Be Afraid…Be VERY Afraid…
Daniel Kaluuya looks scared to death…why?
Because he is! My look at “Horror A – Z” lands on the letters “G, H and I” – and I’ve got three terrific films to celebrate Shocktober 2025!
A New Voice Of Horror Arrived In 2017!
In 2017, Actor / Director Jordan Peele made one of the smartest, most intense horror films in years when “Get Out” terrified audiences worldwide.
Director Peele was best known for starring in the Comedy Central sketch series “Key & Peele” and for his five seasons as a cast member on “MADtv.”
“Get Out” was his directorial debut – and I described it at the time as a horror version of “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner!”
Although the film was released in 2017 – so there’s been plenty of time to watch it – I am only going to share the basic outline of the film:
Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams star as the young inter-racial couple in love, and
Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford are her parents – who invite them to their country estate for the weekend.
Here is the trailer:
Yes, just a fun weekend with the white folks! Now, there is NOTHING else I am going to share about this film, because it should be seen with NO idea of where it is going – but it is smart, topical, self-aware, darkly funny and very scary – a great addition to the Shocktober lineup!
Jordan Peele cited the original “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) as an inspiration for making this his feature film writing-directing debut, because that film had an African American protagonist and dealt with serious racial issues inside the framework of a horror movie.
It’s a great one to be sure – but if you want a bit more campy humor in your horror, I’ve got you covered as well!
“House On Haunted Hill”
You simply cannot enjoy Halloween season without a healthy dose of Vincent Price! This 1959 shocker still entertains today!
Here is the trailer, as Vincent himself invites you into the house:
Price was, by this time, becoming a legendary fixture in the horror genre, and don’t worry, that skeleton hung out with everyone who spent the night – want proof?
Yes, it’s just one of the many pleasures to be found in this great haunted house movie!
Price was so much more than just a Horror Icon, he had a fascinating life that resulted in this fascinating book:
From his early career as a romantic “third wheel” to becoming the curator of Art for Sears Roebuck – and so much more – read about his daughter’s memoir here:
Now, onto the letter “I”, which spells PENNYWISE!
“I’m every nightmare you’ve ever had. I’m your worst dream come true. I’m everything you ever were afraid of.”
The other shocker of 2017 arrived just in time to scare the face paint off America!
Who Likes Clowns? NO One! How About Red Balloons?
We might all HATE clowns, but we flocked to see the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s horror novel “It” – here is the trailer:
“It” was such a smash hit that a sequel followed a few years later…and let’s not forget where Pennywise got his start…
Stephen King’s Iconic Clown!
There have been many great Stephen King movie adaptations: everything from “Carrie” to “The Shining”, and a whole bunch in between…but our first go around with Pennywise wasn’t a film, “It” was a TV miniseries from 1990!
Pennywise showed up on TV in 1990 as a horror mini-series starring Tim Curry.
Here is the plot of this classic King horror story:
In 1960, a group of social outcasts who are bullied by a gang of greasers lead by Henry Bowers are also tormented by an evil demon who can shapeshift into a clown and feed on children’s fears and kill them. He is known as Pennywise…
After defeating the demonic clown as kids, it resurfaces 30 years later and they must finish it off as adults once again. Of COURSE they do!
Tim Curry IS Pennywise!
Tim Curry, best known for his role in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, steals this mini-series…check out “It’s” original classic trailer…
It: “Let go. Be afraid. You all taste so much better when you’re afraid.”
The original “It” has a great home video release with lots of special features.
On the DVD commentary track for example, the actors note that Tim Curry’s characterization of Pennywise was so creepy and realistic that everyone avoided him during the filming.
“Pennywise? No Thanks!”
Tim Curry was reluctant to take the role of Pennywise initially because he didn’t like the idea of being buried under so much makeup. When he played the character Darkness in “Legend”, it was a difficult and demanding role, and the hours in makeup was still fresh in his mind. To compromise, Director Tommy Lee Wallace minimized the amount of makeup on Curry, and his performance carried the day…
Everyone I ask goes right to Tim Curry’s performance in “It” as one of the most unsettling they have seen…a classic role for a great Actor.
And if you want to share “Pennywise” with your friends his Halloween season, I’ve got just the gift for you:
Yes, you can own this wild Pennywise “IT” clown door mat!
Click here to see more!
There have been so many Stephen King books made into great horror films, and here is a list of some of the best!
This is my “Horror A – Z” series for Shocktober 2025, and if you missed the beginning, here are my choices for the letters D, E and F:
It all began at the beginning of the month with this guy:
See my choices for the letters A, B and C here:
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Categories: 70's Cinema, Art, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Halloween, Hollywood, Horror films, Movies, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies, Talent/Celebrities, True Hollywood Mystery
johnrieber 
Vincent Price will always be a favorite. Clowns, not so much.
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HA! Yes I love Vincent Price and clowns are creepy at all times!
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Yes!
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Clowns are creepy and very disturbing…..Price has always been a favorite of mine for I like old B movies…..chuq
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A big ‘no’ to all but Vincent Price – in ‘real life’ one of the most charming, intelligent, cultured gentlemen around – for decades I did most of my cooking from his and his wife Mary’s gorgeous cookbook . . . and looked for all his ‘outside’ activities 🙂 !
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I love that you mentioned that because I have his massive cookbook of great recipes from around the world…he and Mary were instrumental in brining great food to American tables…his biography by his daughter is a terrific look at his life!
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An unimportant but hugely fun memory – discovered the heavy tome in a Mexico City bookshop at the beginning of a 6-week largely business trip thru’ N America and the Far East. Too big and heavy to pack in the suitcase – guess what sat in my lap on the plane thru’ about 8-9 stops . . . and arrived, very much beloved and read and henceforth used back home 🙂 !
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Truthfully, I liked the “It” mini-series better. And I always liked “House on Haunted Hill.” Very creepy! I love the scene where the wife backs up and falls into the acid vat.
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Yes on both counts!
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OMG, I always loved a good Vincent Price movie, he was so spooky! I used to scour the TV Guide looking for his movies.
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House on Haunted Hill is good fun, but I haven’t seen that version of ‘It’, as yet. I did see ‘Get Out’ though, and was amazed at all the love for it, and the critical acclaim. I thought the ‘Big Twist’ was so blatantly obvious from very early on, but I stuck it out to the end, hoping I was wrong. I wasn’t.
Best wishes, Pete.
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