“Burnt Offerings” brings to mind another haunted mansion flick, “The Shining”. BO features a family renting a stately manor and acting as caretakers to the property and the elderly lady supposedly inhabiting an upstairs room. It isn’t long before the heebee-jeebees set in and the wife and husband get unwillingly possessed by some dark forces lingering about the place. The husband has a bad spell and nearly drowns his son in the pool but then returns to some semblance of normality while his wife starts behaving rather oddly. As you can well imagine, no good can come from any of this and you’d be right on. Karen Black and Oliver Reed star as the husband and wife playthings of the sinister house minions. Bette Davis is also on hand and quickly is smacked down with ill health by staying in the nasty house. Nice, eerie music throughout and Dan Curtis of “Dark Shadows” and “The Night Stalker” fame provides direction. One of those movies that will make you start at every home creak when you watch it at night.
All posts by Andrew Swartz
NEIL PEART, R.I.P.
More sad news from the music world. Neil Peart, the hugely talented drummer for the rock band Rush, has passed. He had been battling with brain cancer for the last three years. Rush was the first rock show I went to back in the dark, remote past. They were touring their long player, “A Farewell to Kings.” Lovely experience, lovely dope, lovely playing, lovely man. I chose the music video they released for “Xanadu”, the second track on “Farewell”. We bid farewell to this drummer king, Mr. Neal Peart.
Desert Is Stunning in “Satan Bug”
“The Satan Bug” (1965) has an intriguing concept, the world could possibly end if a germ warfare agent known as the Satan Bug were to be accidentally exposed to an unknowing public. Well, in the desert, there exists a germ warfare lab and it appears that a vial of the Doomsday Drink is missing. Ah…..Espionage is afoot. This is all well and good but I must say that trying to follow all the clandestine activity and all the bodies involved in the nefarious deeds and double crosses (TODAY’S HEADLINES, ANYBODY?) was a bit migraine inducing. What I find very alarming and interesting in this spy potboiler is the scenery in which it takes place. The desert has never looked so inhospitable, arid and beautiful. I found this cool video which was assembled to show the cool Mojave Desert and Palm Springs locations.
Bad Weather = Bad Moods!
This time of year with the holiday season upon us can be a stressful time. We are getting all our last minute shopping done, we are battling traffic, going to work, and juggling a lot of other life necessities and the damned weather is completely sticking its foot out and tripping up our good outlooks on life. The video clip linked here shows the people who have to deal with the elements on a daily basis: the TV weather people. Sometimes, the wind, rain, blizzards get them down too. Watch some hilarious meltdowns! Merry Christmas!
Amazing Optical Illusions
This is a very cool collection of optical illusions based on viewing angle, object build and perspective gathered under one roof. Enjoy!
HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE (2019)
Michael gets some guitar time in before returning to his favorite vocation. Happy Halloween!
Rusty West’s “A Collection of Strange Wilderness Stories – January 2019”
Rusty West’s You Tube videos and books talking about missing people, weird occurrences and Bigfoot have become some of my favorites. I just like his writing style and narration. I think it is very direct and entertaining. But also very spooky! Case in point, in this collection of tales, is the tale of the raided chicken coop. That one gives me the chills. Check out Rusty.
Halloween Strobe Light and Sound Effects (2019)
Here is a seasonal fun item. Rite Aide sells this adjustable party strobe light which also includes spooky sound effects of a haunted house, howling winds, thunder and lightening, creaking doors and general Halloween inspired noise. Buy a couple and have competing audio and video mayhem in your own living room. Michael Myers mask is optional but necessary. Ah. The possibilities!
HALLOWEEN THEME – ISN’T IT TIME YOU TRIED?
It is that time of year again. Want to get into the spirit? Why not pick up your guitar and learn the “Halloween” (1978) theme? I am referring to the music and movie created by John Carpenter that has become very ingrained in our culture. Very remarkable, that!
Here is some guitar tablature that will allow you to easily follow along and learn the tune. Let the celebration begin!
CASINO (1995) – They were too excessive for Vegas!
Martin Scorsese’s epic crime movie of The Mob setting up shop in Las Vegas and the rise and fall of a few of the characters involved. It is hard to believe that this thing is almost three hours long. Violence, greed, colorful dialogue and equally colorful characters inhabit this desert landscape. Episodic in nature, the exploits of all the bad guys and their battles for power and control are nicely interwoven and interesting. Great performances by Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone. This is one of my favorite Scorsese films.
Q – The Winged Serpent (1982)
Not quite a horror comedy but this film definitely has some satirical touches added by director/writer, the late, great Larry Cohen. There is also a good supply of gore such as bitten off limbs and rains of blood from the sky above. Two New York cops are in pursuit of a crazed killer who is enacting Aztec ritual sacrifice on people. Why, you may ask. The rituals will summon forth, Quetzalcoatl , an Aztec god of wind and air who could give the killer more of an edge in taking New York over by force. So, the killings continue both on the ground and in the air. Victims are beheaded on rooftops or carried away and saved as late night Scooby snacks. A hapless criminal stumbles upon the feathered serpent’s lair and leads the cops there to set up an ambush. It then becomes a modern day King Kong finale.
Cohen makes great use of urban location shooting to tell his story and has a lively cast to bring this thing to life. David Carradine and Michael Moriarity gamely go along with the grisly goings on and provide needed spark to this film. Decent stop motion effects for the serpent and lots of interesting aerial photography to show the beast’s point of view as it flaps around town. Cohen had by this point in his career had the It’s Alive and God Told Me To films under his belt. Cohen just recently passed away. An always interesting talent!
Escape Presents: The Abominable Snowman – Fun, Old Radio Adventure
I used to listen to the CBS Mystery Theater radio program late at night as a kid and, then, in later years tried to relive those happy moments by collecting old cassette recorded copies of similar radio drama programs. I stumbled upon this gem, the 1950’s era Escape show and its feature, “The Abominable Snowman”.
The story is presented in an economic style with a handful of characters, emotive music and gobs of sound effects. All the better that there are no visuals involved so that your mind’s eye can more effectively play tricks on you. The imagination can be a powerfully suggestive thing.
A search ensues in the Himalayan mountains to find evidence of an Abominable Snowman or Wildman. Some things are just better left alone. Tragedy ensues. Drama.
This is definitely a nice road trip companion to play as the miles melt away. Just be sure not to pull the car off into some darkly lit, remote location. Who knows what lurks in the shadows?
Apollo 11 – For All Mankind (1969) – Classic Documentary of an Incredible Accomplishment
The 50th anniversary of man first setting foot on the Moon is close upon us.
Looking back at this documentary, it gives an expansive encapsulation of the entire mission from preparation, to lift off, to setting foot on the Moon. And then there remained the task of managing a safe journey back to Earth. Mind boggling! Stunning accomplishment for the United States and the World. Very cool, vintage documentary. Relive this momentous event again and try not to shed a few tears when the Eagle lunar module lands on the Moon. Joyous! We should do this adventure again soon!
Dick Dale, R.I.P.
Dick Dale was known as the King of Surf Guitar. I am including this link to a story reported in Rolling Stone magazine. It tells Dale’s story better than I could:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dick-dale-surf-guitar-king-dead-obituary-809294/
I saw Dale perform at a small club a few years back. His band definitely didn’t hold back on the volume! Treble, reverb, noise showered the crowd. A beautiful thing.