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2017 Holiday Special

In this extra festive episode we are are talking some Christmas horror with To All A Goodnight, Feeders 2: Slay Bells, and The Elf. One ust of these just might be a lost classic, the others, not so much. Listen to find out!

Halloween Mixtape 2017

2017 Halloween Special

The Madness 10 Years of Fear: Week 3 Summary

TV Shows 

Stranger Things Season 1 2016 - 6 Points
Finished rewatching the first season, still just as good the second time around. Now the final week of waiting for season 2 begins.

S1E7 - 4pt (ATB Special bonus) 5/5
S1E8 -  4pt (ATB Special bonus) 5/5

Super Monsters 2017 - 9Points 
A new Netflix series geared towards the pre-school set. My 3 year old loves PJ Masks and this is basically that but with the children of classic monsters. It's her new obsession.

S1E1 - 3pt (ATB 2017 release)
S1E2 - 3pt (ATB 2017 release)
S1E7 - 3pt (ATB 2017 release)

Lore Season 1 2017 - 8 Points 
Finished up the series with episodes focused on werewolves and the infamous Robert the doll. I find the Robert story to be really fascinating.

S1E5 - 4pt ( ATB 2017 release) 3/5
S1E6 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release) 5/5

Tales from the Darkside - 12 Points 
Some more solid episodes from the final Darkside season. I wonder what the new series could have looked like, I may have to pick up Joe Hill's collection of scripts for the series to see what could have been.

S2E22 - 3pt (ATB George Romero) 3/5
S4E1 - 3pt (ATB George Romero) 4/5
S4E2 - 3pt (ATB George Romero) 4/5
S4E5 - 3pt (ATB George Romero) 5/5

Freakish - 6 Points 
I never finished the first season, but I figured it probably wouldn't be difficult to pick up in season 2, it wasn't. The first 2 episodes are still much of the same to what I did see in season 1. I really think they need to get out of the school and explore this world.

S2E1 - 3pt (ATB 2017 release) 3/5
S2E2 - 3pt (ATB 2017 release) 3/5

Sunday October 15th - 18 Points

The Burning 1981 - 6pt (ATB, Video Nasty)
"Are you ready for the summer? Are you ready for the hot nights? Are you ready for the fireflies, the moonlit skies, and a whole lot of fooling around..." Meatballs: Slasher edition. I love this movie. 5/5

Return of the Living Dead 1984 - 6pt (ATB Puppet zombie)
Greatest zombie comedy ever made? It's pretty close for me. A movie that never grows old. 5/5

The Babysitter - 6pt (ATB 2017 release)
I loved this movie. It's everything that I wanted "Better Watch Out" to be, because it takes a similar premise and actually makes it fun. It let's the here be a hero, and the humor works. I can't wait to watch it again. 5/5

Monday October 16th - 7.5 Points

Night of the Living Dead 1968 - 6pt (ATB Romero)
My favorite of Romero's zombie films. I think Dawn is great, but this one is timeless in a way that isn't. 5/5

Garfields Halloween Adventure - .5pt
First time watch. I've heard about this for years so I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I thoroughly enjoyed it, lots of Halloween goodness in there. 4/5

Amazing Stories Mummy Daddy - 1pt (practical effects)
What a great episode. An actor in mummy makeup rushes off the set of a film because his wife goes into labor. After he gets stranded in the middle of nowhere the locals mistake him for an actual mummy (which he also runs into) and they decide he needs to be executed. Really entertaining. 4/5

Tuesday October 17th - 26 Points 

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse - 6pt (ATB Zombie effects)
First time watching all of the way through. I think there's a lot of good stuff in here, but when the humor fails it's pretty groan worthy. Worth a watch but definitely not going to be for everyone. 3/5

The Devils Candy - 6pt (ATB 2017 release)
I had no idea what to expect here, and I was pretty surprised. The ending gets a bit over the top but I still had fun with it. 4/5

The Beyond 1981 - 6pt (ATB Video Nasty)
Possibly my favorite Fulci film (of the ones I've seen). I absolutely love the third act of this film. 5/5

Halloween Wars Episode 3 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
Monster party was the theme resulting in some pretty cool dancing werewolves.

Halloween Baking Championship S3E4 - 4pt (ATB 2017 Release)
Brains and phobias were the focus this week. I want one of those brain cakes, they look so good.

Wednesday October 18th - 10 Points

Asylum 1972 - 6pt (ATB Peter Cushing)
The Cushing bonus continues to introduce me to movies I probably would have continued to leave on the backlog. Asylum's a pretty fun anthology though I don't understand how all of those paper wrapped body parts could ever pose a real threat. 4/5

Halloween Wars Hayride of Horror Episode 3 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
The theme was to create a horrific zoo, and there were some pretty disgusting creations involving animals with burst stomachs.

Thursday October 19th - 18 Points

Stagefright 1987 - 6pt (ATB Michele Soavi)
Michele Soavi had a series of really cool movies and then very little. Stagefright is a great blend of American slasher tropes mixed with the Italian aesthetic. Also, that owl mask is pretty great. 4/5

One Dark Night 1982 - 6pt (ATB Zombie effects )
First time watch about a man who comes back from the dead and terrorizes a group of girls in a mausoleum by raising the dead. I think this movie needs a good edit. There's a whole subplot with the antagonists daughter and Adam West that could be completely removed. We need to get to the good stuff sooner. 3/5

Manhattan Baby 1982 - 6pt (ATB Fulci)
Fulci's take on The Exorcist. Not as gory as the stuff Fulci had been doing, especially with this following New York Ripper, but I kind of like that. I have a bit of a soft spot for these Exorcist rip-offs, it's like the directors are highly aware they can't match the Exorcist in execution so they just go completely off the wall and it's always entertaining. 3.5/5

Friday October 20th - 6 Points

TCM 2 1986 - 6pt (ATB Hooper)
It's like Hooper knew he couldn't possibly top himself, so he went directly into the comedy realm while attempting to somewhat mimic what he did the first time around. While it's nowhere near as good as the original, I still love this for what it is. 4/5

Saturday October 21st - 12 Points

Creepshow 1981 - 6pt (ATB George Romero)
We set up our outdoor screen, lit the bonfire and introduced some friends to this classic. I never know how people are going to react to these older horror films, but everyone seemed to really enjoy it. 5/5

Trick r treat 2007 - 6pt (ATB zombie kids )
Followed up Creepshow with Trick R Treat. This was only new to one person, but everyone is in agreement that it remains one of the best Halloween themed films ever made. Another one that never gets old. 5/5

Total Week - 140.5 Points

The Madness 10 Years of Fear Week 2 Summary

TV Shows

Stranger Things Season 1 2016 - 18 Points
In anticipation of the new season I'm rewatching season 1. Just as good on the second watch as the first. I'm really looking forward to the 27th.

S1E1 - 3pt (Child protagonist, 2016 release)
S1E2 - 3pt (Child protagonist, 2016 release)
S1E3 - 3pt (Child protagonist, 2016 release)
S1E4 - 3pt (Child protagonist, 2016 release)
S1E5 - 3pt (Child protagonist, 2016 release)
S1E6 - 3pt (Child protagonist, 2016 release)

Tales from the Darkside - 24 Points
The George Romero bonus makes this a great year to catch up on some Tales from the Darkside. I forgot how much fun the later seasons are in the series. There was one episode here, "The Grither", that I saw when I was a kid and have been searching trying to find for years, I never realized it was a Darkside episode.

S1E1 - 3pt (ATB Romero)
S2E9 - 3pt (ATB Romero)
S2E10 - 3pt (ATB Romero)
S2E11 - 3pt (ATB Romero)
S3E5 - 3pt (ATRomero)
S3E6 - 3pt (ATB Romero)
S3E9 - 3pt (ATB Romero)
S3E12 - 3pt (ATB Romero)

Lore Season 1 2017 - 16 Points
As a listener of the podcast, I've been waiting for the show for a while, and as a fan of the pod, the show doesn't disappoint. The first 4 episodes cover stories about changelings, vampires, lobotomies and speaking to the dead. Looking forward to finishing the series next week.

S1E1 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
S1E2 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
S1E3 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
S1E4 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)

Sunday October 8th - 32  Points

Pet Sematary 1989 - 6Pt (ATB kid zombie)
Lot of remake rumors have been swirling around for a while. I like this version, but would welcome a different take. 3/5

Goosebumps S1E16 A Night In Terror Tower Part 1 - 1pt (child protagonist)
Goosebumps S1E17 A Night In Terror Tower Part 2 - 1pt (child protagonist)
A couple of kids go on vacation in london and are transported back to the time of executioners and guillotines. 2/5

Demons 1985 - 6pt (ATB Argento/Lamberto)
Any movie that features a character riding motorcycle through a movie theater cutting up demons with a sword has to be respected. 5/5

Revenge of Frankenstein 1958 - 6pt (ATB Peter Cushing)
Interesting take on the frankenstein story picks up directy where the previous film left off. Cushing's Frankenstein is practicing under a new name and creates a new monster by transplanting the brain of a sick and crippled man into the body of a healthy one. Things don't go well. 3/5

Blood Feast 1963 - 6pt (ATB video nasty)
H.G. Lewis' work is pretty important to the horror genre, I'm just not a big fan of most of it. I like Blood Feast for what it is but never revisit it. His best are 2000 Maniacs and Wizard of Gore. 2.5/5

The Black Room - 6pt (ATB 2017 release)
I loved this. I went in completely blind, only knowing that the release date would get 6 points, but was suprised at how good it is. Highly recommend it. 4/5

Monday October 9th, 22 Point

Don't Kill It - 6pt (ATB, 2017 release)
Dolph Lundgren battles a body jumping demon. This movie is a blast. Solid action, good humor and some genuinely nasty moments, particularly in the opening. 4/5

House on Willow Street - 6pt (ATB, 2017 release)
Meh, this one didn't do much for me. Run of the mill possession horror film. Features some good effects. 2/5

Halloween Wars 2017 Episode 2 - 4pt (ATB, 2017 release)
This weeks theme was around monsters hiding in plain sight. A few really amazing creations. There is one woman this season who paints backdrop murals that are unreal.

House on Straw Hill (Trauma)1976 - 6pt (ATB, Video nasty)
Who doesn't like Udo Kier? I could watch him in anything. I've had this blu ray for a while but finally had a good excuse to check it out. I doubt it's one I'll revisit often, but it's better than a lot of the nasties out there. 3/5

Tuesday October 10th - 22 Points

The Creeping Flesh 1973 - 6pt (ATB, Peter Cushing)
I was a it disappointed with this. I didn't think it would take almost the complete runtime for the creature to return to wreak havoc. 2.5/5

The Roost 2005 - 6pt (ATB zombifying animal bite)
A group of friends break down and run into a pack of bats whose bites create murderous zombies. A lean movie, with a ton of atmosphere that accomplished a lot with very little. 5/5

Halloween Wars Hayride of Horror E2 - 4pt (ATB, 2017 release)
This weeks theme had pumpkins turning on the farmers.

The Evil Dead 1981 - 6pt (ATB Video nasty)
I think i'm in the minority that this is my favorite of the series. When I was younger I was all about the sequels, my parents took me to see Army of Darkness during its theatrical run and I immediately sought out the other films. I watched and rewatched the sequels, but now I find myself going back to this original more than any. 5/5

Wednesday October 11th - 10 Points

Cult of Chucky - 6pt (ATB, 2017 release)
I'm seeing a lot of internet hate for this, but I loved it. It's completely ridiculous, but a ton of fun. 4/5

Halloween baking championship S3E3 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
Now I really want a brain cake.

Thursday October 12th - 12 Points

The Void - 6pt (ATB, 2017 release)
There seems to be so much good horror coming out, this is one of several 2017 release I watched this week and most have been really good. The Void is a blend of all of my favorite horror films, but still feels like it's own movie. 5/5

Cemetery Man 1994 - 6pt (ATB, Michele Soavi)
I was introduced to this in the 90's when IFC used to show independent films. I was obsessed with it. It's such a weird movie with a fantastic score and a streak of black humor throughout. 5/5

Friday October 13th - 11 Points

Stakeland 2 - 6pt (ATB 2017 release)
A fine follow up to a great movie. I think Mickle's original is really good, so a follow up is a tough task. While I won't be running out to rewatch it, seeing these characters together again in an apocalyptic America overrun by vampires and religious extremists is entertaining enough. 3/5

Hocus Pocus 1993- 5pt (child protagonist, practical zombie, underground tunnel)
I took my kids to a screening at our local theatre, and it was practically sold out. The kids had a blast and the audience was completely into it. 3.5/5

Saturday October 14th - 6 Points

IT - 6pt (ATB 2017 release)
Finally got to see IT, and I was not disappointed. I'm not a fan of the original despite loving it as a kid. This new adapation gets so much right, the casting is perfect, the themes of the book are portrayed more effectively, and none of it seems watered down. I'm hoping they can do right with the adult storyline. 5/5

Total Week 2 - 173

The Madness: Ten Years of Fears Week 1 Summary

Sunday October 1st - 34 pts

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Episodes I - VI

While I no longer keep up with the new episodes of the Simpsons I do make it a point to always watch the annual Treehouse of Horror episodes. Even with varying quality over the years the episodes are tradition for me and I never miss it. Episodes I-VI represent some of the best with send ups on everything from The Twilight Zone to A Nightmare on Elm Street and my all-time favorite segment, "The Shinning".

Episode I- 1pt (child protagonist) 3/5

Episode II - 1pt (child antagonist) 3/5

Episode III - 1pt (child protagonist) 4/5

Episode IV - 1pt (child protagonist) 4/5

Episode V - 1.5pt (child protagonist, classic monsters) 5/5

Episode VI - 1.5pt (child protagonist, Paul Anka plays himself) 5/5

The Monster Squad 1987 - 5pt (child protagonist, man in suit, classic monsters)
Introduced my 7 year old to a childhood favorite and she really liked it. Since she is planning to vamp it out for Halloween she took it as an opportunity to research the mannerisms of a vampire which was pretty entertaining. She also loved Frankenstein's monster. 5/5

Bloody Moon 1981 - 6pt (ATB Video Nasty)
Beheadings, impalement, deformities, incest...just another day in the world of Franco. Probably my favorite of Franco's films, though that bar is pretty low. 4/5

Dimension 404 Episode 2 "Cinethrax" - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
Patton Oswalt battles space aliens snatching the bodies of moviegoers through a new 3-d technology. Film references abound with a strong tinge of They Live has me pretty excited for what else this series has to offer. 5/5

The Addams Family 1991 - 4pt (Child protagonist, cavern)
I've watched it every madness, opinion remains unchanged. The jokes work, the casting is spot on, sets are great, the story is mediocre. 3.5/5

Road to Halloween Wars - 4pt (2017 release)
My family loves Halloween wars, this was a good primer to the season premiere with introductions to all of the contestants and their skills. 3/5

Channel Zero No-End House Episode 1 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
Note to self...if a random house with a reputation for messing with minds pops up near my home, stay away. Episode 1 has me intrigued, I'll probably give episode 2 a chance. 3/5

Monday October 2nd - 13 pts

Anthropophagous 1980 - 6pt (ATB Video nasty)
I was watching this on a bus to work...I should be more careful when watching nasties in public. Fetus consumption isn't everyone's cup of tea. 3/5

Halloween Wars Episode 1 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
The theme was hitchhikers. These people created cars out of pumpkins. I feel good when I successfully carve a pupil inside of an eye. 5/5

Ghosted S1E1 - 3pt (ATB 2017 release)
New series on Fox with Craig Robinson and Adam Scott, two actors I really like. Episode 1 was enjoyable enough but ultimately a bit forgettable, I'm hoping the series finds it's legs.

Tuesday October 3rd - 16 pts

Curse of Frankenstein 1957 - 6pt (ATB Peter Cushing)
I have a serious gap in my Hammer film viewing, planning to change that a bit with the Peter Cushing bonus. The film itself is a strong adaptation. Cushing's Victor is the right amount of deplorable and Lee's monster is equal parts gruesome and sympathetic. 5/5

Evilspeak 1981 - 6pt (ATB Video nasty)
So many killer hogs...so many beheadings...so much nastiness...I love it. Evilspeak grows on me with every viewing. After all, who doesn't love Clint Howard?

Dimension 404 Episode 4 "Polybius" - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
A boy summons a demon while playing an arcade game. Kind of interesting to watch right after Evilspeak considering the similarities. Not as good as episode 2 but I think the series has a lot of potential, it's like a lighter version of Black Mirror. 3/5

Wednesday October 4th - 10 pts

Halloween Baking Championship S3E1 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
Next to Halloween Wars this is another family staple during October. The contestants bake candy filled cookies and I would eat all of them. 5/5

South Park S1E7 Pink Eye - 3pt (ATB Kid Zombie)
South Park is overrun with zombies after Kenny is crushed by a satellite. I've been watching South Park since season 1, this episode solidified my obsession with series early on. It's still so good.

Tales From the Crypt S4E7 - 3pt (ATB Kid Zombie)
A radio psychologist tries to help the psychic from Poltergeist deal with her problem child. I remember seeing this when it aired and it really unnerved younger me. Adult me, not as much, but it's still a fun episode.

Thursday October 5th - 25 pts

Delirium 1979 - 6pt (ATB Video nasty)
First time watch though I've known the cover art for a long time...I wish that's how I still knew it 1/5

Axe 1974 - 6pt (ATB Video nasty)
I kind of like Axe. The acting is rough and it seems like it doesn't know if it wants to be Last House on the Left or TCM, but I still kind of like it. One of the weirder nasty titles considering its lack of gratuitous nastiness. 3/5

Vampirina: The Plant Predicament / Mummy Mayhem - 3pt (ATB 2017 release)
A new Disney cartoon about a vampire family that moves to the suburbs. It's kind of fun considering the audience.

Halloween Baking Championship S3E2 - 4pt (ATB 2017 release)
This time the theme is slime. Cookies need to ooze out some kind of filling. The winner was based around a slug theme, pretty nasty but great idea.

Return of the Living Dead Part II 1988 - 6pt (ATB Puppet Zombie)
Nostalgia is a delicate thing. This is one of the first zombie movies I ever saw. It was the late 80's, I was maybe 6 and it was on cable back when you could count on channels like AMC or USA to show a variety of genre stuff. I fell in love with it. I watched it over and over again. It's been years since I've revisited it. Unfortunately what I didn't realize was that in addition to the distributor adding new dialogue to the film the score has been completely changed due to rights. I could only focus on how bad the movie is. I think I need to track down a VHS copy and see if reinstating that original score can restore some of that original fondness.

Saturday October 7th 27 pts

Addams Family Values 1993 - 4pt (child protagonist, cavern)
See comments on part 1, pretty much the same for this, however I really enjoy the camp stuff. Unfortunately the rest of the cast don't have nearly as much to do.

Mad Monster Party 1967 - 5pt (classic monsters, underground lair, stop motion)
First time watch. I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again. I think something like this requires some nostalgia to really enjoy. I liked some of the songs, but found the movie a bit tedious.

Little Shop of Horrors 1985 - 3pt (puppetry)
My kids loved this. A quote "when the man and the plant are singing it's like when Anna and Elsa were singing" and then, regarding Jim Belushi, "feed him to the the plant!", I wish...

Simpsons Treehouse of Horror VII - 1pt (child protagonist)
The Clinton and Gore bit is so strange now...love the evil twin segment

Halloween Wars Hayride of Horror Episode 1 - 4pt (2017 release)
So I found out tonight that there are two different versions of Halloween Wars this year, and that's pretty exciting for someone looking to rack up those ATB's with little ones around during a year full of nasties. The theme is Hayride of Horror, and it's pretty cool, though the edibles from both teams seemed a bit weak.

Better Watch Out 2017 - 10pt (Opening weekend bonus)
I had completely turned on this, until the last minute or so, at which point it redeemed itself a bit. The tonal shift partway through is really jarring and I felt like I was watching a watered down Funny Games. Maybe I would warm up to it on a second watch, now that I know what it is. Also, the comedy didn't work. 2.5/5

TOTAL WEEK 1 - 125 PTS

Podcast Episode 63 - Indie Horror

Podcast Episode 61 - The Abominable Dr Diggles Phibes

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Podcast Episode 60 - No Holds Wrestling Queen Barred!

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The Madness: Circus of Coulrophobes Week 4

Dismember The Alamo (Yonkers, NY) 2pts

The Gate (1987)

A childhood favorite and great way to start off the night. Ton of fun with an audience. 4/5

Points: 2

Deathdream (1974)

First time watch on this. I enjoyed it well enough, but a bit downbeat for a Halloween type event. 3.5/5

Points: 2

Death Spa (1989)

Another first time watch. Pretty enjoyable b-movie that goes completely off the rails in the final act. Another fun one to watch with the audience. 3/5

Points: 6 (Someone dressed as a clown is killed)

Event Horizon (1997)

Hadn't seen this since it's initial release. I remembered it being a bit better. The first two thirds are pretty strong but falls apart a bit at the end. The comic relief element was a big mistake. 3/5

Points: 3 (Clown)

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horrors 

Episode 14: 1 Points (clown poster)

Episode 15: .5 Points

Episode 16: 3 Points (Clown is killer)

Episode 17: 1.5 Points (Clown, tramp)

Episode 20: 1.5 Points (Clown poster, clown)

Episode 21: 1.5 Points (Clown poster, clown)

Episode 22: 1 Points (clown)

Episode 23: 3 Points (clown killed)

Episode 25: 3 Points? (clown killed)

Finally got through every single episode. 25 was actually pretty good for a later entry, I kind of got a kick out of the original Simpson family haunting the current one.

Sunday October 23rd

The Funhouse (1981)

The misadventures of   that little boy still make me feel uneasy no matter how many times I watch this. 4/5
Points: 5 (dark ride, clown doll, carnival)

Monday October 24th

Addams Family Values (1993)

The summer camp stuff is so good, it's unfortunate the Fester storyline feels so much like  a retread of the first. 3.5/5

Points: 2

Camp Blood (1999)

I almost gave up on killer clown movies for the remainder of the Madness because of this. I couldn't bring myself to watch the sequels. .5/5
Points: 6 (ATB clown commits murder)

Wednesday October 26th

100 Tears (2016)

I've watched this once before, and I think it holds up pretty well on a second watch. Gore is completely over the top. 3/5
Points: 6 (ATB Clown commits murder)

Fraternity Massacre at Hell Island (2007)

After this and Camp Blood, I've made a personal compromise. No more micro budget clown films, I just can't handle anymore.
Points: 6 (ATB Clown commits murder)

Thursday October 20th

It (1990)

As is the case with the book, the stuff with the kids is really good, the adults not so much. 3/5
Points: 9 (ATB Clown commits murder)

Halloween 5 (1989)

It's probably better than 4, at least it's not as boring. 3/5

Points: 6 (Clown commits murder)

Halloween Wars (2016)

Teams had to make crypts, that one team the constantly fights should probably have gone just out of principal.

Points: 1

Stitches (2012)

Stitches is a real blast that holds up to multiple viewings. 3.5/5

Points: 6 (Clown commits murder)

Friday October 28th

Drive-Thru (2007)

For a film that features a villain named Horny the Clown, it's actually kinda tame. 1/5
Points: 6 (Clown commits murder)

Friday the 13th Parts 2 & 3 (1982, 1983)

Haven't watched much on AMC this season, so I figured why not. 4/5
Points: 4 Total

Saturday October 29th

Puppet Master 4 (2015)

Why does Jester have to be so passive?! If he would just start attacking people more often I'd revisit this entire franchise just for the bonus points. 2/5
Points: 3 (clown doll)

Sunday October 30th

The Peoples Network: Horror Edition (2016)

The warm-up to the event I've been waiting for all madness, the premiere of the new Killjoy movie!  This series of short horror films was entertaining enough, there was kind of a clown thing in there but I know shorts don't count for the bonus points. 3/5
Points: 2

Killjoys Psycho Circus (2016)

It has arrived, the crowdfunded 5th film in the barely mediocre Killjoy franchise! I am baffled by these movies. The change in tone from the first to the 5th film is so strange to me. I think the Evil Bong audience is now driving everything Charles Band puts together. Has me really excited for the next Puppet Master film. 1.5/5
Points: 8 (Premiere bonus)

Monday October 31st

Night of the Demons 2 (1994)

Solid sequel to one of my favorite Halloween themed horror films. Sex, violence and a kick-ass nun, how could you go wrong? 4/5
Points: 3 (clown)

CHUD 2: Bud the Chud (1989)

A not-so-solid sequel to a favorite of mine. It's such a weird turn from the first film it's kind of hard to even compare them. I do like Gerritt Graham in pretty much anything though. 2/5
Points: 6 (The zombie trick or treaters that kill the old couple include a clown)

Return of the Living Dead (1985)

Finally upgraded to the Scream Factory release, totally worth it.  5/5
Points: 2

Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)

Ernest, my wife hates him, my kids tolerate him, I love him! 4/5
Points: 4 (circus poster, clowns)

Takes of Halloween (2015)

Capped off Halloween with a first time watch of this anthology film. Pretty enjoyable, it's one I would throw on every couple of years. 3/5
Points: 2

Total Week 2 Points: 118.5

2016 Halloween Special

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It's that time of year! It's been a while since we've recorded but we have a show full of Halloween goodies as we discuss sexy and offensive costumes for 2016, the war on Halloween, some urban legends and more! We also review Trick or Treats, Trick or Treat, Trick R Treat and Rob Zombie's 31. Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

The Madness Circus of Coulrophobes Week 3

Sunday October 16th

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horrors 

Episode 13: 1 Points (clown)

Episode 17: 1.5 Points (clown toy, clown)

Episode 27: 3 Points? (Is Sideshow Bob a clown? If so, he dies.)

I really can appreciate that it was decided to celebrate episode 600 with a Halloween special. The episode itself was ok, though a spoof of Hunger Games seems pretty dated. The segment with Lisa's murderous imaginary friend was my favorite.

Demonic Toys (1992)

I think back to when I was 9 years old, watching this on video, thinking Baby Oopsie Daisy was the funniest thing ever. I'm embarrassed for the 9 year old. The movie's still really entertaining.  4/5
Points: 6 (Clown doll attacks human)

Monday October 17th

American Horror Story Freakshow Episodes 12 & 13(2014)

I really enjoyed the homage to Freaks in episode 12 but found that killing off the majority of the characters in a single episode to be a bit lazy.
Points: 8 total (both episodes have a clown toy, traveling carnival and actual sideshow actor)

Halloween Wars Episode 3 (2016)

That alien grandma was pretty amazing. Someone needs to make that into a movie.
Points: 1 

Demonic Toys 2 (2010)

William Butler, the director of this, plays the role of Merle in Ghoulies 2, a film I also watched this week. I'll choose to remember him for that. .5/5
Points: 6 (ATB clown doll attacks human)

Tuesday October 18th

Jokers Poltergeist (2016)

Eric Robert's seems to have made a bit of a career for himself lately by literally phoning in performances. The only difference here is he's actually on screen, though I still don't believe he was ever on set. .5/5
Points: 6 (ATB Clown commits murder)

Halloween Baking Championship Episode 3 (2016)

Finally a clown challenge!
Points: 2 (clowns!)

Killjoy Goes to Hell (2002)

The gang's back together, sweet! Still better than Killjoy 2. 2.5/5
Points: 6 (ATB clown commits murder)

Wednesday October 19th

Scary or Die (2012)

 Direct to video anthology horror. Only one thing matters. Clown bites man, man turns into clown, new clown man kills people. ATB! 2/5
Points: 6 (ATB clown commits murder)

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966)

Yearly watch, nothing new to report. 5/5
Points: .5

Toy Story of Terror (2013)

Also becoming a yearly watch, see above. 3/5
Points: .5

Terror on Tour (1980)

First time watch, probably the last time too. Maybe it was the crappy Youtube copy, or just the crappy movie, but it lost me.  1.5/5
Points: 6 (ATB Clown commits murder)

Thursday October 20th

Scary Movie 2 (2001)

Chris Elliott is the best part of this. That little hand gag shouldn't be as funny as it is. 2/5
Points: 6 (ATB Clown doll attacks human)

Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's do the Time Warp Again (2016)

Meh, something about it was just flat. The casting was all over the place, I personally didn't mind Brad, Janet and Columbia, and it felt like it couldn't decide if it were a television remake or a live musical. Maybe if it had committed it would have been better, but I'm doubtful.  2/5
Points: 6 (Premiere night bonus)

Friday October 21st

Freakshow Apocalypse (2007)

I chased an ATB into the depths of low budget independent horror, only to be alluded once again. The end of this movie promises a sequel, which I don't believe ever happened. I am thankful for that as I probably would have watched it. .5/5
Points: 4 (Clown, real sideshow actor)

Twilight Zone: Five Characters in Search of an Exit (1961)

Love this episode. Such a simple premise with an interesting payoff. 5/5
Points: 2 (clown, tramp, clown doll)

Halloween (1978)

It's a classic, nothing more to say here. 5/5
Points: 6 ( Character dressed as clown commits murder)

Slaughter High (1986)

What's in the water at slaughter high? Those kids didn't age a day in 10 years. 3.5/5
Points: 3 ( Killer wearing jester mask)

Saturday October 22nd

Funhouse Massacre (2015)

This turned out to be a fun Saturday afternoon watch. I wasn't expecting much to be honest considering some of the garbage I've been watching lately. 3/5
Points: 6 (clown commits murder)

Ghoulies 2 (1988)

Ghoulies 2, the movie that finally fulfills the tagline promise of the first film. I actually love this movie. It does everything a sequel should do by improving drastically over the original film. I think it's a blast. 4/5
Points: 5 (Clown, traveling carnival, funhouse)

Halloween 4 (1988)

"Jamie's an orphan! Jamie's an orphan! Jamie's uncle's the boogeyman! Jamie's uncle's the boogeyman!" Holy shit those kids were assholes. Jamie should have murdered them at the eend of this thing. 3.5/5
Points: 6 (Jamie murders her stepmother while dressed as a clown)

The Midnight Hour (1985)

Another yearly watch, though I didn't discover it until much later in life. It's the kind of thing I would have been obsessed with as a child. 4/5
Points: 3 (Clown costume)

Chopping Mall (1986)

Finally got around to checking out my blu ray and the upgrade was totally worth it. I probably watch this at least twice year. 5/5
Points: 2

Total Week 2 Points: 102.5

The Madness Circus of Coulrophobes Week 2

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horrors 

Episode 2: 1.5 Points (clown, clown poster)

Episode 5: 1 Points (clown poster)

Episode 6: 1.5 Points (clown, clown poster)

Episode 7: 1 Points (clown poster)

Episode 9: 1.5 Points (clown, clown toy)

Episode 11: 1.5 Points (clown, clown media)

Episode 12: 1 Points (clown on cereal box)

Quality of the Simpsons Halloween episodes varies overall but has declined in my opinion over the years. I'm working my way through all of the episodes as my daughter really loves them, I'd probably have stopped by now otherwise.

Sunday October 9th

Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)

I'm a big fan of the darker stuff that Disney put out around this time. These are the kind of movies that molded me into the horror fan I would become. It also helps when a movie is as well made as this one.  4/5
Points: 6 (ATB carnival collects souls)

Chopped Junior (2016)

Kids had to cook the three courses using Halloween themed items like zombie skin and vampires blood.  2/5
Points: 1 

Halloween Baking Championship (2016)

I'll be posting a lot of these cooking shows as they are an easy way to get some base points while still entertaining my children. 2/5
Points: 1 

Poltergeist (1983)

Poltergeist is a defining moment in my fandom. It's one of a handful of films that introduced me to the genre, scared the crap out of me and had me looking for more. It still holds up. 5/5
Points: 6 (ATB clown doll attack)

Monday October 10th

Killjoy (2000)

It's real bad. I'm not even sure the ATB is worth it. .5/5
Points: 6 (Clown commits murder)

Judy (2014)

So Judy is the dog...I don't get it. Also, how can such a short movie feel so long? I watched it on the commuter bus and could barely stay awake. .5/5
Points: 6 (ATB clown murders another clown)

Halloween Wars Episode 2 (2016)

The same team won for the second week in a row, I'm not sure I agree. There were some pretty solid renditions of the creepy motels.
Points: 1

Trick or Treats (1982)

A little brat terrorizes his babysitter on Halloween. Parallel to that his father escapes from a mental institute by dressing up as a nurse. I can't tell if it's a horror film or a comedy, either way it fails in both. I've seen it before, and somehow I keep convincing myself that it's not as bad as I remember. 1/5
Points: 3 (Trick or treater is dressed as a clown)

Tuesday October 11th

Dark Ride (2006)

Ham from The Sandlot grows up and convinces his friends to spend the night inside of an infamous dark ride. If only the rest of The Sandlot cast were involved, would have been interesting to see them picked off on by one. 2.5/5
Points: 4 (Boardwalk amusement, dark ride)

Halloween Baking Championship Episode 2 (2016)

It's just not as entertaining as Halloween Wars, I'm not even sure why. Probably the lack in pumpkin carving.
Points: 1

Killjoy 2 (2002)

Wow, I think it's worse than the first one. The movie is 75 minutes long and it's 40 before we even see a clown. Then when he shows up, I just want him to go away. .5/5
Points: 6 (ATB clown commits murder)

Wednesday October 12th

Terrortory (2016)

An anthology film shot entirely in the woods of Maryland on a low budget doesn't leave much room for variation and so we mostly just get stories involving 2 or more people being murdered in the woods. The drone episode was probably the most fun. 2/5
Points: 6 (ATB clown commits murder)

Cake Wars Addams Family (2016)

That final winning cake was a pretty solid homage to the original comic strip.
Points: 1

Thursday October 13th

Trick or Treat (1986)

A lonely metal head accidentally reincarnates his favorite metal singer after he plays his record backwards. Electricity and 80's metal ensue. Still stands up. 3.5/5
Points: 3 (clown)

Friday October 14th

31 (2016)

It's terrible. All of it, terrible. Everything about it seems lazy and uninspired, which is an insult to his many fans who helped him fund it's production. 1/5
Points: 6 (Clown commits murder)

Trick R Treat (2007)

Easily in my top 5 favorite Halloween horror films. Never gets old, no matter how many times I watch it. 5/5
Points: 6 (One of the kids who is drowned on the bus is dressed as a clown)

Pacs Very Scary Halloween 

Pacman and his friends accidentally attend the wrong Halloween party, only to have Pacs brain swapped with an evil scientist. 2/5
Points: 2 ( 1 base point + character dressed as clown)

Saturday October 15th

Freaks (1932)

Watch it yearly around this time. My oldest daughter watched it with me for the first time and she was surprisingly engaged, though I'm sure that laughing out loud was not the effect they were going for when we see the state of Cleopatra at the end. 5/5
Points: 5 (real sideshow actors, traveling circus, clowns)

Killjoy 3 (2010)

It is an improvement, not that the bar was that high. Batty Boop is really annoying though, and I"m sure she's back for the 4th film, so I have that to look forward to. 1.5/5
Points: 6 (clown commits murder)

Tales From the Crypt: Strung Along

Zach Galligan is having an affair with a rich puppeteers wife so the two conspire to kill him. Unfortunately for them his favorite puppet decides to exact revenge. 3/5
Points: 3(clown doll attacks human)

Outside Event: Berry Scary Farm

My family and I go every year, there's a hayride, pumpkin patch, corn maze and a small kid friendly haunted house.
Points: 2

Mickey's House of Villains (2002)

A compilation of Halloween themed Disney cartoons. I was really hoping there'd be a clown in there somewhere but no luck. There are some fun segments though. 3.5/5
Points: 2

RL Stines Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls (2015)

A traveling funhouse pops up in a small town and begins collecting the souls of the local teenagers. An obvious update/ripoff of Something Wicked This Way Comes but a good introduction to horror for younger viewers. 2.5/5
Points: 6 (carnival collects souls)

Girl vs Monster (2012)

A teenager girl discovers that her parents are secretly monster hunters after she accidentally releases all of their captured monsters back into the world on Halloween night. There are way too many random song and dance numbers, but again a decent introduction to scary stuff for kids. 2/5
Points: 3 (clown)

Dolls (1987)

"Fuck you clowny!". Yep, pretty much. I don't know why anyone would want to fill their homes with porcelain dolls, but to each their own. 5/5
Points: 6 (clown doll attacks human)

Total Week 2 Points: 107

Halloween Horror Movie Marathon Madness Circus of Coulrophobes Week 1

American Horror Story: Freakshow (2014)

Before I jump into my week of viewing I figured I would put all of my AHS viewing up front as I watched almost the entire season 4 over the course of the week

Episode 1: 4 Points (ATB for clown committing murder)

Episode 2: 4 Points (ATB for clown committing murder)

Episode 3: 4 Points (Clown toy in credits, someone dressed up as a clown, traveling circus)

Episode 4: 4 Points (ATB for clown committing murder)

Episode 5: 4 Points (Clown toy in credits, actual sideshow actor (Mat Fraser), traveling circus)

Episode 6: 4 Points (Clown toy in credits, actual sideshow actor (Mat Fraser), traveling circus)

Episode 7: 4 Points (Clown toy in credits, actual sideshow actor (Mat Fraser), traveling circus)

Episode 8: 4 Points (Clown toy in credits, actual sideshow actor (Mat Fraser), traveling circus)

Episode 9: 4 Points (Clown toy in credits, actual sideshow actor (Mat Fraser), traveling circus)

Episode 10: 4 Points (Clown toy in credits, actual sideshow actor (Mat Fraser), traveling circus)

Episode 11: 4 Points (Clown toy in credits, actual sideshow actor (Mat Fraser), traveling circus)

I have not kept up with AHS over the years. I did watch season 1 but dropped off at season 2. I think I watched the opening episodes of season 3 and 4 but that was it. I saw this Madness theme as a good reason to jump into season 4. The nice thing about the series is each season is its own story independent of previous seasons making it easy to jump in. So far I'm 11 episodes in out of the 13 and it's been pretty uneven. There are some real standout moments, Kathy Bates as the bearded woman gives a really strong performance and I also found Mat Fraser to have a really strong presence. Twisty the clown is a really terrifying iteration of a killer clown so his early departure was a bit disappointing though it would have been difficult to see his story last over 13 episodes. The character of Dandy is a bit difficult as he's too much of stereotypical rich sociopath. The fact that he has become such a focus particularly in these later episodes is a bit frustrating. Also, while episode 10 focusing entirely on Pepper was pretty pointless outside of that final shot foreshadowing the future of Elsa, the episode itself was pretty depressing and kind of devastating to see a character like Pepper go through so much horror. I am interested to see what the last two episodes hold but overall I can see why I never stuck with the series. The show isn't scary. It's shocking, but shock does not equal scary for me. 3/5

Sunday October 2nd

Clown (2014)

A guy dresses up in an old clown costume only to discover that once he puts it on it's not so easy to take off. A fun movie if not a bit long with some good gore and a few shocking deaths. 2.5/5
Points: 6 (ATB for clown committing murder)

Clownhouse(1989)

Victor Salva is a piece of garbage. Clownhouse is one of those movies where I'm happy to own a bootleg VHS rip as any official release would potentially mean more money in his pocket. The movie itself isn't bad but still an uncomfortable watch knowing its backstory. 2.5/5
Points: 6 (ATB for clown committing murder)

Carnival of Souls(1962)

I tried watching Carnival of Souls many years ago and never got through it. I guess I must have been in the wrong frame of mind as I quite enjoyed this viewing. Even though it's clear what is happening the atmosphere is great and I loved the ending. 4/5
Points: 6 (ATB carnival collects souls)

Hocus Pocus(1993)

My youngest daughter actually wanted to watch this so I couldn't say not. My over familiarity with it has tainted it quite a bit but it's still fun to watch with my girls who really enjoy it. 2.5/5
Points: 2

Halloween Wars(2016)

Elvira and Don Mancini were the guest judges and the themes had to do with selfies and witches and warlocks. For the first round I would have gone with the pumpkin devouring the girl as I just found it more gruesomely fun but agreed with the second round pick. 3/5
Points: 4 (ATB for the premiere night viewing)

Monday October 3rd

Simpsons Treehouse of Horror III

The Threehouse of Horror episodes are an annual watch for me and I usually find myself going back to the same ones. I will always search out any that meet the ATB but otherwise I'll avoid the later ones most of the time. In this episode Homer buys an evil Krusty doll for Bart, a giant ape is captured in a King Kong parody titled "King Homer" and zombies run amok in Springfield after Bart and Lisa attempt to resurrect Snowball. While I'm not really fond of the middle section the opening and closing segments are right up my alley so it's a solid entry in the series. 4/5
Points: 3 (ATB for clown doll attaching a human)

Tuesday October 4th

Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XIX

This episode features a parody of Transformers, a segment where Homer finds word killing off celebrities and a parody of Charlie Brown where Millhouse brings about destruction and murder when he conjures up the Grand Pumpkin. The final segment is the most fun for me, the other two are fine. 2.5/5
Points: 3 (ATB for Krusty being killed by Homer)

Wednesday October 5th

Kids Halloween Baking Championship (2016)

My oldest daughter loves the kids cooking competitions so once she saw this was on we had no choice but to watch it. These kids are more accomplished bakers at 10 then I am at 33. One kid manages to raise up a cake on rice krispy treats, that's talent. 3/5
Points: 1

Thursday October 6th

Simpsons Treehouse of Horror I

My wife doesn't understand my love for the Simpsons and now she has to content with two of us as my oldest daughter loves it. This very first Simpsons Halloween special features segments that to me are classics though the next few years would really find their stride. The first has the family move into an evil house, the second is a parody of a classic Twilight Zone episode where the Simpsons believe they are being prepared as a meal for some hungry aliens and the final is their take on Poe's The Raven. 4/5
Points: 1 (Bart sleeps with a clown doll)

Killer Klowns From Outer Space

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I grew up watching this on HBO. I introduced my friends to it and we'd watch it constantly. It still stands as one of my favorite 80s horror comedies. From the costumes and props to the giant cotton candy cocoons I love all of it.

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6 points (ATB for clown committing murder)

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Saturday October 8th

Clowntown (2016)

It's about what I expected from a direct to video killer clown movie. It has it's moments but not something I would revisit. Some of the clowns are surprisingly effective but the leads are pretty bland and terrible. This wouldn't have been on the front of my list if it hadn't been for the bonus. 2/5
Points: 12 (First week viewing bonus)

The Crow (1993)

My wife had never seen The Crow and it had been years since I watched it. The movie still holds up and has maybe even improved since I was younger. I can probably relate a bit more to the plight of Draven more than I could when I was in my early 20's. 4/5
Points: 2

Fright Night (1985)

I watch it every year. It's one of my favorite horror films and I'm pretty sure has been included in all three years of my madness viewing. It never gets old for me and will always stand as a classic with just the right blend of solid horror and comedy. 5/5
Points: 2

Total Week 1 Points: 98

Podcast Episode 55 - City of the Living Dead & Burial Ground.

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In episode 55 we cover two Italian horror classics! Lucio Fulci's City of the Living Dead and Burial Ground: Nights of Terror starring everyone's favorite little person posing as a child, Peter Bark! We also discuss what's happening in the news, what we've been watching and more. Enjoy!

Podcast Episode 54 - Samurai Space Cop 2

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In this episode of Midnight Triple Feature we cover the so bad it's good classic Samurai Cop and it's sequel, Samurai Cop 2 as well as Space Cop. We also talk about what we've been watching, current news and more. Enjoy!

Artsploitation Films Picks Up American Indie Horror The Anatomy of Monsters

Cannes, May 12, 2016 – Artsploitation Films has announced that is has acquired the North American rights to the edgy and dark American independent film The Anatomy of Monsters directed by Seattle-based filmmaker Byron C. Miller.

The film revolves around a seemingly normal yet homicidal young man who ventures out one night in search for his first kill. At a lonely bar he meets a young woman, takes her to a hotel room and prepares to slash her throat…until he discovers she harbors secrets far worse than even he could imagine.

Ray Murray, President of Artsploitation, called the film, “Refreshingly gritty, the kind of film John Cassavetes would have done if he ventured into genre filmmaking. The storyline is original, the tension palpable and it features a star-making performance by Tabitha Bastien as the far from innocent victim.” He says of the director and co-writer Miller, “Byron ignored the constraints of his limited budget to make a creepy, dark, disturbing and immensely creative thriller.”

Miller, who previously directed the feature Night and is currently attached to direct the genre film, Unwelcome, called his film, “midnight poetry in that attempts to create “the feeling of late night hours and sinister urges,” and commented, "It truly is an honor to work with Artsploitation Films, and be included among their stunning library of titles. Paul Morgan (screenplay, cinematographer), and I put our souls into this film and brought it to life with a beyond dedicated cast and crew. I can't wait to share this monster with the world!"

The Anatomy of Monsters trailer: https://youtu.be/t9jHaKSaSrU

The Anatomy of Monsters is scheduled to be released on DVD and VOD early fall, 2016.

Burial Plots - A Horror Anthology from the Makers of "WNUF Halloween Special" and "Call Girl of Cthulu"

Burial Plots - A Horror Anthology from the Makers of "WNUF Halloween Special" and "Call Girl of Cthulu"Pick up your copy… before you end up bagged and boarded.

Filmmakers Chris LaMartina and Jimmy George are unleashing a Kickstarter campaign for their new horror project, Burial Plots.

Inspired by creepy comics likeTales from the Crypt and The Witching Hour, BURIAL PLOTS contains thirty ghastly black & white pages, featuring two macabre adventures. With dread-inducing artwork and blood-soaked storylines, it’s perfect for creeps who like their fear mixed with fun.

In BUM WRAP, a wronged homeless man discovers an ancient mummy and uses the decrepit creature to seek revenge. It’s a real rags-to-riches story!

In SHAPESHIFTERS, a scrawny recruit transforms after he joins a gym run by a pack of muscle head werewolves. Will this killer workout get him ripped in thirty days?

Since 2007, Chris LaMartina and Jimmy George have written and produced six award winning, critically-acclaimed horror features. With an anarchic knack for sharp wit and stylized bloodshed, their work has been praised by the New York Times, VICE, NPR, and MTV. Their film, WNUF Halloween Special is currently streaming on Shudder and their Lovecraft comedy, Call Girl of Cthulhu tore up the international film fest circuit.

Illustrator John de Campos (aka GHOSTBAT) has been producing artwork professionally since 2013. Specializing in show posters, album covers and logos, de Campos has covered a wide range of illustration needs while sharpening a versatile but accessible style. He is a founding member of the Baltimore Rock Opera Society.

If their Kickstarter campaign is successful, BURIAL PLOTS will be the first comic from Baltimore-based Midnight Crew Studios.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1972109475/burial-plots-a-horror-comic-from-midnight-crew-stu

Podcast Episode 53 - Bad Dead-Alive Taste

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In episode 53 we discuss a double feature of Peter Jackson's early work. First up is Bad Taste, an off the wall scifi comedy starring Jackson himself. Second is Dead-Alive, one of the goriest films ever made and one that planted Jackson firmly into the hearts of horror fans everywhere. We also discuss what we've been watching and what's going on in the news. Enjoy!