The Bite #129

Rumors Of Halloween’s Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated, So Many Demons, And More.

October 06, 2020

In this Issue:

Horror History: Rumors Of Halloween’s Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
Image of the Week: If You Build It, They Will Scream
Tiny Bites – This Week’s Best Horror Headlines
Things We Love: So Many Demons
Hey, That’s Us! – Shudder in the News

HORROR HISTORY

Rumors Of Halloween’s Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Historically, Halloween has always been a last hurrah before the arrival of the colder season. We’d dress up to ward off ghosts and celebrate the harvest, gathering to fill ourselves with the energy of togetherness before we found ourselves spending more time tucked away from the winter. This year, we’ve already spent a LOT of time tucked away. The itch for togetherness is stronger than ever, and I think we’re going to need to scratch it before winter sets in. BUT! We have to be smart, and we have to be safe.

This Halloween brings a lot to look forward to; it’s going to have a rare Blue Moon, it falls on a Saturday, and Daylight Savings takes hold at 2 AM on November 1st. If we needed an omen, we have three – all great excuses to celebrate into the night. At first glance, it looks like a lot of the staples are at risk, but we just have to get creative. How do we transform our traditions while staying safe, and what new traditions can we create?

Never fear — ingenuity is here.

Firstly, come up with a budget for decorating — it doesn’t have to be big — and then focus most of that money on lighting. Light has the power to totally transform your space, so stock up on colored bulbs, string lights, and candles. Keep light sources low as light from below feels unnatural and automatically moody, and let it cast lots of shadows. Add to that something as simple as rearranging your furniture, even temporarily, and you’ll be amazed at how different your space will feel before you’ve even put out any “real” decorations.

If you’re on a budget, focus on picking up a few decorative pieces you love. Fill out the space around those items by hitting the Dollar Store – they have lots of options that can flesh out your decor for very little money. This applies outside, too. Think of decorating your yard as a gift for yourself and your neighbors. With fewer haunted houses and parties to go to, I think people will start driving around to look at decorations like they do at Christmas.

Outdoor movie screenings became popular this summer, so why not bring the projector out to your newly-decorated yard and have Halloween movie nights? Invite family and friends you know will respect safety guidelines, set up seats to maintain safe social distancing, and encourage people to bring their own snacks.

Looking for a quiet night in? Lucky for us, some of the best Halloween traditions are perfectly suited like watching scary movies at home, reading scary stories, carving pumpkins, or going for socially distanced walks through the leaves.

If you’ve got kids who are looking to trick or treat, don’t despair: it can happen, but it will take some planning. Reach out to your neighbors to see who’s looking to participate and map out which households are both interested and taking proper precautions. Handing candy out to kids like normal is not advised – useful alternatives include leaving candy placed separately out on the porch rather than in a big bowl and even sliding candy down a tube so everyone can stay distant. Avoid contact with the candy beforehand by using gloves when giving it out, keeping sanitizer handy, and avoiding cross-contamination.

Have you been working on a costume? Wear it to work. Wear it to the store. Wear it to your socially-distanced movie night. Or even just wear it at home – if you’ve got other people in your household, encourage everyone to participate. On your own? Do it anyway, despite the silliness. You have my permission.

Halloween has always been what you make of it, and that doesn’t have to change this year. What changes is how we make the most of it. With an eye for bringing the holiday spirit into our homes and being safe when we leave them, I think we can make Halloween 2020 one for the books.

Working in a number of disciplines, Brandon Hardy is a New York-based artist. A longtime contributor to New York’s Village Halloween Parade, his work has been featured on Broadway, television, in haunted houses, and in stage productions across five continents. Be sure to check out his TikTok for detailed tutorials on how to make your home spooky this Halloween.

IMAGE OF THE WEEK

If You Build It, They Will Scream

Artist, writer, director, and mask-maker extraordinaire Rob Sheridan wasn’t able to get the now-infamous 12-foot tall Home Depot skeleton this Halloween, so instead he designed an equally- if not exceedingly more terrifying alternative. Say hello to Skeleton Voltron. Built it if you dare.

TINY BITES

CLIVE BARKER, KEVIN BACON AND MORE

Clive Barker spoke with Den of Geek the day after the debate and had some thoughts on our current political climate, stating that we’re living through “a time of horror”.

Elevate your Halloween decor this season with some spooky graveyard terrariums and this ultra helpful tutorial.

If you have younger kids in your life, these horror flicks may be the perfect age-appropriate fit.

Go a little darker with some of the greatest twists in horror movie history.

Ben Wheatley secretly shot a horror movie back in August during quarantine, and we’re eager for more information from the Kill List filmmaker.

If you’re itching for some ink this Halloween season, let these 30 Cthulhu pieces serve as some haunting inspiration.

Vulture put together a comprehensive guide of killer Millenium-era horror you very much need this Halloween.

Men’s Health put together a list of essential 70’s horror that includes everything from the classics (The Exorcist) to some lesser-known gems (Daughters of Darkness).

Kevin Bacon has a horror recommendation this Halloween season, and it’s our very own One Cut of the Dead.

Meanwhile, Joe Hill has nothing but love for our chilling found-footage pandemic horror Host.

If you’re not a fan of gory horror but still want to join in the scary festivities, Hello Giggles’ list of options has you covered.

If you have a taste for horror novels, this helpful article from Book Riot will show you how to stay up to date on all the best scary new releases.

SyFy Wire’s FanGrrls weigh in on terrifying tomes in horror cinema from horrific grimoires and paperbacks to helpful if slightly nefarious how-to guides.

Look no further than NME’s list of 31 horror video games to get you ready for Halloween.

THINGS WE LOVE

So Many Demons

Horror gamers are in luck this spooky season, as Limited Run Games is putting out a special Switch release of the iconic Doom 64. Grab your copy now until October 25th.