The Dark Carnival comes to town...

The final recommendation in my Halloween themed posts this month is a classic novel by master fantasist Ray Bradbury: Something Wicked This Way Comes, originally published in 1962. I’ve always been a fan of the late Mr. Bradbury’s fantastic, evocative writing; this is my favorite among his many wonderful works. The novel is the story of two 13 year-old friends, Will Halloway & Jim Nightshade, who live in Green Town, Illinois. One fall evening, they meet a strange lightning rod salesman who says a storm is coming to town. Others in the area also say they feel something in the air.

The boys learn a carnival is arriving in Green Town and are excited, but Will’s father, Charles, who’s the town librarian, has some misgivings about it. The friends stay up late, and watch Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show being set up. As they & the townspeople explore the show, it becomes apparent that there is more going on than they thought at first. Residents are being tempted with visions of their deepest desires, and some people disappear, or show up changed by their experience. For instance, the boys’ teacher appears to have transformed from an older spinster into a young girl. Jim is especially fascinated by the carnival and it’s owner, the mysterious & devilish Mr. Dark, who wants Jim to ride the carousel....but why?

As the story progresses, Will’s Dad has to get past his own fears & desires, and rescue the boys from Mr. Dark and the carnival’s other eerie denizens, including the Dust Witch & The Skeleton. This is a wonderful novel, with beautiful prose, great characters & some truly creepy, scary passages. As he did in many of his other works, Bradbury manages to paint a masterful picture of a small town we’d all like to live in, which is threatened by supernatural forces. While temptation exists, good is stronger than evil, and love & light can triumph over the darkness in the end. Will & Jim are changed by their experience, but as they move closer to the adult world, they'll always remember the lessons Charles teaches them.

The novel actually started out as a 1948 short story called "The Black Ferris." It was originally planned as a movie to be directed by the author's friend, Gene Kelly. When financing for the project couldn't be obtained, Bradbury turned his screen treatment of the story into a novel. The book was later adapted into a film by Disney in 1983, starring Jason Robards as Will’s father and Jonathan Pryce as Mr. Dark. Directed by Jack Clayton (The Innocents), it’s a decent version of the story with some good performances, but the novel is far superior. The movie is currently available on DVD. Over the years, authors like Stephen King & Neil Gaiman have sung the praises of this excellent book. My brief review can’t do it justice; I’ve re-visited it many times since I first read it as a kid, and I enjoy it even more each time. This isn’t just a book for Halloween: you can read it anytime, and I’m sure you’ll be brought under its spell by the power of one of our greatest writers. Something Wicked This Way Comes is very highly recommended, as are any of Ray Bradbury’s other fine works.

“The father hesitated only a moment. He felt the vague pain in his chest. If I run, he thought, what will happen? Is Death important? No. Everything that happens before Death is what counts. And we’ve done fine tonight. Even Death can’t spoil it.” – Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962)

Here’s a link to the trailer for the film version of the novel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up7KHbJTmoo

Next: Gary Clark, Jr.'s rocking the blues, with a little soul...

Enter This "Cabin" If You Dare....

Horror fans have seen this setup before; a group of friends heads to a remote area to hang out, party & engage in a little pre-martial sex. Then strange things start to happen, and people start dying in grisly fashion, stalked by a seemingly indestructible, supernatural killer. Is this Evil Dead (1981)? Friday the 13^th (1980)? No, it’s The Cabin in the Woods (2012), a clever homage to the genre from co-writers Drew Goddard & Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, The Avengers). This time, the story has a different angle; as the teens prepare for their trip, they are being observed on video screens by mysterious people. These watchers are able to manipulate events & the environment around the teens, and their job seems to be to kill them off; but for what purpose?

Who will survive at  "The Cabin in the Woods?"

The script by director Goddard and co-producer Whedon both honors and re-invents the conventions of several sub-categories of horror (slasher movies, zombie films, even tales of cursed and haunted places) in enjoyable fashion. Our main characters represent all the stereotypes we’ve come expect in stories like this: the jock (Chris Hemsworth of Thor), the hot blonde (Anna Hutchison), the nice kids (Jesse Williams & Kristen Connolly) and even the stoner (Fran Kranz from Whedon’s TV series Dollhouse). As frightening events start to take place and the characters are being murdered one by one, the mysterious observers celebrate as each death occurs. Something bigger is happening here, but will any of our heroes stay alive to figure out all the answers?

Whedon has commented in interviews that part of the reason he and Goddard wrote the film was as a reaction to the fact that the so-called “torture porn” films (Hostel, Saw, etc.) seemed to have taken over the horror world, and they wanted to revitalize the genre. Well, they succeeded. The dialogue is witty and clever; and if you liked Whedon’s work on the Buffy & Angel TV series, you’ll smile at the ultimate reason for the chaos & weird events. There are also good performances by the main cast, as well as the actors playing the watchers, including Bradley Whitford (The West Wing), Richard Jenkins and Amy Acker, a veteran of a few previous Whedon projects. And there’s a great (though perhaps not too surprising) cameo at the film’s conclusion.

Goddard and his crew do an outstanding job; cinematographer Peter Deming and editor Lisa Lessek have clearly done their homework; this looks and feels like a horror film. There are some wonderful scenes and set pieces, including a wonderfully creepy encounter in the cabin’s cellar. The Cabin In The Woods is dark, twisty fun; if you’re a horror fan, you’ll love seeing the sly references to other films, and the way that the script plays with your expectations of this classic genre. It’s recommended as part of your scary viewing for Halloween this year. The film is available on DVD, Blu-ray and for digital download. Check out The Cabin in the Woods, but don’t linger there too long. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ENUBUdFswM.

A Different Kind of Vampire Tale

Let The Right One In (2008) is a unique spin on the traditional vampire tale. The Swedish film (based on a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist) is the story of Oskar, a quiet 12-year old, who lives with his mother in a Stockholm suburb. He’s bullied at school on a regular basis, but often imagines the revenge he would take on his tormentors. One night, while playing outside his apartment, he meets Eli, a pale young girl, who has recently moved into the complex with an older man, who Oskar presumes to be her father. The two chat, and eventually strike up a friendship. Oskar senses Eli is an outcast like himself, and starts to develop feelings for her as their bond deepens.

Lina Leandersson and Kare Hedebrant

Meanwhile, a series of strange murders is plaguing the area, and the police are trying to catch the killer. Eli seems to appear only at night, and as the bond between she & Oskar grows, he becomes curious about her origins. But Eli is harboring a mysterious secret, and it may threaten their relationship. To say more would give away the surprises in this well-acted, offbeat movie. Kare Hedebrant as Oskar and Lena Leandersson as Eli are excellent, and you really believe the depth of the bond between these two characters. Director Tomas Alfredson effectively conveys the cool, snow-laden, night-time atmosphere of Stockholm, which is almost like another character in the film. The eerie feeling you get is quite different from other horror films.

This is a surprising, inventive & out of the ordinary look at a vampire story, and is worth viewing even if you’re not typically a horror fan. The film inspired an American remake called Let Me In (2010), directed by Matt Reeves and starring Chloe Grace-Moretz & Richard Jenkins, with the story’s locale shifted to New Mexico. It’s a well done remake, but I would catch the original first. It’s truly one of the best horror films I’ve seen, with some good character development and a real emotional core amid the darker elements of the story. Let The Right One In and Let Me In are available on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as for online viewing. Both versions of the story offer effective, unpredictable takes on vampire lore. I'd also recommend the original novel if you're in the mood for a creepy, chilling read. Here is a link to the trailer for Let The Right One In: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICp4g9p_rgo.