Even poltergeists have trouble vying for attention these days. We’re not talking about how the ‘remake’ compares to the original Steven Speilberg produced and Tobe Hooper directed film but instead, the Enfield haunting (the basis for the next The Conjuring film) suggests that targeting paranormal enthusiasts to earn box office coin is a good way to manifest dollars. Next year’s ghostly themed product has the potential to do far better than this rehash of a familiar tale.
Winter chills can mean deathly thrills for the horror entertainment enthusiast. Just what does Christmas mean for them? There’s plenty of products to choose from, and this list is going to look at what’s truly ghostly to really send shivers done one’s spine. Some history and family friendly watches are also offered.
Ghost Stories for Christmas
Originally broadcasted on BBC One between 1971-78, and revived in 2005, this program hosts a wide collection of shorts by notable authors like, to name a few, M.R. James with “Whistle and I’ll Come to You” and Charles Dickens with “The Signalman.” Although Dickens was the writer who brought the tradition of telling ghost stories back to the fore on Christmas Eve, this fascination by the public with the supernatural during this season existed long before his contribution. The tradition for enjoying a spooky tale at this festive time may trace its roots to as far back as the 16th century, with Christopher Marlowe making references to spirits in his play The Jew of Malta (1589), in Act II, Scene 1 where the character Barabas states:
Now I remember those old women’s words,
Who in my wealth would tell me winter’s tales,
And speak of spirits and ghosts that glide by night
About the place where treasure hath been hid:
And now methinks that I am one of those;
For, whilst I live, here lives my soul’s sole hope,
And, when I die, here shall my spirit walk.
Ouija, despite having good opening box office dollars in its first weekend, will most likely fade away when All Hallow’s Eve is over.
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
Ouija, despite having good opening box office dollars in its first weekend, will most likely fade away when All Hallow’s Eve is over. Burning this board is not an option when considering this film has the signs of being a pure Hollywood manufacture stamped all over it.
The idea is based on reality, if the folklore is to be believed. Spiritualists used it as a means of contacting spirits and they would in hand respond by guiding the planchette to letters to spell out words, respond yes or no to, count or say goodbye. The question of what they summoned depends on whether that ghost of Uncle John is truly from Jamaica or Hell. In this film’s case, it an attempt by Laine (Olivia Cooke) to learn why her best friend Debbie (Shelley Hennig) hanged herself. Apparently, one of the first rules of Ouija is to never play the game alone, something Debbie didn’t adhere to. Other proprieties include invoking a small measure of protection, which never works in any horror film, and saying goodbye — the latter desire to see the ending couldn’t happen soon enough.
Although Britain holds the record for a huge amount of haunted places contained in a small land mass, Haunted Canada probably has the record for the most well-known, namely the Ghost Bride of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The commemorative cupronickel coin introduces paranormal enthusiasts to this lady in white in a very nicely presented lenticular hologram. The design is certainly appropriate since some people claim that they see ghosts like a piece of transparent celluloid film.
But to give this coin life, when its angled right, the Ghost Bride’s eyes open wide and if it could glow, some collectors may flee at it coming to life! The candles behind her lights up. If some daring folks want to use it during a séance and it permanently spins, well …
Look out Casper, you have competition now. “Das kleine Gespenst” (The Little Ghost) is getting a deal with Vertical Entertainment to bring it to North America. This family friendly product features a spirit who is just as charming as his American cousin. His only problem is that he only sees existence for an hour only after midnight. Technically, he’s asleep but his life is rather boring when he is confined to castle Eulenstein.
He has Schuhu, an owl, as a companion and the two live an isolated life. For this spirit, he yearns to see the light of day, but he cannot because of some unknown reason. When he finds freedom, he gets his fondest dream fulfilled: to see the outside world in daylight. What happens next is one huge adventure to return from whence he came, namely the safety of the castle he haunts. Much like Casper, nobody in the living world really understands him.
This character is popular in Germany and is the creation of Otfried Preußler. The book has been adapted to media in various forms, from audio, film and play and has even been translated into other languages. But in North America, this novel / character is not as widely known. Due to this film’s success at the German Box Office since its debut nearly two months ago, and in recent festivals, it is getting international attention. No word has been said as to whether or not the release will be subtitled, redubbed or made direct to video. No matter what the format, this movie looks like something all kids must see.
In a report by Variety, Vertical’s co-president Peter Rich said: “ ‘The Little Ghost’ is one of those family films that just needs to be seen by a North American audience. The filmmaking, story-telling, and values based within the narrative are very much in line with what we believe the consumer state side needs more of. The CGI is fantastic and we just fell in love with the Little Ghost’s journey from the very start.”
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
Winter chills can mean deathly thrills for the horror entertainment enthusiast. Just what does Christmas mean for them? There’s plenty of products to choose from, and this list is going to look at what’s truly ghostly to really send shivers done one’s spine. Some history and family friendly watches are also offered.
or look at the original works in this M.R. James collection, “
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