Getting into the yuletide spirit is not tough these days. There’s plenty of Streaming Holiday Season options for those counting down to the holidays online.
Celebrating with Wicket!
Getting into the yuletide spirit is not tough these days. There’s plenty of Streaming Holiday Season options for those counting down to the holidays online.
These days, that means putting a film, special or television program in the queue to watch via Netflix or iTunes. Even YTV has its own app, and I can have them playing in the background. This Canadian station has fond classics dating well back to the 90s. Here, I’m tackling the difficult choice of wading through what’s available for streaming.
Online services offer a mix of old and new shows to enjoy. This list includes both and these are programs which made an impression on me. These shows are or will soon be easily accessible on services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Crave, iTunes or Hulu.
Not a lot of television episodes or specials made for the Halloween season stand the test of time. Some are developed because the formula for network television requires it (especially for sit-coms). As for those unique one-offs, I ask where are they now? Only two films make this list as they were quite common when rebroadcasted. The rest make up part of what I traditionally loved seeing on either the big or small screen.
I include a complete television series since I recall key episodes taking place on All Hallow’s Eve. Instead of focussing in on one particular country, I hope to give this list an international flair with my choices:
Mad Monster Party (1967)
No list can be considered legit without a reference to this Rankin-Bass stop-motion classic. Along with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, both shows rerun at their respective seasons. Sadly, this is no longer the case. What makes this production such a classic is that Boris Karloff led a monster mash of comedy and music. Its longevity faded because of time, and new audiences not familiar with the all-star lineup. Ask a young person now about who Phyllis Diller is and the response is likely, “Who?”
Music and All Hallow’s Eve—throughout the years, many bands have offered hits like the Monster Mash or solo acts, featuring Thriller. They are goofy fun. With rock musicals, they go the extra mile and tell a story. I made a list years ago of productions that one can see theatrically, but I got to wondering: what about those albums that do not have a stage show attached to it?
Listeners can listen to one track or hear the entire album to understand each song in a greater context. This list I offer is certainly worth cranking up the All Hallow’s Eve season, especially for those in the mood for something slightly different from the mainstream. In no particular order:
Heavy Metal dominates this list for good reason. It’s the perfect musical genre to tell recount tales of the occult, especially with the type of sonic melodies heard. It’s not to say other genres or the music of Mozart can not do the same; the composition of how the notes are organized, the way the lyrics are presented and how it works in harmony (or disharmony) says everything.
When the story focuses in on a man feeling betrayed, that is the making for a decent plot. He’s turned his back on Faith, and the elemental forces of hate use him to destroy the world. In the case of Amadeus (the movie deserving honourable mention in this list), Antonio Salieri did everything he could to torment his foe but ended up haunted by his deeds instead. Continue reading “Supernatural Sounds to Rock Out To for Halloween”
Many announcements and bombs happened over the July 18th to 22nd weekend at SDCC2018. Some of the news that happened divided a community and my thought is simply on whether Guardians of the Galaxy even continue after what happened? Only time and executive decisions can tell.
Many movie trailers were released to show what’s coming and while most of them look fantastic. Out of all of them, the second instalment of Legendary Pictures’ Godzilla: King of the Monsters stands out the most, and I’m not necessarily picking favourites. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is my second and Glass rounds out my top three. Excluded is what’s coming on television.
2017 is upon us, and this year seems light in comparison to last year’s stellar line-up of animated movies and direct-to-video products to must-see. DreamWorks Animation (one of my favourite studios) had three titles, but sadly with The Croods 2 dropped, the remainder does not seem as exciting. Time will tell, however, until official trailers for The Boss Baby and Captain Underpants are released.
In the international front, Tad Jones: The Hero Returns might be fun, though this title ranks more in the honourable mention front. Also coming is Howard Lovecraft and the Underworld Kingdom. No official word has been made yet, but if Arcana Studios is sticking to schedule, we can expect this release in September.
In a holdover from last year’s releases in the film festival circuit, a few reports is suggesting The Red Turtle will get a wider distribution. This winner deserves to arrive at more shores, as it’s a powerful story about a man stranded on a deserted island, and how he connects with a particular turtle. Leading the pack of movies I must see is one that is making rounds at festivals:
Window Horses
(Please check local listings, Q2 wide release)
Director: Ann Marie Fleming
This colourful animation caught my attention when the National Film Board of Canada reported about its West Coast première at the Vancouver International Film Festival. If only it was playing the same or next day when I was in Vancouver, I could have gone to see it. Thankfully it will be getting a wider distribution in the new year.
When considering it is about a young poet of mixed descent going to Iran to learn about her past, I feel she will discover that the world is interconnected in more ways than she realizes. The unique character designs is also another selling point, and I’ll be anxious to see where the plot goes.
The music videos made in the past weren’t all designed or developed for the All Hallow’s Eve season. Some are just designed for horror film enthusiasts to enjoy and others can be listened to anytime.
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
The music videos made in the past weren’t all designed or developed for the All Hallow’s Eve season. Some are just designed for horror film enthusiasts to enjoy and others can be listened to anytime. Some bands base their schtick around this genre, and immediately, I think of Zombina and the Skeletones. Sorry KISS, but you’re so last century. Gwar leads the pack and The Misfits follow behind.
When I want to get my spook on, I must admit I’m an 80’s child. While most of my picks come from that era, I do not think Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the best number one song representative of the season. I give that honour to his other work, Ghosts. The following is just a music video instead of the full-length production.
Stan Winston directed this work and it’s an extended music video which features three numbers instead of one. Some of the animation looks dated now, but back when it was first presented, I feel it’s a great piece to experience. It leads my list of videos as it is tailed for this All Hallow’s Eve season.
By Ed Sum 
By Ed Sum 
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)