Musty TV's Maniacal Movie Countdown - Day 10

Another Monday, another night of horror movies on TCM. Tonight's focus is on horror films of the 1940s, beginning with 1941's "The Wolf Man" at 5:00pm. Poor, poor Larry Talbot...



The 1944 thriller "The Uninvited," starring Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, follows at 6:15 P.M. I do not like the voice of the Uninvited!



The great anthology horror movie "Dead of Night" is on at 8 P.M.; scary ventriloquist puppet alert! (Can't find the trailer, so here's the first 10 minutes instead.)



"I Walked With a Zombie" is always a must-see. Watch it at 10 P.M. "All the weird black magic that the white man seldom sees!"



Finally, we have "Cat People" at 11:15 P.M., and the odd but wonderful sequel, "The Curse of the Cat People," at 12:45 A.M.

Musty TV's Maniacal Movie Countdown - Day 9

I'm a little apprehensive about including "The Shining" here, which you can watch at 5 P.M. and 11 P.M. on IFC, only because IFC now has commercials and often edits for content, and watching that scene in the bathroom, where Jack makes out with the naked woman, is just silly when edited, since her naughty bits tend to be covered by some well-placed bathroom steam.

But, I will list it, because it gives me an excuse to include this making of documentary, (which, yes, is available on the DVD), that was filmed by Kubrick's daughter Vivian.







You can also see the whole thing with Vivian's commentary here.

Musty TV's Maniacal Movie Countdown - Day 8

Today's pick, "House of Wax," is on super early this morning at 6:30 A.M. on TCM.

Of course, you won't be able to watch this in its original 3D, which will make some of the scenes seem kind of silly. But personally, I'm of the opinion that every movie that's presented in 3D should, by law, include a scene involving a paddle ball.

Musty TV's Maniacal Movie Countdown - Day 7

"She Freak" is basically a sleazy remake of Tod Browning's "Freaks," from the producer of "Blood Feast" and "Two Thousand Maniacs."

Which is to say, it looks pretty awesome. It's on at 11 P.M. on TCM.

Musty TV's Maniacal Movie Countdown - Day 6

"George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead" is probably my least favorite of Romero's zombie pictures, mainly because while it's supposed to be a comment on the use of personal video, YouTube, and the Internet, it just feels like it was made by someone who doesn't really understand how most of that works. But still, it's a must see for any Romero, zombie, and POV horror movie completest. It's on IFC at 6:30 P.M. and 9:30 P.M.

Musty TV's Maniacal Movie Countdown - Day 5

Director John Carpenter is a guest programmer on TCM tonight, introducing and talking about some of his favorite films. You can read more about it here. Of course, three of his four picks are scary flicks, and they include "The Thing From Another World," (natch), at 5 P.M.:



"It! The Terror From Beyond Space" at 6:45 P.M:



And "The Curse of Frankenstein" at 8 P.M. (But instead of the trailer for that, I'm including a favorite clip from the original "Lolita," in which Humbert, Lolita, and Mrs. Haze watch said movie at the drive-in...)

"The Curse of Frankenstein" in "Lolita"

FILMSERTS | Myspace Video

Musty TV's Maniacal Movie Countdown - Day 4

From what I can gather, the 2002 movie "Darkness," starring Anna Paquin, is pretty forgettable, but horrific pickings are kind of slim today, so it will have to do. That said, there are a few moments in the trailer that look kind of spooky. And Lena Olin is in it, and she can be great. How come she's not in more movies?

Watch it at 12:45 P.M. on IFC.

Musty TV's Maniacal Movie Countdown - Day 3

No Halloween month would be complete without at least one viewing of the original "Frankenstein," now would it? It's on TCM at 6 P.M. (And you should just leave it on TCM for the rest of the night, as there are many other Tod Browning goodies being shown afterwards, including "Freaks" at 7:15 P.M., and "Mark of the Vampire" at 11:15 P.M.)

Musty TV's Maniacal Movie Countdown - Day 2

I imagine if I were a dude, the horror movie "Teeth" might be a little tough to sit through since it is, after all, about vagina dentata.

But I'm a girl, and thus found it kind of awesome and hilarious. Watch it on IFC at 7:30pm.

Musty TV's Maniacal Movie Countdown - Day 1

David Fincher's "Zodiac" is a movie I didn't totally take to at first, but it has turned into something I watch almost every year (around the Fourth of July, to be exact). It's not really a scary movie, per se, and is really more about journalism than it is about the serial killer, but the fact that it has Mark Ruffalo, and some terrific San Francisco-in-the-70's scenes, and a terrific soundtrack, means it's one of those movies that just kind of...comforts me.

Yes. A movie about a serial killer who was never caught brings me comfort. And that is why October is one of my favorite months.

Watch it tonight at 11 P.M. on IFC, (and hopefully in widescreen).

The trailer's below. I can't embed one of the best moments from the film's opening, (the use of Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" is weirdly brilliant), but you can watch it here.