Author: edtwilley

edtwilley
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Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Ok, so during the public and ludicrous “exorcism,” shit gets a little nuts, and all the nuns start losing their damn minds…

The Shindig Hits 200 Followers!

Now, I’m not sure if that’s at all remarkable (it’s probably not) but I would have never thought even 100 people would actively choose to follow this blog, much less 200.

As a thank you to all followers past, present and future, Halloween Shindig offers some insane gifs from Ken Russell’s highly controversial and heavily edited 1971 picture The Devils.

The film tells the true story of a French town named Loudon, where an order of Ursuline nuns falsely claimed to have been possessed of devils. The resulting public exorcisms led to the conviction and murder of Father Urbain Grandier in 1634, the priest accused of orchestrating the possessions with Satan himself.

Given its highly religious context, its explicit scenes of sexual and religious imagery, its bizarre tone and even more bizarre music, coupled with it’s indictment of religious and political corruption and power-mongering, it’s no wonder the film was edited to hell, banned in some countries and largely swept under the rug.

It remains, however, a singular viewing experience unlike any I’ve ever seen, with a fascinating story, some insane imagery, and 2 great performances from both Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed. If you can dig up a copy of the restored version, I highly recommend it.

The following gifs are mostly from a long missing and thought destroyed scene, aptly referred to as “The Rape of Christ.” A scene the studio itself removed from the film initially, before the censors could even have a chance.

Enjoy Shindiggers, and thanks for all the follows and notes. More Halloween nonsense to come.

Audio

Feed My Frankenstein

TRACK #58:

Feed My Frankenstein by Alice Cooper

Inclusive, though not to any movie relevant to the Shindig (1992’s Wayne’s World) this hit from shock-rocker Alice Cooper needs no introduction to anyone reading this right now, I’ll wager.

One of 2 songs on the Shindig featuring a monster allusion to sexuality, Feed My Frankenstein uses the dubious imagery of Frankenstein to replace the word “cock.”

Why Frankenstein, though? Is it sewn together from several different cocks? Does it just want to be loved, only to meet disdain from all who gaze upon it? Or is it simply that it’s just a monster of a cock?

If that’s the case, why not Mummy? Feed A-MY…..mummy.

Hmm, guess that lacks a little something syllabically.

That probably cancels The Wolfman, too. And the Creature from the Black Lagoon is definitely out.

Hey, Dracula could work! He’s already a monster of a sexual nature. Plus, he’s associated with hunger (or more appropriately, thirst), something I can’t really say for Frankenstein. I guess he’s just not big enough, and I suppose that’s really the underlying, if perhaps juvenile, point.

Recently, for his stage show, Alice Cooper commissioned haunt specialists Distortions Unlimited to create a giant Alice Cooper Frankenstein puppet. Here’s a video of it if you no idea what I’m talking about. He…uh….pops out…at that 3:45 mark, if you just wanna scan to it.

As mentioned previously, this puppet was sculpted by my buddy and horror/music/Shindig enthusiast Mikey Rotella.

Oh, and I almost forgot. This track is led-in with almost unnatural appropriateness by a sample from George Romero’s Day of the Dead. Too perfect for words.Enjoy!

 

Audio

Hellraiser

TRACK #57:

Hellraiser by Motörhead

In 1993 they decided to take the previously British franchise of Hellraiser across the pond, because, Lord knows America always takes something cool and makes it cooler.

That being said, it’s certainly not the worst Cenobite installment, however it’s hardly the best, as I feel both 2 and 5 are better films. Though I have met some static for my championing of Inferno, which I still feel is one of the more interesting sequels, despite being largely devoid of Cenobites and Pinhead.

Which is the worst? God only knows. They’re up to what, 9 now? I stopped after Hellseeker to be perfectly honest, and from the shots I’ve seen of…whoever the hell that is replacing Doug Bradley, Revelations isn’t providing any….well….revelations.

But enough of my (rather unqualified) opinions of the franchise in its totality. Let’s join Lemmy and Motörhead as they rock out with that secret song at the center of the world.
Pinhead is here,…to turn up the volume.

 

Audio

The Monsters Hop

TRACK #56:

The Monsters Hop by Bert Convy

Several years before he became the host of Super Password, Tattletales and Win, Lose or Draw, and 4 years before Boris Pickett would soar to #1 on the wings of The Monster Mash, Bert Convy recorded this tune about a bunch of monsters dancing around inside a spooky house.

Though lacking the character and humor that ultimately made The Monster Mash such a smash, I rather enjoy The Monsters Hop, maybe even a bit more than Pickett’s seminal Halloween hit. I think it’s catchier, certainly more up-tempo, and nowhere near as played out as The Monster Mash. Those are some pretty big checks in the plus column, you ask me.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s a better song, not by any stretch of the imagination, but when listening to the Shindig leisurely (as is my wont) I will usually skip The Monster Mash, yet I always have 2 minutes to spare for The Monsters Hop.

 

Gallery

Ray Chiodo

Some awesome stop-motion animation from The Chiodo Brothers, with a little nod to Mr. Ray Harryhausen.

R.I.P. Ray.

Audio

Freaked

TRACK #55:

Freaked by Henry Rollins & Blind Idiot God

From the extra-90’s, ultra-FX-ladened, creature-feature-comedy Freaked, comes this Title Track from Henry Rollins & Blind Idiot God.

I love Freaked. What’s not to love?

 

  • Bill S. Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) writes, co-directs and stars.
  • Randy Quaid turns up as a nutball mad-scientist.
  • You even got Mr. T in there as a Bearded lady.
  • Keanu Reeves sneaks in as the (uncredited) Dog Boy
  • Bobcat Goldthwait voices Sockhead.
  • and William Sadler plays a sleazy corporate greaseball.Not to mention…
  • Awesome creature FX from Steve Johnson’s XFX
  • More awesome FX from Screaming Mad George and company.
  • Some great stop motion from the Chiodo Brothers
  • One of the coolest title sequences ever
  • and this awesome spinning Randy Quaid head

Plus, it has a pretty kick-ass soundtrack. A soundtrack, I might add, that was never officially released. These puppies come stolen clean from the DVD.

If you’ve never seen Freaked, and you’re at all about creature FX, foolish 90’s comedies, or bizarre movies in general – find someone who has a copy of this, mug them, and watch it immediately.

More music and gifs from Freaked to follow this initial blast, later in the playlist. For now, enjoy these humble Shindig offerings.

 

Audio

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

TRACK #54:

Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes by Lee Lewis

The 1978 B-Movie horror-musical-comedy-spoof turned B-movie itself, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, was probably the first movie I was able to truly appreciate for its camp value.

I saw the light, so to speak, and it began the long love affair I still have today with horribly bad films. A love affair which was nurtured to its maturity on the early days of Comedy Central through Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Here’s the silly title track for the film. A film which, if you’ve never seen, I highly recommend…you know,…if you’re into that sort of thing.

Here’s a link to the full film on youtube.

Enjoy!

 

and remember…