The Halloween Zine: Catacombs, movie news, some haunted fun

#9: The haunted tabletop village that'll stoke our seasonal spirit for years to come

I’d love to see Will Ferrell’s take on Halloween. If you know somebody who knows somebody who somehow knows somebody who knows him, I’d love to see his home decorations and costume. And they’d better not suck.

Hello, Superfans!

It’s starting to feel like mid-October just in time for it.

The nip in the morning air, the smell of wood-burning fireplaces and fire pits, the pumpkin-flavored treats and beverages, just… savor it.

In a previous edition, I shared a few SpookyTown tabletop decoration pics. Michaels couldn’t stop there, though. They had to put them on sale for 30-40% off.

So, we’ve built our own little Halloween Village. Even got a base to serve as their foundation.

The SpookyTown Graveyard, Gloom Room, and Phantom Castle in their faux waterfront location thanks to their reflection in the glass tabletop.

Each has moving parts, and the eerie glow they cast deals the deal.

It’d take a sizable basement to display a dozen or more of these. And as long as I’m going to commit to a basement*, I’d need to install a Silence of the Lambs well for added ambience.

And the Grabber’s black phone.

Maybe a large animatronic or two.

Anyway.

*Yeah, basement’s out. Scary real estate prices aside, I’m not the collector type.

Or the Buffalo Bill type.

The Phantom Castle, Gloom Room Club, and Graveyard Party are available on Amazon.

A haunting character at a haunted attraction

I got my first serious seasonal fix last night at Panic Point in Youngsville, North Carolina.

Panic Point started delivering seasonal scares in 2011. I learned about them in 2014 when I overheard someone talking about it during another, tamer haunted walk.

I. Am. A. Fan.

Think immersive indoor and outdoor experiences spread across many rural acres. And it’s never the same experience. They keep it fresh to help keep you coming back.

There’s a large open area at the center of Panic Point where a DJ spin seasonal tracks and cast members roam in costumes, keeping visitors on their toes, adding to the ambience, and creating photo ops.

I’ve taken a handful of pics over the years. This one was a bit different.

A hospital gown-clad young lady slowly roamed the grounds, rolling an IV stand and wearing an oxygen mask. Her grunge look gave her a creepy vibe. 

At one point, I noticed her heading straight toward me, so I gestured that I’d like to take a picture. She kept coming, so I raised my phone and snapped a pic.

She just kept moving, staring at me. The photo may be blurry because she kept moving or because the photographer blew it. Either way, I love how it turned out.

When she got to within arm’s length, she stopped, lowered her head a bit, and leveled her gaze at me.

Her free hand began a slow ascent before settling at her waist’s level, palm up.

Give me your phone.

I gave it to her. 

She raised it to her face. I didn’t know if she was taking a selfie or a picture of me. I was hoping for the former.

She handed my phone back and shuffled away, never breaking character.

The pictures she took were of me. And that made sense because a selfie would’ve broken character. Can’t have that.

I don’t know how many nights that young lady has roamed the grounds in silence or how many people have engaged with her. 

I hope she’s having a blast.

Hers was a horror movie-worthy stare. I want need people like this in my neighborhood. Or maybe just a new neighborhood?

Hallmark Halloween, anyone?

They’re known for their Christmas movies, and they’re not stopping there.

The Hallmark Network is serving some lighthearted seasonal fare for those seeking to counterbalance their adrenaline jolts.

The article includes links to 10 trailers from this season’s slate.

We’ll have waited 28 18 years for this

In 2003, 28 Days Later redefined the zombie movie sub-genre and spawned a 2007 sequel, 28 Weeks Later.

The year 2025 will return us to the story world 28 Years Later. I’m optimistic because everyone who made the original a success is back for this one.

That’s right: Screenwriter Alex Garland, director Danny Boyle, and the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer himself, Cillian Murphy, are on board.

AND this is just a first of a planned three sequels.

AND they’ve finished filming.

It’s scheduled for release in June 2025.

Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum has a rep for bringing serious Halloween spirit, and she’s proud of it.

She talks about the prep that goes into ensuring her Halloween costumes don’t disappoint her fans.

Trailer talk

The Fantasy Bookshelf

writer

Kira Jarrar

recommended this movie to me, and the trailer’s promise convinced me to watch it.

As Above, So Below (2014)

Nothing like an upside down Eiffel Tower to get your gears turning.

The Dowdle Brothers, John Erick and Drew, wrote, and John Erick directed, this horror thriller. If their names sound familiar, it may be because you’ve seen previous works such as Quarantine and The Poughkeepsie Tapes.

According to the movie’s IMDB page, As Above, So Below is the first film the French government allowed to be filmed in the catacombs beneath Paris.

If you’re unfamiliar with the catacombs, I’d recommend letting the movie explain it. The cast delivers the exposition as you need it without it feeling like an expo dump.

The main character is a Lara Croft-style character, only her interest lies in the history rather than raiding tombs. Her search for an artifact her father never found leads her to the catacombs.

They recruit a native French guide to lead them underground, where they film as they go thanks to headlamps with embedded cameras.

It’s worth watching this just to see the catacombs, but enjoying this creepy tale is an added bonus.

Thanks again, Kira!

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That wraps this week! If you’ve got a favorite Halloween decoration or movie franchise update you’d like to share, send it along.

I’ll be back in your inbox soon!