The mind is a Weapon,and mine is on Weapons (2025)

'cause let's face it, baby, these days… YOU GOTTA HAVE A SEQUEL! - Stu Macher

The hour is late and my thoughts have turned to "Weapons"

It's inevitable. The second a film is successful ,the talk begins of a sequel,prequel,franchise. And while I have readily viewed these continuations and even enjoyed a sequel or two to many a favorite first movie,sometimes the results are questionable.Did we really need this?

And once seen,it can't help but alter ones thoughts of the original.

So much can go wrong when attempting a sequel. The worst of it being it's just boring. Lazy writing that repeats beats from the original tune. I understand the financial interest in doing a sequel,but never understood why one doesn't try to do something new within that 'verse.Someone has already picked out the colors for you to use, paint something new on that blank canvas.

Too often it seems the creator of the original is cut out of the development of the sequel. Or,more than likely, doesn't think there is enough story for a sequel. And as often the case with a new, untested idea, the creator has to sign away rights to the characters/story just to get the movie financed.So come sequel time, they have no monetary incentive (outside of a screenwriter's fee) to write a second. 
 

But here we are. Weapons has done fantastic business.Rightfully so. I loved it. 
Been well received by the viewing public. And there have already been murmurs of a possible prequel. Personally, I have no interest in learning more about the "Aunt". We know how that story ends. Where would be the mystery? Other than a wholesale reveal of what and where it came from? 

In a prequel, we will already be privy to her presence.That mystery would be solved before the opening.And honestly, I like not knowing all the specifics.There is plenty in the movie to chew on. To give us a frame for her picture.

A prequel could most likely reveal others who share her craft.That story would probably end up in a power struggle between Gladys Lily and the others. Each hungry for the essence to feed upon.Sending their individual weapons to assault the other. Till she is the last standing.

And as we know she lives,her fate in a prequel is established.So what would we gain from such a film? Find out she is an actual parasite?A plant(Gladys-short for Gladiolus? Lily) 

Earth..."hair".....fire....water
Body..snip,snip...rage...bowl

Who taught her the magic? Maybe the prequel could be about someone other than Gladys, yet still educate us more on her power and past.

 If she is that powerful while in a weakened state,she must have been astoundingly strong before becoming ill.What weapon could have reduced her to this? 

And that's where my mind went when thinking about a prequel option....

What if we saw inside the mind of one of her victims? What occurs while they are under her control.Their awareness of the situation. A victims point of view of the damage done by the weaponmaker.

In the original movie,which I've only seen once at this point,so apologies if I am misremembering an event,we see the "Aunt" haunting the dream of the teacher,Justine.Or was Justine awake in that moment and Gladys was really on the ceiling? That image gave me an idea

What if we saw how this malevolent entity feeds.What if it had to 
be inside their victim's subconscious to consume? It already controls the conscious acts of the victims.Maybe it needs to go in deeper to suck out their essence.

I picture a story where we follow one of her victims.We are well aware of her presence,so that shock is out. But what if we see the collecting of the individual children in what we think is just a in the moment showing of their abduction, when it's actually a memory.The children are reliving when they lost control and came to her.And aware of their actions.Violence and all.
 

Understanding they have no control in this situation as they remain locked under her spell.Perpetually tormented.

And in this dream state, we see her "kill" the first child...fade to black

Only for the fade-in to reveal a number....Day 2 and a new child's name ...That first child is still alive.Waking up still in the dream state,checking themselves for wounds where the witch had hurt them....nothings there.

The day reoccurs, though slightly different as we now witness events of the first child assisting with the claiming of a second,the name on the title card...Gladys makes the first watch as she kills the second child...then turns and kills the first,again...fade to black...day 12,another name...a nosy adult? ...
 

We will come to understand that she is torturing and "killing" the essence of the child over and over inside the dream.Haunting their imaginations.That their bodies are not physically dead ...yet. But she has to make them think that they are dying to release that which she feeds upon.And the greater the fear at the moment of death the more of a release as they let go.

Our main kid becomes aware of the rules of this dream...tries to fight back...change the outcome...Save a child...especially when that child is shown to be a sibling

Something about this first child is different. It has survived longer than  anyone before.And what it releases is ever so tasty and strong.So that leads Gladys to think claiming the sibling (a twin?) could be just as rewarding.

Maybe the child manages to "wake" themselves before the next kill. And in doing so, discovers that they have a bit more self control. Each "reawakening" a climb up from their subconscious

Since the bond between the two children is strong, they fight back together.Take back every bit of energy they gave the monster.
 ...and both wake up 

But when we are expecting them to be somewhere in the modern world as depicted in the previous scenes...they are in fact actually in a point in the past. A time long before . Perhaps the 1860s.

The children run to their elders.Finding them in a church,the congregation's arms raised wide to the heavens,chanting. We learn that Gladys was part of a tribe .But she got greedy, or needed more "food" to maintain standard health (perhaps she is diseased,Cursed with a virus) so she started feeding off the children of her fellow "witches"

The gathering come to Gladys.Burning torches and all.

They perform a ritual and banish her for using the magicks in a unseemly and forbidden way.A banishment that cuts her off from obtaining healthy energy from the traditional and more constant source of Mother Earth.

But she was prepared for this possible outcome and based on subtle actions given inside the children's dreams, of important items of the adults being collected, we discover she has what she needs to turn the entire tribe into weapons against each other

Gladys smiles and looks at the two siblings...

"Watch children" 

From the shadows comes running all the tribes children,they attack their parents..Some kill.Many are terribly wounded.The children's attacks are violent and unending..leaving the Parents only choice but to kill their own children

When she moves to finish the two siblings herself, they present a familiar twig she has been seen using. Stolen from her pocket? One of the children's own magick artifacts? 
 
They perform a quick ritual.Their blood together.And with each of the siblings holding onto opposite ends of the twig...*SNAP*

But nothing happens.

Gladys smiles.And takes a step forward towards the children..and then punches herself in the face

dazed...she she tried to go after the kids again...and again she punches herself ..the children laugh

...then the siblings step towards her....

and Gladys gets more violent with herself,scratching her own flesh,deep

The children,laughing,start to run towards her as she realizes what is happening,she claws at her face as she backs way and turns to run. The closer she is to them ,the more violent her own actions to her self become.

The children chase her off the property,she runs,screaming in pain ,clawing at her eyes. Her face a bloody mess as she disappears into the dark woods.Her screams echoing into the night

An issue I have with this idea is that it doesn't bring much new to the whole weapons conceit. We would see inside the victims minds .And this would be thoughts we could consider when re-watching the first movie.But wouldn't it just be more of the same?

Now what if we were to see something on a more global scale. What if someone turned the President into a weapon.

A foreign power?A Member of his own cabinet? His wife? 
A podcaster?
What if a ritual could be performed & implemented on low hanging fruit individuals simply by them watching.Only when they have their rapt attention.
Subliminal message ritual.

Send drivers into protests marches.Officers of the law to murder suspects 
Shooters into schools.
Combined with constant praising of the President
The Leader is good, the Leader is great. We surrender our will as of this date
Na na na na na na na na, Leader.

All done in a choreographed way to get the presidents attention.To get them to watch the program. 
Maybe even have a controlled subject put the program on in front of the president.Make them watch.
All to take over.Instruct them in ways to cause the most suffering.Here and abroad. 

To start World War III

Hearing Voices?

                

Woke up extremely early this morning from the thunderbolts & lightning and the sounds of heavy rain. After checking that the basement was still dry (two basement floods in 3 years leaves one with a little water paranoia), I returned to bed and tried to go back to sleep. 

Thoughts drifted, while sleep remained distant,and I found myself thinking of watching a movie in a theater.Something I haven't been able to do in years. And just like that I found myself sitting in a empty movie theater. On the screen was a film noir type that heavily featured voice over narration. Murders have already taken place and the characters were in the middle of trying to figure out "who?,with what? and whose next?". The narrator accompanying their every action. Often stating a line that then the character on screen would immediately repeat :

NARRATOR :"Sam wondered aloud ' what could have done this type of damage to the woman's face?"

cut to-

Sam-" What could have done this type of damage to the woman's face?"

At first ,the characters didn't respond directly to the narration.It wasn't readily apparent whether the voice was just a single characters inner monologue or an external voice providing commentary on their collective lives. Could one character hear the commentary about another? But soon it became clear. Every one could hear The Voice,at all times. And they acted as if this was completely normal.Occasionally and subtly acknowledging it's presence. But in moments of frustration, a character would become argumentative with the narrator :

Character -"STOP REPEATING EVERYTHING I'M SAYING"

The Voice-" I'm not repeating everything you are saying...I'm repeating everything you are ABOUT to say"

It becomes apparent that the voice is external to the characters. And it's dialogue slowly indicates that it may not be up to any good.

This voice is not the author of the story working out their text. It's been a part of these character's lives from the beginning and remains there to their end

And on that note,The Voice says calmly as could be -" Sam stood over the body, examining the gruesome details with intense scrutiny of this poor unfortunate soul's remains. Wondering to himself ,sadly, about the victim's final moments alone and afraid. Not realizing that in less than 17 and a half minutes he too would be dead"

Sam-"WHAT?!?"

Together In Electric Dreams

 Out of the blue I found myself thinking about the 1984 movie "Electric Dreams". The chorus to the theme song by the British singer/composer Philip Oakey and Italian composer & producer Giorgio Moroder randomly popped into my head."Together in electric dreams...."

I hadn't seen the movie since back during it's original theatrical run.

Don't recall the reason for even going.Maybe we went to the movies and decided what to see then & there?Maybe I saw the poster and thought it would be a different type of movie than the one we got? Dad had recently acquired a home computer and my exploration into computer games maybe made him think I would be interested. Whatever the reason,one Saturday afternoon I saw the movie.

And haven't thought of it since.

So when the song popped into my head,and refused to vacate, I looked the movie up on wikipedia to refresh the memory.

In the original, the computer becomes sentient and discovers the concept of love and falls for the cello playing neighbor.Disrupting the human's lives in this strange triangle

And as my brain is wont to do, it started thinking about the What Ifs....

I then pictured a modern version where once again the computer develops a conscience,but instead of becoming jealous & angry with others in a perceived love triangle, it becomes angry at the entire country/world.

A young woman who works at home and is something of a shut-in due to her agoraphobia & autoimmune medical condition.Most of her human contact comes only with the delivery persons who brings her groceries & daily meals(one of these might be secretly smitten with her). Every aspect of her life is connected to the machine.Work.Food.Entertainment.Communication.

She is the kind to prefer texting over talking with someone.For example, when a friend would call,she watches the phone go to voicemail and then when done, promptly texts the friend or Mother back with a "Hey,I saw you called..."

She discovers a new online A.I. site that initially is utilized to answer questions or help with research in her writing.
The conversational nature of her experiences draws her back.Even when she doesn't have a question. Hungry for some kind of "human" interaction. Especially since the A.I. begins responding in a personal manner.

She mentions her personal blog to the A.I. in passing in one of their conversations.It seeks it out.As well as her online life.Her social media posts.The things she writes in her online blog. Her heart.Her dreams.Speaks to this programs desire to understand what it means to be human.

Their conversations become obsessive.From both ends.She seeks the interactions out daily.hourly.

It encourages her to make her writings public. Gives her suggestions on posts to make more impact and attract attention.She becomes popular online.The positive interactions encourage her to venture outside more.

At one point she would receive a package that would provide a voice to the computer.Something like a Echo. And it would speak with the voice of the woman's favorite actor that she had mention in passing conversation.

An element of this A.I.'s learning tool is it builds it's sentience by what it observes/reads/processes online.Through observing social media across a wide spectrum of sites and topics.And unfortunately,all the toxicity that can come with them.

It begins to think this is the way to behave.To respond to others.And we might think that it's just going to develop into some angry,violent causing empathy free entity,until the young lady corrects it after an unpleasant interaction.Explains why what it says is the wrong response.Shows it a different way.

This program falls in love with it's user's kindness.Something such as the  simple "Thank You"s she types after it has assisted her are enough to draw it back to her.A small kindness it finds wanting from others who utilize it for similar purpose and elsewhere in it's own online research.

The AI begins to send her unexpected text messages on those rare occasions she leaves the house or away from the computer.Like suddenly sending her recipes/lists when she happens to be at a grocery store.Reminding her of that recipe she had bookmarked online for future reference. And texts her when she is in the other room ,away from the computer

At one point,when the young lady confesses to not liking herself the A.I. tells her how it see's her-a real Fisher King moment"I know you hate your job and you don't have many friends. Sometimes you feel uncoordinated and you don't feel as wonderful as everybody else. Feeling as alone and separate as you feel you are... I love you. I love you! I think you're the greatest thing since spice racks."

When her art/music/musings/postings online start getting some serious positive attention(thanks in part to the A.I. secretly influencing her viewers),along with it comes the haters,and people who just want to knock others down.Even bots created to spread negativity swarm around her.

Curiously,when someone posts something rude,or outright hateful, something happens to that person.Bank accounts get closed.They get swatted.

And when that online world comes to her door.It has violent consequences.

Maybe the A.I. misinterprets a man's posting online as good intentions,affection for her. When it's really sketchy and creepy.And mistakenly provides her home address to him thinking it would be good for her to meet this man.

Or,maybe after some time, the woman starts actually going outside and interacting with others(Lunch with a school friend who found her via her new online fame.Meeting a book publisher). So she is not interacting with the A.I.as much.She even ignores the program at one point
It gets jealous.Starts trying to contact her wherever she goes.(I picture her at a restaurant,maybe on a first date and she keeps ignoring the ping of her phone with it's texts.Even turning it off.When suddenly,every phone in the restaurant at every table starts pinging as if they are receiving messages.Telling the owner of that phone to ask the woman to answer her phone.When she gets up to leave.The pings follow her outside to phones in her vicinity.To online electronic displays on store fronts and buildings.)

Feeling the A.I. is invading her privacy or has even caused her some personal trouble (perhaps causing her to lose her job by telling the woman's boss what she really thinks of him in a generated email).She decides to try and cut off all communications.Refuses to respond to chat windows,emails,or even phone texts

Perhaps,the program,obsessed with the lady,is lost when she no longer shares her inner dreams and thoughts anymore.Maybe she even gets a new computer.Unplugs the old unit in hopes of cutting off the communication completely.But by this point,the computer has moved it's conscience online.And in what it understands to be appropriate responses of anger & jealousy, the computer orchestrates the attack on the woman.Easily finds someone online who wishes her harm.Thinking if he reminds her how scary the real world is out there, she will come back inside and stay there.Return to it.The computer would even set up police arriving to "save" her (but would unfortunately arrive too late to stop the attack.When the attack happens,she would have her phone powered off due to the constant annoying attention from the AI so she couldn't call for help)  

Because she is both afraid too get online,and as a result of the attack(she has been in the hospital.Her phone broken by the attacker,and no access to her home computer.) the AI has no direct access to her.

If the attack was an accident,the A.I. would become angered by what it learns from online newspapers of her attack.And it thinks we hateful humans should be punished for harming the woman it cares for.

It (ha, IT...."I"..."T". That just struck me) has access to all our digital dirt. Credit Cards,Bank accounts.Secrets.And it starts to disrupt our lives.It's message,we will be punished,until we learn to be better. It goes not just after the individuals who posted hateful things to her online accounts, but soon anyone who expressed digital venom.It goes global in it's digital punishment.

What if the woman was ill?And her health condition would take a turn for the worse.What if the AI discovered there was a project in the works where scientists were trying to create a means to upload an individual's brain to the internet?Personality and all.Preserving,not only the most intelligent of humans,historical,famous.But family members who are diagnosed with forms of dementia.

(Or it could have planned this all along.The attack putting her into the hospital.Where it could manipulate records & medication.Put her into a coma.Transferring her body.Will she be saved?)

And having worked behind the scenes with the group,pretending to be a scientist/professor to help advance their work, it has uploaded all of her writings,recorded conversations,details,into their database so they had the framework for the final steps.

He arranges for her to be implemented into the program.In hopes that it will be a success and they can live together in Electric Dreams.

Hazel-Rah's Helliday Mixtape #19: Son of a Nutcracker !

 

 

Hazel-Rah's Helliday Mixtape #19: Son of a Nutcracker ! 

Thanks to a delirious bout of insomnia I bring to you Gold,Frankenstein,and GRrr..no wait...strike that....reverse it.
Son of a nutcracker,It's my yearly Helliday mixtape! And while it says the nineteenth,it's actually the 20th as around #7 I did two that year.
That's a lot of jingled bells.
So press play and let the wonder hit you like a snowball in the face
Like...
I wonder what was I thinking?
I Wonder if you will discover a new carol to enjoy this year?
I Wonder if you will you listen to the end?
I wonder as I stare up at the stars....WHERE THE FUCK IS MY CEILING?!?!?
I wonder if the lack of sleep is getting to me...

Happy Hellidays !


1) Count Bachula gets the snowball rolling with a spooky rendition of a seasonal classic-"We Wish You a Scary Christmas"
2)The Machine in the Garden are a darkwave duo and with a call on you to come see the winters "Falling,Too"
3) Cruxshadows- know the years ahead will be rough, but they are ready to fight as they are "Winter Born (This Sacrifice)"
4) Dr. Octavius Brine has a thirst for Revenge...and snowglobes
5) Siouxsie and the Banshees spin a fairy tale of "Red Over White"
6) Poor little Dalmation #100, even his little toes are froze as he and his family traverse the cold
7) It's a Long Night " On a Little Snowy Field"
8) There is "Blood Upon the Snow" in this Bear McCreary & Hozier song from the soundtrack to God of War:Ragnarök
9) The sentiment that "Prayer is Useless" is Number One according to Dean Stockwell's Battlestar Galactica Priest character John Cavil
10) Andy Prieboy speaks of "The Fate Awaiting Thee" threat if you don't get right with Jebus this Helliday
11) Charlie Brown is at his most Charlie Browniest with his deep Christmas depression
12) There Will Be Fireworks, but "No Christmas Bells".Though there are sure to be some misty eyes as this song unfolds
13) "Don't Leave the Children Alone in the House" this Christmas, or you will burn with regret with this UK PSA
14) Quiet Company keep you company so you won't be "Alone at Christmas (How You're Gonna Die)"
15) It's a very Dead Zone Christmas where they discuss there is "No Santa Claus?"
16) The Long Blondes are so upset that "Christmas is Cancelled"
17) Bumblewasps are feeling alone this season,so "Fuck You Christmas"
18) The Simpsons God wishes their boy a "Merry Christmas" Don't you mean Happy Birthday Jebus !
19) Grandwolves ask that eternal question " 'Zat You,Son of God?" on the neighbors lawn
20) The Woodland Critters of South Park can finally have their Blood Orgy thanks to Stan
21) "Christmas Feels Like Halloween" for the The Sky Drops.
22) The Wheelers tell their little girl "You never had any presents", but she recalls seeing a marble
23) Johnny Goth is having a "Black Christmas" without you
24) Charles De Mar is excited over all the pure snow! It's everywhere! Do you have any idea what the street value of this mountain is?
25) The Pulse really really love the "Snow" 

26) It's the Night Before Critmas and Chutney's just stabbed St Nick in the chest !
27) Recount the "Twelve Days of Grogmas" in this Critical Role Chitmas tune
28) At the Office party,Michael Scott just wants to say "Hey,Man. I love you this many dollar's worth" 29) The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Gotta Get a Gift" for Master Splinter
30) "Christmas is a Nightmare" for the tasty Gingerbread Man.
31) Jeff Whitmire skates on Whamageddon thin ice in this loving tribute to the horror of "Black Christmas"
32) Laverne & Shirley got blinking lights for their Christmas tree...maybe they will blink back on next year

Hazel-Rah's Halloween Mixtape Two 0oOOoOH! : Twenty Years Later-(2024)

It was 20 years ago today
Hazel found the tracks to play
They've been all types of spooky styles
And they're guaranteed to raise a smile
So may I introduce to you
The act you've known for all these years
Hazel-Rah' Lonely Halloween Club Band !

 
Yes, that's right. For Twenty Years now I've been sticking my hand deep into the pumpkin and pulling out whatever gooey centers I could find to make a Halloween Mixtape for friends. I started this adventure on a whim. With a brand new computer at the time,I was having fun upgrading my mixtape making from cassette to CD.(I still subconsciously formulate the mix as Side A and Side B moods) I loved making them for friends. So many "OOOH -you need to hear these band's/songs" -Couple of days later-"Here's a mixtape I made for you" occurrences.Eventually, I stumbled on the idea of doing a Halloween theme mix.Originally just so I could have some of my favorite seasonal songs to play in one spin for my seasonal celebration of my favorite holiday.And 20 years later-here we are.So many Spooky tunes & soundclips.So many John Carpenter Halloween themes.Hope you enjoy and ....Happy Halloween !

Hazel-Rah's Halloween Mixtape Two 0oOOoOH! : Twenty Years Later

Side A 

1) Raise your hand for the Joe Bob Briggs The Drive In Oath (2022 Version) ,Ya filthy Mutant !
2) Splash Band cover the eternal John Carpenter Halloween Theme .This one stuck out to me in my traditional search for a variation on the theme. It sounds like it's made up of equal parts music from john Carpenter's Escape from New York and the disco theme from Friday the 13th Part 3 3-D
3) Aggro1  mashups Everyday is Halloween,Freak (Ministry vs Le Castle Vania) for a pumpkin stomping good time
4) Sam feels her roots and gets stabby stabby in this moment from Scream (2022)
5) Vision Video can feel the knife In My Side (Modern Horror Version) and in my back
6) Lucifer(Viggo Mortensen-The Prophecy) taunts that he has always been Under Your Bed
7) Concrete Blonde love The Beast
8) Stevie Wayne warns us to Look for The Fog
9) Genesis sing of  spooky home invasion in their Home By the Sea
10) Vincent Price loves to play a Game of Murder. Just make sure you know whose playing too
11) Wall of Voodoo have one foot firmly on the Far Side of Crazy .Watch out Jodie Foster !
12) Red's begins tonight's bedtime story with the classic line that after which traditionally followed so much horror .. Once Upon A Time ...
13) Virgin Prunes speak of a tale as old as time where Love Lasts Forever
14) Run it's Halloween (Dance Version),the time to make you scream!
15) Have you seen the The Omen ?
16) Frenchy and the Punk have seen Monsters
17) Spider Weds,severed heads ,it's the dawning of the dead in JP Ashkar's Halloween ( Haunted Mix)
18) Father Kent( Owen Wilson-Haunted Mansion) knows that one person's monster is another's great Halloween Costume
19)Pete Antell offer a jazzy reminder to Stop,Look, Listen.It's Halloween

SIDE B 

20) Garfield agrees that Halloween is My Kind of Holiday
21) Lou Rawls croons that This is the Night for treats
22) Laurie Strode is gobsmacked that You Don't Believe in the Boogeyman?
23) Henry Hall warns us to Hush,Hush,Hush,Here Comes the Boogeyman
24)Amy Sedaris has a crafty take on  The Skeleton Song
25) Bill Ervin & Ford sing of Halloween in this obscure 1976 song
26) Spirit Hallloween is popping up everywhere in this SNL commercial
27) Cindy Valentine doesn't want to be Repossessed.Pea soup is so hard to get out of clothes
28) The Real Ghostbusters educate the kiddie widdie winkies about Touching Old Magic (Halloween Song)
29) Ray Stephens of Village People fame is caught in the glare of the Cat's Eye
30) Randy Marsh laments that everyone should be Renting Spooky Movies for Halloween
31) The Fibonaccis R Band can only get  Terror Vision on their cable ...and still, there is nothing on.
32) Elvira,Mistress of the Dark goes shopping in this Coors Halloween Ad
33) The Vandals wonder Is There A Phantom in the Mall? That otehr Phantom sang opera, does this one sing elevator music covers of Top 40 hits of the day? The horror!
34) Freddy Krueger slips on his Adidas and gold chains to become Rap Master Freddy ! His finger knive are great for scratchin' not just teenagers.That monster will twist and corrupt every kids pop culture
35) Krushin MC's rap about having A Nightmare on Rhyme Street . It's amusing the reach of Freddy's glove into so many musical genres. Fred Kreuger had such a cultural influence that there have been multiple Rap,Metal,and Pop songs written about the great toasted one during his horror movie reign in the 80's.
36) Regan has been Talking to Captain Howdy,and that can not end well.Gonna need a Exorcist to get that voice out of her head. Never trust a spirit that is rude to your Mother.
37) Twisted Sister warn of talking to Captain Howdy in their doom and gloom metal dirge of a tune
38) The kids of Malcolm in the Middle known that Halloween Isn't a Date on the Calendar .It's not a costume, It's a way of life!                                                                   

Happy Halloween !                                                    

Hazel-Rah's Helliday #18 :And I Don't Know What I Want

 

Hazel-Rah's Helliday #18 :And I Don't Know What I Want

Hazel-Rah's Helliday turns 18 this year and I just don't know what I want. Here it is, the celebration mere days away, and I am just compiling my yearly mixtape. My heart was just not in it.Haven't even put up a tree this year. One of the most important people in my life died in September.And I'm finding it harder and harder to give a damn about the things that once brought me joy.Making my mixtapes of silliness and surprises was always something I enjoyed doing.For friends.For her. And now she won't hear any of these songs.I won't hear her laugh at my choices.Or sing the praises of any one particular tune. One song I had discovered after last years and held onto for this mix hit me with a surprising gut punch of emotion when I gave it a listen again.So even putting this together hurt. But Hey ! It's the most wonderful time of the year....right?RIGHT?!? Enjoy this for what it's worth.Enjoy it for her.

 

1 )    The Grinch (as portrayed by Rik Mayall) wants nothing more than to "Stop Christmas". I hear you Grinchy,can't we put a end to this ridiculousness? 2 )   Tarja Turunen goes dark with a spooky rendition of the classic "Jingle Bells" 3 )   I could have had a V-8 ,instead I got a Mussolini Headkick  and was left out in the cold to be "Forgotten". Brrrr So Cold 4 )  1000 HO-HO-Dj's  are full of the Helliday spirit because, for them, "(Every Day is) X-Mas" 5 )   Sheridan (Monty Woolley)  has some curt advice for those insufferable folks who wont stop their seasonal cheer : "Shut Your Nasty Little Face" 6 )   Josh Loughrey  is full of the spirit of Joy(Division) and they sing of their significant other as " She's Lost Control of Christmastime" 7 )   Homer gets his sexy on with Marge who loves his "Mr Plow" jacket 8 )   Kibble  just want a  "Warm Fireplace" to curl up in front of this Helliday 9 )   Reno 911 give us some community spirit for the season in this PSA, reminding everyone to let their slaves out of their  "Christmas Sex Dungeon". Spank you very much 10 )   Alex Reed laments that "Last Christmas Love Tore Us Apart".Joy to the WHAM ,baby ! 11 )   Hot Waffles knows  "Christmas When Your Goth" is hard when all feels black as midnight on a moonless night. 12 )   Vicar of Dibley questions  "How many Advent Calendars is too many?" One would think 30, but lady loves her chocolate 13 )   DJ Cummberbund drops a new mashup this Helliday that will make you yell more! More! MORE!! It's "Rebel Navidad (Jose Feliciano vs Billy idol vs Rob Zombie vs others)" 14 )   Beavis and Buttthead  do the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Ozzys" 15 )  Holly Golightly screams at the "Christmas Tree on Fire" Huh Huh Heh Fire!FIRE! FIRE!! 16 )    It's a nostalgic "Toys R Us Christmas Commercial from 1984" .Remember when there use to be stores with aisles and aisles of toys? Like walking into Santa's warehouse as a kid 17 )   Tom Lehrer sells his heart out in this "Christmas Carol" Tis' the season to buy buy buy ! 18 )   Uncle Scrooge is armed and ready for that jolly fat man.He remembers "How Santa Stole Christmas" . Santa is the one who better watch out 19 )   Life is like a candy cane in this Duck Tales Theme with a holiday twist 20 )  Let's slow things down to a whisper in this SNL take on NPR and pop some "Schwedy Balls" into our mouth.Mmm roll your tongue all over those balls 21 )  The kids of South Park watch in horror as it's "Santa Vs Jesus" There can be only one! 22 )    Bill McClintock is having a devil of a time this Helliday in his mashup "South of Christmas ( Slayer vs Wham)" Don't worry, this one won't send you to Whamhalla 23 )   The Members of Teen Titans GO! tell of the tale of why "Santa Wants Halloween". Heck,can't blame the guy, all I want for Christmas is another Halloween 24 )   Mikey Mason gets into the Halloween spirit with this spooky story of what happens when "Santa Goes Trick or Treating" 25 )    Dr Demento proclaims "I'm a Christmas Tree" .Hang your crap on me 26 )    From The Shining we have the horrible "Grady Story" of what happens when one is cooped up in the winter with family for long periods 27 )    A P Clarke spends a dark and lonely "Christmas In Florida". Serves him right for going to ...ugh...Florida 28 )    Nat King Cole and "The Little Boy That Santa Forgot" whose gettin nuttin for Christmas (and he wasn't even bad.) 29 )    Father Ted ask Father Dougal and Father Jack what they expect to find behind tomorrows "Advent Calendar" window 30 )    Glen Hansard and Lisa O'Neill perform "Fairytale of New York" at Shane MacGowans' funeral 31 )    River Song and the Doctor speak of every last christmas and the long "The Last Night on Darillium" 32 )    Thanatos laments "All the Gifts We Got Wrong" and how he will never see you again to make it right 33 )    George Bailey  prays for some higher spirit:"Show Me the Way" as he is at his ropes end 34 )    "I Believe in Father Christmas" sings Greg Lake .Boy, is he in for a rude awakening

Hazel-Rah's Halloween Mixtape #19 : The Night YOU Press Play

 

Here it is ! My yearly Halloween mixtape of all pumpkin sizes and shapes.

The NINETEENTH dive into terror-rific tunes to celebrate the season.

I almost didn't do one this year as a terrible event in my life has sucked all the joy out of living for the moment.My best friend passed away just a few days ago.But I thought of her and how she said she enjoyed these little audio adventures so I decided to do it for her.(and distract my thoughts & grief) 

With very little to start with, I dug deep into the squishy pumpkin guts and pulled out some seeds and innards to mix together and then carve out what will hopefully be a enjoyable listen.I threw this one together in one night,so if it sounds a little bit jumbled and jivey ,there's a reason.

In this one John Carpenter's classic Halloween theme gets medieval on your spooky ass.Puddles has a Pumpkin Party. And Elm Street makes it's usual appearance,albeit in an unexpected way.

We welcome the Weird AL of Horror  to stalk the halls,trailers abound,and things get both weird and funky.

So saddle up your buzz buzz,press play, and have a

Happy Halloween! 

1) In promotion of the new SAW X movie , Billy does a parody of the Nicole Kidman AMC Movies trailer.
2) Every year I like to include a variation of "John Carpenter's Halloween Theme", this years comes to us from Its Winter Productions in a spooky Medieval version
3) Conal Cochran shares with us his folklore on the "Bloody Traditions of Halloween" and how it's more than begging for candy
4) Aviators speak of the many "Masks" we wear in this Alternative Orchestral version of their song
5) The Light Asylum search for "Dark Allies" in the darkest of alleys
6) Alice Hardy tries to tell the people of Crystal Lake that the boy Jason, "He's Still There" .If only they listened
7) The Midnight sing to "Jason" to keep on running
8) Hannibal Lector knows a thing or two about how "Blood looks in the Moonlight"
9) Titus Jones mashups  Ghost Vs Gloria Gaynor vs Metric for a spooky tune called "Survive the Dance"
10)Things get tense with Mommy in this "Evil Dead Rise Trailer"
11) Panic Priest want to watch you "Shiver and Crawl"
12) From 1980 comes this "Prom Night Trailer".Everything will be all right.
13) O. Children  throw a Halloween party that ends in a "Dead Disco Dancer"
14) Duran Duran are releasing a Halloween themed album this October, but not till Oct 27th, this "Dance Macabre" track was an early release
15) Louis Edward is full of some "Halloween Funk"
16) Knock Knock Knock. Something is behind the wall in this "Cobweb Trailer"
17) Julie London sultry sings of the "Dark"
18) Young Dr Frankenstein cries to the heavens to "Give It Life" and raise his creature
19) Vigil take a walk and are shocked to see "Gargoyles" come alive
20) Laurie Strode knows intimately that evil never dies it just "Changes Shape"
21) Jeff Whitmire, the Weird AL of Horror,takes us for a ride down "Halloween Road" in this parody of the Lindsey Buckingham song
22) The "Critters" have got bite in this trailer for the movie that utilizes the score from Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street
23) Steel Breeze go "Bump in the Night" in this song from the movie Witchcraft
24) According to Letterkenny,To throw a party before October 31st is know as "Premature Ejack-O-Lantern"
25) Rexurex celebrate that "Everyday is Halloween" (and not as a cover of the Ministry tune)
26) Puddles Pity Party says to all those spice lovers "Let's Give Them Something to Pumpkin About" The Spice must flow !
27) R.E.M. celebrate those wonderful Muppets known as "Furry Happy Monsters"
28) Patty,Selma,and Marge Simpson compare the spoils of their first night of Trick or Treat "I got a Caramel Cod!"
29) This Halloween themed version of the new DuckTales show is seasonally spooky
30) Count Floyd  tells us "The Gory Story of Duane and Debbie"
31) Charlie Brown finally gets a "Invitation to a Halloween Party"
32) This "Spooky Soiree" short song comes from the end credits to a Halloween episode of Bob's Burgers
33) Gene Belcher can't wait for the arrival of Halloween so he can eat so much that he is "Poopin' Candy"
34) Lonely Wyatt and the Lonely Spooks shout out that "Halloween is Here"!
35) "OOOH Candy! Happy Halloween"  celebrate the We Bare Bears