almost guaranteed, you will find your favorite horror movie. The lip synching may not be 100% but this is the result of many a day's hard work. 

Fantastic!

Victorian Undead

As you know, Kuriositas is not exactly a zombie free zone, but our undead videos usually portray contemporary apocalypses. So, it’s great to feature a short movie set in the Victorian era, which is ideally suited to the zombie genre (if you ask us!).  Victorian Undead, by Paravel Films, tells the story of a young woman (played by Amber Coombs who reminded us of a young Kate Blanchett) alone in the woods, when all of a sudden… you will have to watch the movie to find out what happens to her!

We can’t tell you much about Paravel Films, as their website is rather enigmatic to say the least. However, if this is anything to go by, we can only hope that we see and hear more from them in the future!

The Paper Mask

A lot of parents worry on Halloween that if they let their kids go trick or treating that they will knock on the wrong door. Others fret that the candies that their children receive will have been poisoned or razor blades inserted (even though that has been proven to be an urban myth).

However, surely sometimes isn’t it the householder who should worry? You never quite know who is going to knock on your door!

This animated short by Rhid Gatrill, an animator, illustrator and designer based in Vancouver, gives us the other side of the Halloween coin here. So, if there is a knock on your door tonight, however bad the mask – just give them the treat and be done with it!

Hughbert

Haunted by his ever-present fear of death, Hughbert soon finds that there is more than just fear haunting his humble home.

This is Mallory Dyer’s first year film made at Cal Arts in 2010. She drew inspiration from Edward Gorey and Edgar Allan Poe for the narrative tone of this film. Hughbert was her first real experience with animating and film making and was quite an experience.

It has been showcased in several film festivals now and the Cal Arts Producer's Show. The chillingly beautiful score was composed by her brother, Jarred McAdams.

Nightmares Fear Factory – Dread and Terror Caught on Camera

Nightmares Fear Factory has been scaring the brown stuff out of people for over thirty years now – and there’s nothing quite like a good fright, is there? Here is a selection of high speed photographs, taken as visitors to the longest running and scariest haunted house in North America face their fears. Or not as the case may be!

Set in the abandoned Cataract Coffin Factory the frights are so abundant and plentiful that even the coolest cats cling on to each other for dear life (yes, the sight of terrified teenage boys is pretty amusing!).  The Nightmares Fear Factory at Niagara Falls, Canada, boasts that over a hundred thousand people have chickened out of remaining in the place.  This is now officially on my bucket list!

Image Credit Flickr User Smart Destinations

The Green Ruby Pumpkin

We do have a few treats for you coming up closer to Halloween but we just couldn’t wait to bring you this seasonal offering from Miguel Ortega and Tran Ma. You might not believe this but the whole project was filmed in a living room (you can see the making of here).

As well as the wonderful quality of this short I did enjoy the different takes on some of our favorite fairy tale characters – the trio from The Wizard of Oz particularly - and there's a very pretty Little Red Riding Hood  too.

Yet ultimately they do not prove to be the trio of which our Halloween host should have been wary!

Teddy Saw

Were you ever mean to your toys when you were a kid?  If you were then perhaps you should think twice before watching this - because toys have a long memory and they will catch up with you and punish you eventually.

Created by Ben Schwartz this short film will have you on the edge of your seats.  Will the now grown up abuser of toys be given his just desserts or will he escape? 

Only time will tell - and in the great tradition of horror movies he does not have much of that...

Death Star Pumpkins

Image Credit Flickr User Dafaba

It’s coming up to that time of year again and the pumpkins are ripe and ready to be carved in to a myriad of different forms. However, one of our favorite Halloween sights is what Star Wars fans are bound, born and begging to do – to create their very own Death Star Pumpkin.

Image Credit Flickr User Dafaba

They come with varying degrees of success of course because the Death Star is not an easy shape to carve in to the shell of the gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita. Yet the ones we feature here are excellent attempts. Let your imagination run, dim the lights – and you are in a galaxy far far away.

Image Credit Flickr User dafaba

Image Credit Flickr User jeff.ramone

Image Credit Flickr User Crash n Donna

Image Credit Flickr User Merfam

Image Credit Flickr User Crash n Donna

Kuriositas would like to thanks Flickr Users Crash n Donna, jeff ramone and Dafaba for their kind permission for us to show you their pictures on Kuriositas.  Please visit their photostreams.