Halloween (or Hallowe'en, the alternative spelling which I like) is coming up again, so it's time for my yearly post! It's next Thursday (31st October). I also celebrate the pagan festival Samhain on the same day.
In 2022 and 2023 I wrote posts called Selection of Hallowe'en Treats! and More Hallowe'en Treats!, where I shared a variety of past posts and videos related to scary subjects (plus a couple of new videos). This year I thought I would do a post in a similar vein (no pun intended!), featuring music and TV that fits the spooky theme. They are listed by genre. :)
Music/Film
John Lindahl's CULT CLASSIQUE
Last year American singer John Lindahl released John Lindahl's CULT CLASSIQUE, his first independent album and third overall. It's a concept album accompanied by a film/miniseries, which tells the story of serial killer JOHNNY (another, darker side of John). The character is inspired by those from classic horror movies and the project is a homage to the 80s.
The story takes place on Friday the 13th 1989 in the small town of Hargrove. On that day the local sheriff follows outcast Johnny, hoping that his music tape will link him to murders that have been happening in the town.
The CULT CLASSIQUE album was released on Friday 13th October 2023. John planned to release the film in parts as a miniseries on YouTube and Part 1 (20 minutes long) was uploaded last November.
In January I featured the audio for Call Me by My Name as a Weekly Music Video. I'd also listened to the other songs on Spotify and bought my two favourites (You Don't Know Me and Over My Dead Body) on iTunes.
Since then, John has deleted all of the audios from YouTube except for I Think I Did It Again and also removed/made the album unavailable for streaming and/or purchase. It's a shame, but I'm thinking that since the project wasn't finished, he may be planning to re-release it around this Hallowe'en. He uploaded a new trailer on his channel last month.
Visit my Weekly Music Video post to read more about the Cult Classique project (I will re-upload the video for Call Me by My Name if/when it comes back): https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2024/01/weekly-music-video_31.html
Here is the teaser trailer (uploaded in September last year):
Note: The links below contain some violent content that may be disturbing. I know it's a horror film but just thought I would let you know!
And watch the official trailer (uploaded this September) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKJXTdLuRAk
Plus, watch Part 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-Nt29g_0Iw&t=134s
Bollywood
Taras from Munjya
This week's Weekly Music Video was Taras from the recent Bollywood comedy horror Munjya. Watch the video and read more about the film here: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2024/10/weekly-music-video_23.html
Stree 2 (2024)
The original Stree was released back in August 2018. As with Munjya (see above), it's part of the Maddock Supernatural Universe series of horror comedy movies. It was the first film in the series, the others being Munjya, Bhediya (2022) and most recently Stree 2.
Visit my Bollywood Horror post from 2018 to read more about Stree; scroll down to bottom): https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2018/10/bollywood-horror.html
Stree 2 (which came out in July) is the sequel to Stree. After tailor Vicky (played by Rajkummar Rao) and his friends drove the ghostly Stree, away from Chanderi, they learn that the town is under a new threat. Women are being abducted by the headless monster Sakarta, who has a connection to Stree.
Joined by the mysterious woman/Vicky's love interest (Shraddha Kapoor) who previously helped them defeat Stree, the gang work together to destroy the new evil.
I've seen Stree and quite liked it, so would probably like this one too.
Here's the trailer (Click "Subtitles/closed captions" for English subtitles!):
Aaj Ki Raat from Stree 2
And here is a music video from the film. This is Aaj Ki Raat. The title translates as "Tonight" in English.
The video is an item number featuring Tamannaah Bhatia (who appears in Bollywood, Tollywood and Kollywood films) as Shama, dancing with the main male stars. The playback singers are Madhubanti Bagchi and Divya Kumar. This is the full video.
There's also a shorter version that has English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roz9sXFkTuE
Kinna Sona from Phone Bhoot
In my 2022 Selection of Hallowe'en Treats! post I featured the song Kaali Teri Gutt film Phone Bhoot (Phone Ghost). Like Stree, Phone Bhoot is a horror comedy. It was released in November 2022 (during Diwali that year).
Visit the post to see the Kaali Teri Gutt video and for more on Phone Bhoot (in the Ghosts; Films/Music section): https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2022/10/selection-of-halloween-treats.html
This year I thought I'd share another song from the film. This is Kinna Sona, which was released ahead of the movie in October 2022. The playback singers are British singer Zarah S. Khan (who is also an actress) and Tanishk Bagchi.
The video features the main stars- Katrina Kaif (who plays ghost Ragini!) and ghost busters Gullu (Ishaan Khattar) and Major (Siddhant Chaturvedi).
Films
Salem's Lot (2024)
A new film of American horror author Stephen King's classic novel 'Salem's Lot has just come out. The book (which was originally published in 1975) tells the story of author Ben Mears, who returns to his hometown Jerusalem's Lot ('Salem's Lot) in Maine, New England (USA). As a child, Ben witnessed a frightening event at local property the Marsten House.
Now that time has passed and he has grown up, Ben to plans to use Marsten House as material for his next book. It was recently purchased by Kurt Barlow, a stranger to the town who plans to open an antiques shop. Mr. Barlow has not been in public so far and is currently out of town; all his business dealings are being dealt with by his partner Richard Straker.
Mysterious events have also started happening in the town, such as a child disappearing and the killing of a dog. Things become stranger, with townspeople dying and seemingly rising from the dead. Could it be that Salem's Lot is being plagued by a vampire?
I've never read the book but I have seen the 1979 miniseries starring 60s/70s actor and singer David Soul as Ben a few times. I think it's quite good but not as scary as some other vampire films! There was also a newer miniseries made in 2004 where Rob Lowe played Ben.
I'm interested to see the new version, which stars Lewis Pullman in the main role. It premiered exclusively on streaming service Max (which is not currently available in the UK) on 3rd October and was released in UK cinemas on 11th October.
Here's the trailer:
TV
Top 10 Scariest Goosebumps Episodes
In my Hallowe'en Faves + Round-up from 2016, I included the American 90s kids' TV show Goosebumps, Visit the post to read about it (under the TV category): https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2016/10/halloween-faves-round-up.html
I recently came across a video featuring a countdown of the Top 10 of scariest episodes. It's by Nightmare Fueled Entertainment, a YouTube channel dedicated to Goosebumps content. Episodes featured include Say Cheese and Die, Welcome to Dead House, The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight and The Haunted Mask Part 1.
Contains spoilers! :)
I agree with some of these. In general, fellow 90s kids' show Are You Afraid of the Dark? was scarier to me though.
Welcome to Dead House: Part 1 and 2 (Season 2, Episodes 20 and 21) are two of the creepiest Goosebumps episodes for me too. I used to have the book as well. Earlier this year I found the whole episode online and watched it again. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKUrKGWs7EI&t=103s
The Haunted Mask: Part 1 (S1, Eps 2+3) and Part 2 (S2, Eps 11+12) are some of my favourite episodes, although I wouldn't say they're necessarily the scariest. Check out my Hallowe'en Faves + Round-up post for more on them and to watch them on YouTube.
It's been a long time since I've seen Say Cheese and Die (S1. Ep15, which stars a young Ryan Gosling!) but I think it's quite similar to The Tale of the Curious Camera (S3, Ep9 from AYAOTD.
The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight (S2, Ep13 is quite creepy, I think. It also reminds me of an episode from Are You Afraid of the Dark?- The Tale of the Silent Servant (S4, Ep7). There are others not in the countdown that I find scarier, but maybe I'll save them for a future post! :)
In last year's More Hallowe'en Treats! post I featured a trailer for the new Goosebumps series on Disney+. Visit the post to read about it: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2023/10/more-halloween-treats.html
The second season (or series as we also call it in the UK) Goosebumps: The Vanishing is due to premiere on 10th January 2024 next year, on Disney+ and Hulu. It stars David Schwimmer. Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NsYcYtDBtc
Subscribe to the Nightmare Fuled Entertainment channel for more Goosebumps videos: https://www.youtube.com/@NightmareFueledEntertainment
Hope you enjoyed the post! Happy Hallowe'en! :)
P.s. Happy Diwali to those who celebrate. :)
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