To All A Good Fright

You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town. Ohhh, and did I mention he has been institutionalized and recently escaped with an axe in hand?

I enjoy Christmas. I don't get balls to the wall excited, but I like it. What can I say, I am a huge sucker for lights and glitter! I don't get into the music, I don't run around in a Santa hat, but I celebrate it. I put up my tree and lights and I spend cold nights drinking hot chocolate while watching Christmas movies. However, you won't watch me watching Miracle on 34th Street. I tend to like Christmas movies with a bit a blood, guts, murder, and mayhem! So, for those of you that love horror movies and Christmas, I have a list of Xmas horror flicks to get you in a festive mood!

My first recommendation is an oldie, but a goodie, Gremlins!

For those of you that haven't seen this or it's sequel I will fill you in. A man purchases a cute little critter for his son for Christmas. He goes against the clerks advice on taking care of the little guy and that is when the madness begins!

On a similar theme of creepy critters comes the film, Elves! This is about a young woman who discovers that she is the focus of an evil nazi experiment involving selective breeding and summoned elves, an attempt to create a race of supermen. She and two of her friends are trapped in a department store with an elf, and only Dan Haggerty, as the renegade loose-cannon Santa Claus, can save them

One of my lines is when Kristen's mom tells her that she looks horrible and Kristen replies, "Yeah, well, I had a rough day at work... Santa got murdered."

Another older film that is awesome is called Silent Night, Bloody Night. This one is about a man that inherits a mansion that turns out to be an old mental hospital. "The mansion... the madness... the maniac... no escape." The new owner begins to explore the mansions past and that's when things start to get good!

This film has a kick ass cast with lots of Andy Warhol favorites including including Mary Woronov, Jack Smith, Ondine and Candy Darling! John Carradine also joins the cast in this horror flick.

I sort of think that there is one film that always comes to mind when people think of Christmas and creepy movies, despite how uncreepy this film is. If you are a Tim Burton fan you know that I am talking about The Nightmare Before Christmas.

This stop-motion film is filled with colorful characters, songs that will get stuck in your head, and a Christmas favorite forever!

For those of you that like movies with sequels, I have an awesome film that has not one or two sequels, but four making a total of five films in this series making it the longest Christmas horror movie series to date! It is called Silent Night, Deadly Night. This first film is about young Billy who is sent to an orphanage after his parents are murdered. The Mother Superior of the orphanage isn't the kindest soul and that helps transform Billy into the a deranged lunatic that goes on a killing spree dressed as Santa!

The sequel is called Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2... I know, catchy. This film is about Ricky, the brother of the killer in the first film. Ricky talks to a psychiatrist about how he became a brutal killer after his brother died, leading back to Mother Superior. 

The third installment of this series is called Silent Night, Deadly Night: Better Watch Out! In this one, Ricky Caldwell, the "Santa Claus Killer," once thought dead, has been brought back to life by a crazed scientist. A blind woman finds that she is somehow psychically connected to the reanimated serial killer.

The fourth film is called Silent Night, Deadly Night: Initiation. In this one, a reporter investigating the bizarre death of a woman who leaped from a building in flames finds herself mixed up in a cult of witches who are making her part of their sacrificial ceremony during the Christmas season. The cult is dedicated to the Egyptian God, Isis.

The final film is Silent Night, Dead Night: The Toymaker. A young boy sees his father killed by a toy that was anonymously delivered to his house. After that, he is too traumatized to speak, and his mother must deal with both him and the loss of her husband. Meanwhile, a toy maker named Joe Peto builds some suspicious-looking toys, and a mysterious man creeps around both the toy store and the boy's house...but who is responsible for the killer toys?

This list continues with a favorite of mine, P2. 

This one is very easy to explain. A lady is trapped in a parking garage by a psychopath who is trying to kill her on Christmas Eve. This one is awesome and worth watching if you love Wes Bentley like I do.

For you wrestling fans, I have a kick ass Christmas horror flick for you too starring Bill Goldberg. This one is called Santa's Slay!

In this film Santa is actually a demon that lost a game with an angel and as a result has to deliver toys to children every year on Christmas Eve for 1000 years. When his time is up he returns to his old ways going on a killing spree!

My absolute favorite holiday horror film of all time is Black Christmas! I love the original, I love the remake, I love love love love love this one!

It's about an escaped maniac, Billy, returns to his childhood home on Christmas Eve, which is now a sorority house, and begins to murder the sorority sisters one by one. Billy has quite a past and some strange traditions he picked up from his last Christmas outside of the nuthouse!

This may be one of those films you don't sit down and watch with the family if they have a weak stomach, scare easily, or hate awesome horror movies. Just sayin.

Another older film that is a bit harder to find is called The Night Train Murders. It's an awesome cult film directed by Aldo Lado.

A pair of psychotic hoodlums and an equally demented nymphomaniac woman terrorize two young girls on a train trip from Germany to Italy. Can Margaret and Lisa fend off the killers until their train reaches its destination?

Another one that is hard to find, but is awesome is called Christmas Evil. It also can be found under the title, You Better Watch Out!

The winter weather isn't the only thing that's frightful about this unconventional holiday offering about a toy maker whose obsession with Christmas spirals dangerously out of control. After enduring a traumatic childhood in which he learned there was no such thing as Santa Claus, Harry Stadling takes it upon himself to judge the "naughty" and the "nice." But instead of spreading cheer, he opts for fear.


Believe it or not, there is yet another cliche Christmas horror movie out there where a group of teenagers at a party find themselves being stalked by a maniacal killer in a Santa Claus costume. This one is called To All A Good Night. However, this one is directed by the one and only David Hess! For those of you lost on that one ring leader in the original The Last House on the Left.

It's Christmas break at the Calvin Finishing School for Girls, and the students are planning a big party while the president of the school is away. A group of boys show up and the fun begins, until mysterious killer starts bumping off couples one by one. The police show up and promise to keep everyone safe, but they prove ineffectual against the crazed psycho. Could the killings have anything to do with the girl who was killed in an initiation stunt at the school a few years earlier?

Somebody with very little Christmas spirit is killing anyone in a Santa suit one London holiday season, and Scotland Yard has to stop him before he makes his exploits an annual tradition.

This little diddy is called Don't Open Till Christmas. Gotta love a vicious maniac who relishes impaling, disfiguring and castrating his jolly victims.

Two words: Chopping Mall!

These bargains are to die for! High-tech robots with state-of-the-art firepower have been employed as night watchmen at the Park Plaza Mall. But when an errant bolt of lightning short-circuits the computer switchboard that controls the robots, the mechanical security men turn into rampaging "killbots." Meanwhile, four horny couples are checking out the mattresses after-hours. Little do they know they're about to go from bed to bath... and beyond!


One of the more recent Holiday horror films to come around is called Wind Chill!

This movie stars the amazing Emily Blunt. While driving home for Christmas break, two college students find their vehicle broken down on a deserted road where the souls of all who have perished there return to haunt them.


So, how many of you remember Jack Frost? or the sequel?

When his prison transport collides with a truck full of "genetic material," condemned serial killer Jack Frost (Scott MacDonald) is inexplicably transformed into a terrifying, murderous snowman. With a red plaid scarf, a carrot nose and a heart made out of coal, the icy madman sets his sights on a small rural town and goes on an old-fashioned killing spree. Shannon Elizabeth co-stars in this chilling horror flick directed by Michael Cooney.


Everyone has heard of Santa Claus, but what about Satan Claus?

On the night before Christmas, a serial killer dressed in a Santa Claus suit stalks the streets of New York looking for blood. It seems this madman is building the perfect Christmas tree and adorning it with parts of his victims. It's up to an actor, his police officer girlfriend and a voodoo woman to stop him.

What about Santa Claws?

Under normal conditions, a man in a jolly red suit can be delightful. But when the outfit belongs to a demented psycho who's convinced he's Santa Claus, it's absolutely frightful. Raven Quinn, a sexy B-movie scream queen whose marriage is crumbling, is already dreading the Christmas season. When her creepy next-door neighbor starts dishing out his own brand of holiday cheer, things only go south from there.

Get ready for some cheese with Feeders 2: Slay Bells!

Mean martians arrive on Christmas Eve to terrorize innocent earthlings. The heavily-armed residents of one small town (with a little help from Santa himself!) defend themselves as best they can; splatter-be-damned.

Here is one that came out ten years ago called The Christmas Season Massacre!

Tommy is a loser. He wears a pirate eye-patch, a Christmas gift he was given as a child. It is a symbol of the humiliation Tommy endured in high school. Tommy was the subject of so much torment from his classmates that he became a bloodthirsty maniac! Tommy disappeared, vowing to eventually slay all of his schoolyard tormentors. Over the years, he has slaughtered all but six of them. Now, these six former schoolmates unite to end Tommy's reign of terror. Will they put Tommy six feet under? Or will Tommy win by slicing and dicing the six remaining on his victim list?

Here is another ten year old Xmas horror flick called Nutcracker: An American Nightmare! This one stars David Hess!

Troubled John Gard (David Hess) decides to seek help from shrink Carlton Fairfax (Bill Bragg), who's caught up in his own maelstrom of personal and professional turmoil. After Carlton tests a controversial new therapy on John, both men end up spiraling into madness. Before long, Carlton comes face to face with the brutal tragedies of his past in this low-budget psychological horror film written and directed by Glen Grefe.

One Hell of a Christmas is a dark and action packed comedy that takes place in a modern city as well as in a fearful underworld. When Carlitos is released after doing 2 years of "hard time", he attempts to redeem himself and sets an example for his 5 year-old son. However, when a friend confronts him with a very dark and horrifying scam for some quick dough and good times, he declines, but never the less he soon finds himself entangled in a web of sex, drugs and Christmas carols.

Talk about one hell of a Christmas!

Last, but not least, is a new favorite in my top five favorite Christmas horror films is Dead End!

This one will make you laugh and scream! Dreading the drive he's made to his mother-in-law's house for Christmas for the past two decades, Frank (Ray Wise) takes a shortcut this year to save time. He'll wish he hadn't when he crosses paths with a strange woman who drifts through the forest on a killing spree; a driverless car transporting the bodies follows behind, and those who survive fall prey to insanity. Will Frank's detour turn into a hell on earth he may never be able to escape?

One of my favorite parts is when the dad, Frank, gets shot in the leg and he screams, "Holy shit! The bitch shot me in the leg!" and the mother calmly sits next to him and asks, "Is he hurt?" Classic!

Well, I hope you saw some old favorites on this list and some new films to add to your queue. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season! This is A Ghouls Best Friend saying Merry Christmas to all and to all a good fright!

It's the Scariest Day of the Year

Okay, we all knew this day was coming and tomorrow it will be in full swing, heck by midnight some places will start the madness! People running, camping outside, screaming, trampling, fighting, shoving, losing children and for what.... a sale? If you haven't caught on because you are not awake yet, this is what can happen, and according to years past, does happen on Black Friday!

So today I am going to give you some Black Friday survival tips!

1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT!

There are so many times where people know what they want, but then they see a deal that says, "Spend $75 and get a $15 gift card". Unless you intended to go into a certain store and spend that much or close to that much money, you aren't really saving anything. Don't be pulled into something just because it sounds like a good deal.

2. CHECK AND COMPARE SALES ON-LINE!

So many stores are offering sales on electronics, as they do every year. What you may not know is sometimes you will go to buy a tv, for example, for what you think is an great deal, but in the end, it may only be $10 cheaper than the on-line price which also offers free shipping. So in the end you risked getting trampled, the time you spend in line, and even sleep just to save $10. This is not worth it unless you are going out for other items at the same store that really are door buster deals.

3. KEEP YOUR COOL!

Just because someone else near you is yelling, trying to pick a fight, or is driving aggressively doesn't mean you have to do the same. Keep calm and carry on. This is also great advice for your everyday life as well. Just saying... which leads me to my next tip...

4. DON'T DRIVE AGGRESSIVELY.

Believe it or not, there are actually people that have kids in their cars. It could be people traveling back home from Thanksgiving dinner with family the night before, a family going out to a restaurant for lunch, or even a person that is taking their children out for the Black Friday sales to try on clothing. Whatever the reason, keep in mind driving aggressively isn't just dangerous for you, but it's also dangerous for those around you. This is another tip that is good to practice everyday as well.

5. SHOP LOCAL!

There are so many awesome shops in your own backyard that are having awesome sales too! The great thing about these shops is that only the locals know about these sales and not the whole world so there will always be awesome items left for you to buy! In my neck of the woods there are shop all over Baltimore City and DC, but there are also great places like The Avenue in Hampden and Main Street in Ellicott City that have tons of amazing shops, cafes, places to eat, and usually have great deals at the beginning of every month too! If you haven't heard of first Fridays, you should! The first Friday of every month, shops in Ellicott City and on The Avenue have extended hours, drinks, food, and great deals! Buying local is a treat all year round, plus you know that buying local helps your community.

6. SHOP ON-LINE!

There are always great deals on-line, especially on Black Friday! You can find cheaper and even free shipping, even lower prices than on-line sites usually have to offer, and you can do this all from the convenience of your own home! You also are less likely to get trampled or get into a car accident!

Now that I have given you some awesome tips I am now going to keep with the theme of the last tip and tell you about my on-line specials!

Currently, you can save 30% off your entire purchase until 10pm tonight! The code for this is SANTACLAWS30. When this coupon goes away, the new one for Black Friday will become active!

This Black Friday Weekend at A Ghouls Best Friend, you can save 25% off your entire purchase with the code: BLACKFRIDAY2011. On top of this, every purchase comes with an awesome gift bag of goodies as well as a little card. The card will contain a discount code for one time use only that will expire December 31st, 2011. The code can be anywhere from 15 to 40% off your entire purchase! This Black Friday Weekend Special starts tonight at 10pm and ends Sunday, the 27th, at midnight.

Painted Doll

Well it's time for another featured shop blog! This time I am giving a shameless plug to gal I work with at my "normal job" that gives me health insurance. She does an array of crafty things and her and I chatted a bit about this side of her. She is the shop owner of Painted Doll: A Shop of Misfit Things.

1. What kind of items do you make?
Oh, god, everything. Clothes, jewelry, corsets, bags. I have the attention span of a three year old when it comes to making stuff.

2. How long have you been crafting?

Since I was a kid (I got lots of, possibly wary, compliments from my kindergarten teacher on how well I used scissors, haha.)

3. What is your favorite type of crafting and why?

I really prefer sewing, but I got into jewelry-making as a way to vent some creative energy when I didn't have the time to get into a big sewing project.

4. What is your most favorite item in your shop and why?

SOOT SPRITES. I sell a lot of these at conventions, and they are just so much fun to make.

5. Are you working on any new items now that you'd like to share?

I'm going to be releasing a limited clothing collection, heavily rooted in a mix of goth/lolita/steampunk fashion in the next couple of months.

6. Are there different types of crafting that you would like to try and why?

I'd love to learn metalwork and chainmaille.

7. What advice would you give to someone who would like to try sewing with a sewing machine for the first time?

Basically, go slowly until you're comfortable with your machine's speed and capabilities. It's terrifying at first-- I was always afraid I'd sew straight through my finger, but once I realized that the fabric will go the way I tell it to, it became less terrifying, and now I sew like I drive-- pedal to the floor, baby.

8. Since you are local, what is your favorite place to hang out in Baltimore?

I actually really enjoy the shark level of the Aquarium. I'm a little obsessed.

9. What is your favorite John Waters film?

I, uh, don't have one. I am a terrible person, I know.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Primarily, the internet-- I spend a lot of time on imageboards and blogs, so I kind of absorb this great mash-up of stuff that would be really awesome to make or modify. Also, the entire steampunk culture is a fantastic source of inspiration.

How would you describe your process?

Well, I don't ever sketch anything, unless someone else needs a reference image in my costuming crew. I seriously go to the fabric store with some vague ideas and a theory about what fabric I want to use, and play around in there for HOURS. Then I come home, throw it all in a pile on the floor, and start cutting, pinning and draping until I have what I want. I make jewelry the same way-- I buy things because I think they're kind of awesome on their own, and when I get home, I bring out my entire bead stash and try to figure out what works well with the new thing.

Also, hot glue. Lots and lots of hot glue.

PGA Public Ghoul Announcement

I haven't posted yet this month, so much to do, so little time. It is my favorite time of the year and this Ghoul is getting married to the Boil of her dreams, this Monday on Halloween in fact!

Once life returns back to normal you all will be getting some amazing posts from yours truly. Promise!

While you wait I have a special discount code for 20% off your entire purchase!
The code is BOILMEETSGHOUL
Use it at check out. There is a place under payments that you can click to enter this code!