Want to fit in a few more unexpected horror movie watches this spooky season? We’ve got you covered with older tricks and new treats.
Every week, the Adventures in Movies crew embarks on a horror double feature, mixing up new releases and older, often hidden, gems to bring you the best (and sometimes worst) genre films you may have missed—letting you know what to look out for and what you may want to avoid. It’s Spooky Season, so, of course, we’re keeping the fright fest going. Join us as we enjoy (or do we?!) some Halloween horror along with some new releases.
Our first three weeks were a definite mixed bag, but we had a great time talking about the good, the bad, and the downright hideous.
Week 1: Clown Murders (1976) and Haunt Season (2024)
Right out of the gate, it’s a big miss and a surprising hit. Let’s start with the biggest disappointment.
John Candy is an absolute legend. He was funny, charming, and a great actor. We jumped at the chance to cover one of his earliest roles. Not only was it a horror movie, but it was set on Halloween. Sure, he was still finding his way, but what better way to start the spooky season?
As it turns out, 1976’s The Clown Murders is one of the worst things we have ever covered on this show. Candy is a non-factor; the movie is filled with enough misogyny to make David (no longer) Lee Roth blush, and it has exactly zero killings committed by a clown. On the plus side, the characters are annoying, the story makes absolutely no sense, and the ending will leave the audience confused.
Fortunately, it wasn’t all tricks this week, as our second film brought an unexpected treat.
Haunt Season sounds like it has the potential to be fun. Set in a haunted house attraction, a mysterious killer begins taking out the employees. It has been done countless times before and is the perfect watch for Halloween. The only question is whether the filmmakers and cast can pull it off or if it is just another boring slasher.
The movie constantly surprises viewers. It is a slasher through and through, but it is tonally unlike many similar films. There is a documentary feel to Haunt Season that gives it a grounded and natural feel. The performances are perfect, and the pacing draws anyone watching into the story. Add some great kills, and you have an excellent watch for October.
The Clown Murders is available on Prime Video. Haunt Season is available to rent on VOD.
Week 2: Halloween Night (2006) and Salem’s Lot (2024)
Week two was even more frightening as we checked out two films we expected to horrify us in the worst possible way. Did we get what we expected, or did anything surprise us?
We know what we are in for when we cover a movie from The Asylum. Halloween Night from 2006 sounded as original as anything else they have ever done. The plot focuses on a young boy who has spent a decade in an asylum and is now heading home to wreak havoc. Oh yeah, it is also set on Halloween.
If only it were that derivative.
The story somehow manages to be straightforward and confusing. The Big Bad is one of the best from the studio. Unfortunately, he is offset by a lead who is one of the worst in cinema history. This describes Halloween Night in a nutshell. For everything it does right, it does a number of things completely wrong.
After getting cozy with our retro watch, we decided to brave a new release.
We have covered a few Stephen King adaptations on our humble little podcast. We have yet to cover a really great one. The third Salem’s Lot remake had a lot going against it. The source material is one of King’s best, and Tobe Hooper’s take on the story is iconic. Add in that the 2024 version has been in limbo for a few years, and you have a recipe for disappointment.
As previously mentioned, we have yet to cover a truly awesome King movie, but the latest version of Salem’s Lot surprisingly does many good things. The question here is not if it is actually good but if fans of the source material or Hooper’s haunting vision can accept it. It is by no means a masterpiece, but it may serve as a great introduction to one of the most important names in horror history.
Halloween Night is available on Tubi. Salem’s Lot is available to view on MAX.
Week 3: Ghost Game (2024) and Falling Stars (2024)
For week 3, we opted to check out two recent horror films that began on the festival circuit, hoping for some sweet treats.
Has there ever been an internet challenge that isn’t stupid? Ghost Game offers up possibly the dumbest one yet. Those who do the challenge are tasked to break into a house and live with the inhabitant without getting caught. Bad idea for a prank; great premise for a horror movie.
Along with a great premise, Ghost Game boasts a near-perfect setting. It takes place in a home that looks just like you think a haunted house should. The grounded story gives a different feel to what is otherwise a very traditional horror story. It operates on many levels.
It is a shame that the writing is unable to keep up. The characters lack motivation, and much of the plot feels directionless. We do not expect much from any haunted house movie; we just want to have a good time. For everything it does right, Ghost Game does even more wrong.
Did our second pick deliver the goods?
Falling Stars is a modern folk horror tale about witches. Putting the story in the isolated American southwest is a wise decision. There is a sense of loneliness and fear that goes beyond the supernatural. Paradoxically, the idea of togetherness is a very strong theme.
Though it may not be full of gore and jump scares, it expertly builds tension through strong storytelling. The performances are fantastic, and there is great chemistry between the three leads. It is a slow burn but something that rewards your patience.
Falling Stars tells a beautiful and frightening story that works for any time of year. Highly recommended.
Ghost Game will be available to stream on October 22, 2024. Falling Stars is now available via VOD.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST:
Every week AIPT Movie Editor Nathaniel Muir and his cinema partner in crime Blake Heath discuss indie and genre movies you have have never heard of, the ones you cannot hear enough about, and the ones you never want to hear about again.
Episode 370: Mid year recap
Time moves more quickly now than it ever has. It was not that long ago that we were talking about a new show executive produced by the Duffer brothers. About a month later, it is one and done. As someone once reminded us, we are just two guys who watch movies. Production budgets and domestic grosses are only a passing interest to us. Still, there are some things that catch our attention. Were we right to say that Michael would get to $1 billion? And what does the future hold for Obsession?
There was a major change to our humble little podcast this year. We decided it would be in our best interests to be a little more focused. To that end, we went to just covering one movie each show. Despite this, we still managed to cover twenty-three movies over seventeen episodes. And twenty of them were released in 2026.
So, what do we have to talk about? And will we get as worked up as we did last week? The horrors of high school, zombies, musicals, buff nuns, and grindhouse adjacent fun. It may not all have been good, but everything left some sort of impression on us.
Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.
Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com
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Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror.
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