A Final List of Do's and Don'ts for Halloween

It’s October 31st, which means Halloween! I know you know this, but gosh darn it, I’m just super excited that we’ve had another fantastic 31 Days of Horror at Biff Bam Pop!, with interviews and film reviews and comic book cover celebrations and guest writers and more.

The fun isn’t done yet, though. I wanted to share a few do’s and don’ts with you that you can use both today, and for the rest of the year, if you’re looking to keep the spooky vibes going.

DO pick up The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus Vol. 2: Deadtime Stories for Boos & Ghouls from Abrams Books. The second massive collection of comic book Simpsons horror goodness is both funny and nicely illustrated by a collection of stellar writers and artists. If you’ve ever wondered if the Simpsons brand of humour translates well without the classic voice cast, this book is proof that in the right hands, it sure does.

You can order The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus Vol. 2: Deadtime Stories for Boos & Ghouls here.

DO NOT watch The Exorcist: Believer, which is currently in theatres and available to rent on VOD. Normally we keep it positive at Biff Bam Pop!, and rarely spend our time wasting words on films or books we didn’t enjoy. We’d rather celebrate than slam; however, there are exceptions, and this film from director David Gordon Green is one of them. Though it starts off nicely with a thoughtful and scary scene set in Haiti, it doesn’t take long for The Exorcist: Believer to just become a big let down. I didn’t care about the characters and I wasn’t remotely scared, which is about as a bad a reaction as one can have to a horror film. Ellen Burstyn’s return to the series as Chris McNeil, now an expert on possession is totally wasted, though I will at least give the creators credit for having the character acknowledge that she wasn’t even in the room during the first film’s exorcism. Skip this and go watch the original, now available in 4K.

On a similar note, I’d marginally suggest you DO watch Insidious: The Red Door, which is now on Blu-ray, but only if you really, really enjoyed the family aspect of the first two films. Directed by franchise star Patrick Wilson in his first feature directing role, Insidious: The Red Door is more interested in exploring the family dynamics of the Lamberts, which in theory is fine, as long as scares are delivered as well. Sadly, those are few and far between, which is a serious disappointment, considering just how frightening the original Insidious is. This new movie does wrap up the Lamberts’ story nicely, though, so while it’s overall an underwhelming scare experience, for fans I’d say it’s worth a watch. Unlike The Exorcist: Believer (I think you can tell, I really didn’t like that movie.)

You can order Insidious: The Red Door on Blu-ray here.

DO order Horror Unmasked: A History of Terror from Nosferatu to Nope by Brad Weismann from becker&mayer! books. This is a lavishly illustrated look at the horror film genre, from it’s very beginnings up until earlier this year. This will be a good one to grab for the horror fan in your life to put under the Christmas tree. Here are some more details:

The horror film’s pop-culture importance is undeniable, from its early influences to today’s most significant and exciting developments in the genre. Since 1990, the production of horror films has risen exponentially worldwide, and in 2021, horror films earned an estimated $580 million in ticket sales, not to mention how the genre has expanded into books, fashion, music, and other media throughout the world.

Horror has long been the most popular film genre, and more horror movies have been made than any other kind. We need them. We need to be scared, to test ourselves, laugh inappropriately, scream, and flinch. We need to get through them and come out, blinking, still in one piece. This comprehensive guide features:

A thorough discussion on monster movies and B-movies (The Thing; It Came from Outer Space; The Blob)
The destruction of the American censorship system (Blood Feast; The Night of the Living Dead; The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
International horror, zombies, horror comedies, and horror in the new millennium (Matango; Suspiria; Ghostbusters)
A dissection of the critical reception of modern horror (Neon Demon; Pan’s Labyrinth; Funny Games)
Stunning movie posters and film stills, plus fan-made tributes to some of the most lauded horror franchises in the world (Aliens; the Evil Dead; The Hills Have Eyes; Scream)

A perfect reference and informational book for horror fans and those interested in its cultural influence worldwide, Horror Unmasked provides a general introduction to the genre, serves as a guidebook to its film highlights, and celebrates its practitioners, trends, and stories.

You can order Horror Unmasked: A History of Terror from Nosferatu to Nope here.