Lost Sock: Top Ten Unseen Horror Films For Halloween

This year for Halloween why not venture into new territory and forget the usual horror favorites. Believe me, I watch Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre every year around this time, but I think its time to draw some attention to lesser known gems in the genre. So here it is, my Top Ten Unseen Horror Films for Halloween '08. Maybe it's just my mood this year but I am favoring fun horror films over truly horrifying ones.

10. The Return of the Living Dead - This film mixes horror and comedy very well. Plus their is such a high level of entertainment between the film's 80's style and great gore effects. I am always surprised how few people have seen this one.


9. Fido - Yet another horror/comedy. This one is extremely clever. It takes the idea of zombies and 50's B-films and mixes them together wonderfully. A young boy gets a zombie as a pet but things don't go so smoothly once Fido starts eating the neighbors. A recent gem.


8. Carnival of Souls - Older film but a great one. This film creates such a rich, creepy atmosphere throughout it and features a couple of images I will never shake from my nightmares. The guy coming out of the lake still gets to me.


7. Opera - One of the best Dario Argento films. Suspiria gets all the attention but I think this one is maybe his best. The scene I can't shake involves needles and a woman's eyes. This one shows off how well Argento handles death scenes.


6. Night of the Demons - A friend showed this one to me, it's one of her favorites. I totally see why. This movies falls under the quintesential 80's campy horror film. Complete with nudity, gore, stereotypes and bad music.


5. House - A classic in my book but maybe only because I saw so many times as a kid. Another horror/comedy, this one features a haunted house and George Wendt. Need I say more.


4. Session 9 - An overlooked creepfest. This movie is heavy on the atmosphere. A bit slow and the ending is a bit of a rip off but the film still gets under my skin.


3. Ginger Snaps - A total surprise! This film is like Heathers meets An American Werewolf in London. It follows two teenage sisters who are very morbid and aloof. One of them starts to change into a werewolf, at the same time gets her period. Funny and all around very entertaining.


2. Frontiers - The first of two French new wave horror films I am putting on this list. The French are leading horror right now into a new direction. This film is thier version of Last House on the Left or Hostel. It is not for the faint of heart, but this film is full of an extreme energy rarely seen. The film literally makes you feel insane. Scary and by far one of the goriest films I have seen.


1. Inside - The crowning achievement in horror films from the last few years. Rank among the best in my books. This film messed me up for days. It is so shocking, so scary, and so frenetic. The film has one of the most disturbing scenes in it I have ever witnessed. But the film is also very entertaining and a blast of a ride. This achieves what every horror film should, it scares the hell out of you.

Lost Sock: Hysterical Horror Clips

Hey all,
Enjoy each and every one of these. I know I did. Some of the funniest horror deaths I could find. For starters here is the woman from Goonies getting a nasty assist from Buffy in Wes Craven's Deadly Friend. This may be my favorite death in any horror film.

Next up we have Troll 2. The death has already happened but "OH MY GOD!"

And finally I offer up Gingerdead Man. Not sure what to say but wow.

Lost Sock: Hysterical Film Titles (Part 1)

Hey all,
My odd love of grindhouse and old horror films has lead me to such lovely titles as "Strip Nude for Your Killer," "Frankenhooker," and "Microwave Massacre." I now present to you some of the most offensive, funny film titles I know of at the moment. You decide if they are unintentionally obscene or just plain hilarious. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.
Note: These are all real films and available to rent so show some love.

Coons! Night of the Bandits of the Night

Dumpster Baby

Weasels Rip My Flesh

The Curious Dr. Humpp

Monsturd

Rape is a Circle

Bloodz vs. Wolvez

Lost Sock: Hulu

Hey friends,

Before I leave for Boston I wanted to give you something to fill the void in my absence. I know you all will be missing me and will need some good entertainment to pass the time until my return. Check out Hulu.com. This is a great site where you can stream loads of TV shows and movies. They have, get ready for this, episodes of Facts of Life, Doogie Howser, M.D., It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Simpson, The Daily Show, and they are showing Weird Science this month. So seriously check out this site because I want it online all the time. It's truly the way TV should be going. See you all when I get back.
http://www.hulu.com/

Lost Sock: Sketchtravel

This is such a great idea. Pass a sketch book along from artist to artist to make a unique collection. I wonder what other mediums this could work in... http://www.sketchtravel.com/

DJMR's Summer Soul Mix

This is DJMR here bringing you the hippest, smoothest, and hottest mix for all your summer needs, garateed to keep you jive talking, jive jumping, and jive jiving all through the hot season. Check it out.

California Soul Marlena Shaw
(I'll Be A) Happy Man Latin Blues Band
In The Basement, Part One Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto
I've Got Reasons Mary Jane Hooper
With These Eyes The Fabulous Peps
Greasy Greens Lionel Hampton and his Inner Circle of Jazz
Requiem Pour un C Serge Gainsbourg
Oogaloo Hayward Lee and the Marauders
Lluvia Con Nieve Mon Rivera
Shing-A-Ling Time Helen Gamboa
Evil, Whatcha Gonna Do About It
Les Gens Sont Fous, les Temps Sont Flous Jacques Dutronc
Ain't No Sun (Since You Been Gone) Dynamics
Smokey Joe's La La Googie Rene Combo
Tu Mujer, Yo Varon Los Blue Caps
Sexomania Damaso Perez Prado
Chitown Boogaloo Lewise Bethune
The Whoo Pee Sugarpie Desanto
It's Not Easy Swamp Rats
Coco Seco/Anabacca La Playa Sextet
Vamanos Elkin & Nelson
Pense A Moi Frances Gall
Paint It Black The Love Sitars

Download it here http://www.sendspace.com/file/yhp6sa

Lost Sock: Start Drawing

This site is absolutely amazing. It sells itself as "drawings by Asians." Well hot damn these Asians can draw. I look at this site and am amazed what can be done with the human hand. Take some time to check out several of the sections on this page.

Lost Sock: Bon Iver & The Dodos

I have been renewed in my love for acoustic singer/songwriters thanks to Bon Iver and The Dodos. I had pretty much given up on the genre until I heard both these acts.

Bon Iver sounds like early Iron & Wine by the way of Jeff Buckley's wounded vocals and Akron/Family's do it yourself naturalism. His album For Emma, Forever is a sad lament on love gone never to return. Check out "Skinny Love" at http://www.myspace.com/boniver.

The Dodos are apart of the too often used label "Freak Folk." Although I don't know a better way to describe this duo who has a pension for psych-out moments, I don't think it covers all sides of the band. This guitarist and drummer create more sound than should be capable for just two people. They make me listen to the acoustic guitar in a new way. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/thedodos

Lost Sock: Sight And Sound Website

Sight and Sound is my personal favorite film magazine around. The only problem is that its tough to find actual copies of it in America. The magazine is printed in Britain and features some of the most educated and in depth criticism of film currently available. Thank god for their website that features some selected articles from each issue of the publication. Check out a fine interview with Sydney Lumet talking about last year's "Before The Devil Knows You're Dead," a completely overlooked masterpiece. And make sure to check out the article about the Indiewood/Fratpack movement in film. http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/

Lost Sock: Vampire Weekend

I am really diggin' this Cape Cod band who is being described as African pop. I don't really think that term fits them although it is clear these boys have listened to Paul Simon's The Rhythm of the Saints a few hundred times. The quirky, witty lyrics mixed with the bands catchy music makes for one of the most listenable albums since The Shin's first album. Check out some of their videos.

Lost Sock: Video "Neon Bible" in an elevator

This video is not new or anything. I have seen it a bunch since early last year but I revisited and it still holds a special place. The performance is both kitschy and intimate. I wish more bands were this creative with promotional materials.

Lost Sock: Who Can Kill a Child?

This 1976 British horror gem has finally been released in the States on DVD. In this surprisingly well shot film, a young couple's holiday becomes a trip into terror when they travel to a remote Spanish island. It doesn't take the film long to move to the chills and thrills as the couple realizes the island is run by a demonic gang of children. The children make a game out of killing any adult visitors on the island. One particularly great scene involves a morbid and bloody game of "Hit The Pinata" which will change how you think that game should be played. The film has a eerie overall tone with some equally hysterical and horrific scenes. This is one of those forgotten gems that have slipped into moratorium until now. The film's real strength is the cinematography which reveals the Spanish coast line in beautiful but strangely quiet, empty images and its pacing which is deliberate but never slow allowing the viewer time to think about the "what if's" of the situation.

Lost Sock: Best Films of 2007

I will say this year was the year of American film makers. I believe all of the films in my list are by American directors except three, a first for me. The films are listed in order. "There Will Be Blood" is hands down the best film of the year. Paul Thomas Anderson has made an American classic here. Daniel Day Lewis hits some new level of acting as Daniel Plainview, an oilman with a vengeful drive. Anderson crafts a tale of religion and capitalism, transforming the dream of oil into a terrifying vision of the coming century in America. This is Anderson’s masterpiece. His usual flights into daring territory have been honed and crafted. There is not a single unimportant frame in the film. Every shot and scene pulses with blood. There are images in "There Will Be Blood" that haunted me for days after seeing it. The other films listed are equally unique and amazing. All the films on this list exemplified a unique voice and vision.

There Will Be Blood
No Country For Old Men
I’m Not There
Ratatouille
Control
The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
Michael Clayton
Zodiac
Juno
Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead
Once
Knocked Up
Superbad
Across the Universe
Sweeny Todd