http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/index/ The History of Halloween and Horror en editor@bogeymedia.com Copyright 2013 2013-03-15T11:18:00-05:00 http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_history_of_halloween_and_horror/ http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_history_of_halloween_and_horror/#When:00:33:00Z For teachers, students, journalists and the curious, this site offers essays on the history and traditions of all things Halloween and Horror related. The Origins and History of Halloween The Jack O’Lantern Trick or Treating Witches Vampires Real Vampires? Vampires In History Frankenstein Jekyll and Hyde Aliens Robots Mad Slashers and Psychos Headless Horsemen Werewolves The Mummy Zombies Halloween Around The World Halloween Lesson Plans Ideas for lesson plans for Halloween, including the history of Halloween, powerpoint files, and puzzles. The Bunny Man Shop for Discount Halloween Costumes, Collectibles and Memorabilia 2008-01-18T00:33:00-05:00 http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/three_horror_movies_for_early_2013/ http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/three_horror_movies_for_early_2013/#When:11:18:00Z Every year brings a new selection of horror movies released and 2013 is no exception. Here’s a quick round-up of three new films out soon that might tempt you into the cinema for a chilling couple of hours’ entertainment! The ABCs of Death This is an interesting take on horror as it’s a 26 art film each of which has a different director. A kind of anthology of horror, as each director had a different letter of the alphabet that they had to weave a death related story around. Produced by Ant Timpson and Tim League, and with some of the biggest horror film industry directors involved, this promises to be a spine-tingling one to watch. Maniac Maniac is a remake of a 1980 film with the same name. The lead role of psychotic Frank is played this time by Elijah Wood. Frank is an owner of a shop selling mannequins and he develops an obsession with a young artist. With that kind of plot, you should put any image of the friendly Frodo Baggins out of your mind before you see Elijah in this new movie! The film is directed by Alexandre Aja, who did a remake of The Hills Have Eyes in 2006. John Dies at the End This is a horror comedy movie, so a little bit different from the other two mentioned above. Horror comedy doesn’t appeal to everyone, but if you like your horror light then this might appeal. The plot centres around a new and illegal drug that can send users across time. The drawback is that they don’t always come back to reality as humans! It’s up to two college dropouts to save the world – the question is – can they do it? It’s directed by Don Coscarelli, and stars Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes as the unlikely heroes. Of course, there are plenty of more horror films on the way this year, but these are three that are either already on screen or very soon will be! Check out the trailers and see which one entices you down to the theatre. This has been a guest post. News 2013-03-15T11:18:00-05:00 http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/james_earl_jones_reads_the_raven/ http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/james_earl_jones_reads_the_raven/#When:22:31:00Z Halloween History 2012-11-18T22:31:00-05:00 http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_halloween_history_of_the_bunny_man/ http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_halloween_history_of_the_bunny_man/#When:13:29:00Z As children in suburban Washington, D.C. in the 1970s, we were terrified by rumors of a bizarre serial killer known by the not-so-frightening name of “The Bunnyman.” In our imaginations, he inhabited the woods and swamps around our homes, a large fat man wielding an axe, and wearing an Easter Bunny costume. He was a homicidal Peter Cottontail who preyed on kids and especially on teen couples parking their cars in isolated places. Monsters 2009-09-29T13:29:00-05:00 http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_headless_horseman/ http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_headless_horseman/#When:20:29:00Z Headless Horsemen have figured in the imaginations of many cultures, and have now become a fixture in modern horror and Halloween celebrations. Some compilations of Grimm’s Fairy Tales include an encounter with a headless horseman. Bavarian folklore apparently contain tales of Headless Horsemen who patrol the forests. In India, a character called the Dund rides about headless, although his noggin is tied to his saddle. The Dullahan of Irish folklore is a headless spirit seen riding a headless horse. In some variants, it’s a headless coachman. The Green Knight of medieval legend is beheaded by Gawain, but rides away carrying carrying his own head. In a 1777 work by the German poet G.A. Burger, Der Wilde Jager, a ghostly huntsman is condemned for his cruel demeanor on earth. He rides with his hell hounds through the woods and chases innocents. The poem is based on German folklore and in some versions, he’s headless. The best known of the Headless Horsemen, however, appears in Washington Irving’s 1820 story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It is this version of the story that has become Halloween legend. Monsters 2008-10-19T20:29:00-05:00 http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/halloween_around_the_world/ http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/halloween_around_the_world/#When:00:08:00Z Today, Halloween celebrations with costumes, trick or treating and Hollywood monsters is the order of the day in the United States, Canada and Ireland. 2008-01-18T00:08:00-05:00 http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_history_of_zombies/ http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_history_of_zombies/#When:23:57:01Z Like the Mummy, Zombies are a lumbering, staggering, Halloween and Horror presence. Monsters 2008-01-17T23:57:01-05:00 http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_history_of_the_mummy/ http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_history_of_the_mummy/#When:23:52:00Z Reanimated mummies are, like the alien menace, a more recent Halloween invention - and one that, like the werewolf, owes much of its lore to Hollywood. They’ve now become a staple in modern horror writing and movies. Monsters 2008-01-17T23:52:00-05:00 http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_history_of_werewolves/ http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_history_of_werewolves/#When:23:49:00Z Werewolves occupy another central place in Halloween lore. Monsters 2008-01-17T23:49:00-05:00 http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_horror_of_mad_slashers_and_psychos/ http://www.thingsinthebasement.com/index.php/site/the_horror_of_mad_slashers_and_psychos/#When:23:48:00Z Another relative newcomer to the Halloween scene is the psycho / serial killer. Popularized by film series such as Halloween and Friday the 13th, they reflect any number of modern fears - just as ghost stories reflected the fears of times past. In a way, they ARE our ghost stories. Monsters 2008-01-17T23:48:00-05:00