* (Halloween countdown post #1)
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Ophelia $350.00
‘Ophelia is an animatronic. It resembles a young girl with a pointed finger extending forward, and a demon behind her back. Upon activation, the demon sways side to side while its eyes illuminate blue and the girl’s eyes look from left to right. The demon speaks several phrases as the girl can be heard crying.’
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Tree Peek a Boo $4,107.95
‘Zombie plays peek-a-boo splitting trees and lunging back and forth. When hit, zombie head blows off and confetti cannon hidden in neck explodes as strobe light goes off.’
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Insanity Vanity $3,249.99
‘Insanity Vanity is a makeup vanity for clowns! This makeup vanity is grabbed by a clown on a video screen that looks like a reflection in the mirror and shaken while the vanity falls towards the audience. Then, another clown comes up with a hammer and smashes the mirror with shattering FX! During this, the bottom cabinet opens and blasts air.’
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Convulsing Nurse + FIRST AID BOX $329.99
‘Give your guests a scare they will never forget when you decorate your haunted house with the Convulsing Nurse Animated Decoration. This screaming and flailing nurse is compatible with the First Aid Box, features volume control and comes with a power adapter.’
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Grizzly Bear Ripping Victim in Half $10,994.50
‘Giant animated Grizzly Bear violently rips a human victim in two.’
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The Host $3499.00
‘Alien creature flies from mutilated body at 45 degrees while head raises up and down to come face to face with patrons.’
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Bug Blender £44.95
‘Bring some creepy-crawly chaos to your setup with this animated Halloween bug blender. As the lights flash, realistic buzzing and squelching sounds give the impression that a swarm of bugs is meeting a gruesome end inside.’
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Hallway 2 Hell $7,259.01
‘Moving wall system can be independently programmed to pitch left, yaw right, bounce, shutter, wave back and forth and collapse at will. Individual units are 10’ long, with a dedicated walkway width of 5’, when in its tallest position unit stands 9’. By putting two of these units together and programming theme differently, you create an incredibly dramatic 20’ Hallway that nicely replaces in both size and function the industries spinning tunnel effects, without the need for steps, ramps or handrails. Unlike spinning tunnels, this effect can be easily integrated within a variety of themes and it fits in seamlessly with the rest of your attraction. The unit sets up in minutes not hours. Modular panel design allows the unit to be quickly and easily setup and the pieces are small enough and light weight to allow them to go anywhere in your attraction without the need to de-construct your maze. Base units come unthemed so that you can decorate it yourself and save” or you can buy our other optional themed packages , allowing the unit to arrive completely ready to just plug in and go.’
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Creepy Twin Boys $199.99
‘I bought the creepy twin boys animatronic prop and absolutely cannot put it together. The instructions are total crap. They were printed so dark you can’t tell what you’re looking at. The pictures are out of focus. The skeletal arms would not fit properly into the mounting holes and my husband and I spent an hour and a half reshaping the prongs until we got it just right. Then also realized the center arms were assembled backwards.’
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Last Ride $24,016.50
‘Talk about stopping traffic. Whether you park it out in front of your attraction, put it in a parade, or even just drive into a densely populated area, you are certain to create a tremendous amount of publicity with a working hearse that fires a fully animated scene featuring an 18’ tall animated Grim Reaper out of the top of it.’
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Beating Throbbing Heart $49.99
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Terrifying Chainsaw Killer and Victim $4,399.99
‘The Terrifying Chainsaw Killer and Victim Halloween Animatronic is a combination of two animatronics in one. The Chainsaw Killer features a powerful chainsaw with a sharp blade that realistically slices through the Victim’s shoulder. The Killer stands at a height of 4 feet on a scissor mechanism, but you can customize the length to fit your needs. Keep in mind that you will need at least a 10 to 12 foot space to set up the entire scene.’
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Zombie Severed Head Hi Striker $6,044.50
‘Players test their strength by getting (3) attempts to Ring the Bell with the decapitated Zombie’s severed head. Once the player strikes the target, the Zombie’s body thrashes and jerks while his severed head races toward the bell. This game provides a quick and simple side attraction with minimal upkeep.’
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5ft Back Bend Bonnie £339.95
‘This demon woman decoration stands at 5 feet tall and slowly bends backward, revealing a terrifyingly contorted figure. With wild screams, hissing, and spine-snapping sound effects, Bonnie is impossible to ignore. Just don’t let her sense your fear, she’s still hungry!’
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Back of Door Haunted Coat Rack $3,294.50
‘Non-descript coats and hats hang from the back of a door. When activated, clothing bursts open to reveal a ghoul hiding in the coats and flailing his arms.’
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Kids Horde Attack $4999.00
‘Mob shoots out 4′ while kid with severed arm raises up 12″, 3 heads move and arms lift with multiple movements.’
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6FT Leatherface $349.99
Items Included: Base, 2 Shoes, 2 Support Poles, Torso Frame, Hip Frame, 2 Arms, Chainsaw, Head, Shirt, Lining, Pants, Apron, Try Me Button, Power Cord, Instruction Sheet
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Limb Eating Zombie Boy $263.95
‘BILLY, DINNER’S READY! Only human flesh can satisfy this growing boy! Head moves side to side and up and down as this zombie boy groans in anger! Mouth opens and closes as he munches on his latest victim.’
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Abracadaba Rabbit $4,497.00
‘A creepy magician holds his wand in his right, a top hat in his left. A cute little white rabbit emerges from the depths of the hat. The magician waves his wand over the hat and Presto! with a flash and a bang the magicians head and upper torso flip and turn into a giant crazy maniacal rabbit with various head and jaw functions with glowing red LED’s for eyes.’
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Popcorn Popper £319.95
‘This mains-operated animated decoration features a clown head that pops out of a bed of popcorn with a moving mouth and light-up eyes, adding an unexpected twist to your spooky setup.’
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Ogre Grand Entry $16,494.50
‘Two enormous stone Ogre statues stand left and right, grouched under the weight of the neoclassical capital that forms their entry way. When activated the Orges’ eyes blink to life as the seeming inanimate objects come to life to stand up crumbling the columns above as they reach for patrons brave enough to pass thru their entry.’
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Apocalypse Twins with Stuffed Bear $269.99
‘This twin set features a worn teddy bear and an infrared sensor that triggers their glowing eyes, head movements from side to side, outer arms that sway up and down, the bear’s single red light-up eye, and six distinct sounds. Crafted from plastic and polyester, it includes a UL-listed adapter and assembly guide. Measuring 16″ x 34″ x 36″, it requires simple assembly and is designed for indoor use.’
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Levitating Flipping Bed Sold Out
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Crib Launcher $2299.00
‘Child lays completely covered by sheet, then stands up at front of crib and pulls the sheet while pulsing back and forth.’
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Bush Baby $1499.00
‘Appears to be an unsuspecting bush when suddenly an evil kid face blasts up screaming!’
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DOGS RIPPING APART ZOMBIE $8,794.50
‘A pair of large vicious dogs thrash and tear apart a captured zombie. Dogs feature various head and body movements, victim features jaw movements synchronized to his screams.’
*
p.s. Hey. And we’re back. Heads up that on Friday I’m flying back over to the USA to show ‘Room Temperature’ in Baltimore, and the blog will be going on another vacation then, but a short one, just from Friday through Monday. ** Bill, Hi, Bill. It was good. Really apparently. Nice: Lachenmann. Are you still away? ** James Bennett, Hey, James. The screenings went really well. We were very happy. Chicago was curious. I didn’t see a ton of it because I was staying first in the far south and then in the way north in Evanston, but its charms were not evasive. Wonderful about the launch. No surprise, and my spirit is highly honored that it was surreptitiously in attendance. ** Dominik, Hi!!! The new SCAB is spectacular. It kept me riveted and sane on my long flight west. Kudos!!! The screenings went great. I’m really glad we went. How are you, what’s new? Love’s cock is like a feather, G. ** Ilan, Greetings! It’s really nice to meet you, and thank you a lot for entering. Oh, don’t get concentrated on perfection, or try hard not to. It’s a phantom of an idea. Imperfections are where greatness often lies. Lima, interesting. I was in Lima once when I was 14. I don’t remember it very well though. I’m totally cool with people who talk a lot. I don’t talk so much, so it works well. I hadn’t heard of PDA, but its symptoms sound very familiar to me. I’m not a big conformer. If you get your website visible in the way you want, hit me up with a link. Hang in there, and let’s keep talking if you want. ** Jacob, Hi. Wait, did you make it to the screening? Did we meet? I’m jet-lagged and my memory is a bit blurry this morning. ** Eric C., Hey, Eric. Thanks for the fill in. Fargo, interesting. I have no mental image of it. Pretty or -ish, I’m thinking. And The Melvins played there, lucky you. They’re godlike. They don’t come over here very much. I think The Damned played here recently, but I was gone, and I’m old enough to have seen them when they were freshly born. Fun, right? Let me think about Paris highlights and report back when my jet lag is history aka very soon, I hope. When you come, look me up and let’s have a coffee or something. ** Stil, Hi! I met you at the screening and signed something of yours. I even remember your face. Maybe my jetlag is actually dying. It was cool to meet you. Stay around and hang out here if you want. ** Nicholas., Hi there. SFC is on my list or in my queue or whatever. Did you vlog? How was it (if so)? France’s stores sell this shredded vegan substance stuff called Eminces that I love and haven’t found anywhere else, so I guess that. I’ve been driving since I was 15. I love driving, I miss it. And I’ve only ever totalled a car once in my life, and I didn’t even get hurt. You a driver? ** ellie, Hi!! Is your boyfriend still around? Are you still jittering? Me, I’m just yawning and drinking coffee, but all’s good. ** _Black_Acrylic, Thanks, B. Oh, that’s great news that the short story class is restarting! We need you writing, man, and that sounds like the ticket. Wonderful! The hype on ‘One Battle After Another’ sure is a bit much, but I do want to see it. Thanks, pal. ** Altidore, Hi. It depends on what you mean by real. All the texts and images are found and real or ‘real’, but I mix and match them to disguise the actual guys. And I think there’s a lot of fabricating going on with those guys. But, in that sense, yes, they’re real, or I mean I didn’t make them up. ** Minet, Hi! I haven’t been on Instagram much, but I did see that the interview was published. That was fast. It looks great! Thank you so, so much for doing that. Let me share … Everyone, The great Minet interviewed me just before I left on the ‘RT’ tour, and it’s published and readable. You can read it in English here, and you can read it in Portuguese here. Awesome. How have you been? What’s going on? xoxo. ** Misanthrope, Hi, G. Are you near Baltimore? I forget. Probably not. We’re showing ‘Room Temperature’ there on Saturday. Take care, bud. ** Carsten, Hi, man! The screenings and travel went really well. Zac and I are very happy. Yeah, the quick return to Paris between US screenings is not the smartest thing, but it’s the financially easier option, weirdly. That’s why. Awesome about the poem acceptance! Obviously hit us up when it goes live. Glad you’re doing well, buddy. ** Steve, Hi, Steve. The screenings went really well. We ended up spending about a week in Chicago, so that was the time off, so to speak. It was nice. I really don’t miss NYC cockroaches. I hope they’re in heaven now. Days re: Mamoru Oshii or John Akomfrah … I don’t think so. I’m assuming those Days would be a good idea. I’ll look into that. Thanks. ** jay, Hi! I don’t think I’ve ever imbibed that guy’s videos. Not sure if I will, although the weird asexual sections do sound a little charismatic. Haha, a normal-ish novel. Your bf is going to vanilla-size you by hook or crook. The rapper whose car had a dead body in the trunk? I know that one. Great to see you! ** lotuseatermachine, Screenings went good, and I of course loved the SCAB in no small part thanks to you. ‘Enchanted Boy’ by Richie McMullen: I’ll try to find it. Sounds fascinating, thank you. ** julian, Hi, julian! It was awesome meeting you too. It was great to talk and check in. Err, no, I don’t remember what I wrote in your book. I hope it was as friendly as I felt. In the film, the song Andre sings is called ‘What Does the Weaving Do’, but I think Chris might’ve revamped it a bit for the album version, so I’m not sure if the title’s the same. The Toronto screening went really great. Like the Chicago one but kind of different. The response was more emotional, which was interesting. Anyway, Hey! ** Mari, Hi, Mari. Great to see you! The screenings went great, thank you. Well, in Chicago I got to eat deep dish pizza, which was amazing. I do like matcha, definitely. Have you had a good couple of weeks, I sure hope? ** darbz 🐻, Hi, pal. Thanks for the appropriate song. I’ll hit it up in a few minutes. So nice about your old friend!! The trip was great. We were/are very happy. And I’m so happy you liked ‘Mouchette.’ That’s one of my top favorite Bressons. I don’t know Constantia, at least by name. You just want to find something you like to look at. I can’t remember what font I tend to use. Maybe Helvetica? Egregious vs. gegarious … yes! Wow, that’s wild and great about grandpa. What an interesting guy. That’s crazy. I do think I remember that goth boy murderer. I’ll go look him up to be sure. That image of the pamphlet is really beautiful! And now I’m following you on Instagram! Everyone, Go peek at a beautiful pamphlet made by the legendary Darbz here. ** horatio, Hey! It was super good to get to meet you. It was a highlight talking with you. What I wrote … I’m guessing ‘regret’ is probably ‘respect’? Those mini-pantings are wonderful. I have mine facing me on my desk at this moment, and I’m guessing Zac has the same arrangement of sorts with his. MIX NYC rejected our film too. Stupid bastards. But ace about the Seattle score. No, my plans to visit Quimby’s fell through, mostly because we were staying in Evanston, and the trip to Chicago was too hard to do very often. Happy day! ** HaRpEr //, Hi, pal! The screenings went great, thank you. I’ll go check your substack. Yeah, rejections, meh, and I’m glad you’re feeling sane about that stuff. I’m so used to it that it barely registers except when it’s a place I longed for my work to be. But even then, the ‘not getting it’ is totally expectable. Don’t let that stuff dissuade you one little bit. ** Okay. Halloween season has now officially begun on the blog, and I will see you tomorrow.
Now available in North America 
Hey Dennis! Congrats on the film, I’ve heard great things so far! “Dogs Ripping Apart Zombie” is a must-have, wow. The subtly gyrating Leatherface is strange too. I forgot how big Halloween is for you, haha.
Well, I think I’m not fully conforming to my boyfriend’s more vanilla literary tastes. I could see him getting slightly exasperated when I focused in on the structural coolness in Wuthering Heights rather than the slightly plodding narrative.
Anyway, I’m cooking a pretty elaborate dinner for him and a few of his friends tonight, which is a little intimidating. I’m not good with time or concerted focus, but hopefully it works out okay. Great to hear from you, and congratulations yet again on RT turning out so well!
Maybe it’s my inner Yorkshireman always on the lookout for a bargain but I think that for £50 the Bug Blender might represent decent value? One for the horror prop collector or a budget, perhaps.
Welcome back Dennis and Zak. Glad to hear the screenings went well. I used to love Chicago deep dish pizza, but I can only have a little sliver these days, its just too heavy for me.
Last week I suddenly realized we’re almost into October. Look forward to the parade of Halloween posts in the next few weeks.
Yeah I’m in Berlin for a few more days. It’s been another fabulous trip. Saw a Fujiko Nakaya fog sculpture in the garden of the reopened Neue Nationalgalerie. I have to say I was a bit disappointed they’ve moved their iconic early 20th century Expressionist collection elsewhere; I’d been looking forward to revisiting the old favorites.
Bill
Thanks for getting us in the spirit, Dennis. The dogs tearing apart the corpse might be may favorite (as a child who was once mauled by a pair of Dobermans in Victorville in the early 80s).
My October Halloween plan is to watch as many of the films cited in this House of Psychotic Women book by Kier-La Janisse that which I currently can’t put down. Though it reminded me I am missing my copy of Joseph Losey’s Secret Ceremony and I plan to tear apart my house today looking for it.
Are you touring house haunts in L.A. this season? Let me know if there’s an L.A. address I can send you a copy of the mag with your interview. If not, I’ll gladly fling it to France. Be well.
Hi Dennis! I remember your face too, but I’m not jetlagged–glad your jetlag is dying.
I was so stunned when I met you and Zac that I totally forgot to ask you this question I had. I was wondering if being an anarchist affects how you approach making a film. I’m especially interested in what your set is like, cause professional film sets tend to have a pretty strict power structure/hierarchy, but with the student film sets I’ve been on this has made things feel stiff in a way that I don’t love.
I like the ‘Kids Horde Attack’–I guess sometimes the real horror isn’t zombies or ghosts, it’s just children (?). Around Halloween, my mom shows this short documentary in her class about a shop that makes animatronics like the ones in the post. It’s kind of cool, you might like it. Here’s the link if you want to check it out: https://rb.gy/7brp4q
Hey Dennis,
The twin boys animatronic is hilarious and the gif is so addictive to watch! I love the design of a lot of these; distinctly inspired by popular media but not direct enough to infringe on copyright. Bar Leatherface, though I assume by using the name and likeness it probably is licensed… It’s putting me in the Halloween mood, which a recent dream I had also did; I was a boy named Suka in a family that was torturing/molesting/killing people. I uncover some stuff and try to help a victim out, but it’s too late. My mother helps to hide me in an ottoman box storage thingy whilst the rest of the family is either arrested or shot by the police; my ‘brother’ cuts his arm off to look like a victim and taken to an orphanage halfway house. At some point prior, we have bullied or pestered these three homeless Russian or Polish girls (as it must have been somewhere Eastern European in my dream) and they set up their home in the now abandoned basement. They find me and torture me, make me eat rats and their rotting toenails and waterboard me and stuff for fun. The camera of my dream would jump from different angles, and I and the rest of the characters were thrashing about a lot like animatronics. It looked a lot like that dinner scene in Texas Chainsaw, and maybe a bit of August Underground or something. Eventually my brother contacts the girls to help find me, and they pretend to not have been torturing me, and it ends with my emaciated form being freed from the box. And then it was revealed that was the teaser of the first episode of some tv show called Suka in the Box… I also dreamt this morning that the Cranberries had a song called “My Daughter Has All My Daughters” about child abuse and incest rape, or else it was about how girls would have kids and have them raised as siblings to hide the shame from the town. I know that repeating dreams to people is never as interesting as you want it to be, but both of those dreams are all like this one longer story ive been working on, and I’d love to incorporate them into my fiction. Maybe Suka in the Box is a tv show in the world, or is a dream a character has and wants to reenact.
Glad to hear the Chicago screening went well. I’d love to be on a long haul flight at the moment. Not to fly somewhere or in this very moment, but I just like being on a plane, watching some random new release on the back of the seat and fully getting lost for a few hours, completely outside of reality. You’re literally head in the clouds, and my only experience of those flights is coated with this unreal atmosphere that I crave.
In other news, I officially graduate on Halloween, which may lead to a fun night, with double the celebration. I also intend to leave my place and move back with my parents at the same time. I’ve decided that there is no real reason for me to be living in Cork city when I’m not in college or working right now. Instead, I’m going to save and hopefully get some temporary work around Christmas that may lead to work throughout 2026. Visit a few different cities, whilst saving, and then follow my friend to London next September. She said she’d look for a room with me as she is hoping to move closer to the center, and I have realistic hopes about living in a big city. Just need to visit London soon to gauge my thoughts. How did you find moving about when you were younger? I know you kind of hopped between NYC and then Amsterdam and a few places. I’d loved to eventually move to Paris after establishing some sort of career beyond minimum wage and apprenticeship/interning roles.
I’m making myself write a bit every day. For a while I was just typing my thoughts down, which would lead to tangents and could potentially be cleaned up into something of merit. Right now I need to do some more research on cults in the 70s as I’m going to submit a pitch to this one magazine a lecturer let me know of.
One thing I’ve been thinking about a lot is game avatars as extensions of oneself. I know you delved into that with God Jr, and playing old Pokemon games made me feel like I was experiencing some reconnection to my past self. Or how in some games (like Pokemon) the main character is a blank canvas to place yourself onto, whilst other games have a character with distinct personalities (like Silent Hill 3). In the way a fictional character can affect you personally, I think so too can video game protagonists, but in an even deeper and perhaps scarier way; I feel like Heather Mason from Silent Hill 3 has maybe attached herself to me, like I’ve changed by existing as her.
I definitely had a dream recently involving video games and the warped reality of existing as someone you aren’t, though I can’t remember the full extent. Something that was a fascinating idea but I can’t place now…
DDDD Jetset — Congratz on the screenings!! Saw the Toronto pix … ! and those more to come… cray times here, hope C U SOon xox -jack
Welcome back brother! Glad to hear the screenings were a success & you had a good time.
Yeah I’m not surprised that flying back & returning is cheaper. Flight fare pricing these days is completely absurd. Also, respect for putting yourself through it. As a fellow smoker I know this kind of trip ain’t no picnic. How’d you pass the time on the flights so far?
Just saw that your German screening of RT is in Hof, which is only 3 hours from Munich. Unfortunate timing for me, now that I’m in Spain. You & Zac are attending that one too, right? Any screenings in Spain on the horizon?
I’ve been enjoying my new Spanish life fully. Already made some friends, picking up more of the language every day. Each morning a deep satisfaction washes over me. This is the first time since living in LA that what I get to call home actually feels like home. Thought about going to see “One Battle After Another” yesterday, but got caught up exploring a tiny hillside village instead. Oh & my Duende Day is still coming, I just haven’t had the time & headspace to finish it yet.
Wishing you a speedy jet lag recovery & a hopefully restful week.
oh & thanks for starting Halloween season nice & early as it deserves. Given its deep pagan underpinnings I guess it’s no surprise that I’m a big fan.
Hi!!
Welcome back – and with the season’s first Halloween countdown post, no less! I’ve been so, so looking forward to these!
Ah, thank you! I’m really glad you liked the new SCAB! It had fewer contributors than the previous one, so I expected it to be a slim little thing, but it didn’t turn out that way at all.
And I’m so happy to hear the screenings went well! I kept my fingers crossed, though I was pretty sure they’d be a success regardless.
I’m good. I got obsessed with two characters from the animated sci-fi series “Arcane,” which feels pretty inexplicable because I’m generally not interested in either animation or sci-fi. Because of my obsession, though, I’m also in a bit of a reading slump – I can’t concentrate on anything else for long.
Predictably, love offers to buy you any of the above props if you just let him know your heart’s desire, Od. (It’s a very tough choice, but I think I’d go for the “Creepy Twin Boys” or the “Kids Horde Attack,” though I’m also pretty charmed by the “Back of Door Haunted Coat Rack” and the “Ogre Grand Entry.”)
Hey! I would totally buy the haunted coat rack and hallway 2 Hell if I could afford them. I still need to go shopping for Halloween costumes and decorations and so on. I want to see if the Halloween stores have anything that I could keep up year round. Should I email you a picture of what you wrote or DM it to you on Instagram? I’m still so curious. Is your email the one on the program for CUFF? The song is called “What Does the Weaving Do” on the album too. So good, like the Beach Boys meet The Microphones. Would you guys ever release the Room Temperature soundtrack on any music streaming services? That would be a treat. It’s no surprise to hear that the Toronto screening went well.
Hi Dennis, surprised to see you back so soon. What does it say about our world that it was cheaper for you to fly back to Paris for just a few days than to stay in USA? I don’t know.
With the right timing the Bush Baby would scare the crap out of me. Do you have any more background info about the Abracadabra Rabbit? It’s super elegant.
I’m also headed to USA later this week. I’ll be staying with my sister in Philadelphia. I’ll spoil what could’ve been a good surprise and tell you that I plan to attend the Baltimore screening. I won’t have too much time afterwards but maybe we can get a coffee or something beforehand. We will both be jetlagged. I’ve never spent time in Baltimore. Recently I was randomly surfing the web and stumbled upon Mr. Trash Wheel, a Baltimore celebrity:
https://www.mrtrashwheel.com/
Big D, It’ll take me about 45 minutes to an hour to get there. Let me see if Alex has anything planned. Oh, shit, wait, Kayla’s coming over with her boyfriend and wants me to cook them my chicken parmesan. Hmmm. I think I can find a way. Maybe get them to come over Sunday.
Are you gonna be there?
Alex and I have been looking for something to do.
I watched the couple clips online with David and Alex. David liked them.
Hey ho hey ho Dennis
It’s nice to finally feel spooky again, and to have your posts enhance the feeling is a wonderful thing. I have a friend in Baltimore, so I will see if I can get her to go see the film since she’s quite the literary type. I’ve read all of Sebald while you were away, since I caught COVID (which I have never had before, strangely) and had to spend a good deal of time in bed doing nothing. I am now starting up on Gravity’s Rainbow since the new PTA film came out. Saw it in theatres and quite liked it. Do you have any feelings about PTA? I know you like Pynchon, so I wondered what you would think. How were the movies on your flight?
Sorry for all the questions, this week has been a bit shit/boring for me. So I’m just happy you’re back.
Hugs.
Welcome back! That’s a shame about MIX.
Do you collect haunted house props? You’ve done so many posts about them.
The roaches have disappeared. I caught five in one day, but after that, word must’ve gotten out that my apartment is dangerous for them. I should run the Bug Blender in my kitchen to scare them off. (Vermin love this building because our garbage cans lie in an alley behind the ground floor, often so full of trash you can’t walk through it.)
I love the haunted coat rack, that’s a genius idea. Ah, Halloween is on the way. I’m gearing up to watch as many horror movies as I can this October. I will admit though that this whole year has gone by so fast that I’ve lost track of it, and not really in a good way.
Yeah, rejections don’t cause much of a strong reaction in me since I’m so used to it. I’m not expecting dream publishers to house something I’ve written at this point, but I’m only sending the MS to places I like/seem like they would be interested. A lecturer once pulled me aside and told me that out of my class I’d have the hardest time finding opportunities initially, but said it as a compliment. It’s honestly probably best not to think too much about the frequency of rejection anyway.
I’m generally feeling better about things than I was earlier this year, but still sort of stressed and confused and listening to so much music. I’m obsessed with the new Geese album. They give me hope, and I love them and their frontman. It’s interesting to see them get their flowers now. Cameron Winter, the frontman, has magic in his fingers and his solo album ‘Heavy Metal’ got me through winter.
@carsten
☝️ I see people do this possibly because it gives notice, so I will do it
Hello, I did actually see your comment from yesterday and I didn’t get a chance to reply because of my clumsy brain but thanks for the introduction, I was into the pagan spirituality for the time I practiced witchcraft and had runes f that’s what you mean, that’s interesting! Thanks for sharing as I have so much more to learn about these things. Right now I’ve been into Buddhism. I’ll definitely reach out one of these days.
Comment to post
Wow, you followed me! I’ll have to follow you back then. What a surprise to wake up to in the morning. Yay first Halloween post! Speaking of which I sent an application to this year round Halloween store because I don’t plan on dressing more normal and Old Navy is….actually idk,
See I ordered these black and white gothy locks and I always wonder how the people around me will act because although I’m only half white I’m Hispanic but I’ve gotten other people’s input but still other people are going to react but oh it’s fine!! At least I can quiz people on the history of locs and how facial piercings can be traced back to native American tribes+ African aswell and mohawks as well so as long as you aren’t some moronic disrespectful person wearing honorable headpieces at a football game while disregarding culture due to ignorance
That was a ramble
Maybe the jobs not that bad but I need more hours. More hours=more books. But more hours also = less me time.
Today I saw a video of someone taking their old VHS JVC camera to a spirit Halloween and it reignited my passion to fixing/rerigging my vintage cameras which as of now consists of a Panasonic AG-100 VHS over the shoulder from 1985…? And then I just bought weincell batteries and 35mm kodak film for the Canon FTB which came out in 1966 when they used to sell mercury batteries. Spooky vintage Halloween photo experimentation.
Oh! Also the Kodak brownie from the 50s which is beyond obsolete in terms of finding film but it’s pretty cool displayed in my room.
Yes my grandpa is pretty amazing actually I think. He’s 91 and last year someone hit him in a car coming round the corner but he survived.
Have a good week, it’s been raining and a cockroach crawled out my coffee maker some mornings ago.
Oh! and labret piercings and bridge piercings are traced back to mesoamerican tribes.
🤷
also I just found out William Burroughs voiced a character in a 90s Edgar Allen poe game called “The Dark Eye”
Dennis, you have no idea how much I’ve been dying to talk to you recently. So so happy the blog is back. There’s some props here (especially the Insanity Vanity) that I wish I had the budget for, but as it stands it’s more than fun to even get the ersatz experience. How have you been? All the buzz around the movie makes me want to watch it for Halloween but I shall patiently wait. I heard something about New York in December? I *might* be able to make it to that, depending on how applications turn out. I’ve gotten into printmaking this past week, and so far am proudest of my little Nina Simone stamp (mostly because my professor, who knew her, said it was striking). I’m currently battling a bleeding bite on my collarbone left by a visiting friend. It’s been a little inflamed since he gave it to me on Saturday, but I’m hoping to ride it out before I get it looked at if needed. Agreed with you on the general genius of Kurt Weill. The most resonant movie I’ve ever watched, Harry Smith’s Mahagonny, has the opera of the same name as the score. And that’s not even getting into the dozens of unlikely hits and obscure demos that pepper the 20th century, capturing everybody from Bea Arthur to Ute Lemper. I’ve been incredibly drawn to a kind of moral seriousness lately, and it’s affecting the people who befriended me in my role as an aesthete, and I don’t know how to tell them that the two projects are one and the same. Otherwise life is going well. Heavy rain here this week, which is lovely, and more people are joining my fledgling film club despite all the odds. Wishing you a pain-free collarbone, if you so wish.
Hey Dennis!
This is a fitting post to return with, both for the upcoming Halloween season and after I just purchased my ticket to see Room Temperature at Baltimore! Really looking forward to seeing it and seeing you after following its roller coaster of a journey.
It’s amazing how elaborate some of these props are. I’m imagining what kind of meltdown I’d have seeing that hearse out in public while stoned. Just an insane piece of work. Ditto for the zombie head strength test and the magic rabbit, the latter of which is giving me some story ideas.
Speaking of, got a couple more stuff published. My three poems recently put in God’s Cruel Joke are the ones most to your vibe.
Hey Dennis! Glad to hear that the screenings went well in Chicago. One of my favorite American cities, certainly. Glad to hear you guys stayed safe, with everything going on. Hope Baltimore is great. As for Fargo, the area itself is pretty flat, but it’s within easy driving distances of some beautiful places. In Fargo visitor’s center, we do have the original wood chipper that the dismembered remains of Steve Buscemi’s character was fed into in the film Fargo, so that’s kind of cool, haha. And the Fargo Theatre, where we have the annual film fest, is a very pretty 1920’s art deco theatre, and it’s a local treasure for sure.
I’m well on track to finish the George Miles Cycle soon. I’m thinking probably I Wished or God Jr. will follow after that. I’ll definitely try to get ahold of you next year in Paris!
*Poof* Welcome back even tho its your blog. Oh when you do stuff like go on trips and what not are you like techno detoxing by default cause you’re not online and blogging? I just thought about how intentional this all is you actually have to spend most online time making the posts and not constantly consuming hum I suggest you make us all a internet practice post one day or just me. Haha yes ive been vlogging alot actually (https://youtube.com/@thewhitehotroom?si=vV_AI8bGmah7HvvK)and like all things I realize how much work it is! Bu it feels like something that I’m supposed to be doing or a part of the whole so itll get with practice and it’s helping me not try and make all my words and everything so perfect all the time. I literally just realized today I literally was the biggest obstacle in my own way like the universe is normally bending to my will and I just play it pretty chill and even when im off the rails its all in my favor for some lesson learning ect. It all goes wrong when i doubt and question and try to construct instead of flow and remain grateful just for being. Im from NYC so im totally accustomed to being driven and not driving I like fall asleep immediately in a moving vehicle especially a fast one idk why its one of my most comfortable places I love being driven and cant drive haha. Im gonna learn before next summer so I drive myself all around and have fun like you said! Okay ya know I can imagine the french having the secret vegan delectables they absolutely obliterated the sweets game with macarons my favorite when done right cause they should be gluten free and colorful. When I was a kid for a job I wanted to be a wizard and a vampire not the president or a doctor what about you? Ttylxoxo brb!
Hi Dennis! He left last Thursday but I’m defs still jittering haha. We ended up seeing a Henry Flynt lecture and he talked to a bunch of people while I smoked and gave him googly eyes. It was fun! Hugs from here, mwah.