{"id":6703,"date":"2015-09-30T23:51:49","date_gmt":"2015-10-01T03:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/arts.umich.edu\/ink\/?p=6703"},"modified":"2015-09-30T23:51:49","modified_gmt":"2015-10-01T03:51:49","slug":"halloween-screams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artsatmichigan.umich.edu\/ink\/2015\/09\/30\/halloween-screams\/","title":{"rendered":"Halloween Screams"},"content":{"rendered":"

FORGET pumpkin spice. Tomorrow is the first day of October, which means it\u2019s time to accept what all you non-spooky people of the world have been denying for the entire month of September. IT\u2019S HALLOWEEN. Yes, the official date of Halloween is at the end of the month, but really<\/em> there is enough to go around for all 31 days and then some, so don\u2019t be a spoil-sport and deny yourself of some of the greatest binge-watching and jump scares (if that\u2019s your cup of tea) that the world wide web has to offer.<\/p>\n

Now, I may be a little biased, seeing as my birthday is basically Halloween plus\/minus 24 hours, but this holiday is not just for the Scorpios of the world. Halloween is all about nostalgia \u2013 connecting to old pagan and folk roots and traditions, celebrating the supernatural creatures that we\u2019ve come to know as myth, and recognizing our connection to the past through talk of the unknown. Sure it\u2019s become an increasingly commercialized holiday that is no longer associated with its religious origins, but the increased awareness of the things that lurk in the shadows is something that is not lost upon us. If the upcoming sixth installment of Paranormal Activity<\/em> tells us anything, it\u2019s that we still do have an interest in the unexplained, even if we try to come up with any excuse to tell each other otherwise (see: \u201cyeah, man, Paranormal Activity<\/em> wasn\u2019t scary at all, I totally didn\u2019t have trouble sleeping for a week after\u201d).<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s my point? If you spend the entire year living with your face pointed at the sun and avoid the shadows, now is the time to step over to the creepy side. I\u2019m giving you an excuse to watch those ghost shows that you don\u2019t believe at all\u00a0<\/em>but that are just so interesting to watch. Give Ghost Hunters<\/em> a try if you want to watch something that could trick you into believing in the spirit world, or Ghost Adventures<\/em> if you just want to watch a guy with extreme shark fin hair talk dramatically at the camera. If you want to be creeped out and listen to some famous people, check out Celebrity Ghost Stories<\/em> \u2013 but maybe not at night. There is a new show called Amish Haunting<\/em> that is incredibly fake and disturbing (i.e. goat baby<\/a>), but it\u2019s the kind of train wreck from which you can\u2019t look away.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget the horror movies \u2013 the State Theater will be screening A Nightmare on Elm Street<\/em>, Goodnight Mommy<\/em>, and Rocky Horror Picture Show<\/em> in October. Rocky Horror<\/em> is a must, but make sure you look up the show\u2019s traditions first. Don\u2019t forget the family movies either. You may not be eight years old anymore, but Hocus Pocus<\/em> and Halloweentown<\/em> will still hit the spot. Who doesn\u2019t want Bette Midler to put a spell on them? And lest you forget, Halloween is just another excuse for you to watch Harry Potter<\/em>. ABC family will of course be showing the boy wizard during their 13 Nights of Halloween, along with gems like Caspar<\/em> and the Addams Family<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll leave you to it, then, while I go watch something just a tad bit scary. I\u2019ll just put these here to pique your interest:<\/p>\n

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